Amazon.com

It may sound like a gimmick--The Greatest '70s Cop Shows is a compilation of first episodes from Starsky and Hutch, Police Woman, S.W.A.T., The Rookies, and Charlie's Angels--but this DVD anthology really opens one's eyes to the look and feel of dramatic television during the so-called Me Decade. Except for Angels, which never wavered from its self-mocking, glossy action/stiff exposition playbook, these cop-program debuts (four of them from Aaron Spelling) import much of their fluid camera movement, multiple points-of-view, and dynamic, often wordless storytelling from the era's rough-and-tumble action movies (e.g., The French Connection). Which is to say these shows may be dumb but not necessarily cheesy (except Angels' post-modern cheese). There is a lot to admire about the opening ambush in S.W.A.T.'s "The Killing Ground," the hard-boiled camaraderie of Police Woman's "The End Game," and especially the reckless physicality and ironic jokes of Starsky and Hutch's "Savage Sunday." --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (5)

OH.....JUST SHOOT ME!!
It was just GREAT having the chance to own this DVD ! I am a big fan of America's Cop Shows and this item was really a "must -have".I just wish they could release more episodes of "The Police Woman" and "The Rookies" ( with Kate Jackson!!!), which are very interesting and which I had never watched before due to they had never been aired here in Brazil."The Angels" are "foxy" as always and you also get a chance to watch "Starski & Hutch" in the same package.

More Angie, please...!
"Starsky & Hutch" were entertainingly silly for a couple of years, as were "Charlie's Angels", and "The Rookies" looks earnest but dated and tad naive. "SWAT" is essentially a shoot-em-up with few characters you get to know at all.

Interestingly, the one out of the five (and the one NOT produced by Aaron Spelling) that is easliy the most legitimate cop drama is "Police Woman" with Angie Dickinson--- it feels like a damn movie... something the other four certainly do not.

Funny how memories have written-off this series as a single, older version of a Charlie's Angel who still has her badge but does nothing else but turn "tricks", when, in fact, "Police Woman" seems to be the most sophisticated of the lot; it's aged beautifully.

Instead of packaging this mismatch of fun but otherwise unconnected 70s cop-show memories, let's see a DVD release of at LEAST "Police Woman"s first season, as I seem to remember it was the best year of the show--- and certainly quite removed from the other more comic-strip, though watchable, entries.

Back when TV was great
Let me tell you, I LOVE this dvd. I have been waiting for these shows to be released on dvd format for a long time. You get the first episodes of 5 classic 70's cop shows.

1. Charlies Angels
2. The Rookies
3. Starsky and Hutch
4. Swat
5. Police Woman

I love all these shows, but I espacially love Police Woman and Starsky and Hutch. I grew up watching these shows, and there is not a cop show today that can hold a candle to these shows. I have some Charlie's Angels on dvd, and Starsky and Hutch on VHS from Columbia House, but I have missed watching Police Woman in over 25 years. I had a serious crush on Angie Dickinson back in the day. This is a great dvd of classic tv, when tv was entertaining, not all this reality crap that is on now. I just hope they realease more Police Woman and Starsky and Hutch on dvd. Its well worth the price and then some. Get it....

This Is The One I Been Waiting For!!!
I am so glad they are bring out those old cop shows out on DVD. I remember watching those shows like Charlie's Angels, Starsky & Hutch,S.W.A.T, The Rookies and Police Woman back then when I was a child in the 70's. I also watched those shows when they were on TVLand til they took all the cop shows off on TVLand. I brought the DVD and I have too tell you this is the best DVD ever!!! My favorite ones on there are S.W.A.T and Charlie's Angels. You Must Buy this DVD to enjoy!!

Great fun!
If like me, you're a fan of '70s pop culture...you'll want to add this DVD to your collection. Sure, you'll read reviews that refer to the "cheesiness" factor. Forget all that. I hate the word "cheesy." It assumes that everything that's current and hip will always be cool and in fashion. How short-sighted. But I digress. Watching "The Greatest '70s Cop Shows" brought me back to a time when TV was truly exciting. You get the following first episodes:

"Starsky & Huch" - "Savage Sunday"
"Charlie's Angels" - "Hellride"
"The Rookies" - "Concrete Valley, Neon Sky"
"S.W.A.T." - "The Killing Ground"
"Police Woman" - "The End Game"

My favorite out of this bunch is the "Police Woman" episode. I had not seen that show in at least 25 years and it holds up very well. Angie Dickinson is extremely sexy, sensitive, feminine and tough. What an awesome, groundbreaking show.

The sound on the disc is terrific, the picture is probably the best we're going to get...and the price is right. Never mind those big-budget theatrical versions of these shows...they don't hold a candle to the originals. Buy this and go back to the groovy '70s. You'll have a great time! ... Read more

Description

Once upon a time, Jill, Sabrina and Kelly were police officers whose skills were being wasted in menial duties such as answering phones and filing. A mysterious millionaire named Charles Townsend took them away from all that by having them work for his private detective agency. Starring Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Jaclyn Smith, David Doyle. 250 minutes.ANGELS IN CHAINS The Angels discover that the sheriff, prison authorities and the local County Manager are partners in an extortion-murder scheme in which wealthy young women are arrested and virtually enslaved as prostitutes until they sign over all their assets in exchange for an "early release" and then are killed. THE SEANCE The Angels are called in when rich widows and widowers are hypnotized into thinking their deceased spouses still manage their business affairs from the "other side." DANCING IN THE DARK Lured by a gigolo, wealthy women studying ballroom dancing are blackmailed for all they're worth. CONSENTING ADULTS A computer dating service, fronting for prostitutes and their robber accomplices, starts an underworld war by stealing hot diamonds from a syndicate courier. HELLRIDE Sabrina becomes a race car driver while Kelly, Jill and Bosley assume unusual disguises to learn why a pretty woman driver lost control of her car and died in a flaming wreck. They discover a conspiracy that extends far beyond the track. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Talent
I've seen most of the 1st 2 seasons and some of 3 and 4.
I saw seance for the 1st time the other week and thought it was really well done and a great performance by Jaclyn Smith.

A Fun Blast From The Past
When these shows first came out, I was eleven years old. I really didn't get a chance to see much of this first season when it ran in 1976, but I knew all about the three women who were the Angels thanks to tons of magazine coverage. The show was a phenomenom. Everybody had the Farrah poster!

Jump to today. This set is a very nice, complete view of season 1 (the only season Farrah was on the show). It includes the pilot and 22 episodes. Some are good and hold up with time. A couple are clinkers. But, the sound and video reproduction are good and it is easy to see why everyone was so spellbound by the show - Kate, Farrah and Jackelyn were stunning. ... Read more

Amazon.com

No ordinary cult film, Night Tide covers a variety of different waterfronts. It's a film from the American underground, it's a horror movie, and it's an early example of independent cinema (before there was such a term). Shot in 1960, it's also a strangely haunting artifact of its time. Night Tide waswritten and directed by Curtis Harrington, a member of the experimentalavant-garde of the '50s who went on to make the atmospheric shocker Gamesand many an episode of Dynasty. Mounted on the cheap, and shot on authenticlocations in Santa Monica and crumbling Venice, California, Night Tide has aloose, lyrical quality not found outside Cassavetes and Godard films of the same era.

Dennis Hopper, whose youthful looks and Method style were still intact atthis point, plays an innocent sailor at liberty in a coastal town; he falls for a girl who plays a mermaid at the sideshow. Or is she really a mermaid? Inspired by Val Lewton's horror classic Cat People, Harrington cooks up asupernatural stew with the suggestion that the willowy lass is one of the"Sea People," called back to her ocean home by a weird sea witch (played by a real-life occult celebrity called Cameron). Yet Night Tide only occasionallyfeels like a horror movie; with its naturalistic exteriors, bongos, andcoffeehouse atmosphere, it's more a slice of poetic bohemia. Luana Anders,who should have had a major movie career but later became a B-movie leading lady, is wonderfully fresh as the good girl, and the music score by Hollywoodpro David Raksin (Laura) is inventive and offbeat. Shown at the Venice FilmFestival in 1961, the film did not secure a U.S. release until 1963, when itsNew-Wave-ish style probably looked less innovative. Seen today, Night Tide isboth a lovely mood piece and a look back at a peculiar moment in Americanmoviemaking, and either way a bit of low-cost enchantment. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Essential viewing for cult movie fans
I adore this little film . It was obviously made on a shoe string but it offers more entertainment value than many big budget blockbusters. All the players do a grand job and they've all got interesting characters to work with . The two standouts for me , however , are the woman who plays the fortune teller (haven't got her name on me right now) and Gavin Muir as Captain Samuel Murdock. The fact that much of the action takes place at the Santa Monica pier amusement park adds to the film's surrealistic air of fantasy. If you're looking for an excellent , low budget early 60's movie that's really well crafted stick this one in your trolley and proceed straight to the check out. If you like "Carnival of Souls" you'll like "Night Tide". It certainy goes into my basket of "Desert Island" videos. Essential viewing for cult movie fans.

Creative & thought-provoking...
I saw this film first in 1963 as the 2nd half of a double-bill; American-International pictures usually put out the Corman/Poe films which were mostly under 90 minutes in length, and they filled up the time by throwing this off as a 2nd bill. It was certainly better than "The Comedy of Terrors" (1st bill). Here we have Curtis Harrington before he "went Hollywood" (Who Slew Auntie Roo?, etc.), an intuitive director who creates an atmosphere that's hard to describe; slow moving, never boring, always compelling. An innovator of the "indie" scene, Harrington couldn't find a distributor in 1961, but A-I picked it up. There's a wonderful bongo/jazz score and a wonderfully understated and heartfelt performance from Dennis Hopper (before he tried to impress everyone with his individuality and maverick style). The photography, often in dark venues, is remarkably clear and atmospheric. There's also the excellent Luana Anders, who, along with Salome Jens, was never given the career she deserved. The style of this film seems to suggest a mood which the great John Frankenheimer later perfected ("Seconds"). Not a horror film, "Night Tide" certainly had a head-start on the psychological suspense stories that became popular. Definitey worth a look!

Mermaid Nightmares
Great low-budget indy horror film from the 60s inspired by the Val Lewton classic 'Cat People'. Fans of other b/w indy horror flicks like 'Carnival of Souls' should really enjoy it. It stars the great Dennis Hopper ('Giant', 'Easy Rider', 'River's Edge', 'Blue Velvet', etc.) as a naive young sailor named Johnny who falls for a mysterious & beautiful girl called Mora. Mora works as "Mora the Mermaid" in a sideshow during the day on a CA Boardwalk. After they become lovers, Johnny discovers that Mora's last two boyfriends mysteriously drowned and soon he starts wondering if Mora is a real mermaid or one of the spooky "Sea People".

The soundtrack is a mix of great bongo numbers & bad b-movie music, but the real highlight is the eerie atmosphere and great stylized photography. The director tried hard to raise "Night Tide" out of the usual b-movie abyss and it shows. Excellent flick!

A movie before its time
I was surprized when this film came out. I didn't think it would. The plot was pure genius and was well produced, especially
with the low budget. It was also Congo Drummer, "Chaino's" first
film appearance. It was interesting to see him as young as he was
when he recorded 6 LP's that have appeared in many films and Videos since, HBO's "Sex and the City" and Steven speilbergs, "The Forces of nature." This film will no doube become a classic, being the first film for "Dennis Hopper." We love it. It's the kind of film one can enjoy no matter how many times they see it.

Poetic horror movie
This film is a fine example of how low budget is sometimes better than big budget: its qualities come partly from moody black and white lighting on ordinary locations and subtle suggestions of fear and the supernatural with lighting and editing rather than blatant special effects. It has a quiet and eerie, dream-like atmosphere, with excellent acting by Dennis Hopper, Luana Anders, and Linda Lawson as "Mora the Mermaid." The music score by David Raksin is excellent, and a rare example of a major film composer working on a very small budgeted film. Curtis Harrington's directing creates a sense of psychological eerieness and shadowy imagery rarely seen since the Val Lewton classics of the forties, which it is similar to (especially the original "Cat People" with Simone Simon). This DVD release is very good quality, and features an excellent and informative commentary by Curtis Harrington and Dennis Hopper. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It is a sordid fact of life that were it not for Robert Blake's newfound infamy as an accused wife murderer, Baretta, which lasted three seasons beginning in 1975, might have been relegated to late nights in TV land. But as they say in Hollywood, there's no such thing as bad publicity. So for those who do not want to invest in the Season One boxed set, here are three episodes from this offbeat cop series' first season, including the atypically gritty and brutal pilot, in which funky undercover cop Anthony Baretta goes after his girlfriend's killer, and speaks those grimly prophetic words: "If you can't do the time, don't do the crime." As these episodes testify, Baretta is more than a newly minted sick joke. The randy, rule-bending Baretta was a cop like no other on TV. And, as Tony was fond of saying, you can take that to the bank. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (2)

WHY BUY THIS???
I give this two star, ONLY BECAUSE....and I mean this....WHY BUY THIS DVD SET WHEN THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON HAS THESE SAME EPISODES? I give the FIRST SEASON DVD SET about 10 stars, because I love watching Baretta. It brings back some great memories. Truly just "one" of the best shows from the seventies. So any fan of this show would know, why waste the money. I'm not sure why the companies do this. JUST PUT OUT THE OTHER SEASONS. Then we'll be happy.

I LOVE BARETTA
I watched aLL THE bARETTA SHOWS AND I just love him and still do. THis episode is one of the hottest.Only robert blake can come across as he does for I BELIEVE a little of it is part of him....he is just great!!! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Fantastic DVD release
CHARLIE'S ANGELS gets a wonderful DVD release with perfect picture and two choice episodes.

Farrah Fawcett-Majors, Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson star in two stories from the memorable first season; "Night Of The Strangler" and "To Kill An Angel". The only main qualm is the lack of chapters in the episodes.

Also included is the entertaining "Angels Forever" retrospective featurette which quizzes fans of the show as well as providing footage from the show and details from later cast members including Cheryl Ladd and Tanya Roberts.

Pretty impressive DVD package all-round!

The Angels are back !!!!!!!
This two-part special edition is definitely a collector's item especially for those die-hard "Charlie's Angels" fans.It features Jaclyn Smith, who deserves the recognition as the "most angelic of them all," and two of the best episodes of the series. We're not talking award-winning stuff in this dvd issue but an outstanding entertainment to "visit" the undisputed queens of the 70s television.

The episode "Night of the Strangler" shows why Jaclyn Smith lasted so long in the series. Her looks and style are timeless plus that scene in her famous white bikini is a must to see. Of course, Kate Jackson and Farrah Fawcett are on hand to complete the trio.

For the episode "To Kill An Angel," new fans will be surprise that the show is not just pure bikini's and guns. It showcases also the dramatic sides of the trio.

The cover alone is worth the trip, so buy it now and collect! A must!

Charlie how do you your Angels get down
OMG, please tell me this is the first of many more to come, Having the Angels on DVD is way fun. One mishap though, NO SCENE SELECTION. But it makes up for that with the Angel Featurette and the digitally enhanced audio and video.

CHARLIE,S ANGELS
WONDEFUL lots of added features and Angels Forever is highlights from alot of the shows.This is a must for any Charlie,s Angels fan. Columbia and Tristar have done a GREAT job. Hope they come out with more. Charlie would give them all a week off with pay ,for a job well done.

Contains an Exclusive Featurette! Must Have For Angel Fans
Just finished viewing The DVD and in addition to the Two Classic epiodes mentioned in the description, the DVD also has an Exclusive Featurette Titled "Angels Forever"! This 20 Minute Documentary tells of The Impact that Charlies Angels has had on Various Fans and includes Vintage Scenes from The Series from The Farrah Year until the Tanya Roberts Last Year! The Special Feature Contains Hilarious Montages made of vintage scenes from the series! It made me realise why I loved Charlies Angels so much as a Kid and Love it even more now as an adult! The Show was Pure Fun and Escapism an I really missed those days when I would eagerly await every Wed Night for a New Angel Episode and to see what the Angels were Wearing(and in many cases not wearing). Hey for a 13 year old, seeing Farrah Fawcett's Nipples was a Big Deal(probably would not even be talked about today). If your an Angel Fan, you really need this DVD. I hope they release more episodes on DVD! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

" Damn Good Movie "
I saw this movie when I was 10 years old. I stayed up late that night because my mom and dad were out of town and my aunt was the babysitter and we got away with the "Staying up late" thing. Well, anyway, I turned on the t.v. and there it was, RUBY, I kept my head covered up during most of the movie. I almost fainted when I heard a bump after finally going to bed. I am now 33 and have had trouble trying to locate the movie. Knowone remebers the good movies! but, I still remember " Ruby " That's a great movie.

GOOD HORROR SHOCKER....
50's actress Piper Laurie followed up her "comeback" in "Carrie" with this neglected horror item. She plays Ruby, a former gangster's moll now running a drive-in employing several of her old mob friends. She married a wealthy rival of her old beau who had him killed while she was pregnant with the younger man's child. Now the child is a teenager and mute. She begins exhibiting strange behavior and scary things start happening at the drive-in and Ruby is convinced her old lover has come back for her. The supernatural is played up well and there is no shortage of shocks. A lot of good moments and an overall creepiness pervade the film directed by Curtis Harrington. Piper Laurie gives another full-barreled performance as Ruby--still beautiful but half-deranged by alcohol and memories. Her blood red costume at the end is a knockout. VCI has done well with this on DVD. It deserves it.

An overlooked treasure.
Piper Laurie(the crazed mother in CARRIE) gives another expert performance: This time around she's Ruby Claire, an ex-gun moll running a 1950's drive-in theatre which is haunted by the spirit of her murdered lover, Nicky(Sal Vecchio). Long available in only a grainy, horribly butchered version that was made for television, RUBY has finally been restored to its original luster and demands rediscovery! A special bonus on the DVD is audio commentary given by star Piper Laurie and director Curtis Harrington. A must for the horror film buff!

It's me he wants, damn you -- me, me, me! Grade "A" B-movie
Even with the few flaws, especially the ending, you will have a great time with this one. The commentary is great and I really enjoyed the banter between the director and Ruby herself, the LOVELY Ms. Piper Laurie. Stuart Whitman is great as well. If you're in the mood for a fun & effective drive-in delight, get this! By the way, Ms. Laurie, you look great in a turban!

Not A Harrington Classic
Thanks to the DVD format many films that have suffered abuse at the hands of untalented studio executives and film censors have finally been given a chance to prove themselves for the classics that they truly are. Despite it's cult status Ruby is not one of those classics. According to Harrington, Ruby (1977) was the top grossing independent film of its time before John Carpenter's Halloween usurped its crown. Ruby's theatrical success and it's rareity on the video market have earned the film a cult following over the years. Now, finally having seen it I cannot understand why. Piper Laurie plays Ruby, an aging overly dramatic has-been who was amazingly beautiful in her day. Laurie's performance is fine but the character she plays is tired, cliched, and annoying. I had to force myself to get through her intolerable and lengthy scenes. The only performance worth watching is Ruby's mute daughter played by Janit Baldwin. Without Baldwin's eerie presence this film has little going for it, which is probably why her image is used for the poster art even though her character has only a minor role. The film is not without its moments, the finest being when Ruby's possessed daughter seduces then tries to kill her mother acting on behalf of the murdered father. Harrington is a very good director but I fail to see why fans count Ruby among his best work. My quibbles aside I am always pleased to see a lovingly presented DVD and VCI's 0 Region disc is just that. Transferred from the original 35mm negative in a rather tight 1:85:1 ratio Ruby looks as good as this low budget film can be expected. The sound is fine but it's nothing to crow about. The real goodies here are the supplements, which include a full length commentary by Harrington, an interview with Harrington by film critic David Del Valle, a photogallery and the theatrical trailer. Also noted among the DVD's special features is that this presentation is the "Director's Theatrical Cut". Please note the careful wording, this is NOT the Director's Cut. According to Harrington, Ruby is missing 6 minutes of footage (NOT noted on the case). He states in his interview with Del Valle that the film is very much his until the abrupt ending. VCI's presentation of Ruby contains a tacked on and artisically degrading ending which was not approved by Harrington. Aside from the loss of Harrington's original ending fans should be pleased by this release all others have been warned. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Corman splices Rathbone into Soviet Sci-fi
This is for those of you who have a taste for the strange, esoteric joys of B moviemaking. Notorious cheapie producer Roger Corman has evidently bought an interesting, serious sci-fi opus made in the '50s behind the Iron Curtain, dubbed it into English and added brief scenes of the great thespian Basil Rathbone and Faith (This Island Earth) Domergue and it comes off like something David Lynch would dream up! It makes no sense, but it's fascinating! Rathbone's diction is so veddy erudite (though noticeably slurred in one scene), and he seems bored and bummed out, but he's got the MAGIC- even though his scenes are shot entirely seperate from everyone else in the movie. Domergue, gorgeous just a few years before, is unrecognizable- something dreadful was happening to this actress to make her so haggard and listless. She "communicates" with cosmonauts on Venus through a microphone on a panel, and halfway through, removes her lab coat to reveal her once stunning figure in a sweater. After that, the two English-speaking actors are not seen again (they dub in some dialogue to "explain" what happened to Domergue). The cosmonauts are obviously from another movie. They all look so Slavic it's amazing (kind of resemble young Charles Bronson): short noses, long upper lips, wide, stern mouths, beetling brows, and craggy cheeks, but with teased Kremlin-style pompadores like TV evangelists (what is it with Communism and high hair, does it represent Progress?) The prop designs are pure Workers' Paradise Futurism: retro-cool (to us) spacesuits, and a robot that looks like it lumbered out of a Socialist Realist poster. Whatever language they're speaking, the consonants and vowels roughly match up with the English translation, but the dialogue is delivered so monotonously by the dubbers, and the "philosophical" discussions are so awkwardly pointless, that the odd phrasing and long, inappropriate pauses make for a very weird dialogue track. There's an impressive Brontosaurus (basically stationary), a nifty man-eating plant, some ridiculous men in rubber dinosaur suits and a "pteradactyl" that looks like a vulcanized rubber Muppet, but the coolest thing is the hovering, bubble-topped land-rover they ride around in. Get the Diamond Entertainment version that has "First Spaceship on Venus" on the same DVD- the transfer is basically in magenta and gray, panned and scanned by a guy who obviously wanted to get home early, and in one scene there's a green, horn-shaped piece of crud that gets stuck in the film gate for about 20 seconds, but I got it for under $7, and I was spellbound.

Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet
The movie was surprisingly poor for a 1965 film. The story line was meandering. The special effects were hokey and Basil Rathbone was on screen about a total of 15 minutes for the entire movie. Overall compared to other SF films of this time period, it sucked. Don't fall for the Amazon.com hype. There are much better films to buy on DVD. This is not one of them.

Dont Let The Title Fool You
This film is much better than it looks. Its a film about the exploration of Venus and its really good especially if you factor in when it was made. The scenes with Basil Rathbone at the lunar base are definitely a little hokey and I didnt recognize Faith Dominque (This Island Earth) at first, but the rest of the film is great! The plot is basicly explore Venus and rescue the first team that landed and got into trouble. The explorers have a really neat hover craft that they travel in to save their comrades. There is a tough metal robot that is realistic. Dinosaurs and other nasties try to make a meal of various crew members without success. Its just an all around fun film along the gendre of First Spaceship to Venus. The special effects are innovative and impressive especially considering the time when the film was made. I saw this film when I was a kid and was happy to make its reacquaintance. If you like classic science fiction, you will love this film.

Take a Soviet science fiction film, add new scenes, stir...
Okay, according to my research "Voyage to a Prehistoric Planet" is a Roger Corman production that uses footage from a 1962 Soviet science fiction film produced by the Leningrad Studio of Popular Science Fiction films and entitled "Planeta Bur" (variously translated as "Planet of Storms" and "Storm Planet," but more accurately titled at one point "Cosmonauts on Venus"). This Soviet film was apparently strong on production design, but weak on the plot: Cosmonauts and their robot, that plays dance music, land on Venus looking for intelligent life but only find dinosaurs, killer plants, and, of course, a volcanic eruption. As the crew departs an intelligent Venusian watches they leave. Anyhow, much of the footage from the Venus sequences was used in "Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet" in 1965, intercut with new material from writer/director John Sebastian (a pseudonym of Curtis Harrington), which does not really constitute a remake of the Soviet film, but which is certainly in the ballpark. Some of the "Planeta Bur" footage was used in another Corman production, "Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women" (1966, a.k.a. "Gill Woman), which was Peter Bogdanovich's directorial debut courtsey of the Roger Corman apprenticeship program.

"Voyage to a Prehistoric Planet" stars Basil Rathbone as Professor Hartman, who is in charge of Earth's expedition of three ships to Venus, even though he is back on a Moon Base. One of the ships is taken out by a meteor while another crashes on Venus, leaving the third to rescue it (good thing they sent three ships, huh?). There is one beautiful women in the crew, played by Faith Domergue, but she does not get to go down on the planet. That is because the footage of the astronauts is really of the cosmonauts from the Soviet film, and they did not have a woman in their crew. Got it? Anyhow, two of men from the rocket in orbit, along with their robot, go down to the surface to rescue the crew from the rocket that crashed. There they encounter, well, dinosaurs, killer planets, and, of course, a volcanic eruption. Meanwhile, the big question down on Venus is whether the planet is inhabited by beautiful women. This question might be more than wishful thinking, because some of the boys think they hearing a woman's voice singing.

I have to admit that all things considered I would be more interested in seeing "Planeta Bur," even without subtitles, than "Voyage to a Prehistoric Planet" (I have a question about that title: do you have to have "humans" to have history? Because these "dinosaurs" are probably a lot smarter than these humans so maybe they have some sort of oral history going at this point). There are just too many unintentional laughs in this film to ever take it seriously and the cutting back and forth between the old and the new is no where as smooth as it is in, say, the original "Godzilla" with Raymond Burr. Of course, there is something to be said for a "remake" that includes so much footage from the original. But I will stop now. This is a party movie, not something for the serious connoisseur.

Only if you're REALLY loaded
Dreadful patched-together thing, assembled from a Russian movie which was cut up to include el-cheapo Roger Corman style sequences featuring Faith Domergue (who appears almost comatose) and Basil Rathbone (who leans on things a lot). The rest of the cast is Russian, and the rest of the movie is dubbed, very clumsily indeed. The film has an overall reddish tinge (outer space is inexplicably fire engine red) and the DVD was mastered from a really terrible film copy. The plot points are horribly obvious, the special effects are garbagey, and the film moves at a glacially slow pace. I can only imagine what it was like before Corman cut it to its current length!

That being said, the robot IS cool, as is the air-car. The vision of Venus is hilarious, especially considering what we know now, and the idea of calling the robot "Robot John" and addressing him as if he were a particularly stupid child is peculiar to say the least.

Overall this is pretty dang awful. I like bad movies but...this might just be irredeemable. If the MST 3K crew were still working, this would be perfect fodder for them, and with a sufficient amount of beer and three witty friends, you might be able to have a fun evening. But there are much better bad movies out there than this one to make fun of. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Cut Version
This DVD contains the cut version.Beware from that DVD.Some hot scenes are cut.For example in the edited version sex scene between Cristopher Casenova and Sylvia Kristel is longer.He kisses her va... .Censoured version omits that scene.Scene is also very long.All "R" rated versions are cut.

Sylvia Kristel Rules!!
The beautiful,sexy Sylvia Kristel rules in this wonderful movie of mystery and intrigue.It's a must see!! ... Read more