Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)
In Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970), Dr. Charles Forbin is in charge of the top-secret government project to construct the mammoth computer called "Colossus," which will, in the words of the president, "put the pentagon in mothballs." The computer, which is housed in a complex cut into the side of a mountain, is so mammoth, in fact, that project personnel, and Colossus itself, tend to refer to it as a "system." At the beginning of the film, the president unveils Colossus, the "paragon of reason," to a global television audience:
"As president of the United States of America, I can now tell the people of the entire world that as of 3 A.M. Eastern Standard time, the defense of our country--and the defense of the entire world--has been in the hands of a machine--a system we call 'Colossus.'"
The rationale for relinquishing complete control of
all of the country's nuclear warheads to Colossus is that the
"system" is "capable of storing and processing
more information than the greatest genius, and it has no
emotions, it knows no fear, no hate, no envy." Men make
mistakes, the president explains to the television audience, and
"this is exactly what mankind can no longer afford."
Soon after assuming control of the
nation's arsenal, however, Colossus begins doing things it wasn't
programmed to do. It surprises everyone by announcing "There
Is Another System," which turns out to be Soviet system
named "Guardian" designed for the exact same purpose as
Colossus. The president begins worrying about a breach of
security, declaring that there must be a Russian spy on Forbin's
team, and wonders how best to announce this latest development to
the public. Meanwhile, Colossus demands, to everyone's
astonishment, that a communications link to Guardian be provided
for it. Soon, the entire planet's nuclear arsenal is under the
control of Colossus, who demands complete obedience from humans.
The penalty for disobedience is nuclear armageddon.
Near the end of the film there is a
montage of faces. Men, women, and children--the citizens of the
world--watch the global television broadcast in helpless horror
and disbelief as the Colossus--built by men with an undying faith
in superior logic and cold, emotionless reasoning--detonates two
nuclear warheads, killing thousands, as punishment for attempted
sabotage.
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