Michael Crichton’s ‘Westworld’ fun, suspenseful entertainment

WESTWORLD (1973)

By TERRY R. CASSREINO

Twenty years before author Michael Crichton wrote “Jurassic Park,” he wrote and directed a small, low-budget film that shared a similar main plot: A high-tech amusement park goes madly out of control.

“Westworld” stars James Brolin and Richard Benjamin as two friends escaping for the week to Delos, a futuristic resort where vacationers interact with robots in Western, medieval Europe and Ancient Rome settings.

Shortly after Brolin and Benjamin arrive at Westworld, the computerized, life-like robots that populate a detailed reproduction of a Western town begin to act strange. Instead of shooting blanks, they fire real bullets.

Brolin and Benjamin suddenly find themselves stalked by The Gunslinger, a robot killer who looks exactly like Yul Brynner – a nod to the role he played in the classic Western “The Magnificent Seven.”

Crichton made his motion picture directorial debut with this film written specifically for the screen. The result: A smartly plotted, science fiction suspense thriller that obviously influenced “The Terminator” and “Jurassic Park.”

But for many filmgoers in 1993, the link between “Jurassic Park” and “Westworld” meant little. Most who people read “Jurassic Park” watched Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation amazed at the lifelike dinosaurs created for the movie.

WESTWORLD (1973)

No one noticed – or maybe they just didn’t care – about the nearly identical plot Crichton recycled from his debut film.

But wait. That’s not all. “The Terminator” in 1984 featured Arnold Schwarzenegger as a cyborg sent from the future to stalk and kill the woman who was destined to become the mother of a key leader in the not-too-distant future.

Again, few people noticed the similarity between Schwarzenegger in “The Terminator” and Brynner in “Westworld.”

So what do these parallels prove? That’s simple: “Westworld” is such an effective little film that someone was bound to copy. But rather than cheap, drive-in knock-offs, “Westworld” actually inspired well-made copy cats. Warner Bros. is even considering a straight remake of “Westworld.”

With that out of the way, I want to make a few quick observations about “Westworld.”

WESTWORLD (1973)

This film is an efficient, well-oiled machine that delivers the thrills it promises. We get to enjoy a taste of the Western genre, a little science fiction and a lot of well-paced suspense – all topped by strong acting and well-paced direction.

Crichton is so good behind the camera that you wish he had helmed more films as good as “Westworld.” His second film was even better, the screen adaptation of Robin Cook’s medical thriller “Coma.”

But, sadly, after adapting his book “The Great Train Robbery” in a thrilling 1979 adventure film, Crichton’s screen directing career fell flat.

One final note: Producer Paul Lazarus worked on a sequel to “Westworld,” 1976’s “Futureworld” – a weak, contrived thriller starring Peter Fonda and Blythe Danner. The sequel plays like a second-rate remake of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” Avoid it at all costs.

“Westworld” is available for rent or purchased on DVD. Click here to purchase the film from Amazon.com. “Westworld” is rated PG for violence.












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