The last man on Earth is not alone, but he is heavily armed
April 25 , 2008
RALEIGH —The world is dead. One survivor. Then the others. Crawling in darkness. Desperate to find a seat before "The Omega Man" begins. This month's First Friday feature is an accidental tribute to Charlton Heston, as the movie was selected two days before the legendary actor's demise. The show begins at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh on Friday, May 2 at 7 p.m.
"The Omega Man" (1971) depicts an Earth two years removed from near total annihilation due to some tragically efficient biological warfare. The entire world population is wiped out except for the robust Richard Neville (Heston) and a few pasty urbanites that have been mutated into light-sensitive flesh-eating psychopathic zombies that call themselves The Family. Neville, a military scientist who had already been experimenting with a vaccine for himself, now searches for a cure for these dying zombies before he becomes the main course at the family meal.
Heston, who passed away in early April, boasts a dramatic rap sheet several cubits long. He is perhaps best remembered for his larger-than-life portrayals of historical figures such as Moses, Ben Hur and Michelangelo, as well as for his history of gritty First Friday performances in "Planet of the Apes" and "Soylent Green."
"The Omega Man" is based on the 1954 novel "I Am Legend" by Richard Matheson. Heston read the original on an airplane and was very interested in a modern adaptation of the book; he was apparently unaware that it had already been made into a film less than a decade earlier -- "The Last Man on Earth" (1964) starring Vincent Price. And then there's the 2007 remake with the Fresh Prince …
Other notable urbanites include Anthony Zerbe, who plays Matthias, head of the family. Zerbe is also known for his more recent role as Councillor Hamann in the "Matrix" trilogy. Lincoln Kilpatrick, who also played the burnt-out priest Father Paul in "Soylent Green." A young Brian Tochi, aka Takashi from "Revenge of the Nerds." Oh, and even former Playmate of the Month Linda Redfearn. See the trailer on YouTube.
The Museum stays open from 5 p.m. till 9 p.m. Arrive early and wander through eye-catching exhibits highlighting the natural beauty of North Carolina, enjoy snacks and beverages from the Acro Café, and groove to live music from Starmount. Additionally, the Museum Store offers after-hours shopping and an opening reception (7:00-8:30 p.m.) for Mary Norman Hambidge, whose exhibit of Cumberland Island, Georgia-inspired watercolors opens May 2 and runs through June 1 in the store's Nature Art Gallery. All exhibited art is for sale.
The Museum of Natural Sciences is located in downtown Raleigh at 11 West Jones Street. Parking is available on the street and in surface lots along Wilmington and Edenton streets. For more information, contact Steve Popson at 919-733-7450, ext. 379.
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, in downtown Raleigh, documents and interprets the natural history of the state of North Carolina through exhibits, research, collections, publications, and educational programming. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 am to 5 pm, and Sun., noon to 5 pm. Admission is free. Visit the Museum on the Web at naturalsciences.org. The Museum is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr., Secretary.
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