The Omen (1976)

Director:

Richard Donner

Writer:

David Seltzer (written by)

Release Date:

25 June 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

OUR FINAL WARNING.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Priest | Ambassador | Stillborn Child | Hospital | Death

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

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
Robert MacLeod	...	Horton
Bruce Boa	...	Thorn's Aide
Don Fellows	...	Thorn's Second Aide
Patrick McAlinney	...	Photographer
Dawn Perllman	...	Chambermaid
Nancy Mannigham	...	Nurse (as Nancy Manningham)
Miki Iveria	...	First Nun
Betty McDowall	...	American Secretary
Nicholas Campbell	...	Marine
Burnell Tucker	...	Secret Service Man
Ronald Leigh-Hunt	...	Gentleman at Rugby Match
Guglielmo Spoletini	...	Italian Taxi Driver
Ya'ackov Banai	...	Arab (as Yakov Banai)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Harvey Bernhard	...	Man walking across street (uncredited)
Leo McKern	...	Carl Bugenhagen (uncredited)
Bill Reimbold	...	General (uncredited)
Christine Spooner	...	Funeral mourner (uncredited)
Damian John Spooner	...	Boy at top of slide (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Donner

Writing credits
David Seltzer		(written by)

Produced by
Harvey Bernhard	....	producer
Mace Neufeld	....	executive producer
Charles Orme	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Gilbert Taylor		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Stuart Baird

Casting by
Maude Spector

Art Direction by
Carmen Dillon

Makeup Department
Stuart Freeborn	....	chief makeup artist
Patricia McDermott	....	hair stylist (as Pat McDermott)

Production Management
Claude Hudson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve Lanning	....	second assistant director
David Tomblin	....	assistant director
Stuart Baird	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
George Ball	....	property master
Tessa Davies	....	set dresser
George Richardson	....	assistant art director
Reg Richards	....	construction manager
John Chisholm	....	property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gordon Everett	....	sound recordist
Chris Lancaster	....	dialogue editor
Doug E. Turner	....	dubbing mixer (as Doug Turner)
Les Wiggins	....	dubbing editor
Charlie McFadden	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John Richardson	....	special effects
George Gibbs	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Roy Field	....	optical effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Alf Joint	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Gerry Anstiss	....	camera operator
Bob Penn	....	still photographer (as Robert Penn)
Ron Taberer	....	chief electrician
Peter Bloor	....	electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tiny Nicholls	....	wardrobe supervisor (as G.W. Nicholls)

Editorial Department
Chris Ridsdale	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Lionel Newman	....	conductor (uncredited)

Other crew
Carolee Danz	....	assistant to producer
Jeanne Ferber	....	production assistant
Jeanne Ferber	....	secretary
Judy Friesen	....	special assistant to director
Bernard Hanson	....	location manager
Robert Munger	....	religious advisor
Elaine Schreyeck	....	continuity
Don Williams	....	religious advisor (as Rev. Don Williams Ph.D)
Ben Woodgate	....	dog owner and trainer
Joan Woodgate	....	dog owner and trainer

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Productions (presents) (as Twentieth Century-Fox)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
• CBS/Fox Video (1984) (Belgium) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• CBS/Fox (1984) (USA) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox (198?) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Encore Entertainment (1996) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Fox Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Fox Video (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Fox Video (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1979) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Ford Motor Company  automobiles furnished by
• Music Centre, The  music recording
• De Lane Lea Sound Centre  sound re-recording
• National Screen Service  titles
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color by (as DeLuxe)
• Rank Film Laboratories  processed by

Also Known As:

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)
Das Omen (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
A Profecia (Brazil) [pt]
Ennustus (Finland) [fi]
I profiteia (Greece) [el]
Il presagio (Italy) [it]
Kehanet (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
La malédiction (France) [fr]
La profecía (Spain) [es]
Omen (Sweden) [sv]
Omen (Poland) [pl]

Runtime:

111 min | Germany:107 min (cut version)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

New Zealand:(Banned) (video release, 1989-1991) | New Zealand:R16 (1992 re-rating) | New Zealand:R18 (original rating) | Iceland:16 | UK:X (original rating) | UK:15 (DVD rating) | UK:15 (re-rating) (2006) | Sweden:15 | Spain:18 | South Korea:15 | Canada:R (video rating) | Portugal:M/16 | UK:18 (tv rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Brazil: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

Filming Locations:

All Saints Church, Fulham, London, England, UK

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Productions

Trivia:

In the scene where Gregory Peck goes to see his wife's psychiatrist, at the beginning of the scene notice the inverted cross on the table.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the graveyard, when Thorne kneels at his son's grave, he bumps the heavy stone lid quite easily, yet it takes both Thorne and the photographer considerable effort to move it a moment later.

Quotes:

[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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999)

Soundtrack:

The Piper Dreams

He's evil. Pure evil!

Robert Thorn the American ambassador to Great Britain watches his wife's pregnancy when a priest tells him that his newborn has died, but he convinces him to substitute the baby (the wife not knowing) with another child that lost its mother in labour at the same time. Watching their young child growing up, he starts show unnerving signs, which the parents slowly start picking up on and also bizarre tragedies start occurring. This leads Robert on a whirlwind investigation that all points to his son being the Anti-Christ.

Right off the heals of 'The Exorcist' successful stint with moviegoers comes another one of those endless 70s religious themed horror flicks involving Satanism. 'The Omen', I'd definitely say is one of the better horror films in the shadow of "The Exorcist', but I'll even go to say its an vast improvement over it's influencer. That might be a surprise for some, but I found this film superior as it was more entertaining, fascinating and truly creepy in its context and shocks. Everything about it has a knack for falling into place. From the impending doom that's achieved by its coldly layered atmosphere to a premise that teases the viewer on how it's all going to play out. I won't deny that it seems silly enough when you pay close attention to it all, but with such conviction in the performances and that off confident direction, these factors makes sure that it doesn't slip overboard into cheesy daftness. Another stroke of brilliance would be Jerry Goldsmith's memorably, nerve-wrecking score with those explosive chants scattered throughout.

On a grand scale the film was efficiently catered with well established cinematography and polished set-pieces that had penetrating might, which director Richard Donner handled with precise skill. Even when there wasn't much happening he knew how to keep things compellingly tight with good pacing and impressible imagery. Though, when it came to the essential thrills, he caps off some remotely tense (dogs' attack) and macabre moments (infamous decapitation) that display bite and flair. The climax is great and the ending is a fitting imprint too. The plot is filled with shocking revelations, interesting characters and it emits a glorious amount of excitement and dread from it mysterious outset.

The performances are that of top quality by a stellar cast. Gregory Peck and Lee Remick are convincingly excellent as Mr and Mrs Thorn. David Warner turns in a marvellous performance as the photographer Keith Jennings. Then Billie Whitelaw is genuinely creepy as Damien's nanny Mrs. Baylock. Patrick Troughton is superb as the withering Father Brennan. But my applause goes to Harvey Stephens' who's the epitome of evil… well; he definitely looked the part and had a memorizing awe as Damien. Although, Peck deserves more credit really, as he brought such devotion to his character that we honestly feel the pain and confusion that hits home.

One of the true benchmarks of horror, along the same lines of 'The Exorcist', but for me it beats that film all ends up. Expect a devilishly good time!