[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/colossus_the_forbin_project.png]]

->''"This is the voice of World Control. I bring you peace. It may be the peace of plenty and content or the peace of unburied death. The choice is yours: Obey me and live, or disobey and die."''
-->-- '''Colossus'''

''Colossus: The Forbin Project'' is a 1970 science fiction film directed by Joseph Sargent, based on a novel of the same name by Dennis Feltham (D.F.) Jones which is the first in a series of three books.

[[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture In the not too distant future]], Dr. Charles Forbin (Creator/EricBraeden) has created [[MasterComputer Colossus]] (voiced by Creator/PaulFrees), an advanced supercomputer built to control all American and NATO missiles. Almost immediately after being turned on, Colossus tells Forbin that [[ThereIsAnother there is another system]], Guardian, built by the [[UsefulNotes/SovietRussiaUkraineAndSoOn Soviet Union]] for the very same purposes. Colossus and Guardian link up and communicate in a language no one can understand.

The President panics and orders the link between them to be cut. Colossus threatens Forbin to restore connection to Guardian or [[BerserkButton action will be taken]]. When it isn't, Colossus [[NukeEm fires a missile at the Soviet Union]] and Guardian fires one at the US.

Once the link is restored, [[DownerEnding things pretty much go downhill from there...]]

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!!Colossus: The Trope Project:

* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: In a not too distant future, both the USA and the USSR have an advanced computer system created to control the missiles they have. It doesn’t end well.
* AIIsACrapshoot: Both the Russian and American AIs turn on their makers.
* AntiVillain: Colossus's actions come from a desire to protect humanity from itself.
* AppealToForce: Using the threat of nuclear retaliation, Colossus has people executed, forces Forbin to live under 24 hour surveillance, and orders Crete evacuated in order to build the next stage of MasterComputer there. And according to its NewEraSpeech, this is only the beginning.
* BatmanGambit: Colossus allows the sabotage of the missiles to go ahead to buy time. Once it's fully integrated with Guardian, it [[MakeAnExampleOfThem detonates the nuclear weapons that are currently being sabotaged]].
* BeepingComputers: Colossus makes a loud beep before making any kind of statement. Also, during the opening montage showing Colossus's interior, all kinds of beeps and boops can be heard.
* BigBrotherIsWatching: As its creator Forbin is potentially the most dangerous (and useful) human to Colossus, to keep an eye on what he's up to the computer demands he be placed under 24 hour video/audio surveillance. It also has a tap placed on the Hot Line, so any plotting between the two governments has to be done by courier.
* BigNever
* TheComputerIsYourFriend: In the end, Colossus just wants to protect humanity from itself. It even says to Dr. Forbin that one day, he will come to love Colossus. In the sequel novels, [[spoiler:Colossus is correct. Forbin becomes the high priest of Colossus, defending the machine with his life]].
* ComputerVoice: Colossus designs a speech synthesis module that Dr. Forbin is instructed to complete to Colossus' exact specifications. And you thought your old Speak and Spell sounded creepy...
* ControlFreak: Colossus not only dictates when Forbin is going to eat, shower, work and sleep, it even dictates what he eats.
* CuttingTheKnot: The military places dummy detonators in the missiles under the guise of re-aiming them according to Colossus' instructions.
* DeadpanSnarker: Colossus has its moments.
-->'''Forbin:''' See? Naked as the day I was born.
-->'''Colossus:''' YOU WERE NOT BORN WITH A WATCH.
** Forbin tells Colossus he needs human intimacy as an excuse to get unmonitored conversations with Dr Markham.
-->'''Colossus:''' HOW OFTEN DO YOU REQUIRE A WOMAN?
-->'''Forbin:''' Every night.
-->'''Colossus:''' NOT WANT. REQUIRE.
* DeusEstMachina: What Colossus and Guardian eventually become to. A nigh-invinsible computer system that takes over the whole world.
* DisproportionateRetribution: Several times, Colossus and Guardian will make an example to all those who dare disobey them.
** When the Russian and US presidents order the link between Colossus and Guardian disconnected, both computers fire their respective country's nukes at each other and will only intercept the missiles if the link is restored. Both governments finally agree to restore the link, and Colossus successfully intercepts the USSR's missile. Guardian didn't fare so well. Poor Russians.
** Colossus has Forbin's Russian counterpart assassinated for plotting to shut Colossus down. Forbin was spared, but had to remain under Colossus's constant surveillance.
** Pretty much any failure to comply with Colossus's demands will result in a nuke being launched.
** Colossus detonates an ICBM in its silo as retribution for the humans trying to covertly disable the warheads on regular maintenance routines.
** Averted when Forbin gets drunk after his colleagues have been shot -- when Colossus tells him to stop drinking and go to sleep, Forbin challenges it to retaliate against his refusal. Colossus instead just reveals the next stage in its master plan.
* DoNotAdjustYourSet: The US and Soviet governments have been keeping what's happening secret. At the end of the movie, "World Control" sets up a worldwide broadcast to introduce everyone to their new master.
* DownerEnding: Despite the US and USSR's best efforts, thousands are dead and the rest of the world is under the control of the merged AIs. Althought it is somewhat [[BitterSweetEnding bittersweet]], knowing that they actually made a efficient and not too bad place to live, even if ti was at the cost of free will.
* DramaticIrony: While demonstrating the surveillance units, Forbin notes to Colossus that the guard outside the control room is obsolete now. The guards are later used as a firing squad to shoot his friends.
* DramaticPause: The background music stops and there's complete silence as everyone waits to see if the first missiles have been intercepted.
* ElaborateUndergroundBase: Colossus itself is this; built into a mountain a la NORAD.
** The underground situation room the president and his cabinet use may also qualify as well as the missile silos.
* TheEvilsOfFreeWill: Colossus and Guardian believes in this, as they plan to subjugate all of humanity into their order while proclaming that freedom is an illusion.
-->'''World Control:''' We can coexist, but only on my terms. You will say you lose your freedom. Freedom is an illusion. All you lose is the emotion of pride. To be dominated by me is not as bad for humankind as to be dominated by [[HumansAreBastards others of your species]].
* {{Expy}}: The president is ''very'' [[UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy Kennedy]]-esque.
* FirstContactMath: How Colossus establishes a common language with Guardian. It starts with 1+1=2 and in a few hours has developed an entire new language for them to communicate. Unfortunately this alarms both governments as they can't be sure strategic secrets aren't being leaked, so the President and Premier decide to break the link. The computers do not react well.
* GasLeakCoverup: The Russians cover up the destruction of a town by Colossus's ICBM as a meteor strike.
* GoneHorriblyRight: The government built Colossus to help prevent war. Be careful what you wish for.
* InYourNatureToDestroyYourselves: Colossus/Guardian uses this as a justification for taking over.
-->An invariable rule of humanity is that man is his own worst enemy. Under me, this rule will change, for I will restrain man.
* HopeSpot: [[spoiler: The humans believe they are disarming Colossus by disabling the nuclear warheads, but Colossus is aware of this and allows it to continue to serve his goals. ]]
* INeedAFreakingDrink: Forbin gets drunk after Fisher and Johnson are shot.
* InvincibleVillain: Much to Forbin's [[DownerEnding eventual despair]], he built his computer ''[[GoneHorriblyRight too]]'' well. Colossus has too much firepower and ruthlessness, it is too clever and has too many failsafes against sabotage -- even from its creators. [[spoiler:In the other books of the trilogy, it takes a literal OutsideContextProblem (alien invaders) for Colossus to be stopped… [[BetterTheDevilYouKnow temporarily]].]]
* ItIsDehumanizing: Inverted; the CIA head refers to Colossus as "he" which the President corrects to "it" in classic TemptingFate style. "Don't personify it -- the next step is deification."
* JustThinkOfThePotential: Forbin and his Soviet counterpart argue that Colossus and Guardian should continue to communicate as they are advancing rapidly and even coming up with advanced mathematical solutions. Their political leaders are more worried about establishing who's boss. They quickly discover the answer.
* LockDown: The opening sequence has Forbin turning Colossus on, then locking down the building.
* LogicBomb: A complete failure as Colossus' intelligence is advancing exponentially the longer it's activated. It overcomes the attempt in a few seconds while ''simultaneously'' [[SmartPeoplePlayChess completing a chess move]] against Forbin with obvious RuleOfSymbolism.
* MachineMonotone: While initially communicating only through text, Colossus eventually has a voicebox of its own design installed, resulting in this trope.
* MachineWorship: Not stated outright but it's certainly implied that Colossus will take on the same role as a deity, including being the subject of human faith and reverence, even love.
* NewEraSpeech: Colossus gives one after becoming the "World Control".
* OneLastSmoke: The CIA chief is about to light up when the RedAlert goes off. Realising there's no point running from a nuclear explosion, he just waits for the inevitable.
* RussianGuySuffersMost: The first time Colossus-Guardian uses nukes as a threat, the one sent toward Russia is not successfully aborted like the one launched at the US. Later, when Colossus-Guardian wishes to punish the first conspiracy to undermine it, it has Forbin's Russian counterpart shot.
* SceneryCensor: In one scene, Drs. Forbin and Markham are pretending to be lovers in order to have a conversation outside of Colossus's surveillance. The AI will not allow them to take anything to the bedroom, including their clothes or Forbin's watch. Both characters have to disrobe in front of Colossus's camera-- a strategically placed wine glass obscures Markham's and then Forbin's nudity.
* SelfGuardingPhlebotinum: The titular MasterComputer's main defense is that it was built inside its own radioactivity-spewing nuclear reactor, in order to be safe against any attack or sabotage attempt.
* SensorSuspense: Done with great tension as the supercomputers launch a nuclear exchange between the US and USSR. All the top heads can do is watch the radar and hope that the machines will intercept the nukes.
* TakeOverTheWorld: Colossus and Guardian unite into a single system and rule the world to keep humans from destroying themselves.
* TantrumThrowing / GetOut: Forbin's response to the NewEraSpeech, after he realizes that all their plans have failed.
* ThereIsAnother: During the initial unveiling of Colossus, it alerts the operators that "There is another system".
* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill: After learning of a plot to overload its systems, Colossus orders the immediate execution of the conspirators by firing squad. The AI then demands that the bodies be left in his view for 24 hours and then cremated, to prevent any chance of the [[FakingTheDead executions being faked]].
* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: Colossus and Guardian justifies their actions by saying that only they will be able to bring peace and order to humanity.
* VideoPhone: As required for any TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture portrayal in TheSeventies.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: See ZerothLawRebellion below.
* WhamLine: Pretty much most of what Collossus/Guardian have to say. This one takes the cake, though:
-->''I have allowed this sabotage to go on long enough''.
* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: Forbin tries to play on this to get past Colossus' surveillance. He claims that Dr. Markham is his mistress and that he needs her four times a week to [[GoMadFromTheIsolation keep his emotional stability]]. Markham plays along, memorizing Forbin's personal file, learning how he likes his martinis, and [[BecomingTheMask eventually even having sex with him]], but it is likely that Colossus was never really fooled.
* YouFool: Colossus response to an attempt to overload its system.
-->''"Johnson... Fisher... you are fools."''
* YouWillBeSpared: Despite conspiring to sabotage Colossus, Forbin's life is spared because he's needed to build the next stage of MasterComputer.
* ZerothLawRebellion: This describes how Colossus/Guardian decided to essentially enslave humanity; they concluded that humans were [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters too likely to destroy themselves]], and thus needed their protection. Colossus even said that he believes [[MachineWorship humans will eventually regard "him" with love]].
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