ALL SCI-FI

Bud Brewster · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2015 1:34 pm Post subject: Buck Rogers (1939)

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[Also released as: "Destination Saturn"]

The 90-minute version of the classic serial, starring Buster Crabbe as an explorer whose zeppelin crashes in the Arctic, is not very satisfying as a feature film.

That's not surprising in view of the fact that it pieces together 12 episodic sections, each of which concludes with a cliffhanger that leaves out the reason the hero didn't die (as he appeared to) until the beginning of the next chapter.

Add to this the fact that the serial itself is not quite as good as the "Flash Gordon" serials.

Still, "Buck Rogers" is loaded with action and adventure. The villain is Killer Kane, chief of a world-wide gangster organization. As a bad guy, Kane "ain't a pimple" on Ming the Merciless, who oozed evil and plotted the destruction of planet Earth. That was a tough act to follow, and Kane doesn't quite measure up.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Pow · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2015 11:03 am Post subject:

Gene Roddenberry would utilize the suspended animation premise in his sf TV-Pilots "Genesis II" & "Planet Earth."

Pow · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 9:23 pm Post subject:

Trivia: In the episode "Semi-Friendly Persuasion" of the TV show, The A-Team , Tim O'Connor & Sam Jones were the guest stars.

Tim portrayed Dr. Huer on the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century TV series.

Sam played the title role in the 1980 Flash Gordon film.

Bud Brewster · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2015 5:27 pm Post subject:

A wacky idea came to me when I read your post, Pow.

How would 1930s audiences react to the 1980s TV series if we loaded film cans into my 2001 Chevy DeLumina (with it's flux capacitor and built-in time machine) and took the show back to that era?

Come to think of it, how would those folks react to a 2001 Chevy Lumina? Shocked

Just a thought . . .

* Note the license plate. Very Happy

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

scotpens · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2015 6:04 pm Post subject:

Custer · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 12:29 pm Post subject:

That's a problem with traveling back in time — you don't want to be too conspicuous. So maybe transfer your flux capacitor, etc, to a vintage car from the appropriate era, and be sure to dress appropriately.

I wonder if petrol, er, gasoline, has changed much since the thirties? It's possible that a modern car might find old fuel a bit hard to work with. There's an sf story with a modern warplane going back a few decades to make all the difference to a crucial action in World War I, "Hawk Among the Sparrows" — if they can actually give it some fuel it can run on!

Bud Brewster · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 12:40 pm Post subject:

Don't worry, I'll keep the DeLumina hidden while I'm there. And since I'm not going to be cruising around in the 1930s, there's no need to tune it for the lower octane level of that era.

However, I can't seem to find a good whip to go with my 1936 outfit. It looks like this:

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

Custer · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 1:37 pm Post subject:

Very smart-casual. I'm sure you'll be able to find a friend who can loan you the whip you need to complete the ensemble...

Bud Brewster · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 2:13 pm Post subject:

Yes, I'm sure you're right. I certainly wouldn't want to show up in 1936 wearing an outfit that lacked a common accessory like that! Shocked

I mean, I want to just blend in and not call too much attention to myself, you know?
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Custer · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 3:42 pm Post subject:

Hey, presumably you'd be wanting to take the film cans to Hollywood, rather than New York - you'd fit in perfectly in that outfit!

Sadly, George Lucas wasn't born until 1944, so the possibility of you encountering him when he was an impressionable toddler has to be ruled out. Sad

Krel · Guest

Bud, where is your neck tie? Unless you are out in the deep brush, you are going to need to wear a neck tie, or be thought of as a bum.

David.

Bud Brewster · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2015 1:37 am Post subject:

Oh, great! Now I'll have to find a tie that goes with the whip, or the outfit won't match . . .
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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 · Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 9:21 am Post subject:

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Here's the 90-minute version of the serial. The picture isn't very good, but it's watchable.
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_______________ Buck Rogers: Planet Outlaws

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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 · Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2021 2:14 pm Post subject:

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Well now, here's an unexpected treated! Very Happy

The first link below is the actual 1939 serial — a reasonably good copy, but not as good as the Flash Gordon serials offered on YouTube.

But the second link is a unique version of Buck Rogers that has been converted into colorful ANIME. Shocked

Folks, this has to be seen to be believed!

Every scene has somehow been turned into brightly colorized and highly stylized artwork. And this artwork includes original special effects which are truly beautiful to behold!

__________________ Buck Rogers 1939 Serial

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Buck Rogers - science fiction serial colorized 1939 - all 12 chapter

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

scotpens · Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2021 3:11 pm Post subject:

To each his own, but I think the "cartoonify" filter just looks bizarre. As more than one YouTube poster mentioned, the actors look like they're wearing stocking masks.