You will be aware of the latest blockbuster movie called I am legend, and may know of a film from years ago, that someone said was similar. Well, the original film was called The Omega Man, and it was based on a book called "I am legend".
The story is simple enough, one man (Charlton Heston) is the sole survivor of a germ war that either killed off the worlds entire population, or turned them into killer mutants called "The Family".
The modern version starring Will Smith is a copy of this classic, and I must say not a very good copy, considering the Omega Man was 37 years ago, and the art of special effects has improved no end. Personally I actually prefer the original. It was gritty, '70s stuff, with Heston gunning down the baddies like there was no tomorrow. Actually there may not be if he didn't gun them down. Heston is known for his pro gun attitude, and has been quoted as saying you could "Take my weapon from my cold dead hand" I do realise this was a quote from the actor in real life and not a film, but it just goes to show what a perfect candidate he was for this movie.
I will not even include spoilers, because I recommend this film to anyone, especially if you have seen the new pretender version. This is a bloke film, and one worthy of a look. It lasts just over one & a half hours.
As I said, it is a simple plot, there are no fancy costumes, no special effects other than fake blood and car crashes. The story is put over in a rugged way, by real actors, and yes it is a little dated, it is thirty seven years since it hit the cinemas, and then Charlton Heston was a great star, fresh from the Planet of the Apes films. The music adds to the realism, and to the drama, although it is 1970s music of course.
During daylight hours, Nevile drives round scavenging whatever he needs, and looking for clues to where the "Family" hide out. (They cannot go out in the sunshine). If he fancies taking in a movie, he goes into the local cinema and turns on the projector, when it's time for a new car, he jumps into the latest model & drives through the showroom window, All good fun type stuff. After dark though, it is a different matter, he locks himself in his fortress, and defends it with automatic weapons, floodlights, and fights the enemy who use nothing newer than spears and fire.
The film was directed by the famous Boris Sagal. The original book was published in 1954 novel "I am Legend" was written by Richard Matheson. Charlton Heston plays Doctor Robert Neville. Anthony Zerbe is the very real baddie known as Matthias. The female "lead" is played by Rosalind Cash. There is a host of other characters, but no more famous names. Twenty stunt men were used, in some very good fight scenes.
You will find this for less than a fiver, good value I say. It is certificated PG, which I think is fine.
I had intended to make this a DVD review, but then forgot what I was doing, (senile) I think the easiest thing to do is convert to film onloy, thanks to Soho Black for spotting that.
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Production Year: 1979 - Science Fiction - Director: Ridley Scott - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Sigourney Weaver, John Hurt, Tom Skerritt, Harry Dean Stanton, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto, Veronica Cartwright
Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Science fiction took a grim turn in the 1970s--the heyday of Agent Orange, nuclear peril ... more
and Watergate. Suddenly, most of our possible futures took on a "last man on Earth" flavour, withThe Omega Mantopping the doom-struck heap.Charlton Heston plays th...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Science fiction took a grim turn in the 1970s--the heyday of Agent Orange, nuclear peril ... more
and Watergate. Suddenly, most of our possible futures took on a "last man on Earth" flavour, withThe Omega Mantopping the doom-struck heap.Charlton Heston plays th...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Welcome to the future. Biological war has decimated life on Earth. Los Angeles is a ... more
windswept ghost town where Robert Neville tools his convertible through sunlit streets foraging for supplies. And makes damn sure he gets undercover before sundown, whe...
Advantages: Minimalistic, intellgent approach, chilling scenario, Charlton Heston at his peak Disadvantages: Not apparently as good as the literary source material (I Am Legend), looks quite dated.
EnglishPatient 26.02.2001 (23.02.2001)
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Review of The Omega Man (DVD)
Advantages: Minimalistic, intellgent approach, chilling scenario, Charlton Heston at his peak Disadvantages: Not apparently as good as the literary source material (I Am Legend), looks quite dated.
EnglishPatient 26.02.2001 (23.02.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Omega Man (DVD)
![The Omega Man [DVD] [1972]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78509353.jpg "The Omega Man [DVD] [1972]")
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