Acclaimed British novelist/essayist Martin Amis had a spotty record in film. A mere eight credits, mostly made without his involvement other than the book sale, including well-received current release THE ZONE OF INTEREST/’23. Rarely mentioned is this first credit, an original screenplay co-written with STAR WARS production designer John Barry, who briefly directed before being replaced by disinterested producer Stanley Donen.* (Barry had designed two earlier Donen films.) A typically crass attempt by Lord Lew Grade to climb aboard the STAR WARS bandwagon, the film hasn’t a clue how these things work, casting an incompetent Farrah Fawcett during her brief heyday against aging Kirk Douglas (long past his) as Space Station lovers at some food & mineral mining post. They’re joined by rogue agent Harvey Keitel (dubbed by Roy Dotrice, why?) and his evil, indestructible Robot pal, Hector. Keitel quickly starts moving on Farrah (‘What do you see in that old man?’ Good question.), but our May & September lovebirds manage to fend him off. On the other hand, Hector proves harder to stop when he catches Fawcett Fever. Ludicrous as this all is, the film is actually a fun watch as Barry’s design work is an ultra-shiny treat, especially under the polished camera eye and strikingly grainless lensing of gifted Oscar-winning cinematographer Billy Williams. You also get to imagine studio exec conferences on whether Douglas should wear pajama bottoms, briefs or just go ‘nekkid’ in bed with Fawcett. (You know Kirk fought for the bare ass option.) Meanwhile, composer Elmer Bernstein bumps against Richard Strauss/ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA and the F/X model guys steal the opening shot of STAR WARS. Some of the model work does look like Revell model plane kits. You can almost smell the rubber cement.
SCREWY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: We expect Fawcett’s hair to match the famous poster, but what’s with Kirk’s Beach Boys audition wig?
DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: What if Hector caught Farrah? Find out in DEMON SEED/’77, a cult item with Julie Christie playing Beauty to an A.I. Beast. (Also featuring Billy Williams' ultra-polished/grain-free lensing.) https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2015/07/demon-seed-1977.html
ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: *Even director Donen, who tended to see the best in all his films, good & bad, called this one shit.
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