The Omega Man (1971)

Calificación de los usuarios:

6.7/10   

Director:

Boris Sagal

Escritores:

John William Corrington (screenplay) and
Joyce Hooper Corrington (screenplay) ...

Fecha de Lanzamiento:

1 agosto 1971 (USA)

Género:

Horror | Ciencia-Ficción | Suspenso

Frase comercial:

Pray for the last man alive. Because he's not alone.

Plot:

Robert Neville, a doctor, due to an experimental vaccine, is the only survivor of an apocalyptic war waged with biological weapons...

Plot Keywords:

Plague | Vaccine | Albino | Flashback | Germ Warfare

Comentarios de los usuarios:

Flawed Wonderland

Reparto

Charlton Heston	...	Robert Neville
Anthony Zerbe	...	Jonathan Matthias
Rosalind Cash	...	Lisa
Paul Koslo	...	Dutch
Eric Laneuville	...	Richie
Lincoln Kilpatrick	...	Zachary
Jill Giraldi	...	Little Girl
Anna Aries	...	Woman in Cemetery Crypt
Brian Tochi	...	Tommy
DeVeren Bookwalter	...	Family Member
John Dierkes	...	Family Member
Monika Henreid	...	Family Member
Linda Redfearn	...	Family Member
Forrest Wood	...	Family Member

También conocida como:

El último hombre... vivo (Spain) [es]

Duración:

98 min

País:

USA

Idioma:

Inglés

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Relación de Aspecto:

2.35 : 1

Sonido:

Mono

Clasificación:

Australia:M | Australia:PG (TV rating) | Canada:14A | USA:PG | Sweden:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1971) | UK:PG | USA:GP

Locaciones de Filmación:

Columbia/Warner Bros. Ranch - 411 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank, California, USA

Compañía:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivialidades:

Charlton Heston had read the original novel on an airplane coming back to California, and was very interested in a modern adaptation of the book; he was totally unaware of the fact it had already been made into a film long before - The Last Man on Earth (1964) starring Vincent Price.

Errores:

Errores que Revelan: As Neville drives through the deserted city in the opening scenes numerous people can be seen walking along the footpaths and crossing the roads

Citas:

[first lines]
[the last man on earth wrecks his car]
Robert Neville: There's never a cop around when you need one.

Conexiones de Película:

Apareció en Monster Mania (1997) (TV)

Banda de Sonido:

'Round Midnight

Flawed Wonderland

A film that can't help but aim too high, "The Omega Man" suffers from the very thing that makes it great. Set in a post-apocalyptic future (for the audience of 1971) the film attempts to show a world populated by a single solitary man. Well, a man and a cult of malcontented zombie/mutant/vampire beings. Robert Neville (Heston) is the lone survivor of a germ war that turned the population of the world into freaks. Based on the amazingly brilliant book "I Am Legend" by Richard Matheson, the film shares most of the qualities of the book, yet excludes the portions that make "Legend" fantastic.

The idea of being the last man is intriguing. I used to fantasize about being Neville as a child (probably not the healthiest thing for a kid). Neville has paradise, but with the highest price possible. He can have anything he wants, but no one to share it with. And come night time, he must hide in his fortress away from the angry mob of mutants.

The apocalyptic world that makes the first half so captivating is destroyed by the second half's plot device. I won't go into details for those who haven't seen it. However, I will say the film starts to slide downhill from the mid-way point. But the lesser parts can be enjoyed as early 70's camp.

Even with its faults, "The Omega Man" is a great Sci-fi movie. It also gives Heston a chance to play his quintessential role of a man at the end of civilization. The film's weaknesses don't ruin the experience entirely. It is a film that myself and my friends talk about to this day despite the fact that most of my friends only saw it once or twice (when forced by me).

Related note: I Am Legend was also made into the film "The Last Man on Earth" starring Vincent Price. "Omega Man" is discussed in the first scene of indie-film classic "Slacker."