Jim, are you besmerching the entire decade's worth of films! Why, I lived through the 70's and loved them and the movies of the 70's, though I can't remember much of either (the decade or the movies) but that's what the 70's were....a blur.

No, not at all. But 70's films have a very distinct look and feel which is not always good. I loved many things from the 70's (that I can remember), but movies from the 70's do not top my list, in general.

No, not at all. But 70's films have a very distinct look and feel which is not always good. I loved many things from the 70's (that I can remember), but movies from the 70's do not top my list, in general.

Jaws. The scariest damn movie ever, 70's, but I know what you mean, I tend to watch contemporary films almost exclusively these days. Although sometimes slave to the technical improvements, the advances in filmmaking have been mind-blowing. Modern movies like the LOTR Trilogy are able to create a Middle-Earth in brilliant detail and clarity that movies from the 70's just can't compare with/to?.

THE OMEGA MAN is one of my all time favorite guilty pleasures. I've probably seen it a hundred times. It departs seriously from the theme and plot of Matheson's excellent novel, but they can both be enjoyed in their own right.

Probably the best adaptation of Matheson's book is an unauthorized one - THE NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. George Romero has said he "borrowed" the theme of the rise of a new society (as well as some obvious plot elements) from Matheson.

WONDERFUL score for THE OMEGA MAN (I have it on CD, in a limited release) - Ron Grainer also did the score to THE PRISONER series and the theme to DR. WHO. Anthony Zerbe also gave a great over-the-top performance as Mathias.

Weird piece of trivia - Atlas Comics, a short-lived comics company from the 1970s formed by Stan Lee's brother, had plans to adapt a couple of 1970s properties to comics form, including THE OMEGA MAN. Charlton Heston actually did a written analysis of the film (which was reprinted in the Comics Journal), but the heads of the company decided that there was no need to purchase the rights to film and TV properties when they could just rip them off - thus, OMEGA MAN became PLANET OF VAMPIRES (no relation to the Mario Bava flick), and also contained some plot devices from another Heston film, PLANET OF THE APES:



...but which did have some cool Neil Adams cover art. It lasted 3 issues and was one of the few worthwhile Atlas titles.

They also changed their planned KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER adaptation into THE COUGAR.

... Anthony Zerbe also gave a great over-the-top performance as Mathias.

Off topic question here.

When I first saw Kathryn Erbe on HBO's "Oz" and now on NBC, "Law & Order Criminal Intent," I thought immediately of Anthony Zerbe,without knowing her name and unable to remember his. I responded to what I saw as a physical resemblance, perhaps father and daughter with a name change on her part. Am I crazy or what?

Maggers, Now that you mention it..yeah

http://www.imdb.com doesn't list a family link between them, though.

Maggers, Now that you mention it..yeah

http://www.imdb.com doesn't list a family link between them, though.

I suspect it's just one of those quirky things. I can't find any mention of Anthony Zerbe as her father in any of her bios, either.

I enjoyed Omega Man many years ago, but they still haven't made a good film adaption of I Am Legend. My favorite movie based on Matheson's work is The Legend of Hell House (he adapted the screenplay from his own novel).

I heard that same rumor. The screenplay was written by the guy who wrote The Cell. Apparently, he had it ready to go, but for some reason it was scrapped.

I had read that Arnold Schwarzenegger was supposed to do this movie and then diceded to only produce it -- but the Governor thing put that on hold. I did hear that Will Smith might be taking over the part though.

Here is a little info: http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/pstory/0%2C3382%2C11432%2C00.html

RIK

I had read that Arnold Schwarzenegger was supposed to do this movie and then diceded to only produce it -- but the Governor thing put that on hold. I did hear that Will Smith might be taking over the part though.

Here is a little info: http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/pstory/0%2C3382%2C11432%2C00.html

RIK

That rumor has been circulating for quite a while (check out the date of the article you linked to). It'll probably come out around the same time as the Repairman Jack movie.

Coincidentally, this came up on AICN today:

http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=19795

Between "the director of Constantine" and action-star Will Smith, it doesn't sound all that promising to me.