Futureworld
1. In Futureworld the Delos resort is now open again, having resolved the problems with the robots that we saw in Westworld. Is there a significant difference in the way technology is represented in this film? How is the control room visually different form the earlier version?
2. Instead of following the guests in their experiences and fantasies, in this film we follow two reporters as they uncover the new mysteries of Delos. The emphasis of this film therefore seems to shift from fantasy to work, or investigation. But even though they are not there to pursue a Medieval or a Roman fantasy, what the reporters experience also has fantasmatic elements. How do we see their experience in the film? Are they in a dual role of being both guests in a fantasy, and reporters at work?
3. Think about the types of spaces we see in this film. Instead of the long white empty corridors of the underground support structure of Westworld, here we have a massive underground network of pipes, tunnels, and controls. How does this underground control network relate to the high-tech control room?
4. The new space of Delos, Futureworld, adds another possibility to the types of experience avaliable for guests. We discussed the Roman, Medieval and Western fantasies as a weird mixture of techno-mania and nostalgia for a pre-technological landscape. What types of fantasy does the future-looking world enable or represent?
5. How do you understand the ending of the film? What are we supposed to assume about the state of the world and world politics after the reporters leave Delos? What happens to the other guests?
There was an attempt to pursue the Westworld idea further. A TV series titled Beyond Westworld was first broadcast in March 1980. Only 3 of the 5 filmed episodes were aired that month, but the pilot episode was nominated for an Emmy award for Outstanding Art Direction for a Series: Michael Baugh (production designer) and Edward McDonald (set decorator) were nominated. Predictably, in this series the life-like robots of Delos have been taken over by an evil scientist, who wants to use the robots to dominate the world. The security chief of Delos fights back.
Chuck Browning: Peter Fonda
Cast Information
Cast overview:
Tracy "Socks" Ballard: Blythe Danner
Mr. Duffy: Arthur Hill (I)
Gunslinger/Fantasy Lover: Yul Brynner
Harry: Stuart Margolin
Game Show Host: Allen Ludden
Mr. Reed: Robert Cornthwaite
Mrs. Reed: Angela Greene (I)
Eric: Darrell Larson
Erica: Nancy Bell (I)
Mrs. Kamovski : Dorothy Konrad
Mr. Takaguchi : John Fujioka
Mr. Takaguchi's Aide: Dana Lee (I)
KGB Man : Alex Rodine
Bartender: Judson Pratt
Contact the instructor: dk2244@yahoo.com