Unfortunately the film prints of The Caves of Steel have long since been junked during the infamous television archive “purge” of the 1970’s, and no copy of the whole play exists in the BBC’s Film and Videotape Library. Several extracts have fortunately survived however, the most notable of these being a 1.20 minute extract from the opening sequence of the play, which was retained on a feature on the BBC’s Radiophonic Workshop (made for an early edition of Tomorrow’s World). This extract features the opening title graphics, and shots from the initial murder scene, within which Dr Sarton is blasted by the unseen figure of Enderby. Short extracts also exist from other scenes from the play, including Baley and Daneel meeting with Dr. Gerrigel, and their later confrontation with the Medievalist ringleader Clousarr. Short clips from some of these sequences were recently seen in the ‘I Robot’ edition of the 1997 BBC documentary series Future Fantastic.

Starred David Birney as Aton.

The second bad adaptation of Asimov’s classic. Avoid like the first!

Decent movie starring Robin Williams. Kids seem to like it (despite dark moments) and I would recommend seeing it once just for the heck of it.

Hollywood is especially interested in Asimov’s work because the film industry has finally figured out that science fiction projects usually sell (as if the success of Star Trek and Star Wars didn’t make that plain), but Asimov’s stories are easier and cheaper to adapt than most. While usually set in the future, Asimov rarely featured aliens and his themes were usually thoughtful and positive.

The director turns the evil conqueror into an antihero, who fights his own destiny to become a “prophet of love.”

Apparently not based upon Harlan Ellison’s script. Initial info. on this project is sparse.

Rumors have it the WB just got started, so don’t expect it any time in the near future. On a worrying note, Simon West, director of Con Air, The General’s Daughter and Tomb Raider, is apparently attached to the project. That’s not exactly an encouraging sign, but he’s also announced The Prisoner film, so maybe he’s mellowed a bit, and no longer has an urge to throw in explosions every three minutes. We hope.

Warner Bros. is adapting the short story “The Ugly Little Boy” with Denise DiNovi and Demi Moore producing it as a star vehicle for Moore. The film is a time travel drama which would feature Moore as a nurse with an empty life until she begins to care for a Neanderthal boy brought forward in time by scientists studying human evolution. Gerardis and Vicinanza will exec produce.

Paramount Pictures is adapting “End of Eternity,” a love story in a science fiction setting. The script is being written by Gary Goldman (Total Recall) and Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator) is considering the project, depending on the final script.