In 1983 the Delos Corporation created three adult themed interactive amusement parks. The three parks were Romanworld, fashioned after the time when Pompeii was still around, Medievalworld, which resembled medieval Europe, and Westworld, modeled after the American Old West. For a thousand dollars a day you could immerse yourself in the culture and history of one of these historic times. What makes the three parks realistic are the androids that populate them, both human and animal, and since they are robots, visitors have carte blanche to indulge their wildest fantasies.
Two of such visitors, who are going to Westworld, are Peter Martin (Richard Benjamin), who is a first-time visitor, and his friend, John Blane (James Brolin). John had been to Westworld previously. Peter had recently divorced and the trip is meant to cheer him up. Peter and John arrive at Westworld and get fitted with western clothes. They are then taken by stagecoach into town and get a room at the Grand Hotel. After they get settled in, they head out to the saloon. Peter is a bit nervous but still excited.
An android gunslinger (Yul Brynner) walks into the saloon and nudges Peter causing his drink to spill. He then begins to criticize Peter, calling him names. Peter, nudged by John, calls the gunslinger out. Peter and the gunslinger have a shootout. Peter shoots the gunslinger. Now that he is having fun Peter and John get drunk and get a couple robot hookers. Meanwhile all the other worlds are going full speed.
Late at night, while the guests are sleeping, the clean-up crew comes in and picks up all the dead gunslingers, bringing them to the robotic center where they are analyzed and repaired. All this is coordinated by the Chief Supervisor (Alan Oppenheimer). Lately the chief has been noticing some unusual malfunctions with some of the androids. It started in Romanworld, it then moved on to Medievalworld and now Westworld started having some breakdowns. The problem looks similar to how a disease or virus would spread.
In the morning everything starts up again including the dead robots from the night before. Once again, the guys are confronted by the same gunslinger Peter killed the day before. Peter gets the drop on him and shoots him. Peter is arrested and put in the pokey. John decides to break Peter out of jail. They go on the lam. When John is bit by a robotic rattlesnake the Chief Supervisor realizes that something is affecting the androids and the computer system.
The virus spreads throughout the complex. In the morning Peter and John are once again confronted by the gunslinger. This time the gunslinger draws and shoots John, killing him. The supervisor tries to shut down the complex, but the androids are not responding. Instead, they begin killing the guests. Peter tries to get away from the gunslinger, but the robot is relentless. Play time is over.
“Westworld” was released in 1973 and was written and directed by Michael Crichton. It is an American science fiction weird west film. A sequel call “Futureworld” was done in 1976. A one season television series called “Beyond Westworld” was released in 1980. A new HBO television series in 2016 went for three short seasons and totaled 36 episodes.
Science Fiction author Gene Roddenberry’s wife, Majel Barrett has a bit part as the owner of a brothel. Yul Brynner’s look as the gunslinger is based on how his character in the film “The Magnificent Seven” looked and acted.
At one point, acid is splashed in the face of the gunslinger. To get the proper effect, an oil-based makeup mixed with ground Alka-Seltzer was applied to Yul Brynner’s face. Water was then splashed on him creating the smoking effect, which in reality is fizzing Alka-Seltzer.