Display MoreI don't know that we would say THX 1138 is a movie that you sit down and explicitly enjoy but it is pretty fascinating. As a work of art, it's superb. It follows in the footsteps of dystopian futures like the ones imagined by Huxley and Orwell mated with the same sort of 1970s washed out tomorrow you'd find in things like Logan's Run or Beneath the Planet of the Apes. There's very little handholding, either; you're expected to figure out the world and what's going on quickly and before the film gets too far away from you. It was also very interesting seeing how much of THX's future ends up in Lucas' Star Wars six years later. It's a bit like playing an early alpha of a beloved video game, in that respect!
The big literal connection to Wing Commander (and many, many other things) was the name of the movie and lead character, THX 1138. THX is played by a much younger Robert Duvall and the designation appears throughout the movie on cool 1970s computer screens. Here's one of them and the credits for comparison! Check out our intro for the interesting story of who Mandarin #1138 actually is…
We also couldn't help but wonder if the holographic stripper seen early in the movie (which was also oddly reused in the Star Wars Holiday Special!) inspired the holographic guide at the Galactic Gourmet on Janus IV in Privateer 2. The uniforms that all the workers wear also look a lot like the ones in the background of Crius Hospital!
The Privateer 2 hologram is played by Stasia French. If you'd like to learn more about how the makeup worked you should check out this short video from EQ Magazine. Warning: it is NOT safe for work.
Interestingly, Privateer 2's script does describe a sexy hologram guide... but it explicitly says she's just a head without a body!
A GLOWING BUBBLE appears in the air beside him. It seems to
contain the face of a pretty woman: she smiles at him
seductively...but without any body attached to the head, the
effect is slightly unnerving.
HOLO LADY
(hootchy-koo voice)
This way, Ser...
SC.216 ANOTHER ANGLE
The bubble collapses itself into a glowing point of light and
zips off, leading the way. Arris goes after it, looking
slightly bemused.
Sully says SLURP to the thought of escaping a dystopian factory.
