On this day in 1980, the dystopian sci-fi TV movie The Lathe of Heaven premiered on PBS television, co-directed by Fred Barzyk and David R. Loxton. The film stars Bruce Davison as George Orr, Peyton E. Park as Mannie Ahrens, Niki Flacks as Penny Crouch, Kevin Conway as Dr. William Haber, Vandi Clark as Aunt Ethel, Margaret Avery as Heather Lelache, along with Ben McKinley III, R.A. Mihailoff, Jo Livingston, Jane Roberts, Tom Matts, Gena Sleete, Joye Nash, Frank Miller and Bernedette Whitehead.

Upon the movie’s premiere, it becomes the first Made for TV Movie to be ever screen on PBS. It was produced in 1979 as part of New York City public television station WNET’s Experimental TV Lab project. The Lathe of Heaven became one of the two highest-rated shows that season on PBS and went on the be nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. The screenplay was nominated for a Writers Guild Award for writers Roger Swaybill and Diane English.

Based on the dystopian novel by Ursula K. Le Guin, The Lathe of Heaven takes place in a highly controlled and overpopulated society. The TV movie centers on a man who has terrifying dreams that affect reality, who is assigned a psychiatrist that takes advantage of the situation.

In a near future Portland, Oregon, George Orr (Bruce Davison) is charged with abuse of multiple prescription medications, which he was taking to keep himself from dreaming. Orr volunteers for psychiatric care to avoid prosecution, and is assigned to the care of licensed oneirologist William Haber (Kevin Conway). Orr’s explanation of his drug abuse is incredible – He has known since age 17 that his dreams change reality, and tries to prevent himself from this “effective dreaming” because he fears their effects.

Haber begins to use Orr’s dreams, first to create a prestigious, well-funded institute run by himself, then to attempt to solve various social issues. These solutions unravel quickly: Haber suggests that Orr dream of an answer to overpopulation, which results in a plague wiping out three-fourths of the human population; the end to all conflict on Earth, resulting in an alien invasion uniting mankind; and an end to racism, resulting in a world where everyone’s skin is a uniform shade of gray.

Orr turns to lawyer Heather LeLache (Margaret Avery) for help in getting out of his government-mandated treatments with Haber. LeLache doubts Orr’s sanity, but agrees to help him, eventually becoming an ally and falling in love with the patient.

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