If you are not familiar with this film title, you still may be interested because it’s the very first film made by George Lucas (Star Wars) in 1970. It’s being re-released for a limited theatrical run at AMC River East in Chicago. Although it will be available on DVD on September 14^th, seeing it on the big screen is a major plus.

Set in the distant future, Robert Duvall is THX 1138, a worker that makes robots with a key ingredient being small rods that have a high level of radiation. The precision required is so exact that unless one is in a drug-induced state, they cannot function properly. As it turns out, everyone is a zombie of sorts. The leaders of this nation are not shown, but you can use your imagination of them being behind the scenes. When there is an accident, the factory speakerphones almost instantly say there is no concern for radiation danger (don’t worry, be happy). Then once it’s under control, and the bodies have been carried away, they are told that they are doing great because their losses are far less than another team. But whose keeping count? It’s fine as long as your team is ahead and it’s not you that just died.

Things go astray when LUH 3417 (Maggie McOmie) changes the medication for roommate THX 1138. She’s wants to have sex and with the drug haze somewhat removed, so is he. They think they are not being observed, but of course, their relations are anything but a secret.

With a homosexual overtone, SEN 5241 (Donald Pleasence) tries to have THX 1138 reassigned to become his roommate. THX 1138 wants no part of it and when he is taken prisoner for various indiscretions, he manages to attempt an escape that he seems destined to loose were it not for the chasers exceeding their financial budget in his capture. It’s somewhat like the Defense Department shutting down because they ran out of money on the 28^th of the month even though they could capture Osama bin Laden on the 27^th.

The film can be viewed from multiple perspectives: sci-fi evolution, early Lucas and social commentary. One can easily see the jump from the style of sci fi films being the "Flash Gordon" cheesy effects serial movies to the polished look of the distant future with the slickness of "2001: Space Odyssey". Even today, when looking at "Minority Report" (Steven Spielberg with Tom Cruise), we see the cars speeding on the highway and going up and down a vertical wall just like was the case in this film. It was state of the art 34 years ago and it still is today. Some of the characters you see are the foundation of what will become major roles in the Star Wars films.

The social commentary speaks to controlling consumption "buy more be happy". Authority figures are questioned. Legal drugs are pervasive. The drug companies say they need the higher prices for R&D, but they seem to spend an awful lot of money on TV ads telling us what to tell our doctors to prescribe for us. What happened to us telling a doctor was the problem was and letting them suggest the drug to take? Just who is the doctor in our HMO society?

Robert Duvall turns in a masterful performance. It has the emotional impact of a great one-person Broadway play, yet more so because of the strong supporting cast and the creative depiction of the future. This is a must see for all sci fi fans.