classicsoncall Well this one will certainly take you back, back to an era when a computer wasn't a computer unless it filled an entire room and had all those blinking lights. You know, like the ones you saw in the original 'Twilight Zone' and 'Star Trek' series. An interesting concept was presented here, because in today's age when identity theft is as ubiquitous as the household PC, a group of college students attempts to create an identity in order to use an errant credit card, and the computer hijacks the information and takes off on an agenda of it's own. Dean Stockwell as the mastermind programmer was pretty good here, but he could have cracked a smile every now and then to lighten things up. It's been a long time since I've seen Stefanie Powers in anything at all, going all the way back to her 'Hart to Hart' days with Robert Wagner. And it looks like James Stacy just blew in from his Johnny Lancer gig on that well received TV Western. I was surprised to read how many viewers were terrified by the possibilities presented here for computers to take over and rule the world. I suppose it could happen if things get really out of control. If that's the case, we'll all end up just like Tina Chen who couldn't outrun the program and wound up getting the shaft.

shark-43 PAPER MAN was ahead of its time. A computer system ends up taking control over a scam a group of college students start with a stolen credit card. The movie is well acted and well written. Dean Stockwell is very good as the computer expert who first goes along with the con. Of course, for 1971, all the computer stuff is incredibly dated. The "computer" is actually two rooms full of equipment with flashing lights and reel and reel tape, computer cards, etc. Dean Stockwell even has to explain that he is "logging in". So, the dated computer aspect just makes it even more fun but the plot works. It's fun. It's well directed too. Check it out.

kundk I saw this on TV when I was 8; it was incredibly scary then. Saw it years later and marveled at the prescient use of computers and identity theft mixed with s.f. horror that could have appeared in "Ring." And there would be no "Videodrome" without it.

David Edward Martin I'm watching the flick right now. It's fascinating to recall that at the time the flick was made, computers were something very seldom encountered in daily life. Heck, even credits cards like BankAmericard and MasterCharge were only three or four years old. The computer lab is pretty realistic. Sure the computer has waaaaaay more blinky lights than a real one would have and there are two windows behind the computer that are there solely to give it a look of evil eyes. But when the computer students set down to work, they works at teletype consoles!