LFeinberg.es@PARC-MAXC.ARPA (02/09/84)
A classic 1960 S.F. movie which is quite often overlooked is "The First Spaceship on Venus". While this film is often dismissed (my "Guide to T.V. Movies" gives it 1 1/2 stars out of 4), it is actually a neglected masterpiece. In this film, a group of scientists flies to Venus, where they find the remains of an ancient, dead, civilization. Those scenes on Venus inside the ruins of this civilization are a surrealistic masterpiece. Highlights include the scenes where the astronaughts are chased up the spiral ramp-like building by the flowing lava, the scenes inside the green and glowing pit ( a brain? a computer?) on the planet, and the bizzare reversal of the ending. Like "Dark Star", this is a low budget cheapy, and has some real flaws that are hard to overlook. But for capturing the bizzare and numinous essence of surrealism on screen, this movie cannot be equaled! Anyone else remeber this one? Lawrence <LFeinberg.es@PARC-MAXC>
Mackey.PA@PARC-MAXC.ARPA (02/10/84)
From: Kevin <Mackey.PA@PARC-MAXC.ARPA> I too remember that movie, and was also impressed by the surrealistic sets and effects. The colorful, swirling gas/clouds in the atmosphere added to the wierd mood. It really made you feel that you were in a very alien place, as opposed to American SF which usually takes place in a rocky canyon somewhere in L.A., or in a boring (interior design) spaceship. The story also had some mysteries (though not well done) to solve: what happened to the inhabitants of the planet? What are those strange cables running all over the place? What are these buildings used for? I think this was made in Italy, and was dubbed poorly, making it difficult for many stations to show it seriously. Seems there have been several Italian SF movies that have a definite style of special effects, set design, and story. I remember one about a planet of "vampires" attacking the crew of a ship one by one, and another of an exploration of a planet (Venus?) in which the astronauts discover a race of women, and are aided by a tall robot (who comes in handy when the lava arrives). Anyone know more about them? Titles? Dates? ~Kevin