Last Friday, I wrote about George Lucas’ first feature, THX 1138 (1971). It struck me as a tremendously under-recognized work that rivals the best of anything he’s done to date. Judging from the reactions of some friends for whom I screened it the other night, I’m in the minority with that opinion.
I can understand not liking it in a general sense, but I wasn’t prepared for the vitriol spewed in my direction when the lights came up. Admittedly, the film is an acquired taste, but it’s one that takes hold quickly. Someone compared it to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), a sentiment I found to be superficial and uninformed. Properly baited, the others chimed in and missed the fact that thematically, Kubrick was all over the ice while Lucas was small and to the point. Also, Kubrick had the world at his disposal and controlled every aspect of production, post and release. While no less stringent, Lucas made a more powerful statement with a fraction of the resources and none of the pretense. Of course, all of this fell on deaf ears.
So, once again, I learned that there is no accounting for taste. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but I stand by my observations about THX’s cinematography and visual structure. It offers such a rich resource that it should be required viewing at every film school in the world.
Apart from that, maybe next time I’ll be a bit more selective about whom I share my enthusiasms with!
I want to come to one of your viewing events! Xo
I rented THX 1138 on VHS from Fan Video in 1985, Richmond, Virginia and asked my Art school room mates to watch it. They were not impressed either. I appreciated the minimalist but powerful visual approach. They never let me take our pooled money again and rent a video without supervision.
Richard, I completely agree with your idea of being careful, selective in sharing groundbreaking and innovative cinema with just any friends!
They never let me forgot that event, that I wasted precious hours of their life on such a bad movie!
I’m looking forward to re-watching “THX 1138” after your post; it’s been decades since I’ve seen it but what I recall is Lucas’ strong sense of design both in terms of image and sound.
Dumb kids, Karl!
Meredith – You are always invited!
As a matter of fact Richard, my Brooklyn College film studies teacher screened THX 1138 in our class!
IIRC, it proceeded a lively discussion, however, in 1973, the cultural vibe was different to say the least.
Thanks for bringing it up!
It is certainly more in the vein of European cinema of the time as far as pacing. I’m not sure it works, but it certainly is a film that stands out for its difference. It’s like 1984, 2001 & Fellini had a love child.