Everything you need to know about Westworld (1973)

Love Jurassic Park (1993) and want to watch something similar? Then you should probably check out the 1973 sci-fi action movie, Westworld.

The movie tells the story of a Western-themed theme park, which encounters trouble when its star attraction (cowboy robots) turn on the guests. Madness and mayhem then follows, with the guests fleeing for their lives, as a dysfunctional Gunslinger goes on a rampage.

If you’ve not watched Westworld before, then I highly recommend you take a look. In the meantime, if you want to know some key details about the movie, here are a heap of frequently asked questions about Westworld, covering various subjects, from the movie’s inspiration to key plot points.

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FAQs about Westworld (1973)

Who wrote the Westworld movie?

Westworld was written and directed by Jurassic Park author, Michael Crichton, and tells the story of an amusement park filled with humanoid robots. During the course of the movie, the robots malfunction and turn on the park’s guests.

Was Westworld based on a book?

No. Although Michael Crichton was an author, the movie was not based on a book. However, Westworld was turned into a book a year after the movie was released.

In 1974, a novelisation of Westworld was published. The book was an adaptation of the movie’s script, with a few changes.

How much did Westworld cost to make?

Westworld was shot on a budget of $1.25 million. By today’s standards, this is an extremely small budget.

Where is Westworld set?

Westworld, or Western World as it is called in the movie, is situated in the vacation destination of Delos, an amusement park touted as “the most exciting vacation spot in the history of man”. Delos has three theme parks: Western World, Medieval World and Roman World.

At the beginning of the movie, a description of Medieval World states the owners have “spared no expense” in creating the attraction. A similar comment is made in Jurassic Park.

How much does it cost to stay at Delos?

It costs $1,000 a day to stay at Delos. During a stay guests are allowed to do what they wish as there are “no rules”.

Who are the lead characters in Westworld?

The two lead characters in Westworld are Peter Martin and John Blane, as played by Richard Benjamin and James Brolin, respectively.

Who played the evil Gunslinger in Westworld?

Yul Brynner played the role of Westworld’s black-clad robot, the Gunslinger, who is the main villain in Westworld. The Gunslinger is a nod to Brynner’s cowboy character, Chris Adams, from the movie The Magnificent Seven (1960).

How long is it before things go worryingly wrong in Western World?

The first indication that something might be amiss in Western World takes place approximately 24 minutes into the movie. However, it is almost an hour into the movie before staff at Delos completely lose control of the robots.

Does the Gunslinger die in Westworld?

Yes. The Gunslinger is killed three times – twice with gunfire, and once with acid and fire!

Does Westworld have a sequel?

Yes, the sequel to Westworld is the 1976 film, Futureworld. In the sequel, Delos reopens with four worlds: Medievalworld, Romanworld, Spaworld and Futureworld, but once again, things go wrong.

Did any of the cast of Westworld return for the sequel?

Yul Brynner was the only actor to return for Futureworld. He has a very small cameo appearance in the film.

And finally, are there any other sequels to Westworld?

In addition to Futureworld, the original movie spawned a short-lived TV spin-off called Beyond Westworld. When it made its debut in 1980, the TV series was not well received and was quickly cancelled.

However, this didn’t stop Westworld from making a comeback, and in 2016 a new Westworld TV series hit screens. This second show was much better received and proved to be a hit with audiences.

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Thank you for taking the time to read this post about Westworld on It’s A Stampede!. For more posts, be sure to check out the recommended reads below.

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