ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

A cast full of familiar names might tempt you watch this one, but be forewarned: it's pretty bad.

The crew of an expedition to Venus watches Earth being destroyed by atomic war. Despite the fact that the group doesn't get along so well, they bravely face the fact that the survival of the race depends on how quickly they can start making babies.

Hey, it's a thankless job, but somebody's gotta do it.

Exterior shots of the rocket in flight are borrowed from "Warning from Space" (1956 Japanese).

The cast includes Grant Williams ("The Incredible Shrinking Man", "The Monolith Monsters"), Mala Powers ("The Colossus of New York", "The Unknown Terror"), Mike Farrell (M.A.S.H.), Ruta Lee, Bobby Van, and Casey Kasem.

Directed by Lee Sholem and Harry Hope.

Enjoy this odd film on Youtube.

_____________ The Doomsday Machine (1972)


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Pow]

I also see 3 pix with actor Denny Miller in 'em.

Denny passed away early this year.

Some may remember him as scout Duke Shannon on the Wagon Train series. He also played Tarzan, the only blonde one, for a TV-movie.

Denny had tons of tv credits.

[Bud Brewster]

Damn, he really WAS a fine looking Lord of the Apes, wasn't he?
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

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I couldn't find a trailer for this wacky movie, but I found a wacky review that pokes fun at it. The comments aren't particular clever, but it got a giggle or two out of me.
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___________ Movie Review: Doomsday Machine


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Gord Green]

I very much liked Bobby Van in the remake of LOST HORIZON. Even though as a musical it very much changes the impact of the original. I always was a sucker for Burt Bacharach and his music.



But how do you improve on Frank Capra?

[Bogmeister]

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This was one of those films which was mostly shot in 1967 but, due to money problems, wasn't finished up with final footage until 5 years later.

It's the story of a space expedition to Venus. It begins on Earth when there are tensions among the world powers. The crew of the expedition later watches Earth being destroyed by atomic war. Despite the fact that the group doesn't get along so well, they bravely face the fact that the survival of the race depends on how quickly they can start making babies.

Exterior shots of the rocket in flight are borrowed from Gorath (1962 Japanese) and interior shots from Wizard of Mars (65).

The cast includes Grant Williams (The Incredible Shrinking Man, The Monolith Monsters) in an atypical role (wound too tight), Mala Powers (The Colossus of New York, The Unknown Terror), Mike Farrell (M*A*S*H*), and other faces that are very familiar to film fans in the 1960s — Ruta Lee, Bobby Van, and Casey Kasem. Directed by Harry Hope and Lee Sholem (the new footage).

I have a double feature DVD on which this is paired with Werewolf of Washington, an Elvira's Movie Macabre release (Elvira used to host a program with such films, offering introductions and commentary during breaks; one can watch the film with her hosting it as an option on the DVD).

We see the bare back of a younger actress — I think her name is Lori Scott. Mala Powers plays a slightly older, stern Russian astronaut. Mike Farrell of M*A*S*H* fame shows up in one scene as a reporter.

This isn't that bad in the first three-quarters of the film, but the final act is all but unwatchable — to me at least. I think that's where all the footage from another film was inserted to finally finish the film and it presents what should be one minute of astronauts getting into a space capsule and sitting down as a 10-minute scene, as if in super slow motion. On top of that, we never get to see them reaching Venus — that plot had to be changed for the ending.

___________ Doomsday Machine (1972) SCI-FI


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BoG's Score: 3 out of 10



BoG
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