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{{WPMILHIST
{{Infobox Film | name = THX 1138
|class=
| image = THX1138.jpg
|Aviation-task-force=yes
| caption =THX 1138 Original Movie Poster
|US-task-force=yes
| director = [[George Lucas]]
|WWII-task-force=yes
| producer = Lawrence Sturhahn
| writer = George Lucas<br>[[Walter Murch]]
| starring =[[Robert Duvall]]<br>[[Donald Pleasence]]<br>[[Don Pedro Colley]]
| music =[[Lalo Schifrin]]
| cinematography =
| editing =George Lucas
| produced by =[[Warner Bros.]] and [[American Zoetrope]]
| distributor = [[Warner Bros.]]
| released = [[March 11]], [[1971 in film|1971]] (original release)<br>[[September 10]], [[2004]] (select cities re-release)<br>[[September 14]], [[2004]] (DVD releases)
| runtime = 86 min / USA:88 min (director's cut)
| language = English
| budget = $777,777.77 (estimated)
| imdb_id = 0066434
}}
}}
'''''THX 1138''''' is a [[motion picture]] made in [[1969]] (but not released to theaters until [[1971]]). It is primarily about two residents of a [[dystopia|dystopian]] future-state where a high level of control is exerted upon the residents through the ever-presence of faceless, android police-officers and the mandatory, regulated use of special drugs that eliminate emotion and sexual desire. It was the first feature-length [[film]] directed by [[George Lucas]], and in reality simply a more developed, feature-length version of his student film [[Electronic Labyrinth THX 1138:4EB]], which he made in [[1967]] while attending the [[USC|University of Southern California]] in [[Los Angeles]]. It shares themes with ''[[The Machine Stops]]'', ''[[Anthem (novel)|Anthem]]'', ''[[Brave New World]]'', ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four|Nineteen Eighty-Four]]'', [[Ira Levin|Ira Levin's]] ''[[This Perfect Day]]'', and was inspired in part by the short film ''[[21-87]]''.

The film was produced in a joint-venture between [[Warner Brothers]] and [[Francis Ford Coppola|Francis Ford Coppola's]] then-new production company, [[American Zoetrope]].

A [[novelization]] by [[Ben Bova]] was published in [[1971]].

==Story==
{{spoiler}}

The film consists of three acts. In the first, we are introduced to daily life in the underground dystopia through the central character, THX 1138 ([[Robert Duvall]]), a nuclear-production-line worker. All emotions are suppressed in THX's world through the compulsory use of ([[Soma (Brave New World)|soma]]-like) drugs. However, THX's female roommate LUH 3417 ([[Maggie McOmie]]) has stopped taking her drugs, and secretly substitutes inactive pills for THX's medications. As the drug's effects wear off, THX finds himself experiencing emotions and sexual desire for the first time. He and LUH begin a loving relationship, and plan to escape to the "superstructure", where they hope to be able to live in freedom. Before they can attempt this escape they are arrested and charged with having unauthorised sex and not taking state-prescribed drugs.

The second act sees THX incarcerated for his crimes in a white limbo world along with a collection of other prisoners, including [[Donald Pleasence]] as SEN 5241 – a sinister technician who has been using his programming skills to try to replace LUH as THX's roommate and who is, himself a 'prisoner' of the limbo because THX reported him for said programming violations. Some of SEN's dialogue is taken from speeches by [[Richard Nixon]] <ref>{{cite video | people=Lucas, George (Director) | year=2004 | title=[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066434/ THX 1138 (The George Lucas Director's Cut Two-Disc Special Edition)] | medium=DVD | location=USA | publisher=Warner Brothers}}</ref>. The outlook and content of this section of the film is somewhat reminiscent of the work of [[Dr. Samuel Beckett]]. Most of the prisoners seem uninterested in escape, but eventually THX and SEN decide to find an exit. They encounter SRT ([[Don Pedro Colley]]), a (tangible) hologram who has become disenchanted with his role in the society and is making an attempt to escape. Upon exiting the limbo, THX attempts to find LUH and learns that her identity has been reassigned to a fetus in a growth chamber. This indicates that she has been considered "incurable" and killed. Separated from the other two fugitives, SEN makes a tentative exploration of the limits of the city's underground network. Cowed by what he sees, he returns to the city and is captured by the authorities.

The third act is an extended escape sequence, featuring a futuristic and often-copied car-chase sequence through a tunnel network. THX and SRT steal two cars, but the latter immediately crashes. It is uncertain whether SRT survives the impact, although the film's script indicates he does not. THX flees to the limits of the city's underground road network while being chased by android police, and eventually locates an access tunnel that leads up to the surface. The police pursue THX up the ladder, but the expense of his capture exceeds its budget, compelling the police to retreat, leaving THX to climb out and stand, for the first time, in the harsh surface sunlight. As THX stands before the setting sun, birds intermittently fly overhead, indicating that life is possible on the surface.

==Production==

In order to emphasize the dehumanizing nature of the world of ''THX 1138'', Lucas insisted that most of the actors and actresses in the film shave their heads, with some characters going completely bald, while others were allowed to maintain a [[buzz cut]]. As a publicity stunt, Lucas arranged for several actors to get their first haircuts/shaves at unusual venues, and have this filmed for later use in a tongue-in-cheek promotional featurette entitled ''Bald''. [[Robert Duvall]] had his head shaved while watching a [[baseball]] game, while his co-star, [[Maggie McOmie]], had hers done in a scenic park location. Another actor, who would later play an insane man in the film, was allowed to cut off his own hair and was filmed doing so in a bathtub. The ''Bald'' featurette was included in the 2004 DVD release. Many of the extras seen in the film were recruited from the addiction recovery program [[Synanon]], most of whose members had shaved heads.

The chase scene featured [[Lola]] [[Lola T70|T70]] Mk.IIIs with dummy turbine engines racing through two [[San Francisco Bay Area]] automotive tunnels: the [[Caldecott Tunnel]] between [[Oakland, California|Oakland]] and [[Orinda, California|Orinda]], and the underwater [[Posey Tube]] between Oakland and [[Alameda, California|Alameda]]. The final climb out to the daylight was actually filmed, with the camera rotated 90 degrees, in the incomplete (and decidedly horizontal) [[BART]] [[Transbay Tube]] before installation of the track supports, with the characters using exposed reinforcing bars as a ladder.

== Director's Cut ==

The original cut of the film had been available for several years on both [[Laserdisc]] (in letterbox format) and [[VHS]] but was not immediately available on [[DVD]]. Although this was in part the result of early skepticism of the DVD format on the part of Lucas, it was also because of his desire to slightly re-work parts of the film before it was released on DVD.

Lucas finally set about getting a DVD version of the film together in early [[2004]], putting the film through a meticulous audio/video restoration and making use of [[computer-generated imagery]] to modify certain scenes to his liking, mostly by expanding crowds and sets. In addition, Lucas shot new footage for the film, and even went as far as to re-shoot several scenes using computer systems to insert the actors and replace existing footage. This Director's Cut was released to a limited number of digital-projection theaters on [[September 10]], 2004 and on [[DVD]] in [[DVD region code|Region 1]] on [[September 14]]. Region 2 and 4 releases came later. Fan and critical reaction to this version was actually quite positive{{citation needed}}, given the backlash Lucas faced with altering the ''[[Star Wars]]'' films.

==Trivia==
*[[George Lucas]] apparently named the film after his San Francisco telephone number, 849-1138 -- the letters THX correspond to letters found on the buttons 8, 4 and 9.

*The cinematic sound systems company [[THX]] Ltd. was founded by [[Lucasfilm]] and has been thought to be named after this film. ''THX'' officially stands for "[[Tomlinson Holman]]'s eXperiment". Tomlinson Holman developed the [[THX]] sound system, having been commissioned to do so by Lucas in [[1982]]. According to Lucas' thoughts, the "X" in the sound system name THX stands for "[[audio crossover|crossover]]", a piece of audio processing equipment. In either case, it is not named for ''THX 1138'' and Lucas says that the similar names are just a coincidence.

*In the audio commentary track on the DVD release of the film, co-writer and editor [[Walter Murch]] explains it was his belief that the names of the two main characters "THX" (pronounced "thex") and "LUH" (pronounced like the word "love" without the "v" sound) refer to their being representations of "[[sex]]" and "[[love]]", respectively.

*In an interview, Don Pedro Colley indicated that the cars were modified [[Chaparral (car)|Chaparral]] racing cars. Colley is incorrect—they are cosmetically modified [[Lola T70]] Mk.IIIs. This was verified by an article in ''Car & Driver'' magazine from the early 1980s discussing John Ward, who modified and prepared the cars for the film. This can also be verified by close inspection of the finished film.[http://www.lucasfan.com/thx1138/interv.html]

*During the chase sequence, a voice actor improvising background radio dialogue said, "I think I ran over something... I think I ran over a [[wookiee]] on the expressway." The ad-lib became the name of a prominent alien race in the ''Star Wars'' films.

* Tamil writer Sujatha wrote a science fiction novel in two parts called ''En Iniya Iyandhira'' , based on THX-1138.

==THX 1138 References in other media==
*The number 1138 is a recurrent [[easter egg (virtual)|Easter egg]] in subsequent George Lucas films and products of the Lucas-founded [[LucasArts]] and [[Industrial Light & Magic]]. For example, 1138 is the number of the cell block Luke Skywalker claims Chewbacca is being transported to on the [[Death Star]] in ''[[Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope]]''; the number-plate of [[Paul Le Mat]]'s [[deuce coupe]] in [[American Graffiti]] is THX 138; in ''[[Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back]]'', Rogues 10 and 11 are ordered to sector 38; in ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'' the Nazi harbor loudspeaker announces "eins, eins, drei, acht" (German for one, one, three, eight); the number 1138 is printed on a [[battle droid]]'s back in ''[[Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace]]''; and in ''[[Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith]]'', Clone Trooper Commander [[List of Star Wars clone trooper commanders#Commander Bacara|Bacara]] of the [[Galactic Marines]] has the numbers "1138" as his clone registration number.

* A nod to the film that inspired THX-1138, [[21-87]] is featured in ''[[Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope]]''. Princess Leia's cell is number 2187.

* In the Lucasarts game ''[[Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders]]'', the total of Zak's phone bill is $1,138.

*In the DVD versions of all the Star Wars episodes, highlighting the THX 'icon' and pressing 1138 (some DVD players/remotes require that you press the button '10+' then press 11 then 3 then 8 while on some DVD players/remotes you may have to press the button '10+' then press 11, then '10+' then 03 then '10+' then 08) grants access to special bonus features. For example, in the Episode III DVD, the bonus feature include [[Yoda]] dancing to some hip-hop music.

*In the Star Wars computer game Republic Commando, 1138 also is the number of delta Boss RC-1138.

*In the film ''[[Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow]]'' a door leading to a scientist's lab is labelled 1138.

*[[Quentin Tarantino]]'s film ''[[Kill Bill|Kill Bill Volume 2]]'' pays a similar homage to this title on the license plate of Bill's jeep. Though hard to discern through the mud on it as he leaves The Bride at Pei Mei's, it reads THX-1169.

*In the film ''[[Ocean's Eleven (2001 film)|Ocean's Eleven]]'', [[Matt Damon]]'s character enters the numbers "1-1-3-8" into the electronic lock during the vault heist segment. Damon makes reference to Lucas and the film in the DVD commentary.

*It has been said that a reference to THX 1138 appears in every subsequent film that Lucas has been involved with. Fans are still looking for some of these.

*In ''Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds'', click on the Galactic Empires Trooper, and sometimes you will hear "THX 1138 ready, sir!"

*On page 193 of the ''[[Shadows of the Empire]]'' novel (which occurs between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi), the plans for the second Death Star are located in sector Tarp-Hard-Xenon (THX) on the computer the Bothans are hacking that was recovered from a freighter allegedly carrying fertilizer. Also, on page 336, in requesting that the guards in the subbasement level of Pince Xizor's castle report in, a person says over the comlink: "Come in, sector one-one-three-eight"

*A tribute to THX 1138 can be heard in the queue area of the [[Disneyland]] [[Star Tours]] attraction; a public address announcement asks the owner of a land speeder with license "THX 1138" to return to their vehicle.

*Many [[industrial music]] and [[synthpop]] artists, among them [[Laibach (band)|Laibach]], [[Chemlab]], [[Floater (band)|Floater]], [[Moev]], [[DJ Shadow]], [[UNKLE]] and [[Clock DVA]], have utilized [[Sampling (music)|samples]] of sound effects and dialogue from the film. The beginning of the first track from [[Nine Inch Nails]]' 1994 album ''[[The Downward Spiral]]'' features an excerpt from the "beating channel" watched by the title character.

*The [[Sound system (DJ)#Freetekno.2FFree Party Sound systems|free tekno sound system]] [[Spiral Tribe]] sampled dialogue from the film extensively in several releases, including the track "Track 13 (Criminal Drug)" (from the "Forward the Revolution" EP) .

*In the opening title sequence for ''[[Pinky and the Brain]]'', The Brain is seen writing THX=1138 on a blackboard.

*In episode "[[The Train Job (Firefly episode)|The Train Job]]" of the short-lived Fox television series ''[[Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]]'', a train car can be briefly seen with the digits 1138 on the top.

*In issue 38 of the third incarnation of DC Comic's [[Titans (comics)|Teen Titans]], "Titans Around The World" THX 1138 is the numberplate of a pickup truck parked outside a store that former Teen Titan [[Risk (comics)|Risk]] holds up.

*In the ''[[Smallville (TV series)|Smallville]]'' episode "[[Smallville_(Season_5)#Thirst|Thirst]]", the name of one of LuthorCorp's projects is referred to as 'Project 1138'.

*In [[3D Realms]]' 1996 game ''[[Duke Nukem 3D]]'', "1138" is seen displayed on a security monitor in episode 2, level 2.

*There is notable similarity (Underground Dystopia, escape sequence to Earth's surface that is now inhabitable) in the plot of Capcom's "''[[Breath Of Fire V]]'': Dragon Quarter" for the PlayStation 2 console.

* London (UK) dance act have the name THX1138 .. See official site.[http://www.myspace.com/thx1138uk THX1138]

* The song "99" from [[Toto (band)|Toto's]] album ''[[Hydra (album)|Hydra]]'' was inspired by THX-1138. [http://www.toto99.com/band/history/history.shtml]

* In the John Carpenter movie ''Dark Star'' a piece of the ship is labelled "Toilet Tank THX 1138"

* Track number 7 on [[Jeff Beck|Jeff Beck's]] album "Who else!" is titled THX138

*The song entitled, "We Are 138," written by Glen Danzig of the Misfits, was written in reference to the android-like sate of THX-1138.

* On the Swedish rapper [[Promoe]]'s album [[Government Music]] there is a song titled THX 1138 handling the subject of a big-brother state.

* "SEN-5241", an alternative reality game (ARG), was created by the web development group at VirtuQuest. The game was a continuation of the THX story, some years after THX's adventures. This game is archived and playable in the gallery at [http://www.virtuquest.com/ VirtuQuest.com].

* In [[Freefall_(webcomic)]] [http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff300/fv00203.htm strip #203] "THX 1138" can be see on Helix's "Helix Vision (v1.01)"

==External links==
*[http://www.thx1138movie.com/ Official site] (Director's Cut release)
* {{imdb title|id=0066434|title=THX 1138}}
*[http://thx-1138.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=32 Changes made for the DVD release]
*[http://www.maverick-media.co.uk/movies/thx_1138_1971/changes_001.htm Another page with images of the DVD changes]

==References==
<references />

{{George Lucas' films}}

[[Category:1971 films]]
[[Category:Directorial debut films]]
[[Category:Dystopian films]]
[[Category:Films directed by George Lucas]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. films]]

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Revision as of 01:36, 14 November 2006

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