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New Video Group, Inc.

The Lathe of Heaven

  • Based on 143 reviews
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Availability: Only 1 left in stock, order soon!
Fulfilled by SelectedMedia
Arrives Friday, Jan 16
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Format: DVD August 29, 2000


Description

For George Orr, sleep is not a respite. For Dr. William Haber, dreams are tools. For sci-fi fans, the wait is over. Praised as "rare and powerful" by The New York Times, Ursula K. Le Guins THE LATHE OF HEAVEN is one of the most celebrated science fict "Antwerp!" For science fiction fans, the long-awaited VHS and DVD release of The Lathe of Heaven is a dream come true. This haunting adaptation of Ursula K. Le Guin's genre-classic novel was broadcast but once on PBS in 1980 before rights and other legal snafus relegated it to the archives. Reportedly PBS's most requested program, the made-for-TV film was at last rebroadcast in 2000. Set in Portland, Oregon, in the near future, The Lathe of Heaven stars Bruce Davison as George Orr, who, to put it mildly, has a dream problem. Not only do his dreams come true, but they "change reality back to the Stone Age." Kevin Conway costars as Dr. Haber, a dream specialist who instantly recognizes George's gift and tries to harness it to make the whole world right. But, as George notes, "Unlimited power means unlimited danger." The increasingly megalomaniacal Haber uses George to try to cure the world's ills, from overpopulation to war, resulting in, for starters, a devastating plague and even alien invasion. Many in this production went on to projects familiar to audiences: Cowriter Diane English went on to create TV's Murphy Brown; Scott Rudin, credited with "Principle Casting," is now one of Hollywood's most formidable producers; Margaret Avery, who costars as a skeptical lawyer who comes to believe George's incredible tale, was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in The Color Purple. For those who have only been able to see this now-legendary production on poor-quality bootleg tapes, this release will be sheer heaven. The DVD contains an interview with Le Guin conducted by Bill Moyers. --Donald Liebenson "Antwerp!" For science fiction fans, the long-awaited VHS and DVD release of The Lathe of Heaven is a dream come true. This haunting adaptation of Ursula K. Le Guin's genre-classic novel was broadcast but once on PBS in 1980 before rights and other legal snafus relegated it to the archives. Reportedly PBS's most requested program, the made-for-TV film was at last rebroadcast in 2000. Set in Portland, Oregon, in the near future, The Lathe of Heaven stars Bruce Davison as George Orr, who, to put it mildly, has a dream problem. Not only do his dreams come true, but they "change reality back to the Stone Age."Kevin Conway costars as Dr. Haber, a dream specialist who instantly recognizes George's gift and tries to harness it to make the whole world right. But, as George notes, "Unlimited power means unlimited danger." The increasingly megalomaniacal Haber uses George to try to cure the world's ills, from overpopulation to war, resulting in, for starters, a devastating plague and even alien invasion.Many in this production went on to projects familiar to audiences: Cowriter Diane English went on to create TV's Murphy Brown; Scott Rudin, credited with "Principle Casting," is now one of Hollywood's most formidable producers; Margaret Avery, who costars as a skeptical lawyer who comes to believe George's incredible tale, was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in The Color Purple. For those who have only been able to see this now-legendary production on poor-quality bootleg tapes, this release will be sheer heaven. The DVD contains an interview with Le Guin conducted by Bill Moyers. --Donald Liebenson

Genre: Science Fiction


Format: Color, DVD, NTSC


Contributor: Bernadette Whitehead, Bruce Davison, David R. Loxton, Diane English, Frank Miller, Fred Barzyk, Gena Sleete, Jane Roberts, Jo Livingston, Joye Nash, Kevin Conway, Niki Flacks, Peyton E. Park, Roger Swaybill, Tom Matts, Ursula K. Le Guin, Vandi Clark See more


Language: English


Runtime: 1 hour and 45 minutes


Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No


MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)


Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9 x 5.5 x 0.53 inches; 3.2 ounces


Director ‏ : ‎ David R. Loxton, Fred Barzyk


Media Format ‏ : ‎ Color, DVD, NTSC


Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 45 minutes


Release date ‏ : ‎ August 29, 2000


Actors ‏ : ‎ Bruce Davison, Kevin Conway, Niki Flacks, Peyton E. Park, Vandi Clark


Language ‏ : ‎ English (Dolby Digital 2.0), Unknown (Dolby Digital 1.0)


Studio ‏ : ‎ New Video Group


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If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Friday, Jan 16

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Top Amazon Reviews

    • Classic story, well done tv version!
This was the first movie commissioned by PBS, one of the many interesting facts that the DVD interview reveals. In fact the interview on the DVD is almost as good as the movie itself - did you know Ursula wanted to do the Left Hand of Darkness instead but that they talked her out of it? The movie is excellent. Although you can tell at the beginning of the DVD that the master wasn't of the best quality, you quickly get sucked into the storyline, accepting some of the shoddy special effects because the plot and acting are so stellar. I was lucky enough to do a 3 hour phone interview with Kevin Conway, and we talked a lot about how much this movie meant to him and what he was thinking about while filming. The movie has had a big impact on both the actors and viewers - most sci fi fans I know remember vividly when this came out, and have been waiting anxiously for its return. I already have a line of friends who want to come watch this with me! The basic story is that George Orr has dreams which change reality, and simply wants them to stop. His doctor, Dr. Haber, instead decides to use them to change the world and rid it of evil. Ursula explains in the interview that this pits the tao of 'go with the flow' in George vs the progress and change mentality of Dr. Haber. It's definitely a movie that you can watch many times and really think about, and also a movie that is fun just as an interesting story. Perhaps my favorite part is when George wonders if *everyone* has this ability, to change reality with dreams, and that maybe the 'rug is being pulled out from under us' over and over again without anyone noticing. See this with friends or family, and be prepared for lively discussions afterwards! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2000 by Lisa Shea
    • All We See or Seem is But Dreams Within a Dream ???
This first made for Public TV movie is an excellent adaptation of the singular "speculative fiction" novel, "The Lathe of Heaven", by the well known and talented author, Ursula K. Le Guin. Like the novel, the movie has a fluid fast pace, but with plenty of appropriate details of character, foreground and background. This gives a rich and vivid quality to the changing course of the flow of the plot, via colorful and creative sharp screenplay. However, as the motion and emotion move along, they are not overdone, giving a balanced "realistic" feel to such a "dreamy" story. Again, like the novel, the movie can be followed in a number of "symbolic" ways. It could be "objective" allegory, dealing with common human and world themes of mystical religion. Or, it could be "subjective" allegory dealing with a "typical" dreaming series of a "typical" human, with the main "personas" representing the major "parts" of the human psyche. Yet, it could be a "singular" metadream of one individual, a unique "just so" adventure of one George Orr. In any case, this viewer feels that the novel was indeed successfully transfered over into the movie, which seems to be rare for "speculative fiction", and especially for such a surrealistic type. Amazing, that such a "verbal" media work can be rendered so well as a "visual" media work. Ursula K. Le Guin was on site as the movie was made, in only a few weeks with only a quarter million dollars. The DVD has an interesting and informative interview, with Ursula K. Le Guin, as one of the added features. No wonder then that this movie has been one of the most requested reruns of cinema and television -- and certainly a favorite of Public Television +++ ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2006 by Kevin Kiersky
    • Well we were young kids and we saw an interracial romance. Very beautiful.
I watched this movie along long time ago 1980 with my siblings, we were young teenagers. As we got older we could never remember the name of it. We did remember the song and apiece of the movie of man running with a lady near water, a beach I believe. I googled and googled for years till now and found it. We planned a movie night for the siblings at my sisters house I can’t wait to watch it. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2025 by AV
    • The Haber Institute of Oeinerology plays God
The Greatest Good for the Greatest Number! What can I say about this brilliantly plotted work of literature brought to life though a cheaply budgeted but great film? Essentially a Dream Psychologist discovers that his assigned patient is telling him the truth when he is informed that the patients effective dreams can change reality. Haber uses this talent to re-create the world in the images that a smart scientist believes best. First he creates the means by making his status in society important with the creation of a new institute dedicated to Oeinerology (dream research) and uses George Orr's mind to increase the power of his augmentor machine. This done, he begins to change the world through dream suggestion to make the world right in a matter of weeks that thousands of years of history could not do. But because of the mind of Mr. Orr, both positive and negative things happen. Haber is not thwarted by this but pressures Orr to perfect his augmentor through dreams so that he can change the world without Orr's mind. The only problem is that he discovers a great secret when he finally ventures into the Lathe of Heaven. He discovers that all existence is in the mind of Orr and that the world had really ended some time ago due to Nuclear armageddon. Orr, a staggering survivor nearing death by radioactive poisoning, willed the world back into an existence that is really an effective dream of his own making!!! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2006 by Justin Playfair

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