‘Logan’s Run’ (1976)

Thanks to everyone who voted on Twitter, yesterday afternoon, and had me watching ‘Logan’s Run’ in the evening. I had no idea which movie to watch first so thanks for making that decision for me ;o) As it was, ‘Logan’s Run’ was the only film (of the four) that I’d seen but it had been over twenty years since the last viewing so it was kind of like watching it for the first time…

I have really vague memories of watching ‘Logan’s Run’ as a kid, mostly around the bit where Logan and Jessica meet the old man, so was interested in getting reacquainted with the rest of the film and seeing how well it has held up over time. The answer to that is, well… I’m still trying to get my head round it a little bit.

Before we continue, I’m writing this on the assumption that as the movie is so old now (almost as old as I am), most of you have probably seen it. Therefore, I’m not going to be avoiding spoilers. There, that’s you warned ;o)

And now, on with the post…

The year is 2274 and the remnants of humanity live in a sealed city run by a central computer operating a strict ‘one in, one out’ policy for the inhabitants. City dwellers can live life as they please, until they reach thirty years old that is. Once you hit thirty, you make way for the next generation by going for ‘Renewal’ on the ‘Carrousel’. Those trying to escape ‘Renewal’ are tracked down and terminated by the ‘Sandmen’, one of whom is Logan 5; not for much longer though…  The central computer has tasked Logan 5 with finding ‘Sanctuary’, a rumoured hideaway for runners. Now, with a life clock (little jewel in the palm of your hand) marking him as due for renewal, Logan must run if he is to find Sanctuary and get back what’s left of his allotted lifespan. That’s if his former best friend doesn’t terminate him first…

‘Logan’s Run’ is very easy to get into and didn’t feel like a film that’s almost two hours long, mostly because everyone seems to be running all the time. A film like that can’t help but be fast paced and demand your attention. It looks lovely as well. The City may look like a model from an old episode of ‘Doctor Who’ but it looks like an old ‘Doctor Who’ model that has actually had some money thrown at it and that makes a big difference. ‘Logan’s Run’ is very easy on the eye and this look more than lives up to the hedonism of the City. As a brief aside to this, is it me or did the sci-fi film makers, of the time, all think that shooting scenes in factories would make their films look that bit more futuristic? All those dials to monitor and levers to pull… ‘Logan’s Run’ falls for this in a big way with scenes underneath the city full of pipes and gantries. It does look the part but you can’t help but wonder who they thought they were trying to fool with it. 

‘Logan’s Run’ looks the part then and is very easy to get into, I had a lot of fun watching it. Dig a little deeper though and I couldn’t help but wonder whether there was enough actual plot to justify two hours’ worth of movie. Actually, I know there wasn’t enough plot to justify two hours’ worth of movie. Logan and Jessica run and make it outside, they go through loads of revelations and return to the city to tell everyone else; that’s more like an hour and a half’s worth of movie there. Some of these revelations work in that they give us a picture of how things have deteriorated, since the catastrophe, while Ustinov’s ‘Old Man’ is just a delight to watch. Not enough is made of the fact that Logan is working undercover though and having the computer basically throw an explosive tantrum because it couldn’t get its head round Logan’s information about the outside? I’m not buying that. It just felt like an easy way of finishing off the movie. And another aside… All the young people who made it out, were any of them carrying the babies or ushering out the feral ‘Cubs’? No, I never thought of this, last time I watched this movie, but the children were clearly left behind to die. Nice work there Logan…

I had a great time watching ‘Logan’s Run’, loads of action and it just looks gorgeous. Dig a little deeper though and I’m not sure that it stands up to much scrutiny. Fun then but too much of a reflection of life in the City, joyful yet somehow slightly empty.