The movie is an adaptation of the novel The Final Programme, by Michael Moorcock. And the seminal Jerry Cornelius ends up becoming a sort of dimensional-countercultural secret agent in the novels (4 novels, a lot of short stories, novellas, etc.).
You beat me to this tidbit. I've read Moorcock's Elric and Hawkmoon, Eternal Champion novels several times, but not The Final Programme. I'm not sure I ever will. Having seen the movie kind of soured me on it since both JC and the plot in this story appears so far removed from the others Eternal Champions, Elric, Hawkmoon, and Corum. And I have read that Jerry Cornelius is an amalgum of MM's Jerry Cornell from "Chinese Agent" and Captain Cornelius from MM's Doctor Who novel "The coming of the Terraphiles". So, he's a bit of a hodgepodge. I'm down for a psychedelic plot, but the movie felt sort of chaotic and arbitrary.
@@infinitesimians The Final Programme is a beat-for-beat retelling of the Elric of Melnibone story. I put off reading it awhile for similar reasons, but finally gave it a go last year. The book is excellent and reading the novel definitely helps appreciate this film.
@@infinitesimians Jerry Cornelius is a unique protagonist who has later reflections throughout the multiverse. I would advise against believing anything anyone else says about the 4 books. They are beyond weird and only you will be able to assess your reaction to them. I loved them.
I've watched the British version several times, It always intrigues and fascinates but somehow feels it's missing something somewhere that would make it a great film.
When my father subscribed HBO back in the late 70's I don't think he realized what a door he was opening for me. I was already a devoted film fanatic, first with horror/monster movies and then later more adult films. But when I discovered that HBO played all their weirdest stuff late at night I became I a night owl and got to see some very strange stuff like Death Race 2000, Zardoz, and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia to name just a few. It warped my preteen mind in the best possible way. I really enjoyed The Last Days of Man on Earth. It was truly bizarre. Several years ago I finally read a collection of the Jerry Cornelius novels by Michael Moorcock. They made little sense. I believe he disliked the film but it's actually more coherent than the novel, all of them seem to be written in a stream-of-consciousness fugue state and plots are unnecessary. I've never seen the British version. This is a fun weird and fun oddity of the 70's (my favourite era of cinema,both foreign and domestic) that shouldn't be understood but experienced. Don't go in expecting anything remotely resembling a conventional plot or a satisfying resolution. It's like a dream you might have while in the throes of a very high fever.
Early period HBO was sensational! Yes!, all the weird stuff they had on rotation, especially overnight. Later, Encore took up that mantel. '70s movies are something special.
On "The Projection Booth" podcast, Moorcock revealed that he hated the "super spy" aspect of Jerry Cornelius in the film, noting that he's really not a very suave and charismatic character in the novels, which is true as far as it goes. As for me, I'd love to have seen more Jon Finch as superspy Jerry Cornelius.
Cool movie. I'm glad you covered it. I used to watch it on a pretty much weekly basis when I was a teen! 😀 Eventually I read the novel and realised that the movie had nowhere near the budget to do the story full justice. Nevertheless, a fun film with ideas in its head! 👍
I saw this American-release version on a rented VHS copy decades ago, after having first encountered the source novel by Michael Moorcock in a collected edition of all four of that author's Jerry Cornelius books. I don't remember the movie in great detail, but I recall finding it diverting, and definitely got some strong Stanley Kubrick vibes from the production, the sets in the film being among its most compelling attractions. The expansive pinball arcade set reminded me a bit of the Korova Milk Bar set in 'A Clockwork Orange', and that film's Patrick Magee also featuring in the cast here further reinforced the Kubrick flavor.
I saw this thing first run in some shithole theater -- the best kind -- and I tried to follow Jenny Runacre's career ever since. All my friends thought I meant Jenny Agutter, so I guess I was JR's one true love. Loved the movie btw and would love to see it again.
thanks for the heads up on this Gillian. i had no idea there was this other cut. I wonder if the lack of success of the film at the time stymied any future production of Michale Moorcock's work...which seem quite "kinky" and therefor you'd think much easier to film now
Moorcock refused all options on Elric films. Wikipedia says the BBC has had the rights to the Runestaff/Hawkmoon series for the last five years. Which seems like a weird choice for series and company.
@@pattheplanter A screen adaptation of Moorcock's 1978 alternate-universe fantasy 'Gloriana, or The Unfulfill'd Queen' could prove interesting, given an adequate budget and the right casting. It could easily attract the audiences generated by HBO's 'Game of Thrones'.
@@VonWenk Just one version. The Wikipedia entry gives it 94 min. in the UK version and 74 min. in the US version. The Shout Factory cover times it at 89 minutes, so I am assuming that it is the UK version.
Greetings from the UK-England.....i was a big Michael Moorcock fan from about 1976 onwards,i loved the novel of "The Final Programme" but i thought the film was horrendous,it was the sort of campy/gaudy/trite nonsense that Michael Winner or Ken Russell would have made.
If you researched the film you would have encountered that it is an adaptation of a book by Michael Moorcock. It is very faithful to its source hence the visuals and camp. It's okay as a film but it is not, very much not, an original idea
The movie is an adaptation of the novel The Final Programme, by Michael Moorcock. And the seminal Jerry Cornelius ends up becoming a sort of dimensional-countercultural secret agent in the novels (4 novels, a lot of short stories, novellas, etc.).
You beat me to this tidbit. I've read Moorcock's Elric and Hawkmoon, Eternal Champion novels several times, but not The Final Programme. I'm not sure I ever will. Having seen the movie kind of soured me on it since both JC and the plot in this story appears so far removed from the others Eternal Champions, Elric, Hawkmoon, and Corum. And I have read that Jerry Cornelius is an amalgum of MM's Jerry Cornell from "Chinese Agent" and Captain Cornelius from MM's Doctor Who novel "The coming of the Terraphiles". So, he's a bit of a hodgepodge. I'm down for a psychedelic plot, but the movie felt sort of chaotic and arbitrary.
@@infinitesimians The Final Programme is a beat-for-beat retelling of the Elric of Melnibone story. I put off reading it awhile for similar reasons, but finally gave it a go last year. The book is excellent and reading the novel definitely helps appreciate this film.
@@infinitesimians Jerry Cornelius is a unique protagonist who has later reflections throughout the multiverse. I would advise against believing anything anyone else says about the 4 books. They are beyond weird and only you will be able to assess your reaction to them. I loved them.
I've watched the British version several times, It always intrigues and fascinates but somehow feels it's missing something somewhere that would make it a great film.
When my father subscribed HBO back in the late 70's I don't think he realized what a door he was opening for me. I was already a devoted film fanatic, first with horror/monster movies and then later more adult films. But when I discovered that HBO played all their weirdest stuff late at night I became I a night owl and got to see some very strange stuff like Death Race 2000, Zardoz, and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia to name just a few. It warped my preteen mind in the best possible way. I really enjoyed The Last Days of Man on Earth. It was truly bizarre. Several years ago I finally read a collection of the Jerry Cornelius novels by Michael Moorcock. They made little sense. I believe he disliked the film but it's actually more coherent than the novel, all of them seem to be written in a stream-of-consciousness fugue state and plots are unnecessary. I've never seen the British version. This is a fun weird and fun oddity of the 70's (my favourite era of cinema,both foreign and domestic) that shouldn't be understood but experienced. Don't go in expecting anything remotely resembling a conventional plot or a satisfying resolution. It's like a dream you might have while in the throes of a very high fever.
Early period HBO was sensational! Yes!, all the weird stuff they had on rotation, especially overnight. Later, Encore took up that mantel. '70s movies are something special.
On "The Projection Booth" podcast, Moorcock revealed that he hated the "super spy" aspect of Jerry Cornelius in the film, noting that he's really not a very suave and charismatic character in the novels, which is true as far as it goes. As for me, I'd love to have seen more Jon Finch as superspy Jerry Cornelius.
As a kid of the 70s, you've got great taste.
Cool movie. I'm glad you covered it. I used to watch it on a pretty much weekly basis when I was a teen! 😀 Eventually I read the novel and realised that the movie had nowhere near the budget to do the story full justice. Nevertheless, a fun film with ideas in its head! 👍
I saw this American-release version on a rented VHS copy decades ago, after having first encountered the source novel by Michael Moorcock in a collected edition of all four of that author's Jerry Cornelius books. I don't remember the movie in great detail, but I recall finding it diverting, and definitely got some strong Stanley Kubrick vibes from the production, the sets in the film being among its most compelling attractions. The expansive pinball arcade set reminded me a bit of the Korova Milk Bar set in 'A Clockwork Orange', and that film's Patrick Magee also featuring in the cast here further reinforced the Kubrick flavor.
Love this film, tho I know it as The Final Programme, which I feel is a better title.
and is the name of the novel it is based on
Also based on the novel by Michael Moorcock.
I've never seen this film but It seems like something right off my alley!
I saw this thing first run in some shithole theater -- the best kind -- and I tried to follow Jenny Runacre's career ever since. All my friends thought I meant Jenny Agutter, so I guess I was JR's one true love. Loved the movie btw and would love to see it again.
Runacre is a delight in this.
Didn't she play Jack Nicholson's wife in The Passenger?
@@VonWenk Yes, she did.
I read the Michael Moorcock books decades ago! I'm not sure if I want to revisit the story.
the final programmy 😂
Are both versions available on Region 1, and does it make more sense than Phase IV?
What a magnificently weird film.
Michael moorcock adaptation
I knew I’d heard/read the name Jerry Cornelius before. I read some of those Jerry Cornelius novels way back in my teens; they were far out man.
thanks for the heads up on this Gillian. i had no idea there was this other cut. I wonder if the lack of success of the film at the time stymied any future production of Michale Moorcock's work...which seem quite "kinky" and therefor you'd think much easier to film now
Moorcock refused all options on Elric films. Wikipedia says the BBC has had the rights to the Runestaff/Hawkmoon series for the last five years. Which seems like a weird choice for series and company.
@@pattheplanter A screen adaptation of Moorcock's 1978 alternate-universe fantasy 'Gloriana, or The Unfulfill'd Queen' could prove interesting, given an adequate budget and the right casting. It could easily attract the audiences generated by HBO's 'Game of Thrones'.
@@barrymoore4470 Perhaps the public would like it but I would prefer A Nomad of the Time Streams or The Dancers at the End of Time.
Picked this one up from Shout Factory, not knowing it was Robert Fuest. Definitely one of my better buys.
Did it have both versions?
@@VonWenk Just one version. The Wikipedia entry gives it 94 min. in the UK version and 74 min. in the US version. The Shout Factory cover times it at 89 minutes, so I am assuming that it is the UK version.
Hawkwind filmed a scene but it was cut
Now I need a DVD with extras.
They should do the next Cornelius novel:A Cure for Cancer. Now thatis unfilmable!
Haha.....I rented the bootleg at Kim's!
Interesting 😊
Greetings from the UK-England.....i was a big Michael Moorcock fan from about 1976 onwards,i loved the novel of "The Final Programme" but i thought the film was horrendous,it was the sort of campy/gaudy/trite nonsense that Michael Winner or Ken Russell would have made.
Cool.
If you researched the film you would have encountered that it is an adaptation of a book by Michael Moorcock. It is very faithful to its source hence the visuals and camp. It's okay as a film but it is not, very much not, an original idea
I thought there was a JC movie I hadn't heard of but unfortunately it is just a weird name put on The Final Program.
Any relation to Grant Horvat?
I really liked Finch in this, he was so dislikeable in 'Frenzy'
is gillian a guys name, strange but i would still merry her
No, in the UK it’s just a name.
@@petergrantlloyd6754 ohhh i believe it because in the US i’ve never come across that name before
Paige is similar in this country. Lots of girls including my daughter called it, but boys seem to be just Americans
Must everything be identity politics?
Every human being on Earth has an identity, so … yes. 😮
@@richardhart9204 ha ha
Yeah right
@@richardhart9204 I dunno, it seems like the ones without a real identity are the ones constantly bitching about identity politics.
You can make your own films if you want. Without any identity or politics. Somebody might accidentally watch one.