Ancient Geeks episode 76: George Lucas' THX-1138

We begin a series of episodes about the first movies from directors who later made the classics of geek cinema.  In this first episode, we take a look at George Lucas' first feature film, THX-1138. A dystopian drama starring Robert Duvall and Donald Pleasance, this movie was based on Lucas' student film, Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB. (Frankly, we're stumped why Lucas didn't stick with this title.) The backstory is fascinating, including a significant role that Francis Ford Coppola played behind the scenes. But what did we think of THX-1138, then and now? And more importantly, can you see in this movie what kind of director Lucas would become? Are there any hints of Star Wars in THX-1138? All will be revealed in this episode. A computer-managed society that's rapidly breaking down! Casual tyranny! Drug-induced docility! Car chases! Nuclear accidents! Robo-Jesus! Holograms! Wannabe revolutionaries! It's all here.   Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact [email protected]. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. Also, check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack! And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor