The Omen (1976)

Regisseur:

Richard Donner

Drehbuchautor:

David Seltzer (written by)

Premierendatum:

25. Juni 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Werbezeile:

It is the greatest mystery of all because no human being will ever solve it.

Plot:

An American ambassador learns to his horror that his son is actually the literal Antichrist.

Plot Keywords:

Disturbing | Mother Son Relationship | Adoption | Newspaper Headline | Miscarriage

Filmpreise:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 8 nominations

Nutzerkommentare:

One Of Scariest Movies Of The Modern Era

Besetzung

Gregory Peck	...	Robert Thorn
Lee Remick	...	Katherine Thorn
David Warner	...	Jennings
Billie Whitelaw	...	Mrs. Baylock
Harvey Stephens	...	Damien
Patrick Troughton	...	Father Brennan
Martin Benson	...	Father Spiletto
Robert Rietty	...	Monk
Tommy Duggan	...	Priest
John Stride	...	The Psychiatrist
Anthony Nicholls	...	Dr. Becker
Holly Palance	...	Nanny
Roy Boyd	...	Reporter
Freda Dowie	...	Nun
Sheila Raynor	...	Mrs. Horton

Alternativ:

Omen I (reissue title)
Omen I: The Antichrist (reissue title)
Omen I: The Birthmark (reissue title)
The Antichrist (USA) (working title)
The Birthmark (USA) (working title)
Omen, Das (Österreich) (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) [de]

Länge:

111 Min | Germany:107 Min (cut version)

Produktionsland:

UK | USA

Sprache:

Englisch | Latin

Farbe:

Farbe

Seitenverhältnis:

2.35 : 1

Tonverfahren:

Mono

Altersfreigabe:

UK:X (original rating) | UK:15 (DVD rating) | New Zealand:(Banned) (video release, 1989-1991) | Sweden:15 | Canada:R (video rating) | Portugal:M/16 | UK:18 (tv rating) | Spain:18 | South Korea:15 | UK:15 (re-rating) (2006) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | New Zealand:R16 (1992 re-rating) | New Zealand:R18 (original rating) | Iceland:16 | Australia:MA (25th anniversary special edition) | Australia:R (original rating) | Canada:R | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Norway:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | USA:R (certificate #24560) | West Germany:16

Drehorte:

All Saints Church, Fulham, London, England, UK

Firma:

Twentieth Century-Fox Productions

Dies und das:

According to at least one biography of Gregory Peck, he took this role at a huge cut in salary (a mere $250,000) but was also guaranteed 10% of the film's box office gross. When it went on to gross more than $60 million in the U.S. alone, The Omen (1976) became the highest-paid performance of Peck's career.

Pannen:

Crew oder Equipment sichtbar: When Thorne and the photographer are being chased through the graveyard by the Rotweillers, you can make out the dog handlers for a brief second behind some bushes.

Dialogzitate:

[first lines]
Father Spiletto: [voiceover] The child is dead. He breathed for a moment. Then he breathed no more. The child is dead. Dead. The child is dead.

Bezüge zu anderen Titeln:

Verweis/Anspielung/Erwähnung in "Roseanne: Satan, Darling (#9.7)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

Ave Satani

One Of Scariest Movies Of The Modern Era

This movie scared the heck out of me when I saw it in the theaters in 1976, and it's still creepy today. It was almost 30 years later when I finally saw it for the second time and I thoroughly enjoyed it again, although it wasn't terrifying to me anymore. The DVD version is excellent because it presents the movie in the 2.35 widescreen mode, which is essential to the viewing of this film if you are a fan of cinematography. A VHS formatted-to-TV picture would lose too much of the great camera-work done in this film. I was amazed how beautifully filmed this movie is, so if you love this film and don't have the DVD, please consider getting it.

The story was a bit slower than I remembered it back in '76 but still provides enough action and plenty of chills. This time around, I found the nanny (Billie Whitelaw as "Mrs. Baylock") to be more scary than the devil/kid! I didn't even remember her from 30 years ago but she got my attention on the DVD. It was a very effective job of acting by that woman.

In the meantime, I always enjoy looking at Lee Remick's gorgeous face with her magnetic eyes and Gregory Peck is usually rock-solid in roles he plays. This is no exception.

Although I question some of the supposed quotes from the Book Of Revelation from the Bible (there is no "s" in Revelation, the screenwriters showing their biblical ignorance.), the movie is still a good witness to people who don't believe in Satan. They might after viewing this movie.

This is one of the classics of the '70s and often underrated. The sequels to this were simply not memorable and not worth your time. I don't know about the re- make that just came out, but it would be tough to top this film. I think I'll stick with this one and I won't wait another 30 years to see it again. Maybe tonight!!