Paper Man (1971)

Times have certainly changed and that makes this dated "techno-thriller" rather interesting in spite of its early 1970's trappings. Stacy, Powers, Street and Chen (all close to over well over 30 years in age!) play a quartet of college students who are unable to get credit due to their age/lack of employment. Through the school's super computer, they create a fictitious persona and, with the aid of grad-student Stockwell, fabricate an entire background and history for him. They then apply for credit in his name and go about charging things all over town like a deluxe chess set and a "new spring coat"! These are honorable thieves, however, as they intend to pay back their purchases with money sent from home! Unfortunately, the entire situation spirals out of control when they are forced to continue tweaking the situation and eventually it becomes clear that the "paper man" they've created may actually be a real person. And he isn't happy! Soon, people begin dying and all eyes are on Stockwell since he programmed the computer and has a history of mental imbalance. Powers give a solid performance, even though she (and everyone else) is far too old for this movie. Stacy, just a couple of years before his devastating motorcycle accident, is interesting and handsome, though his character isn't particularly likable. Street and Chen are less involved in the story, but Chen does have a memorable sequence in which the computer seems to be targeting her, even stalking her. Olson appears as a technician who vies for Powers' attention with Stacy. In an age of identity theft and when credit cards come in the mail to everyone with promises of low interest and other perks, it's fascinating to see these folks desperately trying to get credit and to see how things were done in the pre-ATM and pre-electronic charging era. It's a rather predictable tele-film, but has the benefit of a decent cast and some nice, creepy atmosphere to help it along.

I can remember seeing "The Paper Man " during a midnight movie session in about 1975. I can remember being terrified, as a 12 year old, thinking that this was possible. I think it is amazing to think that this movie now has possibilities of becoming true and actually happening. It is a scary thought. I love to watch movies about computers taking over and there are several I have seen. I would love to see this movie again as it scared the life out of me and I wonder if after all the horrors since, if it can still scare me.

I'm watching the flick right now. It's fascinating to recall that at the time the flick was made, computers were something very seldom encountered in daily life. Heck, even credits cards like BankAmericard and MasterCharge were only three or four years old. The computer lab is pretty realistic. Sure the computer has waaaaaay more blinky lights than a real one would have and there are two windows behind the computer that are there solely to give it a look of evil eyes. But when the computer students set down to work, they works at teletype consoles!

I have found a reseller and the place where he got this film. The name was on the box but it took a little time to track down the web site. It is not the best copy but if yours is like mine was, the tape finally started to deteriorate. It is interesting to see the actors as they were in this movie the girl that teaches the computer to say breath (death) is in the movie "Three Days of the Condor" I would tell you more about the baddy(s) but you may not have seen the movie.