The Man in the Cube

[Dixon Carter Lee]

There are some television shows and movies we have vague memories of, but never leave us. A number of these have been bothering me for years, and I thought I'd throw one out at you to see if anyone remembers what the hell it was.

I'm thinking of an old television program. I don't htink it was series, or a film, but maybe a one time TV special that, (I think) aired on PBS. It felt British. I saw it maybe 30 years ago. Here's all I can recall...

A Man was stuck in a cube -- a square room. He wasn't sure why he was there, and a variety of people appeared and disappeared, doing strange things, and not really giving him much information about where he was or what was to happen to him. It was very eerie, and felt like an elongated Twighlight Zone episode, though it was filmed (or videotaped) in more of a "Dr. Who" style.

I'm not really confident anyone will help me figure out hat the hell it was, but I tought I'd ask because it's intrigued me for so long.

And if you can't help me -- maybe I can help you. Do you have any memories of a movie or TV show you've never been able to place or find again?

 

[Gaucho]

You're not thinking of "The Prisoner"?

 

[R Nitelight]

Just guessing, and others could confirm or deny:
Overdrawn At The Memory Bank, Starring Raul Julia, based on the story by John Varley?

 

[R Nitelight]

From John Stanley's Creature Features Movie Guide Strikes Again: Fourth Revised Vers

Overdrawn At The Memory Bank (1983)
Good sci-fi tale based on a John Varley story set in a Big Brother society ruled by a giant corporation, Novicorp. Raul Julia stars as Aram Fingal, a 'processor third class' who discovers the existence of movies and projects himself into a new reality based on CASABLANCA. Julia does a fair impression of Bogart as Rick Blaine but the key to this story is the clever use of duel universes and alternate realities as programmer Linda Griffiths (As Appolonia James) helps Fingal (1) restore his true identity and (2) overcome the dictatorial Mr. Big, who takes on the persona of Sydney Greenstreet from CASABLANCA. Director Douglas Williams does a remarkable job, given his limited budget.
Wanda Cannon, Donald C. Moore, Louis Negron, Jackie Burroughs, Maury Chaykin

 

[Aranian]

I believe that the movie you're referring to is called just that, "Cube". It's an old production. I saw it for sale on dvd in a store the other day. It was right next to Pi and all those other ancient movies.

Someone alive today still remembers Dr Who?!? Hey Dixon, which Doctor was your favorite? There were like 5 total, but I can only remember how one of them died. My favorite character was the robot dog with the laser beam eyes.

Anyone remember Blake Seven? It used to air at 11 right after Dr. Who. I'm pretty sure they don't play it anymore even on any of the 100000000000 cable channels.

 

[Laurel]

BBC Americas runs Dr. Who episodes nearly every night at 3am PST, right after Antiques Roadshow. That show creeped me out big-time as a child (Dr. Who, not Antiques Roadshow).

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

Hey!!!!

I'm addicted to that antiques roadshow!!!!!

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

I'll look into "Cube" - thanks. If you happen to spot the box again would you give the back a read and give me an idea of the plot, and perhaps who released it?

Not "The Prisoner" -- but it does have the same paranoid quality.

I've never actually watched an entire "Dr. Who" all the way through -- I'm just aware of the style, and found it similar to this cube thang.

The Raul Julia thing is too late. I saw this back when I was a kid, sometime in the early 70s.

Thanks all.

 

[Aranian]

As described by a friend of mine who's seen it, Cube is about a group of five people trapped inside a series of cubes which are all linked together in a maze as part of a bigger cube. They're trying to figure out why they're there and how to escape. The whole movie takes place pretty much on the same set with different lighting. It's supposed to be about character analysis or some silly theme like that.

 

[Never]

Cube?
Blah!
Just the thought of that movie leaves a nasty taste in my mouth - it's modern, late nineties at the earliest. It had great potential but failed miserably in my eyes. I might be into meaninglessness but no one builds an enormous deathtrap for no reason. I understand each of the characters were supposed to be 'not what they seemed' but the cop turning into a homicidal maniac trying to rape the 16 year old was stupid. A retarded man as idiot savant has been done before (i.e. Rainman) and anyone could see that coming.

The ending was the worst part. It made no sense and seemed to have no purpose. It was though halfway through the film the director realized him film was boring and tedious and just hurried through to the end.

Check out the Twilight Zone story 'Five Characters with no Exit' - in many ways the two stories are unrelated but the Twilight Zone always answered the important question: "Why is this happening?"
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[Bobtoad777]

The Cube: the movie

you chave to give it some credit it is one of the better canadian made movies that made it to the theatres. that has to be good in and of itself, even if the movie itself wasnt that great. But I think DCL is looking int the 60-70's tv show the cube.