Idaho Transfer
Encyclopedia
Idaho Transfer is a 1973 science fiction
film directed by Peter Fonda
. It stars Kelley Bohanon, Kevin Hearst, Dale Hopkins, and Keith Carradine
.
lava fields in Idaho
. The project there was commissioned to develop matter transference, but made a different discovery: time travel. They also discovered that a mysterious ecological catastrophe will soon wipe out civilization.
The time travel process has negative health effects, though. Adults "not much older than 20" are unable to survive for long, as their kidneys hemorrhage shortly after the experience. So the scientists decide to only send young people 56 years into the future so they can build a new civilization.
After the government takes over the project, the transfer machines are turned off trapping a large number of project members in the future. Now trapped they begin exploring the future world.
Marrianne Santas; it was copyrighted to Kathleen Film Production Company in 1973. Principal shooting took place in Arco, Idaho
, Craters of the Moon National Park, and Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park. Castmember Earl Crabb also cites Bellevue, Washington
as a location.
The end credits conclude with the Latin phrase "Esto Perpetua
". Translated, it means "Let it be perpetual" or "It is forever"; appropriate for a time travel film, it is also the motto
of the state of Idaho.
described it as a "very deliberate and closely controlled film graced with a slow, severe beauty that makes its quiet edge of panic all the more chilling", whereas Jay Robert Nash
in The Motion Picture Guide declares it a "useless piece of drivel about an obnoxious group of teens".
While the film's unprofessional acting is pointed out by nearly all critics, its overall naturalist
technique was praised at the time.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
film directed by Peter Fonda
Peter Fonda
Peter Henry Fonda is an American actor. He is the son of Henry Fonda, brother of Jane Fonda, and father of Bridget and Justin Fonda...
. It stars Kelley Bohanon, Kevin Hearst, Dale Hopkins, and Keith Carradine
Keith Carradine
Keith Ian Carradine is an American actor who has had success on stage, film and television. In addition, he is a Golden Globe and Oscar winning songwriter. As a member of the Carradine family, he is part of an acting "dynasty" that began with his father, John Carradine.-Early life:Keith...
.
Plot summary
Teenager Karen Braden (Kelley Bohanon) is a troubled mental hospital outpatient who is taken by her father George and sister Isa to a government facility near the Craters of the MoonCraters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is a national monument and national preserve located in the Snake River Plain in central Idaho, U.S.A. It is along US 20 , between the small cities of Arco and Carey, at an average elevation of above sea level...
lava fields in Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. The project there was commissioned to develop matter transference, but made a different discovery: time travel. They also discovered that a mysterious ecological catastrophe will soon wipe out civilization.
The time travel process has negative health effects, though. Adults "not much older than 20" are unable to survive for long, as their kidneys hemorrhage shortly after the experience. So the scientists decide to only send young people 56 years into the future so they can build a new civilization.
After the government takes over the project, the transfer machines are turned off trapping a large number of project members in the future. Now trapped they begin exploring the future world.
Cast
Most of the cast were unknowns who did not go further in the motion picture industry.- Kelley Bohanon as Karen Braden
- Kevin Hearst as Ronald
- Caroline Hildebrand as Isa Braden
- Keith CarradineKeith CarradineKeith Ian Carradine is an American actor who has had success on stage, film and television. In addition, he is a Golden Globe and Oscar winning songwriter. As a member of the Carradine family, he is part of an acting "dynasty" that began with his father, John Carradine.-Early life:Keith...
as Arthur - Ted D'Arms as George Braden
- Judy Motulsky as Judy (as Judy Motolsky)
- Dale Hopkins as Leslie
- Fred Seagraves as Dr. Lewis
- Joe Newman as Cleve
- Susan Kelly as Nurse Nora
- Meridith Hull as Jennifer
- Roy B. Ayers as Elgin (as Roy Ayers)
- Kim Casper as Anne
- Debbie Scott as Joanna
- Devin Burke as Michael
- Earl Crabb as Evans
Production
The film was produced by Peter Fonda's Pando Company, in association withMarrianne Santas; it was copyrighted to Kathleen Film Production Company in 1973. Principal shooting took place in Arco, Idaho
Arco, Idaho
Arco is a city in Butte County, Idaho, United States. The population was 995 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Butte County.Craters of the Moon National Monument is located along U.S. Route 20, southwest of the city. The Idaho National Laboratory is located east of Arco...
, Craters of the Moon National Park, and Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park. Castmember Earl Crabb also cites Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue is a city in the Eastside region of King County, Washington, United States, across Lake Washington from Seattle. Long known as a suburb or satellite city of Seattle, it is now categorized as an edge city or a boomburb. The population was 122,363 at the 2010 census.Downtown Bellevue is...
as a location.
The end credits conclude with the Latin phrase "Esto Perpetua
Esto perpetua
Esto perpetua is the state motto of Idaho. The motto appears on the back of the 2007 Idaho quarter.The words are traced back to the Venetian theologian and mathematician Paolo Sarpi , also known as Fra Paolo...
". Translated, it means "Let it be perpetual" or "It is forever"; appropriate for a time travel film, it is also the motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
of the state of Idaho.
Reception
Reception of Idaho Transfer has been widely mixed. TimeTime (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
described it as a "very deliberate and closely controlled film graced with a slow, severe beauty that makes its quiet edge of panic all the more chilling", whereas Jay Robert Nash
Jay Robert Nash
Jay Robert Nash is an American author of more than seventy books on myriad aspects of true crime. Among Nash's crime anthologies are Encyclopedia of Western Lawmen and Outlaws, Look For the Woman, Bloodletters and Badmen, and The Great Pictorial History of World Crime...
in The Motion Picture Guide declares it a "useless piece of drivel about an obnoxious group of teens".
While the film's unprofessional acting is pointed out by nearly all critics, its overall naturalist
Naturalism (literature)
Naturalism was a literary movement taking place from the 1880s to 1940s that used detailed realism to suggest that social conditions, heredity, and environment had inescapable force in shaping human character...
technique was praised at the time.
External links
- "Terminal Station" TimeTime (magazine)Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
review by Jay CocksJay CocksJay Cocks is a film critic and motion picture screenwriter.He is a graduate of Kenyon College. He was a critic for Time, Newsweek, and Rolling Stone, among other magazines, before moving into film writing....
(December 3, 1973) - Idaho Transfer in-depth review at Million Monkey Theater
- Unknownmovies.com review