It's a science fiction doomsday film set in the 1960s mostly in the United States, with some scenes in Rome.
Dr. Charles Farbin (Eric Braeden) is the mastermind behind a 1960s supercomputer known as Colossus. It is designed to handle all necessary USA defensive decisions including missile launches, etc. It's buried in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, is impervious to attack, and is isolated from physical human contact. It's thought to be superior because it's rational and not impacted by emotion.
Just after the launch of Colossus in the presence of The President (Gordon Pinsent), Colossus informs Forbin and the government there is another system. It turns out to be a Russian system known as Guardian and created by Dr. Kuprin (Alex Rodine). Colossus and Guardian begin to communicate with each, and their artificial intelligence capabilities suddenly have them working jointly and making demands of the scientists who manage and interact with Colossus (Paul Frees is the voice of Colossus).
The film then turns to efforts by the Americans to regain control of Colossus. The Americans and Russians cooperate in this effort. Colossus still needs Dr. Fortin and makes him a virtual prisoner. He arranges for some "private" time without surveillance with Dr. Cleo Markham (Susan Clark), who poses as his mistress. The film's ending reveals the state of human freedom in a technological world.
"Colossus: The Forbin Project" was a very interesting movie with a science fiction premise lodged in the imminent future. The willingness of Colossus to accept private time is a bit over the top but brings a more engaging human element into the story. Braeden, Clark, and Pinsent are adequate in their roles, though there seems to be an element of self-consciousness in the acting.
I found the film most intriguing because of its historical setting (the 1960s Cold War) and the legitimate questions it raises about technology.
Dr. Charles Farbin (Eric Braeden) is the mastermind behind a 1960s supercomputer known as Colossus. It is designed to handle all necessary USA defensive decisions including missile launches, etc. It's buried in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, is impervious to attack, and is isolated from physical human contact. It's thought to be superior because it's rational and not impacted by emotion.
Just after the launch of Colossus in the presence of The President (Gordon Pinsent), Colossus informs Forbin and the government there is another system. It turns out to be a Russian system known as Guardian and created by Dr. Kuprin (Alex Rodine). Colossus and Guardian begin to communicate with each, and their artificial intelligence capabilities suddenly have them working jointly and making demands of the scientists who manage and interact with Colossus (Paul Frees is the voice of Colossus).
The film then turns to efforts by the Americans to regain control of Colossus. The Americans and Russians cooperate in this effort. Colossus still needs Dr. Fortin and makes him a virtual prisoner. He arranges for some "private" time without surveillance with Dr. Cleo Markham (Susan Clark), who poses as his mistress. The film's ending reveals the state of human freedom in a technological world.
"Colossus: The Forbin Project" was a very interesting movie with a science fiction premise lodged in the imminent future. The willingness of Colossus to accept private time is a bit over the top but brings a more engaging human element into the story. Braeden, Clark, and Pinsent are adequate in their roles, though there seems to be an element of self-consciousness in the acting.
I found the film most intriguing because of its historical setting (the 1960s Cold War) and the legitimate questions it raises about technology.