Ever wanted to compare the 1973 Westworld movie to the Westworld series? Well, don’t fret–we did it for you!
It starts with a mouse
It begins in the brilliant mind of Michael Crichton. When he first visits Disneyland’s Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln show back in 1971, he’s intrigued. He sees a super clunky animatronics robot portraying Abe Lincoln, which later becomes the Hall of Presidents attraction. Even though the Presidential robots are cheesy and not very advanced (like most politicians), Crichton is mesmerized.
His story about an amusement park where technology, gluttony, humanity, and tragedy collide is mind-blowing and revolutionary. And voila, Westworld was born in 1973. It’s the same year the cell phone is invented. Remember life without cell phones? Neither can I.
Regardless, Crichton is an innovator and visionary. It’s no wonder Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan, and JJ Abrams decided to breathe new life into it in such a gorgeous HBO series with the best actors in the world. It’s an affectionate love letter to Crichton’s medical school graduate mind.
If he were alive today, he would be a proud papa passing out cigars at the overwhelming success of HBO’s Westworld. There are similarities and differences between the 1973 Westworld movie and season 1 of 2016’s Westworld. Sit back, relax, and let’s explore them together.
Don’t be shy: Sex & Violence
It’s only $1,000 per day to stay at 1973’s Westworld. In Westworld season 1, it’s $40,000 a day. In a promotional video in the movie, it states that “Delos is not for everyone.” And that’s true for Westworld season 1.
“The maze is not meant for you,” has a similar admonition throughout season 1. In the price of admission for both the movie and acclaimed TV series, guests wear authentic clothes and stay in period lodging for a true experience.
In the movie, there are three worlds: Roman World, Medieval World, and Westworld. Westworld season 1 only offers Westworld and what I call Emo World/Bernard World. It only hints at other worlds in the season 1 finale. Not going to lie though, we would love to see Medieval World pop up in the series.
The 1973 saloon madam, Miss Carrie, is played by Gene Roddenberry’s wife Majel Barrett. Yes, THAT Gene Roddenberry. She has sass but none of Maeve’s existential crisis and unrelentingly and painful memories.
In both the movie and Westworld season 1, wealthy guests come to the park to have sex and/or kill hosts. There are greeter hosts, good guys, bad guys, nervous scientists, and plenty of whiskey.
1973’s Man in Black is a robot & Yul love him
In the movie, the Man in Black is a robot. He’s not a friendly robot like Star Wars’ lovable R2D2 who is not referred to as a host. The MIB is expertly cast and played by Yul Brynner of The Ten Commandments and The Magnificent 7.
When I first saw the MIB for the first time he scared the crap out of me–still does. His compelling Man in Black has glowing eyes, rapid-fire insults, supreme marksmanship and precise tracking skills. He’s hell-bent on killing a park guest named Peter played actor Richard Benjamin (whose 1970s porn mustache is effervescent.)
His travel buddy is John played by the hunky James Brolin. Btw, James Brolin’s son Josh Brolin is currently starring in Deadpool 2 and a certified lifelong legend for his work in Goonies. Here is a fun bit with Ryan Reynolds and Josh Brolin insulting each other. Caution! They have potty mouths but it’s hilarious!
Peter and John are merely guests, unlikeWestworld season 1’s Logan and William who have deliberate business interests in the park. HBO’s Westworld Man in Black is played by one of my favorite actors, Ed Harris. The Man in Black was once good and discovers his darker self upon his first visit to the park.
Yul Brynner’s Man in Black is always bad. The only game he plays is next-level peek a boo.
Bolts to bolts
The term ‘computer virus’ was invented by Crichton. Remember, this is before Apple, Microsoft, and the Internet. A “disease of the machinery” is how the scientists in the movie refer to it. And unfortunately, there are no cool catchphrases such as “freeze all motor functions.”
The origin of the virus causing the park to literally go off the rails is not explained unlike in Westworld season 1 where Peter Abernathy melts down violently after looking a modern-day photo of America’s Next Top Model.
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- James Marsden still hopes they can finish Westworld
- Westworld and other HBO shows headed to Roku and Tubi
Ford’s poetic reveries are not present in the movie because there is no charismatic Dr. Ford character. In the movie, there are no repeating loops or jumping timelines–it’s fairly straightforward.
There are no under the hood moments to empathize with the hosts, as we grew to do in the first season of Westworld. There are no Bernards in the 1973 movie to console, reset or emotionally groom hosts like Dolores.
Hosts in the movie are frozen in place late at night and are re-activated in the early morning. Their skills in conversation leave a lot to be desired. The hosts also have pixellated vision. There’s no witty Lee Sizemore wordsmithing or any characters from the narrative in this cult classic.
Golf carts vs. ATVs
In Westworld season 1, hosts stay active on a continuous basis until they are killed, need repair, or experience malfunctions. The security officers in the first season of Westworld have all-terrain vehicles and military protective gear. Quite the upgrade, right?
In the movie, the security and techs have quaint white golf carts, white lab coats, and black beanies. As for guns, guests in both versions have their choice of gun models (Are you feeling lucky? Well, do ya punk?”).
But in Crichton’s Westworld, the guns are battery charged with built-in heat sensing devices. This way each park has safeguards and a means to protect themselves. But there are no iPads, tablets, or even Wi-Fi in the 1973 movie. Maybe Pong in the Delos lab break room, but that’s it.
In the movie, you can tell someone is a host by looking at their hands. In this version, they have not been perfected yet. In the early days of Westworld season one, the host aesthetics are perfected but not the human nuances, i.e. the reveries.
Ford says they were only primary colors but now some three decades later, the hosts have a full palette of secondary and tertiary colors to express themselves.
In the eye of the beholder: Style points
In both versions, we get the authentic 1880s Wild West town and iconic desert backdrop. There is blood and gore but the blood in the movie looks more like red paint. The underground Delos lab has the red lighting and minimalist art gallery feel just like the HBO series.
As for the branding, I have to give the best poster design award to 1973’s Westworld. In real life, I’m a graphic designer/painter and a total 1970s enthusiast. The color palette, typography and illustrative components of the 1973 poster are the best.
Although the opening montage for the first season of Westworld is incredibly beautiful. The fact that the show didn’t get an award for the opening montage is ridiculous. A tip of my white hat to all the art directors, designers, artists, and creative powerhouse professional who work behind the scenes to create such sumptuous art.
Since this movie is shot in 1973 and probably for a minuscule budget, it’s not as polished as HBO’s Westworld. However, it still brings futuristic digital effects fresh for the time. It’s definitely still a fun movie to watch.
Be advised, the movie has some hokey western style music with lots of harmonics and banjos. Just roll with it. If you want sweeping orchestral scores, and impeccable cover songs of Radio Head, Sound Garden, rewatch Westworld season 1.
One true thing: The story is the DNA
Good storytelling is what hooks us. Crichton’s Westworld, Andromeda Strain, Jurassic Park, and many other stories he’s created are best sellers and some of the top grossing movies in history. He ushered in a new era of provocative ideas and questions about what is ethical. And took us along for the ride.
Both the 1973 movie and the first season of Westworld offer up big questions. Is it better to be good or evil? What is right and what is wrong? Is technology going to make humanity worse or obsolete? Will brown polyester leisure suits, wide neckties, and white shoes make a comeback?
Next: Westworld: 4 biggest theories of season 2
Is it better to go to Walley World vs Westworld? It’s definitely safer to go to Walley World with the Griswolds. Go back in time and treat yourself to 1973’s Westworld. Rewatch Season 1 and compare and contrast for yourself. You won’t regret it, we promise.
These lingering concepts continue in the second season of Westworld. Good thing there will be a third season to continue the conversation.
Did you watch the 1973 movie? And what are your thoughts on the similarities and differences? Share your thoughts with us!
Watch Westworld Season 2 on HBO Sundays at 9 pm EST!