The Omega Man (1971)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1971
Running Times: 98 mins
Format: Technicolor     35mm     Panavision (anamorphic)
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: mono

PRODUCTION
Production Company: Warner Bros.
Producer: Walter Seltzer
Unit Production Manager: Frank Baur

SCRIPT
Script: John William Corrington, Joyce H. Corrington
Novel: I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

DIRECTION
Director: Boris Sagal
Assistant Directors: Donald Roberts, Ted Swanson (uncredited)

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Russell Metty
Stills: Bernie Abramson, Lydia Heston
Lab: Technicolor

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: William H. Ziegler

MUSIC
Music: Ron Grainer
Score Mixer: Dan Wallin

SOUND
Sound: Bob Martin

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up: Gordon Bau
Hair Supervisor: Jean Burt Reilly
Costume Supervisors: Margo Baxley, Bucky Rous

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Art Director: Walter M. Simonds
Set Decorator: William L. Kuehl

STUNTS
Action Coordinator: Joe Canutt
Stunts: Joe Canutt, Chuck Courtney, Larry Duran, Gary Epper, Tony Epper, Richard Farnsworth, Buddy Joe Hooker, Whitey Hughes, Harold Jones, Kim Kahana, Wayne King Sr, Henry Kingi, Glenn Randall Jr, Jack Williams (all uncredited)

CAST
Charlton Heston (Robert Neville)
Anthony Zerbe (Matthias)
Rosalind Cash (Lisa)
Paul Koslo (Dutch)
Eric Laneuville (Richie)
Lincoln Kilpatrick (Zachary)
Jill Giraldi (little girl)
Anna Aries (woman in cemetery crypt)
Brian Tochi (Tommy)
DeVeren Bookwalter, John Dierkes, Monika Henreid, Linda Redfearn, Forrest Wood (Family members)

PLOT SUMMARY

Robert Neville, a scientist once involved in the development of an experimental vaccine, seems to be the only human survivor of devastating biological war. Plague has left Los Angeles deserted except for bands of mutants, the self-styled 'Family' who are obsessive in their desire to see Neville – a symbol of the science and technology they despise so much – dead. Then Neville meets another group of survivors and the race is on to develop a workable vaccine to save their lives.

Although it bears little resemblance to Richard Matheson's excellent novel, The Omega Man is still an excellent post-apocalyptic thriller, very much a product of its time so dated now, but one which still has much to offer. The early scenes are the best, with a steely Heston roaming the eerily deserted city streets, though the bombastic score is a liability as is some of the more heavy-handed preaching. But still a film that works well, with Heston on top form.

UK
Laserdisc Distributor: Tartan (TVL 0042)

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Warner Bros.
Television Distributor: Warner Bros. Television
Video Distributor: Warner Home Video
Laserdisc Distributor: Warner Home Video (11210)
DVD Distributor: Warner Home Video (11210)

Finland
Rating: K-16

Norway
Rating: 16

UK
Rating: PG

USA
Rating: GP

1971
August
1: USA – theatrical release

November
26: West Germany – theatrical release

December
3: Finland – theatrical release

1993
February
23: UK - laserdisc release (Tartan (TVL 0042))

1994
September
Day Unknown: USA - laserdisc release (Warner Home Video (11210))

2003
August
5: USA - DVD release (Warner Home Video (11210))

October
4: UK - television broadcast (on Sky Movies Cinema 1)

The Last Man on Earth is Not Alone

Pray for the last man alive. Because he's not alone.

The World Is Dead. One Survivor. Then The Others. Cralwing In Darkness. The Strangest Sect Of All. Hunting The Last Man On Earth.

1975: occhi bianchi sul pianeta Terra - Italian title
Der Omega-Mann - West German title
Le survivant - French title
El último hombre... vivo - Spanish title
O Último Homem na Terra - Portugese title
Viimeinen mies - Finnish title

SEE ALSO
28 Days Later... (2002)
The Aftermath (1982)
Twelve Monkeys (1995)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)

REMAKE OF
L'ultimo uomo della Terra (1964)
Soy leyenda (1967)

MAGAZINES

Entertainment Weekly no.722 (8 August 2003) p.58 (USA)
DVD review (by Mike Flaherty)

KEYWORDS

biological weapons, book into film, cinemas, doctors, last man on earth, los angeles, plagues, post apocalyptic, remakes, scientists

Last Updated: 1 January, 2009