The Lathe of Heaven

Starring:Bruce Davison, Peyton E. Park, Niki Flacks, Kevin Conway, Vandi Clark, Bernadette Whitehead, Jo Livingston, Jane Roberts, Tom Matts, Frank Miller, Joye Nash, Gena Sleete, Margaret Avery, Ben McKinley III, R.A. Mihailoff, Ben Stephenson
Director: David R. Loxton, Fred Barzyk
Studio: New Video Group
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
"Antwerp!" For science fiction fans, the long-awaited VHS and DVD release of The Lathe of Heaven is a dream come true. This haunting adaptation of Ursula K. Le Guin's genre-classic novel was broadcast but once on PBS in 1980 before rights and other legal snafus relegated it to the archives. Reportedly PBS's most requested program, the made-for-TV film was at last rebroadcast in 2000. Set in Portland, Oregon, in the near future, The Lathe of Heaven stars Bruce Davison as George Orr, who, to put it mildly, has a dream problem. Not only do his dreams come true, but they "change reality back to the Stone Age."

Kevin Conway costars as Dr. Haber, a dream specialist who instantly recognizes George's gift and tries to harness it to make the whole world right. But, as George notes, "Unlimited power means unlimited danger." The increasingly megalomaniacal Haber uses George to try to cure the world's ills, from overpopulation to war, resulting in, for starters, a devastating plague and even alien invasion.

Amazon.com

"Antwerp!" For science fiction fans, the long-awaited VHS and DVD release of The Lathe of Heaven is a dream come true. This haunting adaptation of Ursula K. Le Guin's genre-classic novel was broadcast but once on PBS in 1980 before rights and other legal snafus relegated it to the archives. Reportedly PBS's most requested program, the made-for-TV film was at last rebroadcast in 2000. Set in Portland, Oregon, in the near future, The Lathe of Heaven stars Bruce Davison as George Orr, who, to put it mildly, has a dream problem. Not only do his dreams come true, but they "change reality back to the Stone Age."

Many in this production went on to projects familiar to audiences: Cowriter Diane English went on to create TV's Murphy Brown; Scott Rudin, credited with "Principle Casting," is now one of Hollywood's most formidable producers; Margaret Avery, who costars as a skeptical lawyer who comes to believe George's incredible tale, was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in The Color Purple. For those who have only been able to see this now-legendary production on poor-quality bootleg tapes, this release will be sheer heaven. The DVD contains an interview with Le Guin conducted by Bill Moyers. --Donald Liebenson

Description

For George Orr, sleep is not a respite. For Dr. William Haber, dreams are tools. For sci-fi fans, the wait is over. Praised as "rare and powerful" by The New York Times, Ursula K. Le Guin's THE LATHE OF HEAVEN is one of the most celebrated science fict

Customer Reviews:

PBS Special from 1979 Reissued.......2006-11-25

I saw this on PBS in 1979 and it stayed with me for years. I don't have a problem with the production values, not being that impressed with computer special effects in place of human narrative anyway. The film still moves me. Watch for UKL in the cafeteria scene.

All We See or Seem is But Dreams Within a Dream ???.......2006-10-01

This first made for Public TV movie is an excellent adaptation of the singular "speculative fiction" novel, "The Lathe of Heaven", by the well known and talented author, Ursula K. Le Guin. Like the novel, the movie has a fluid fast pace, but with plenty of appropriate details of character, foreground and background. This gives a rich and vivid quality to the changing course of the flow of the plot, via colorful and creative sharp screenplay. However, as the motion and emotion move along, they are not overdone, giving a balanced "realistic" feel to such a "dreamy" story. Again, like the novel, the movie can be followed in a number of "symbolic" ways. It could be "objective" allegory, dealing with common human and world themes of mystical religion. Or it could be "subjective" allegory dealing with a "typical" dreaming series of a "typical" human, with the main "personas" representing the major "parts" of the human psyche. Yet it could be a "personal" metadream of one individual, a unique "just so" adventure of one George Orr. In any case, this viewer feels that the novel was indeed successfully transfered over into the movie, which seems to be rare for "speculative fiction", and especially for such a surrealistic type. Amazing, that such a "verbal" media work can be rendered so well as a "visual" media work. Ursula K. Le Guin was on site as the movie was made, in only a few weeks with only a quarter million dollars. The DVD has an interesting and informative interview, with Ursula K. Le Guin, as one of the added features. No wonder then that this movie has been one of the most requested reruns of cinema and television -- and certainly a favorite of Public Television +++

I Thought This Film Had Been Lost Forever.......2006-09-12

I had never heard of this story or the film when I happened to watch it by accident on PBS late at night by myself over 25 years ago. It was such an incredible story. I still remember it to this day. I was going to go to bed, but I couldn't leave my TV set - I was transfixed by the story.

Until I read this website and the other reviews, I had no idea why I never saw the movie again.

The release of this DVD after so many years makes me grateful that this extraordinary movie has not been lost, that I wasn't the only one who thought he saw something really unusual, and that now others can see it too.

The Haber Institute of Oeinerology plays God.......2006-06-27

The Greatest Good for the Greatest Number! What can I say about this brilliantly plotted work of literature brought to life though a cheaply budgeted but great film? Essentially a Dream Psychologist discovers that his assigned patient is telling him the truth when he is informed that the patients effective dreams can change reality. Haber uses this talent to re-create the world in the images that a smart scientist believes best. First he creates the means by making his status in society important with the creation of a new institute dedicated to Oeinerology (dream research) and uses George Orr's mind to increase the power of his augmentor machine. This done, he begins to change the world through dream suggestion to make the world right in a matter of weeks that thousands of years of history could not do. But because of the mind of Mr. Orr, both positive and negative things happen. Haber is not thwarted by this but pressures Orr to perfect his augmentor through dreams so that he can change the world without Orr's mind. The only problem is that he discovers a great secret when he finally ventures into the Lathe of Heaven. He discovers that all existence is in the mind of Orr and that the world had really ended some time ago due to Nuclear armageddon. Orr, a staggering survivor nearing death by radioactive poisoning, willed the world back into an existence that is really an effective dream of his own making!!!

He feels the sting of courage not shown in the moment.......2006-03-26

The boy who sleeps and dreams and changes the future. He still believes in the purity of love and wants a better world than this one, this melodrama, this snake coiled round a tree eyeing the naked woman. It is that solid wall against which he breaks himself. No one told him he could just allow his life to happen. No one told him to let go, to relax, to be. And, of course, good wine and guitar music and bad TV are all that are left. Our hero can change the future no less than he can change his need to gently kiss the bare shoulder of a strange and innocent girl. He feels the sting of courage not shown in the moment. But, is it all worth the suffering and toil and embarrassment? No. And that's the worst of it. So it goes with all good intentions gone sour with the poison of comfort and complacency. The pitbull next door demands his bones, and Joni Mitchel sings her sad, sad scratchy song on an ancient machine that still uses large black plastic discs and vacuum tubes to make the music music.

Average customer rating:

For thinking, not just entertaining
A Personal Favorite
Brilliant, will keep you thinking about it for Days!
Lathe of Heaven
Awesome Psychological Thriller

Lathe of Heaven (2002)
Starring: James Caan , Lukas Haas , Lisa Bonet , David Strathairn , and Sheila McCarthy
Director: Philip Haas
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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The Lathe of Heaven
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ASIN: B00006JDQN
Release Date: 2002-10-29

Amazon.com

For Ursula Le Guin's devoted following, the 2002 remake of the 1980 film based on her novel may not be the stuff dreams are made of. This new adaptation omits some of the original's most memorable developments (the racially equalized "grays" and the alien invasion). Lucas Haas stars as George Orr, a "little lost boy" haunted by his dreams, which, he claims, alter the present unbeknownst to anyone but him. James Caan (more menacing than was Kevin Conway in the original) costars as the self-promoting Dr. Haber, the therapist assigned to treat the suicidal young man. This "very productive relationship" most benefits Haber, who attempts to manufacture George's dreams "to fit some useful function." The requisite unforeseen consequences ensue. Lisa Bonet is ravishing, but less impressive as George's skeptical public defender who may be the girl of his dreams. The foreboding mood is enhanced by Angelo Badalamenti's score, which recalls his haunting work on Twin Peaks. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews:

For thinking, not just entertaining.......2006-10-28

LeGuin's story of a young man who claims his dreams alter reality and the psychiatrist who finally believes him prompts watchers to ask some weighty questions. How do we know what is? What power do we have to change what is, and should we change it? Should we use another individual to make these changes? What do we lose in these changes? What is worth keeping?
I agree with other reviewers who say this movie appeals to the thinkers. This is the kind of film that stamps an archetype in one's mind; one finds oneself comparing other plots to the Lathe of Heaven.
If you want ninety minutes fistfights, car chases, cursin', and killin', you'll be dissappointed by this film. If you enjoy films that play with your concept of reality (e.g. Matrix, The Visitors), you may enjoy this film.

A Personal Favorite.......2006-04-27

For once I must disagree with some of Amazon's top reviewers (a rare occasion). This version of "The Lathe of Heaven" stands alone from the book (you don't need to read the book to understand the movie). The characters and plot are deep and moving. Due to the depth and development of the mood it is slow at times, but it never becomes dull. It is original, refreshing and a touching love story runs as an uplifiting undercurrent. Even those who don't like Science Fiction, or don't "get" the book will enjoy this film.

Brilliant, will keep you thinking about it for Days!.......2006-01-24

I never read the original novel, but I've seen both this version and the 1980 version. This, with James Caan, I found to be one of the most stimulating and thought provoking films I've ever seen. The Davidson version of 1980 I found to be cheesey and extremely disappointing. This is a must-see film, IMO.

Lathe of Heaven.......2005-07-04

I'm not familiar with the novel nor have I seen the earlier adaptation and so I had no preconceived expectations for this movie. Granted, since it's an A&E production, I wasn't expecting it to be first rate, and it certainly isn't. In terms of production quality, the movie is quite good. The story, on the other hand, although an interesting concept, really was somewhat dry and predictable. The dialogue was kind of lame at times, too. In the end I can't say that it's that bad of a movie, but it's certainly not a movie that I'd recommend going out of your way to watch.

Awesome Psychological Thriller.......2004-06-17

George Orr (Lucas Haas) has a unique deformity when he dreams they come true. Plagued by this feeling that he used his dreams to send someone away whom he loved very much, he tries to commit suicide. The court remands him to a court appointed therapist Dr. Haber (James Caan). When Orr confesses his belief about his dreams and that he tries to stay awake so that the world won't change, Haber diagnoses Orr as suffering from a delusional psychosis stemming from adolescent sexual abuse creating a phobic reaction to the dream process that causes amnesia and personality distortion.

Through the augmenter, a brain wave monitoring device, Haber gives Orr hypnotic suggestions to control his brain patterns during dreams. Haber discovers Orr is telling the truth and manipulates him to change the world the way he wants, including unleashing a plague to bring down the population.

Nurse Penny (Sheila McCarthy), Dr. Haber's secretary, steps in to put a stop to his medalling once and for all.

The Lathe of Heaven is based on the book by Ursulla K. Le Guin. The movie consists of eight dream sequences and after each the world is changed. Other than Haber and Penny people in Orr's life are rearranged into different social positions. This was an extremely intriguing movie that kept me on the edge of my seat wondering how it would all end. For Sci-Fi fans, this is a must see!!!

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