Amazon.com

It's more of Leslie Nielsen's Lt. Frank Drebin, the bumbling cop from the old Police Squad! television series. This time, Drebin uncovers a plot--led by supervillain Robert Goulet!--to sabotage America's energy policy. The jokes don't stick as well as those of the first film (Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!), but there are some very funny slapstick moments, including several involving former First Lady Barbara Bush (played by an actress, of course). --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (23)

I've been swimming in raw sewage...I LOVE IT!
I actually did like this move quite a bit, and it was amazingly funny, but it had a few too many man-gets-hit-by-something-and-falls jokes for me. This is my least favorite Naked Gun movie yet I still watch it all the time and have a good laugh. the Naked Gun movies to me are the funniest movies ever created, and this is no exception. It is great, but I think you would first want to check out the other two. My favorite scene: The one where Frank and Ed go into the sex shop while Norberg is going under all the cars. Another downer: there were too many jokes stolen from the series it was based on, Police Squad! Otherwise, very good and very very funny.

Fairly funny
This is the second film based on the short-lived TV series "Police Squad". The first is a classic. This one liberally borrows gags from the TV show that inspired it, and that sums up my problem with the film: an overall lack of inspiration.

There are some very funny segments, including director David Zucker's hilarious send-up of his brother Jerry's "Ghost". But this movie just isn't as consistently funny as it's predecessor. This is really Leslie Nielsen's last funny performance in a spoof-comedy. After this, he would resort to constant and shameless mugging. In fact, one of the faults with this second Naked Gun film is that David Zucker allows some winking at the audience to creep in. These films are much better when played completely straight.

The DVD isn't exactly packed with features. There is a funny group commentary and that's about it. Some have complained that the scenes used for the TV broadcast version aren't included. It would've been nice if Paramount had included them as Deleted Scenes (though they are NOT good enough to warrant inclusion in the actual film).

Halt! Police Squad!
Unlike most sequels, Naked Gun 2 ½ goes above and beyond the spectacular first movie. Priscilla Presley just kept getting hotter and more beautiful as the series went on. Leslie Neilson, the modern day king of physical comedy is up to his old hijinx as Lt. Frank Dremond. This time Frank is after the masterminds who wish to bury the thought of clean energy and let the oil companies continue to give us high prices and pollution.

Gags that make the whole movie worth it.....

1. The shower/assassin scene. What a beautiful duet as he adjusts his silencer!
2. The Blue lounge, to include no Black Russians!
3. The Wistler's Mother birthmark. Stays on even with a sander!
4. A dinner with President Bush (watch those doors and lobster claws)
5. The final scene with hanging Barbera!

This is entertainment folks!

Smell of Comedy
The second installment to the adventures of Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) and Police Squad/Naked Gun series is just as funny as the first film (and forgotten tv show). There is an underlying theme in this comedy about environmental issues and there is a story and plot with all the pratfalls,nonsense, and hilarity. Again, the producers pick an unlikely actor to play the villian (Ricardo Montalban in the first) and this time it's Robert Goulet as Quentin Hapsburg behind a plot to deter President Bush's policy for a cleaner USA. The real treasure is everytime Frank Drebin (Nielsen) says one of his many asinine lines, the camera switches to Hapsburg (Goulet) and his look of bewilderment is worth the price of admission. The supporting roles are equally funny. O.J. Simpson as Nordberg has a more prominent role than in the first (although in the first he set up the Nordberg character beautifully). George Kennedy as Ed found a second career in comedy equal to that of Nielsen, and Priscilla Presley is up to the task of keeping up with all the hijinx. Guest roles are filled by some of Nielsen's contemporaries who have played similar type guest roles in various 60's and 70's tv shows and movies (Tim O'Conner, Lloyed Bochner etc.) The films are probably a little marred by the fact that OJ Simpson is in the cast, but his Nordberg character is hilarious as with the rest of the film. Overall a very funny film with the Zucker brand of comedy. Note: Classic Line- Commissioner Brumford (Jacqueline Brookes) after getting a call that animals escaped from the zoo as a result of a Drebin blunder... "Do you realise that this city is being overrun by baboons?" Drebin (Nielsen) "Well, isn't that the fault of the voters?". Also, a classic surprise scene: An in-joke by Lloyed Bochner (as Baggett) and a certain classic TWILIGHT ZONE episode "To Serve Man" in which he appeared in years ago.

THIS ONE IS JUST AS GOOD AS THE FIRST!!
This movie is just what my tital says!! Just as good as the first and that's because it is!! If you like the first one than you'll love this one too!! ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Tough as nails black crime drama
Not a blaxploitation movie at all, this film is a smart, sharp, tough black crime drama that pulls no punches, and because of that is still remarkably fresh today after 30 years. Made in 1972, it features an early performance by Yaphet Kotto as a by the book black police lieutenant who has to work with a crude, unruly white captain--Anthony Quinn in a very strong performance.

They're after some black hoods who slaughtered five men--three whites and two blacks--in a holdup that netted 300 grand. The getaway driver is played by Starsky and Hutch's Antonio Fargas and is just one of the several excellent performances that give this film real power.

Another is turned in by Tony Franciosa playing a Mafia lieutenant who finds out about the hit and, with his henchmen, goes after the hoods. In one of many violent scenes, he finds Fargas' character and slices and dices him in a Harlem whorehouse.

The dialogue here is much more intelligent than in many dumber films and is another reason this is a real winner. When somebody talks--cop, hood, Mafioso, junkie, girlfriend--it's natural, real, uncontrived, and completely credible. You understand who these characters are and you get involved because they're not shooting bull--they're telling it like it is.

The mix of this down to the bone talk and '70s dress and behavior makes this a tremendously entertaining film. The inclusion of violence is not gratuitous at all; it's an integral part of what happens--and what has to happen, given the circumstances.

Highly recommended for fans of crime drama.

An early 70's urban action gem awaiting rediscovery
Since it's release in 1972 this film has fallen by the cinema wayside, being lumped into the blaxploitation genre - a purgatory from which it needs to be rescued. Labeling this film has limited its audience appeal in the thirty years that have followed, but those of us who were fascinated with it then remain so now.

"Across 110th Street" is sparked by the kind of gritty and incisive urban realism that blaxploitation films are missing. It's production values are an immediate tipoff that you are watching a first-rate movie. The competent, skillful direction by Barry Shear; a superb story that hardly takes a breath; great Harlem location shooting adds authenticity that makes it feel almost quasi-documentary.

It's also highlighted by a great cast of veteran A-list movie stars, B-movie regulars and a few performers getting their first chance in a meaningful role. Anthony Quinn, one of the films' executive producers, plays a brutal, insensitive police detective with a streak of racism. Anthony Franciosa plays a cruel and ruthless Italian mobster tracking down his stolen money. Richard Ward plays a raspy voiced Harlem crime kingpin that Quinn tries to pressure; Ward will be recognizable to film buffs as a prisoner in the film "Brubaker" playing the pivotal role of Abraham. Paul Benjamin, the leader of the trio of thieves, appeared in the crucial role of the con 'English' in the terrific prison drama "Escape From Alcatraz". Antonio Fargas creates another of his patented colorful, hip characters as one of the thieves. And finally, Yaphet Kotto gets his first significant film role playing the no-nonsense, by-the-book, newly assigned lieutenant who is refreshingly free of vulgarity - although he will steal a truck when he needs to!

Period detail keeps this film stuck squarely in the 70's which is one of it's strengths. The pulsating music score by Bobby Womack and J.J. Johnson perfectly matches the films moments of tension and transitional scenes. Womack's catchy title song is another plus.

MGM has released this as part of it's 'Soul Cinema' DVD collection in Widescreen format - that's with the black bars on the top and bottom of the screen for those who don't know - and it's a great transfer. Pair this movie with "The French Connection" for a great double feature.

So tough, you can practically feel the grit on your tongue
This violent little gem ranks right up there with "The French Connection" in the pantheon of early 70s urban crime thrillers. Smartly edited, paced like an out of control freight train, and with fabulous location work that bellows authenticity, "Across 110th Street" deserves a far bigger cult. Stir in Anthony Quinn's inimitable basset hound charm, Yaphet Kotto's steely cool, Anthony Franciosa's reptilian sneer and the raspy voiced dude from Brubaker and you have a combustble confection that belongs in the collection of every discerning action movie fan. Oh, I almost forgot to mention Antonio Fargas' so-cool-it-hurts supernova wardrobe and the bleak poetry of the final shootout, including a freeze frame ending that will stay with you for days. Aces all around.

UNDER APPRECIATED GEM
ACROSS 110th STREET sad to say, was lumped in the blaxpop genre and was denounced for it's violent content. Wrong on both counts: This is an under appreciated gem that is brainy, tough and quick. Veteran action pro Barry Shear was the right director for the film and his experience shows in every frame. The Bobby Womack soundtrack deserved a better fate than having the title track be remembered as an opening for JACKIE BROWN (but this had to be a favorite film of Quentin's...you can read between the lines). The best cuts are: QUICKSAND, IF YOU DON'T MY LOVE and HARLEM LOVE THEME. Too bad none of them charted.

A real sleeper.
Extremely violent film concerning gang warfare between the mafia and their black counterparts. Entire cast is very good, as are the action scenes. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Blythe Danner gives a luminous performance in this Tennessee Williams classic. Eccentricities of a Nightingale has an interesting history: it is actually a rethinking of Williams's own play Summer and Smoke (viewers familiar with that work will notice that the setting and character names are the same). Williams preferred Nightingale, and it is easy to see why--the play is at once gentler and more direct than the other. Danner plays Alma, a typical Tennessee Williams heroine, too delicate for this world. Alma is shy and mannered, with an artistic temperament that her joyless father does his best to suppress. She is in love with the boy across the street, the dashing John, but of course in Williams's plays these things are never easy. Danner does a brilliant job of being true to Alma's fragility while still keeping her likable, and Frank Langella endows John with such a warm heart that it's hard to blame him for anything that happens. This excellent production is a pleasure to watch, and Williams's grace of language gives it a crystalline beauty in spite of its shocking ending. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Fabulous Peice of Acting
I saw this work many years ago and it has stayed with me all this time. It stands out as masterful acting by Miss Danner; her work is touching and delicate. The play is a work of genus. It is too bad that is it not known as well as some of Tennessee Williams other works.

Extremely enjoyable:)
This is a well written captivating play. I like it for several
reasons. The acting is superb. I have always been a huge
fan of Bythe Danner even though I come from her daughter's
generation. I also adore the incredibly handsome Frank
Langella--I am a huge fan of his:) Both these actors give
their characters many special emotions and by the play's
finale I felt like I knew them both or knew someone like
them:) Anyway it is so good that such theatre works are
preserved in DVD format so future generarions can appreciate the simpler and finer things of life.

Magnificent
Thank Heaven for Broadway Theatre Archive. For the past few years, the company has been releasing older television productions of great stage works, as well as a select number of theatrically staged videos (such as the Shakespeare-in-the-Park productions of "King Lear" with James Earl Jones and "The Pirates of Penzance" with Kevin Kline and Linda Ronstadt). Some of these television productions are truly legendary: Jason Robards in "The Iceman Cometh," and Robards and Colleen Dewhurst in the landmark production of "A Moon for the Misbegotten." The present DVD edition of Tennessee Williams' "Eccentricities of a Nightingale" deserves to join their ranks.

"Nightingale" is Williams' revision of 1948's "Summer and Smoke" (my favorite Williams play, incidentally). It tells essentially the same story of the spinsterish minister's daughter whose consuming love for her next-door neighbor remains unreciprocated. "Nightingale" is less allegorical than its predecessor and more tightly focused on the fascinating central character of Alma Winemiller, who Williams once claimed was his favorite character of all those that he had written.

All the roles in this production are in eminently capable hands, with particular pride of place among the supporting players going to Louise Latham as the mentally unbalanced Mrs. Winemiller, Tim O'Connor as Alma's well-intentioned but misguided father, and Neva Patterson as the two-faced Mrs. Buchanan, oozing both Southern charm and venom. As the object of Alma's affections, Frank Langella plays the most warm and romantic John Buchanan I have ever seen. Other Johns have seemed cocky or cold, but Langella seems to genuinely care about Alma rather than merely tolerating her. Played like this, it is quite easy to see how Alma could fall in love with him.

However, this is Alma's show, and in that role Blythe Danner is a raw, exposed nerve-ending, alternating between lyric melancholy and barely concealed hysteria. It is an exquisitely shaded performance, full of rich colors and nuance, and it is on a par with the sublime Geraldine Page's performance of the same role in the film version of "Summer and Smoke." Both actresses capture the character's need to burst forth from her own skin, of being strait-jacketed by the social mores of the period, and of being on the precipice of a dangerous emotional drop-off point. If Page owned the role of Alma in "Summer and Smoke," Danner clearly owns the Alma of "Eccentricities." She is simply stunning.

Don't expect stunning picture quality -- the production was filmed in 1976 on video, so it is roughly akin to watching a mid-1970's soap opera. However, the performances are what matter here, and they truly deliver. If you love Tennessee Williams, Blythe Danner, or if you simply enjoy great drama, don't let this one pass you by. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

A Must See for any SciFi Fan
For the present-day SciFi fan who is used to huge explosions, amazing visual effects, and all those modern conveniences, this movie may be a little slow. But for a fan like me, who grew up on the old films of yester-year, it will be an amazing tale, and well worth your time and money.

Anyone who had the extreme pleasure of watching the old TV series will enjoy seeing their favorite actors and villains when they were first introduced. Buck, played by Gil Gerard, is the hunky astronaut from 1987 who is mysteriously frozen, and awakens in the 25th Century. Erin Gray is the gorgeous Wilma, who we may all remember running around in high heels and midrif outfits, while carrying a blazing laser gun. Here, we see Buck's attempts to deal with the loss of everything he knew, and being introduced into the future, where he is still the best pilot around. We get an interesting view into what Earth looks like outside the sanitized buildings of New Chicago. It's truly a good introduction into the struggles Earth is dealing with in future episodes.

I will make one concession. The visual effects are just terrible. Watching this film with my youngest sister, we just began to laugh at the tractor beams, close-up shots of ships, and explosions. Definitely not made today. But for the time this was made it's pretty good. And perhaps simply because of the enjoyment it brought so many of us, you can definitely overlook some of the lesser qualities of the film.

Boy, did I oversleep this time!
Universal Studios updated the popular matinee movie serial sci-fi hero from the thirties to the seventies in this film which was the pilot for the TV series. Gil Gerard takes on the role which was first played by Olympic athlete turned actor Buster Crabbe. A twentieth century astronaut is frozen in suspended animation and is revived in the late twenty-fifth century where his new surroundings are totally different and unfamiliar. Somehow, he quickly and nonchalantly accepts his new surroundings and quickly adapts to help the earth inhabitants defend themselves from the Draconians, an extraterrestrial race bent on conquering the earth. From watching this film, I got the idea Universal Studios was trying to salvage some of the props and sets from their expensive and somewhat unsuccessful show "Battlestar Galactica". Apparently, they must have recovered some of their losses with "Buck Rogers" because the TV show lasted for several seasons. This is the only place you'll be able to hear the lyrics to the TV theme song and also be able to see the TV-censored way Buck overcame and defeated the Tiger Man. Overall, it's entertaining and worth watching to the average science fiction junkie.

This show was nothing special
Well, this series I vaguely recall from 1979. It was only on two seasons in two very revamped versions that never worked. The visual effects were sub-par phooney, often using stock footage from Battlestar Galactica to save costs and neither gerad nor Erin Grey ever worked on TV again afterward. Nothing large anyway. About 35 shows were made in all. Not a great sci-fi Tv show at all. Better off watching something better like the Twilight Zone.

Please, Please, Please! Give us Buck on DVD!
One of the best shows from childhood, I love the rare times I come accross an episode on the SciFi channel! Having Buck Rogers released on DVD would make a lot of us 30-some-things so happy! Buck and Twekie(sp?) are the best! Please release this!

I can't wait!!
I'll make a separate review for video/sound quality when the discs appear, but I've been watching the sci-fi channel's reruns of Buck Rogers.

The series itself is underrated, and despite borrowing/warping from "Star Trek" and "Battlestar Galactica" to justify Buck now being on a space ship to find lost Earth colonies for the second season, the new style of season 2 is mostly a joy to watch, with its more serious tone. It's a shame they cancelled it as early as they did. (there were a couple of clunkers, but the good eps more than make up for it.)

While some episodes are campy, with many featuring bad science (this is sci-fi, there is no such thing as ACCURATE science, star trek not excepted...), others (particularly in season 2) contain a morality that's absent from modern day television, or in some cases (especially as seen in 'Testimony of a Traitor' and 'The Dorian Secret') people's actions.

Episodes which prove the producers were on the right track include:

From season 1 (of those I'd seen, I'd missed 10 of them, so this list could be longer...):
Planet of the Slave Girls
Escape from Wedded Bliss
Cosmic Whiz Kid (obviously a sweeps week episode but it's campy fun!)
Space Vampire (the best of season 1, this one's a true classic, and Erin Grey puts in a tour-de-force performance that should NOT be missed)
Ardala Returns
Twiki is Missing

From season 2:
The Guardians
Mark of the Saurian
The Satyr
Testimony of a Traitor (overlook the naivity of a VHS tape surviving 500 years (LOL!), this one's plot otherwise holds up reasonably well)
The Dorian Secret (there's an eerie twist at the end of the story, and it has nothing to do with aging, so don't let the name "Dorian" throw you off...)

All in all, late 1970s sci-fi is a mixed bag. Buck Rogers shows us the best - and at times the worst - of the trend. Fans of the show will want to buy this release immediately, and it's got a charm that'll grow on everybody else. The innocent family/kiddie-show is refreshingly kitschy as well, I grew up on this stuff...

And, if nothing else, Erin Grey and Gil Gerard provide some yummy eye candy for those who want to look. :-) Gil looks better in season 2, IMHO... ... Read more

Reviews (6)

and as for the queen/princess?
Hey, I have a question - how come none of these videos feature the Draconians, and that Draconian princess/queen, who was so spoiled and bratty and wore little more than dental floss, and whose ultimate goal I suspect was not to perpetrate evil but just to find some way to get Buck's attention focused on her? I mean, wow, why don't any of the videos feature one of the epsiodes where she was a focus? And remember her bodyguards, Tiger-man and later Panther-man? I think that was it. As I recall, one of them messed up or helped the good guys once and so was replaced by the other posthumously. My whole point is I couldn't figure out, even in my pre-teen youth, why Buck would even think about straight-arrow Wilma Deering when he had the princess fawning all over him at every chance! I mean, she was so bad it was GOOD, and Buck always seemed to handle her with maturity and wisdom(and not libido, amazingly. Now that's stamina!). What a spoiled brat, I personally just thought she was incredibly sexy, even before I knew what the term meant. Would anyone else agree? Hooray for the sexy Draconian queen! Wilma was always like the Mary-anne of the show, too girl-next-door for my tastes. The princess was definitely more of a Ginger than a Mary-anne. Buck should have wised-up when he had the chance. Such a tryst couldn't possibly have lasted, but it certainly would have made for an interesting couple of episodes.....
What do you think, is it possible that the studios did not want to release a video with her featured in it because of her racy wardrobe? Or is my memory simply dulled by time, so that I can only remember her evil thin smile and not how bad of an actress she may have been. Another thing, I thought the Draconian ships looked pretty cool, they were the design antithesis to Buck's white, clean spaceships. Wouldn't those in charge of reissuing these shows want to show off their special effects work like that? That goes double for Hawk and his ship, which were a significant part of the later series, but only appeared in 1 video so far,I think. AND WHEN DO I GET A DVD? I mean, we finally got Space 1999 in its entirety, and now the Hulk; I think there's room for Buck Rogers on the shelf and I know I would sure buy some of them. And what about Brisco County, Jr, from the 90's, with Bruce Campbell? Those were good, too!

It's About Time for this Video!
Buck is entrusted with a box,but he does not know who-or where=to take it.The box holds time,and it enables several crew members of the Searcher to see into the future or past.The ending will touch your heart.It is interestin to get background info on sone characters,especially Hawk.I love seeing Wilma Deering looking more feminine than she does in any other episode.If You're a Buck Rogers fan,this video is worth YOUR time!

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what is the show about?
All of Buck Rogers shows are the best science fiction shows. I just want to be able to look on the internet and be able to read what each show is all about. then give say what ever you want about the show. The show has alot of special effects, excitment, action, and adventure. Anybody who likes science fiction will love this show. Go for it, watch it. Tonya Lantz

We miss you Buck!
If you are looking for just a couple of Buck Rogers videos for your collection, this is certainly one to consider. It was one of the best. I also highly recommend the Buck Rogers In The 25th Century pilot movie. Gil Gerard was absolutely awesome - and clever, witty, handsome, fun and charismatic as Buck Rogers. Buck Rogers was overlooked as a television show and Gil Gerard was overlooked as an actor in later years. The man was incredible. His co-stars were also admirable. And, for fans of the daytime drama, "One Life to Live," you will recognize the character of Buck Roger's Hawk, portrayed by Thom Christopher, as One Life to Live's Carlo Hesser. If you were a Buck Rogers fan, this is one of the videos to get. If you are a true Gil Gerard fan and loved Buck Rogers, get all of the videos while you can. Gil Gerard is missed; and so are shows like Buck Rogers. You can't try to take shows like this too seriously. They were meant to be fun and entertaining and Gil Gerard and cast give us exactly that - entertainment!

THE MOVIE WAS A GREAT BLAST FROM THE PAST
I REALY ENJOYED SEEING THIS SHOW AGAIN. i HAD BEEN SERCHING FOR IT FOR YEARS. I ALSO HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT WHO THE COSTUME DEIGNER IS. IF ANY ONE HAS ANY LEADS ON THOM CHRISTOPHER'S COSTUME,PLEASE LET ME IN. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Itssssss Fantassssstic!
Dirk Benedict was SO cute at 20! Imagine my horror when a mad scientist tells him to take off his his shirt to that he can inject him with a special "serum". Slowly Dirk's body changes until, to his horror, he is thrashing about a medical bench, covered in thick green scales and turning into a snake! It was fun to watch the bad script, servicable special effects and cute young guy combine to make for some B-movie sci-fi fun!

What You See Here, is a Failure To Communicate with Snakes!
This is a very creepy horror film from the 70's. Strother Martin (COOL HAND LUKE)as Dr. Carl Stoner plays an evil scientist who injects his lab assistant David Blake (Dirk Benedict/tv's, A-TEAM) with what he claims is an anti-venom serum. As time progresses David becomes ill and his skin starts to shed. The audience knows that he is being transformed into a snake (a king cobra). The transformation sequence from human, to half human/half-snake, and finally to full-fledged snake is a decent (and very,very disturbing) piece of film special effect for 1973 before the pre-digital age. Also, there is another repulsive scene when another character (played by Richard B Shull of tv's HOLMES AND YOYO) is oft by a snake. This too was a daring special effect for its time. Not to give any details away, but it was like watching something out of those nature shows seen on "Animal Planet" or "National Geographic". These two particular sequences will stay with you because they are that hauntingly creepy along with a climactic very unhappy ending. Furthermore, there are some scenes of a circus side-show that enhances the films' "freak-show" atmosphere. Overall, disturbing and a somewhat of a downer of a horror film and worth a look for its haunting themes. Note: Look for Heather Menzies as the daughter of Strother Martin. She's the widow of actor Robert Urich and was one of the Von Trapp children (she played Louisa) in the movie musical THE SOUND OF MUSIC with Julie Andrews.

Very Creepy Little Horror Effort From the Early 1970s
With its distinctive eye catching title "Ssssssss", is a minor horror effort that really stays in the mind after viewing it for a number of reasons. Firstly the level of acting and certainly the at times quite gruesome special effects are way above what you would expect from a supposedly "low budget", effort such as this. Secondly the many scenes involving the actors working with very deadly species of snakes such as King Cobras and Pythons are guaranteed to send shivers down your spine if like me, you are squeamish around these reptiles. Respected character actor Strother Martin still best remembered for his memorable work as the prison gang supervisor with Paul Newman in "Cool Hand Luke", plays the central character of Dr. Carl Stoner an ophiologist (expert on snakes), who has very "original", views on the future of evolution and it is he who really gives this film its chillingly memorable quality in a terrific performance.

The action opens with a strange "pick up", taking place from Dr. Stoner's lab at his isolated country property late at night. It seems that one of Dr. Stoners secret experiments has failed and the "end result", of that experiment is being farmed out to the local sideshow for a place in the freak show. Only later does the sinister cause of this experiment come to light. Later at the local school Stoner approaches rival academic Dr. Daniels (Richard B. Shull) about the possibility of getting an assistant over the summer after his former assistant had to in his words "leave at very short notice due to a family illness". David Blake (Dirk Benedict), takes the position and goes to live at Dr. Stoner's while he supposedly is to assist him into snake venom research. David however is serving a far more sinister purpose than he imagined however as the Dr. Stoner is heavily influenced by biblical readings and in the belief that mankind is headed for a fiery extinction. He in his warped mind has started to work on the task of creating a super race of snakes with great intellect by attempting to transform men into Cobras. He subjects David to a series of "immunisation shots", supposedly to safe guard him from snake bites however the shots in reality are a series of procedures that will gradually transform him into a King Cobra. David starts to notice strange bodily changes as his body temperature starts to drop, and his skin begins to shed like that of a reptlie. Also his facial appearance undergoes some slight variation. He starts a relationship with Stoner's daughter Kristina (Heather Menzies) and while at the local sideshow wanders into the freak tent and sees the widely publisized "snakeman", who in actual fact is Dr. Stoner's last assistant Tim who was the victim of Stoner's first unsuccessful attempt to create a snake out of a man. Dr. Stoner's insanity deepens when in revenge for a local boy harrassing Kristina he kills him by slipping a deadly Black Mamba snake into his shower. When Dr. Daniels becomes suspicious of what Stoner is actually involving David in he traps him in a cellar where he is strangled by a Python. David now goes into the final stages of Dr. Stoner's experiements and in an horrific scene he is injected with a high dose of snake venom that sees him transform totally into a King Cobra. With his mind completely gone now however Dr. Stoner attempts to tackle his other King Cobra which kills him just as Kristina races back to the farm after learning the truth of her father's insane scheme.

"B' grade horror nonsense perhaps but "Ssssssss", has a really potent quality to it that makes it a memorable and very scary viewing experience. The truly stunning and very horrific transformation scenes where Dirk Benedict's character literally turns into a snake before the viewers eyes is a makeup wonder and was the work created by the same team responsible for the innovative ape makeup in the earlier "Planet of the Apes" in 1968. The final stage in the cobra transformation is the one that sticks in the mind and is genuinely frightening to watch even now. The scenes incorporating the use of real live snakes which actor Strother Martin in a number of scenes handles with finesse are especially well staged and many of the venom extracting scenes will have you on the edge of your seat. The original story is in some respects quite an original one and the cast of largely at the time unknown actors supporting Strother Martin do a good job within the limitations of their roles.

I'd say for people who aren't fans of snakes to be wary of watching this film alone but it contains enough of a mystery element to be enjoyable to most people with a reasonably strong stomach. The makeup employed here along with Strother Martin's chilling lead performance are what give this film its memorable quality and rightful place in SciFi/horror folklore . Enjoy the mad doctor and his insane experiments to alter evolution with a "new " race of King Cobras in Universal's "Ssssssss".

Good Horror Film Suffers from Poor Ending
I love to read reviews of this film. They will ultimately wind up saying: "IT'S TOO UNBELIEVABLE!!!" Hey, this is a horror film! Was Frankenstein, Dracula, or the Wolfman unbelievable??
Anyway, this flick is head and shoulders above the typical fare in terms of acting, direction, dialogue and most of the effects.
The plot is simple: a mad scientist tries to turn a young man into a snake. The interesting wrinkle is that his daughter happens to be in love with the guy.
Instead of complaining about the weak ending, I've thought of a much better ending. (...)!

Fairly Good 70's Horror
This movie is typical of the early 70's horror produced by larger studios. It isn't very gory and the nudity and sex is kept to a minimum, but it has a certain appeal because of the acting and effects. (Fair warning to male viewers: there is somewhat more male nudity in this film than female nudity.)

If you like Strother Martin (and I do), you will find that this is one of his best roles. Compared to other roles in his career he underplays it here (a considerable achievement because his character is as nutty as a fruitcake). The underplaying of the mad doctor's character helps to lend credibility to the silly plot and it is easier to suspend our disbelief. I give lots of credit to the director if it was his idea to play it this way. We get to see a side of Mr. Martin's talent that we don't usually see - and his acting is very good. It looks like he really handles the snakes in this movie (although they may not really be the dangerous species that the producers would lead you to believe). Dirk Benedict and Heather Menzies give adequate performances for their characters.

The plot is silly and really unbelievable: a mad doctor wants to create a new race of intelligent snakes by transforming humans. He is certain that there is going to be a cataclysm which will destroy the human race because of our lack of responsibility with the environment. His super-snakes are supposed to be able to survive the disaster. He achieves transformation by injecting his victim with snake extract (or something like that).

The effects in this film are quite good, especially considering the time when this film was made. (The effects would be much better today, of course, with existing technology.) There are some fairly suspenseful scenes showing the handling of snakes and extraction of their venom. There is one fairly lame scene (both in technique and acting) of someone being killed by a python. There are two really yucky scenes showing one of the mad doctor's failures. The transformation scene is very good.

Overall, I would say this movie is good fun to watch if you leave your brain on the shelf. It also has some value as a nostalgic film of the 70's with dated dialogue and styles of clothing. I would recommend it for people who want a good horror film that doesn't go too far on the scares. However, because of the brief nudity, this may not be a good film for children. I gave it three stars (rather than four) because the plot is so hokey and because it is a dated film. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

On my October 31st list of videos to watch
Buck Rogers has always been about lasers and high tech up to this point, and then everything changed(for the better). Yeah the lasers and high tech are still there(that's mandantory Buck) but the mystical becomes a part of these later series(80-81 I am guessing). Much like Dr. Who at this time period, Buck Rogers, an otherwise lighthearted show of a wise cracking Space Cowboy, becomes a hybrid of funny and downright grave. This takes place on into the Hawk series(which is not availibe except for the Guardian) This Vampire sci-fi thriller is the best of Buck, I think. It shows you can make a scary set with modern settings as a darkened spaceship corridor. The soundtrack and camera angles(even in computer rooms) was downright creepy. Wilma's(Erin Grey) personality was quite a bit different from her usual matter-of-fact self.(nice outfit)
I grew up with this show and the hybrid sci-fi/fantasy time period of other serials. And that is why I think both are important in one story. You won't find that now(or if you do it's not as well plotted or believable). The comic relief was a relief from the spookiness and seriousness of this story.(and women dressed better heh!)

The Best (?) Vampire Flick Ever!!
Alright, maybe not. But like one of the other commentators, I was scared stiff the first time I watched it, curled up beside my dad on the couch. Until I purchased this tape last year, the only memory I had was of Wilma (Erin Gray) tilting her head back as the Vorvon (vampire) drained her essence. Throughout my childhood, teenage years, college and even now, when I think of a scary vampire, I imagine some guy with long fingernails sticking them against my neck.

So the sets are ridiculously fake. The vampire's evil laugh is actually rather laughable. And Buck's saving the day is somewhat overdone. But this has what it takes! Wilma's a sizzling vampiress, and steals the show. [But then, didn't her bare midriff always steal the show when we were growing up, much like Daisy Duke?]

It probably won't scare you today. But it's definitely a great episode to take you back in time. Enjoy!!

Space Vampire - Why Not?
I remember the day with startling clarity - January 3, 1980...the day I became a man.Okay, a little history for you sci-fi afficionados:Before there was Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, or Star Trek: Fill-in-the-Blank...there was Buck Rogers.'Buck Rogers', and it's sister show - the superior 'Battlestar Galactica' - were the only thing going for science fiction on television in 1979 and 1980. I was just a boy, a wee lad, still in my jammies, and I loved science fiction with a vengeance. Even at 11 years of age, I knew that 'Buck Rogers' was sub-par sci-fi...but it had one thing going for it that no other science fiction series of it's time had...It had Erin Gray.The three things that best defined 'Buck Rogers' as a series - and of my oncoming momentum into puberty - were:1) Erin Gray2) Spandex3) Erin GrayFrankly, the rest of the show - the Starfighters, the laser blasts, the re-used spaceship models from 'Galactica', Gary Coleman...you could have shoved them all into a nuclear reaction and STILL the only thing that would have mattered would have been Erin Gray.Yep, I was hooked.Which brings us to January 3, 1980 - the day 'Space Vampire' premiered.Okay, it was not that good - but Erin Gray gets turned into a Vorvon (i.e. Vampire) and goes all sultry...and my little life was changed forever.Trust me. Rent it, buy it, or tape it. You'll understand.

Entertaining by default
I found this one of the weaker episodes. This one still featured the goodies you come to expect from"Buck",Wilma Deering and her jump suit, Gil Gerard creakily completing martial arts moves,thatlittle robot guy and the contrasting of 25th century Earth with 20th Century Earth. But there was no atomosphere. Vampire stories demand a certain amount of gloom and creepiness, thats one thing that makes them fun and its also the one thing this episode lacks. At least the set lights could have been dimmed. Any Buck is good Buck, but this one disappointed me a little because I expected better.

Buck Roger's space vampire
Space vampire was one of the better "Buck" episodes, along with "vegas in space" ect. as alway's Erin Grey made the episode work of course. when the vamp was "speaking thru Her" it was chilling Of course back then I was 15-16 yr's old. The Buck Roger's episodes brought in many special effect's to broadcast t.v.. of course disco was the flavor of the day then also. alway's a sci-fi fan since 8-9 I enjoyed buck roger's along with my library of perhaps 2000 paper-back book's (sci-fi) I had read by that time Space Vampire is a very good Buck roger's episode to keep and enjoy again and again.... ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Hardly stellar...
"Groundstar" is a top-secret government space project, whose security has been breached, by Welles, one of its employees (Michael Sarrazin). Escaping the facility with secret information, the man is severely injured, and when captured has no memory of who he is. George Peppard is Tuxan, a hardened, single minded, government investigator in search of answers. Nicole (Christine Belford) is a bystander drawn into the situation, as Tuxan attempts to unlock the secrets within Welles's mind.

The film has a made for TV look and feel, with a plot that is not really original, or particularly credible. The script doesn't contain much action, or well-written dialog. The atmosphere of big brother government is pervasive. Tuxan, who routinely travels in a helicopter, is full of bluster, and attempts to orchestrate much of the action, yet doesn't actually do much that is impressive. The resolution to the story is rather unsatisfying, and implausible. Unless you enjoy heavy-handed government tactics, you can skip this drama.

Groundstar was released while Peppard was doing the TV show Banacek. Fans of that program, should be prepared for quite different type of character. The same applies to Christine Belford, who also had a reoccurring role on Banacek. There are no warm scenes with witty conversation between them. Michael Sarrazin has the most challenging role, and his performance while serviceable, is hampered by having to deliver some very bad lines.

This one has TV movie stink all over it....
George Peppard plays a character named Tuxan, who is responsible for uncovering the break in and theft of highly classified information at a government facility called Groundstar. He uses any and all means necessary to do this, including hidden cameras, hidden microphones, and 24 hour surveillance. He has complete control most of the time, and absolute authority to find the information he needs in order to protect the United States against foreign interests that may try to undermine the government by stealing precious secrets.

That being said, this movie plays out like a cheesy 70's TV melodrama. I tried hard to like this movie, but it was a hard sell. The movie starts out with multiple explosions at some facility, and one character managing to make it out before the whole place goes up. We see this character running down a corridor, being chased by other individuals, and then the picture freezes at a dramatic moment to allow for a credit to be displayed on the screen. This happens about four or five more times, and becomes quite tiresome, but if I recall, this was a device used quite a bit in the 70's, on movie but more so on TV. This movie really has a 'TV' feel to it, so I am wondering if the director was primarily a TV director...well, I was right. The director is Lamont Johnson, and he has an extensive career directing TV, and it shows here. Anyway, one character escapes before the whole place goes blammo, and it's Michael Sarrazin playing Welles. This is one of those actors who you may not recognize the name, but you'd probably recognize his face. He was fairly popular in the late 60's through the 70's. This slender, dark haired actor seemed to be on the verge of becoming a major star, but has since been relegated to mostly TV roles.

Well, he escapes, and we find out later that he was the only survivor of the explosion. His face badly damaged from the explosions, he manages to make it to the house of Nicole, played by Christine Belford, and actress with a solid television background and a few parts in some features films. The role I remember her from was the over protective mother to Arnie Cunningham in John Carpenter/Stephen King's killer car classic 'Christine' from 1983.

Well, we soon find out that that Welles, the soul survivor of the explosions, was also the one who caused the explosions. Apparently he used false credentials to get his position within the ultra top secret facility, then stole vital information, and caused the destruction of the facility to cover his escape. He remembers none of this, as he has lost his memory along with his face in the incident. We learn all this information from Tuxan, who is now investigating the situation.

There is a conspiracy, and it does follow though. The rest of the movie has Welles trying to put the pieces back together, recall what happened, if he could have killed those people and done the things Tuxan says he did. Nicole provides a haven for Welles, and seems sympathetic to his plight.

The most memorable line comes from Tuxan (what kind of name is that?) and is in response to Nicole berating him for invading her privacy by having hidden cameras and microphones in her house. He says something like 'murders are planned in private, assassinations are planned in private' etc. I don't remember the exact line, but it showed a great deal of the motivation behind the character.

The movie plays out, the conspiracy unfolds, and we are treated to a shocking ending. Well, not so shocking, really, but whatever. It was kind of hard to swallow, though. My main problem with this movie is I never really felt the tension that should have been there and the acting seemed kind of wooden. I enjoy a good conspiracy theory, but I had a hard time buying off on this one. The thing to keep in mind before you buy this movie is that it looks like a TV show. This was made in 1972, and prior to that, George Peppard had a somewhat promising movie career with Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), How the West Was Won (1962), and The Blue Max (1966) to name a few. Then around 1971, the movie roles seemed to dry up and he went into TV. He did make a number of movie after 1971, Damnation Alley (1977), Battle Beyond the Stars (1977), but none seemed to really have the prestige of previous movie roles. The same could be said for Michael Sarrazin. And the other main character, played by Christine Belford was primarily a TV actress. Given the director's history in TV, this all adds up to making this look like a high budget TV movie. I think once some directors immerses themselves in a particular medium, it's difficult to expand beyond the boundaries proscribed by that medium, and it shows here. I felt like the director was trying to exceed his grasp, and couldn't quite do it. Not a bad movie, for TV, but not a great movie for the big screen. I'd say 3 stars for a TV movie, 2½ stars for a theatrical release.

Cookieman108

Now there's something you don't see everyday
A good film, Peppard as Tuxan in a role that would resemble 2 of his roles on TV (Thomas Banacek that year, and Hannibal Smith of The A Team, 10 years later). The ending is that of a classic suspense film. The DVD version by the way is cheaper than most stores are offering the VHS copy (if you can find it) so get it while you can. Note Christine Belford, the woman down the road who falls for Sarazin also starred in Banacek, coincidence?

Well-paced counter espionage thriller.
George Peppard plays a ruthless, national security agent named Tucson. You would not want to run into him...unfortunately (maybe) Michael Sarrazin does as the brutalized betayer of the high level space project: GROUNDSTAR. The movie's pace is excellent as the law-unto-himself agent persues corruption into the highest levels of the government (Shades of China-gate!!!). Peppard is fascinating to watch as the thoroughly unlikeable hero who brings down the "conspirators" in an ironic but belevable climax. "He should have run faster," Tucson observes to a sympathetic medic regarding an explosion-mangled-into-unrecognizability victim. See the film, but stay out of the way of TUCSON... ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Birthdays Should Never be this Exciting!
For those of you who are not acquainted with the Buck Rogers series, here's a short rundown. In 1987, NASA launched the last deep space probe, captained by William "Buck" Rogers (Gil Gerard). In a "freak mishap," the ship is blown off its trajectory into an orbit that freezes the life support systems, and returns him to Earth 500 years later. The series takes Buck, along with the gorgeous Col. Wilma Deering (Erin Gray) and friends on many interesting adventures throughout space. Younger sci-fi fans may be disappointed with the special effects and simple story lines. However, for those of us who grew up in the 80s, they can still be as exciting and fun as they were when we were kids.

In this episode, Buck's been feeling a little depressed as his 534th birthday approaches. Everything's perfect, nothing ever changes in the future, and he really misses his past life. To get him out of his funk, Wilma and Dr. Huer (Tim O'Connor) decide to throw Buck a surprise party. The surprise is almost on them, however, when the psycho Col. Traeger arrives and attempts to kill Dr. Huer out of a warped sense of revenge.

A Great Episode
This is a really great episode.I really like the interplay between Buck And Wilma. Not to mention what a delight Mel Blanc is as the voice of Twiki. Buy this you'll will really enjoy it. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Hardly stellar...
"Groundstar" is a top-secret government space project, whose security has been breached, by Welles, one of its employees (Michael Sarrazin). Escaping the facility with secret information, the man is severely injured, and when captured has no memory of who he is. George Peppard is Tuxan, a hardened, single minded, government investigator in search of answers. Nicole (Christine Belford) is a bystander drawn into the situation, as Tuxan attempts to unlock the secrets within Welles's mind.

The film has a made for TV look and feel, with a plot that is not really original, or particularly credible. The script doesn't contain much action, or well-written dialog. The atmosphere of big brother government is pervasive. Tuxan, who routinely travels in a helicopter, is full of bluster, and attempts to orchestrate much of the action, yet doesn't actually do much that is impressive. The resolution to the story is rather unsatisfying, and implausible. Unless you enjoy heavy-handed government tactics, you can skip this drama.

Groundstar was released while Peppard was doing the TV show Banacek. Fans of that program, should be prepared for quite different type of character. The same applies to Christine Belford, who also had a reoccurring role on Banacek. There are no warm scenes with witty conversation between them. Michael Sarrazin has the most challenging role, and his performance while serviceable, is hampered by having to deliver some very bad lines.

This one has TV movie stink all over it....
George Peppard plays a character named Tuxan, who is responsible for uncovering the break in and theft of highly classified information at a government facility called Groundstar. He uses any and all means necessary to do this, including hidden cameras, hidden microphones, and 24 hour surveillance. He has complete control most of the time, and absolute authority to find the information he needs in order to protect the United States against foreign interests that may try to undermine the government by stealing precious secrets.

That being said, this movie plays out like a cheesy 70's TV melodrama. I tried hard to like this movie, but it was a hard sell. The movie starts out with multiple explosions at some facility, and one character managing to make it out before the whole place goes up. We see this character running down a corridor, being chased by other individuals, and then the picture freezes at a dramatic moment to allow for a credit to be displayed on the screen. This happens about four or five more times, and becomes quite tiresome, but if I recall, this was a device used quite a bit in the 70's, on movie but more so on TV. This movie really has a 'TV' feel to it, so I am wondering if the director was primarily a TV director...well, I was right. The director is Lamont Johnson, and he has an extensive career directing TV, and it shows here. Anyway, one character escapes before the whole place goes blammo, and it's Michael Sarrazin playing Welles. This is one of those actors who you may not recognize the name, but you'd probably recognize his face. He was fairly popular in the late 60's through the 70's. This slender, dark haired actor seemed to be on the verge of becoming a major star, but has since been relegated to mostly TV roles.

Well, he escapes, and we find out later that he was the only survivor of the explosion. His face badly damaged from the explosions, he manages to make it to the house of Nicole, played by Christine Belford, and actress with a solid television background and a few parts in some features films. The role I remember her from was the over protective mother to Arnie Cunningham in John Carpenter/Stephen King's killer car classic 'Christine' from 1983.

Well, we soon find out that that Welles, the soul survivor of the explosions, was also the one who caused the explosions. Apparently he used false credentials to get his position within the ultra top secret facility, then stole vital information, and caused the destruction of the facility to cover his escape. He remembers none of this, as he has lost his memory along with his face in the incident. We learn all this information from Tuxan, who is now investigating the situation.

There is a conspiracy, and it does follow though. The rest of the movie has Welles trying to put the pieces back together, recall what happened, if he could have killed those people and done the things Tuxan says he did. Nicole provides a haven for Welles, and seems sympathetic to his plight.

The most memorable line comes from Tuxan (what kind of name is that?) and is in response to Nicole berating him for invading her privacy by having hidden cameras and microphones in her house. He says something like 'murders are planned in private, assassinations are planned in private' etc. I don't remember the exact line, but it showed a great deal of the motivation behind the character.

The movie plays out, the conspiracy unfolds, and we are treated to a shocking ending. Well, not so shocking, really, but whatever. It was kind of hard to swallow, though. My main problem with this movie is I never really felt the tension that should have been there and the acting seemed kind of wooden. I enjoy a good conspiracy theory, but I had a hard time buying off on this one. The thing to keep in mind before you buy this movie is that it looks like a TV show. This was made in 1972, and prior to that, George Peppard had a somewhat promising movie career with Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), How the West Was Won (1962), and The Blue Max (1966) to name a few. Then around 1971, the movie roles seemed to dry up and he went into TV. He did make a number of movie after 1971, Damnation Alley (1977), Battle Beyond the Stars (1977), but none seemed to really have the prestige of previous movie roles. The same could be said for Michael Sarrazin. And the other main character, played by Christine Belford was primarily a TV actress. Given the director's history in TV, this all adds up to making this look like a high budget TV movie. I think once some directors immerses themselves in a particular medium, it's difficult to expand beyond the boundaries proscribed by that medium, and it shows here. I felt like the director was trying to exceed his grasp, and couldn't quite do it. Not a bad movie, for TV, but not a great movie for the big screen. I'd say 3 stars for a TV movie, 2½ stars for a theatrical release.

Cookieman108

Now there's something you don't see everyday
A good film, Peppard as Tuxan in a role that would resemble 2 of his roles on TV (Thomas Banacek that year, and Hannibal Smith of The A Team, 10 years later). The ending is that of a classic suspense film. The DVD version by the way is cheaper than most stores are offering the VHS copy (if you can find it) so get it while you can. Note Christine Belford, the woman down the road who falls for Sarazin also starred in Banacek, coincidence?

Well-paced counter espionage thriller.
George Peppard plays a ruthless, national security agent named Tucson. You would not want to run into him...unfortunately (maybe) Michael Sarrazin does as the brutalized betayer of the high level space project: GROUNDSTAR. The movie's pace is excellent as the law-unto-himself agent persues corruption into the highest levels of the government (Shades of China-gate!!!). Peppard is fascinating to watch as the thoroughly unlikeable hero who brings down the "conspirators" in an ironic but belevable climax. "He should have run faster," Tucson observes to a sympathetic medic regarding an explosion-mangled-into-unrecognizability victim. See the film, but stay out of the way of TUCSON... ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Pure Entertainment.
I was seven when I first saw this episode. For several weeks afterwards, my mother had to remove pieces of broken glass that I had superglued to the walls: watch the episode and you'll understand. Twenty years later I picked up a copy of the episode and saw it again. I was amazed: indeed the lines are corny; the special effects are dated; the flavors are very disco-70s; the roundhouse kicks are two feet off the ground; and the plot - well, the plot is thinner than plastic wrap. But! This is Buck at his best. This is the Buck Rogers that helped a little boy dream and made a grown man laugh.

It was tired when it was on television.
Do not be deceived: this is not the cult film "Vegas in Space," which offers one of the single most bizzare premises in science-fiction filmdom. Rather, it is indeed Buck Rogers as told by television land... and there is a reason the series was canceled, you know.

Do you ever want to see something more gaudy than Vegas?
If your answer is yes, you want to see this episode of the great series. Who knew that hero's could play cards. Watch Buck take on this Las Vegas type place, and walk away with a bundle of cash.

cool
love the faraway shots of aluminum foil: ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Cringe as Buck does "The Hustle".
Not exactly the high point of the series it does feature an unintentional parody of the disco years here on modern day Earth. And its always nice to see Col. Wilma Deering on the dance floor. However,its the break dancing Tweeky(the little robot guy) that steals the show. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Jamie's Kinda Cute in Orange!
For those of you who are not acquainted with the Buck Rogers series, here's a short rundown. In 1987, NASA launched the last deep space probe, captained by William "Buck" Rogers (Gil Gerard). In a "freak mishap," the ship is blown off its trajectory into an orbit that freezes the life support systems, and returns him to Earth 500 years later. The series takes Buck, along with the gorgeous Col. Wilma Deering (Erin Gray) and friends on many interesting adventures throughout space. Younger sci-fi fans may be disappointed with the special effects and simple story lines. However, for those of us who grew up in the 80s, they can still be as exciting and fun as they were when we were kids.

In this episode, Buck goes undercover as a convict in order to find wrongly convicted prisoner Jen (Jamie Lee Curtis). They need to get ahold of her to get information that will help them stop her boyfriend from breaking the law. Buck needs to break out of prison with Jen, meet up with Wilma, and stop the boyfriend, while being chased by a prison guard android who just keeps on coming.

Co-starring Jamie Lee Curtis!!!!
This is a high point in the Canon! It co-stars a very young Jamie Lee Curtis as a convict who can put the finger on the nefarious space pirate, Pantera! Here is what I learned from this episode;
1. In the future prison guards will wear leather dresses.
2. Androids always take out their frustration on hapless scenery.
3. "Tied to a chair" is a great look for Erin Gray.
4. Squids roam the deserts of the future.
5. Finally, while styles of clothing and cars may change, hairstyles will always remain the same, relevant to the time of the episode's filming.
In closing, this one has plenty of good Buck. He has to rescue Wilma, fight an indestructible android,capture a space pirate and outwit a diabolical Space Diplomat. And don't forget the Sand Squid.

The goddess Erin Gray
Erin Gray, in her tight spandex outfits, is the reason to watch the late 70s Buck Rogers. Kudos to her costume designers! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Hardly stellar...
"Groundstar" is a top-secret government space project, whose security has been breached, by Welles, one of its employees (Michael Sarrazin). Escaping the facility with secret information, the man is severely injured, and when captured has no memory of who he is. George Peppard is Tuxan, a hardened, single minded, government investigator in search of answers. Nicole (Christine Belford) is a bystander drawn into the situation, as Tuxan attempts to unlock the secrets within Welles's mind.

The film has a made for TV look and feel, with a plot that is not really original, or particularly credible. The script doesn't contain much action, or well-written dialog. The atmosphere of big brother government is pervasive. Tuxan, who routinely travels in a helicopter, is full of bluster, and attempts to orchestrate much of the action, yet doesn't actually do much that is impressive. The resolution to the story is rather unsatisfying, and implausible. Unless you enjoy heavy-handed government tactics, you can skip this drama.

Groundstar was released while Peppard was doing the TV show Banacek. Fans of that program, should be prepared for quite different type of character. The same applies to Christine Belford, who also had a reoccurring role on Banacek. There are no warm scenes with witty conversation between them. Michael Sarrazin has the most challenging role, and his performance while serviceable, is hampered by having to deliver some very bad lines.

This one has TV movie stink all over it....
George Peppard plays a character named Tuxan, who is responsible for uncovering the break in and theft of highly classified information at a government facility called Groundstar. He uses any and all means necessary to do this, including hidden cameras, hidden microphones, and 24 hour surveillance. He has complete control most of the time, and absolute authority to find the information he needs in order to protect the United States against foreign interests that may try to undermine the government by stealing precious secrets.

That being said, this movie plays out like a cheesy 70's TV melodrama. I tried hard to like this movie, but it was a hard sell. The movie starts out with multiple explosions at some facility, and one character managing to make it out before the whole place goes up. We see this character running down a corridor, being chased by other individuals, and then the picture freezes at a dramatic moment to allow for a credit to be displayed on the screen. This happens about four or five more times, and becomes quite tiresome, but if I recall, this was a device used quite a bit in the 70's, on movie but more so on TV. This movie really has a 'TV' feel to it, so I am wondering if the director was primarily a TV director...well, I was right. The director is Lamont Johnson, and he has an extensive career directing TV, and it shows here. Anyway, one character escapes before the whole place goes blammo, and it's Michael Sarrazin playing Welles. This is one of those actors who you may not recognize the name, but you'd probably recognize his face. He was fairly popular in the late 60's through the 70's. This slender, dark haired actor seemed to be on the verge of becoming a major star, but has since been relegated to mostly TV roles.

Well, he escapes, and we find out later that he was the only survivor of the explosion. His face badly damaged from the explosions, he manages to make it to the house of Nicole, played by Christine Belford, and actress with a solid television background and a few parts in some features films. The role I remember her from was the over protective mother to Arnie Cunningham in John Carpenter/Stephen King's killer car classic 'Christine' from 1983.

Well, we soon find out that that Welles, the soul survivor of the explosions, was also the one who caused the explosions. Apparently he used false credentials to get his position within the ultra top secret facility, then stole vital information, and caused the destruction of the facility to cover his escape. He remembers none of this, as he has lost his memory along with his face in the incident. We learn all this information from Tuxan, who is now investigating the situation.

There is a conspiracy, and it does follow though. The rest of the movie has Welles trying to put the pieces back together, recall what happened, if he could have killed those people and done the things Tuxan says he did. Nicole provides a haven for Welles, and seems sympathetic to his plight.

The most memorable line comes from Tuxan (what kind of name is that?) and is in response to Nicole berating him for invading her privacy by having hidden cameras and microphones in her house. He says something like 'murders are planned in private, assassinations are planned in private' etc. I don't remember the exact line, but it showed a great deal of the motivation behind the character.

The movie plays out, the conspiracy unfolds, and we are treated to a shocking ending. Well, not so shocking, really, but whatever. It was kind of hard to swallow, though. My main problem with this movie is I never really felt the tension that should have been there and the acting seemed kind of wooden. I enjoy a good conspiracy theory, but I had a hard time buying off on this one. The thing to keep in mind before you buy this movie is that it looks like a TV show. This was made in 1972, and prior to that, George Peppard had a somewhat promising movie career with Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), How the West Was Won (1962), and The Blue Max (1966) to name a few. Then around 1971, the movie roles seemed to dry up and he went into TV. He did make a number of movie after 1971, Damnation Alley (1977), Battle Beyond the Stars (1977), but none seemed to really have the prestige of previous movie roles. The same could be said for Michael Sarrazin. And the other main character, played by Christine Belford was primarily a TV actress. Given the director's history in TV, this all adds up to making this look like a high budget TV movie. I think once some directors immerses themselves in a particular medium, it's difficult to expand beyond the boundaries proscribed by that medium, and it shows here. I felt like the director was trying to exceed his grasp, and couldn't quite do it. Not a bad movie, for TV, but not a great movie for the big screen. I'd say 3 stars for a TV movie, 2½ stars for a theatrical release.

Cookieman108

Now there's something you don't see everyday
A good film, Peppard as Tuxan in a role that would resemble 2 of his roles on TV (Thomas Banacek that year, and Hannibal Smith of The A Team, 10 years later). The ending is that of a classic suspense film. The DVD version by the way is cheaper than most stores are offering the VHS copy (if you can find it) so get it while you can. Note Christine Belford, the woman down the road who falls for Sarazin also starred in Banacek, coincidence?

Well-paced counter espionage thriller.
George Peppard plays a ruthless, national security agent named Tucson. You would not want to run into him...unfortunately (maybe) Michael Sarrazin does as the brutalized betayer of the high level space project: GROUNDSTAR. The movie's pace is excellent as the law-unto-himself agent persues corruption into the highest levels of the government (Shades of China-gate!!!). Peppard is fascinating to watch as the thoroughly unlikeable hero who brings down the "conspirators" in an ironic but belevable climax. "He should have run faster," Tucson observes to a sympathetic medic regarding an explosion-mangled-into-unrecognizability victim. See the film, but stay out of the way of TUCSON... ... Read more

Reviews (23)

I've been swimming in raw sewage...I LOVE IT!
I actually did like this move quite a bit, and it was amazingly funny, but it had a few too many man-gets-hit-by-something-and-falls jokes for me. This is my least favorite Naked Gun movie yet I still watch it all the time and have a good laugh. the Naked Gun movies to me are the funniest movies ever created, and this is no exception. It is great, but I think you would first want to check out the other two. My favorite scene: The one where Frank and Ed go into the sex shop while Norberg is going under all the cars. Another downer: there were too many jokes stolen from the series it was based on, Police Squad! Otherwise, very good and very very funny.

Fairly funny
This is the second film based on the short-lived TV series "Police Squad". The first is a classic. This one liberally borrows gags from the TV show that inspired it, and that sums up my problem with the film: an overall lack of inspiration.

There are some very funny segments, including director David Zucker's hilarious send-up of his brother Jerry's "Ghost". But this movie just isn't as consistently funny as it's predecessor. This is really Leslie Nielsen's last funny performance in a spoof-comedy. After this, he would resort to constant and shameless mugging. In fact, one of the faults with this second Naked Gun film is that David Zucker allows some winking at the audience to creep in. These films are much better when played completely straight.

The DVD isn't exactly packed with features. There is a funny group commentary and that's about it. Some have complained that the scenes used for the TV broadcast version aren't included. It would've been nice if Paramount had included them as Deleted Scenes (though they are NOT good enough to warrant inclusion in the actual film).

Halt! Police Squad!
Unlike most sequels, Naked Gun 2 ½ goes above and beyond the spectacular first movie. Priscilla Presley just kept getting hotter and more beautiful as the series went on. Leslie Neilson, the modern day king of physical comedy is up to his old hijinx as Lt. Frank Dremond. This time Frank is after the masterminds who wish to bury the thought of clean energy and let the oil companies continue to give us high prices and pollution.

Gags that make the whole movie worth it.....

1. The shower/assassin scene. What a beautiful duet as he adjusts his silencer!
2. The Blue lounge, to include no Black Russians!
3. The Wistler's Mother birthmark. Stays on even with a sander!
4. A dinner with President Bush (watch those doors and lobster claws)
5. The final scene with hanging Barbera!

This is entertainment folks!

Smell of Comedy
The second installment to the adventures of Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) and Police Squad/Naked Gun series is just as funny as the first film (and forgotten tv show). There is an underlying theme in this comedy about environmental issues and there is a story and plot with all the pratfalls,nonsense, and hilarity. Again, the producers pick an unlikely actor to play the villian (Ricardo Montalban in the first) and this time it's Robert Goulet as Quentin Hapsburg behind a plot to deter President Bush's policy for a cleaner USA. The real treasure is everytime Frank Drebin (Nielsen) says one of his many asinine lines, the camera switches to Hapsburg (Goulet) and his look of bewilderment is worth the price of admission. The supporting roles are equally funny. O.J. Simpson as Nordberg has a more prominent role than in the first (although in the first he set up the Nordberg character beautifully). George Kennedy as Ed found a second career in comedy equal to that of Nielsen, and Priscilla Presley is up to the task of keeping up with all the hijinx. Guest roles are filled by some of Nielsen's contemporaries who have played similar type guest roles in various 60's and 70's tv shows and movies (Tim O'Conner, Lloyed Bochner etc.) The films are probably a little marred by the fact that OJ Simpson is in the cast, but his Nordberg character is hilarious as with the rest of the film. Overall a very funny film with the Zucker brand of comedy. Note: Classic Line- Commissioner Brumford (Jacqueline Brookes) after getting a call that animals escaped from the zoo as a result of a Drebin blunder... "Do you realise that this city is being overrun by baboons?" Drebin (Nielsen) "Well, isn't that the fault of the voters?". Also, a classic surprise scene: An in-joke by Lloyed Bochner (as Baggett) and a certain classic TWILIGHT ZONE episode "To Serve Man" in which he appeared in years ago.

THIS ONE IS JUST AS GOOD AS THE FIRST!!
This movie is just what my tital says!! Just as good as the first and that's because it is!! If you like the first one than you'll love this one too!! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Not the best, but still good
This episode is not as good as others, simply because it doesn't really have an adventurous plot, as we've come to expect in Buck Rogers shows. This episode basically was created using flashbacks to scenes from other episodes. The problem arises in that most of the episodes from which these short cuts were taken are not available for purchase. So, unless the viewer has a great memory and was a fan of Buck Rogers as a kid, he/she will really have no context for these stories.

The plot generally surrounds a mysterious group of items which are beamed through the Earth's defense shield. Each item is accompanied by a lymeric (riddle). To solve the mystery, Buck, Wilma (Erin Gray) and even Tweekie are hooked to a machine to retrieve memories of people who might have a grudge against Earth and wish to destroy the Earth. (These memories are the past episodes mentioned above). Of course, they do not solve the mystery until the hour has struck and the "Blast" is set off.

Good show, as are all the Buck Rogers shows. But this episode is definitely for those die-hard fans who remember the show from when we were kids.

Erin Gray - the Diana Rigg of my generation is sublime
Let's be honest - Erin Gray is the reason why Buck Rogers achieved the measure of success it did (both on the big screen and on TV). This movie was originally a TV pilot that was rushed into theaters to see how much money it could make, and it shows. Even the incidental music betrays its TV origins. But despite that (or because of), this gem is almost a 5-star rater. Reason one is the wonderful opening credits where Buck Rogers awakes on a neon-lit walkway surrounded by beautiful futuristic (1979 futuristic, that is) women who pout and kiss him while the goofy song "Suspension" blares away. A classic opening. Reason Two - Erin Gray. Like Diana Rigg in the 60s, Gray was the unattainable class-act who seemed to transcend the screen. There is a Reason Three, but that's just minor stuff like the fact that Buck in the 25th is, simply, one of the funnest things a person can experience. It's B-stuff, no doubt. But man, is it good B-stuff. And also, there's Erin Gray.

Erin Gray is a goddess!
More Erin Gray! More spandex! What more do you need? ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Oldies but Gookies
Two Gun-runners named Corliss and Trent recover a freighter carrying 20th century nerve gas.The two have long seought revenge on Colonel Deerin.They plan to destroy earth with the bombs.Earht turns to Noah Cooper(played by Peter Graves!),leader of earth's last space marine bomber squadron,for help.Can Noah and hIis spuadron save earth?To find out buy the video!I like this video because it shown being old or handicapped can't stop you from doing great things!

Silly shenanigans in a 20th century wasteland
Like popular music, television just gets worse and worse as time goes on and viewers crave more and more immediate gratification, as political correctness becomes more entrenched, and as the medium strives to conform to the tastes of youthful viewers, in particular, who become cruder and cruder with each new generation.

The TV show, "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century", based on the old movie serial, has the saving grace of being over 20 years old, which means that, by definition, it can't be as bad as the pap that the networks circulate today. It's as dumb and as formulaic as any other show, but at least, it's clean and fairly harmless.

And it has one other redeeming feature, which is the only reason why I bought this video. And that, of course, would be Erin Grey (as Colonel Wilma Deering) exhibiting her cute blondness in tight space outfits. And even THAT redeeming feature was diminished during the second season when she unaccountably became a brunette.

"Return of the Fighting 69th" is a first season episode, however, and interestingly enough, the scene which requires Erin to disguise herself in a unisex patrol outfit, with helmet, doesn't defuse her sensuality nearly as much as dark hair would later. She provides considerably more thrills than the story does.

As for the "plot" and the actors/characters in this episode, they have been adequately described by others and there's no need for me to dwell on them. No 12 year old devotee of Saturday morning cartoons could fail to appreciate them, and Gil Gerard, in the title role, has all the dramatic presence of Venusian cloud cover, sort of a space-wrecked Robert Urich. Actually, that's unfair to Urich. Compared to Gerard, Urich appears to have as much flair and color as Cesar Romero playing the Joker.

The bad guys, played by Robert Quarry and Elizabeth Allen, are a lot more passionate, a lot more real, and a lot more genuinely motivated than the good guys, and if you're actually paying attention to the plot, you should be rooting for them - for all the good it will do.

Peter Graves plays the head of the "Fighting 69th" who comes out of retirement to do battle with the bad guys, and he, Gerard, Grey, and the other supporting cast members naturally assume that flat pompous virtue that the heroes in these productions always have - the self-conscious virtue that always finds a way to say, "Aren't we good?"

The most noxious example of this is the hero's welcome that Gerard receives from his conspirators in virtue after he returns from the arduous task of - locating the deaf girl's parents by searching some futuristic Hall of Records for them. Good old Buck Rogers - not only can he save the universe through expert navigation, crack-shooting, and rapid-fire fist-fighting, but he can brave carpal tunnel syndrome and download a file with the best of any $6.50/hour (or whatever the prevailing 25th century wage is) file clerk. Bleah!

After fast-forwarding to all of the enticing Erin Grey poses, put this cassette away and read a book.

Buck Involved In More Than One Crossfire
Return Of The Fighting 69th is one of the best episodes of the Buck Rogers series, combining some impressive SFX action sequences with some of the strongest character interplay of the series, giving a greater emotional punch than normal.

A Directorate container ship has been hijacked and is flying toward Necrosis, an asteroid belt of unusual (and admittedly unrealistic) density. Wilma and Buck, on a training run with two cadets, are hastily sent to stop the container ship, but when four oblong-shaped Scorpian fighters (this is the only episode which identifies these bizarre-shaped fightercraft) attack, two are shot down, but the two Directorate cadets plunge into the Necrosis belt and are pulverized.

Buck furiously demands to know why the stolen ship was worth the lives of the two cadets, and Dr. Huer provides video inventory as explanation - a stash of nerve gas bombs dug out of a bunker near the old Washington DC. And since the ship was flown to the Necrosis belt, the thieves are clearly Corliss and Roxanne Trent, two gunrunners who have vowed revenge on Wilma because of severe injuries (Corliss' face is seriously scarred, Roxanne Trent sports metallic hands after hers were burned to a shrivel) incurred in a space pursuit years earlier.

The only pilots who can possibly navigate the treacherous belt are the surviving members of the Space Marine 69th Squadron - led by Noah Cooper (Peter Graves), who has known Wilma since she was knee-high and earned the nickname Dizzy Deering aka Dizzy D. But all five members of the Fighting 69th were forced into retirement a year earlier, despite still-sharp combat skills. Wilma wants no part of having them return to duty, espeically when they propose using decades-old cargo-sled bombers to launch even older surface-penetrating incendiary explosives into Corliss and Roxanne's asteroid base. When Wilma angrilly protests after an unimpressive live-fire exercise, Buck caustically calls her on the fact she is simply worried sick for Noah, rather than using rational analysis.

When the three sled bombers penetrate the belt, they are jumped by a squadron of Scorpians - three are shot down but Buck and Wilma are captured, and meet Corliss and Roxanne up close. Buck also meets Roxanne's youthful slave servant, Alicia, who is deaf and can only speak via sign language - a fact Buck can use to get himself, Wilma, and Alicia to freedom when Noah leads the attack on the asteroid.

Elizabeth Allen plays Roxanne Trent and imbues the character with such effective monstrosity that the audience can feel genuine hatred welling up as she smashes a memory globe belonging to Alicia.

This episode grows on you; it's still worth watching.
Previously I wrote a 2(or less) star review for this episode. When I first saw it--after sooo many years I was in a time-flux shock! I couldn't believe the difference in producing a sci-fi adventure 20 years ago and 20 years later.--The fight scenes, etc.. Since then I have seen this show repeatedly and it's grown on me. My shock has worn off. I enjoy watching this episode. I still especially enjoy watching the scenes with "Alicia", who is deaf and kidnapped 5 years previously. Her only mode of communication is manually through American Sign Language. I was taken by surprise to hear "Wilma" refer to it as HAND TALK. But today when I see that scene in reference I see the past,present and future rolled into one because she mentions a corrective operation children can have to regain their hearing. Today we would especially know one corrective procedure: COCHLEAR IMPLANT. SCIENCE FICTION becomes Science Fact. WHAT A DIFFENCE 20 YEARS MAKES!!!

EEHH BEETY-BEETY-BEET. COULD BE BETTER
AS A CHILD WHEN i SAW THIS EPISODE I LOVED IT BECAUSE OF THE ACTRESS WHO WAS DEAF PORTRAYING A DEAF CHILD KIDNAPPED AND ENSLAVED. I remember thinking that the futuristic sci-fi shows always showed the futuristic people as having more control of their emotion (Star Trek, Buck Rogers, etc..) Proof was in seing how Buck and his 25th Cent. buds behaved towards each other. What I didn't like this time around was seeing Erin Grey (Gray?) unemotional/underemotional--or underacting? in response to emotional situations. I wasn't taken by how she asked their captors to let Buck and the girl go and they can do anything to her. There were other scenes in which I did like her. Also, the fighting scenes are a little dated. You can tell the actors have little experience with judo or kung fu. Definitely pre-Xena for Wilma Deering! I still enjoy Buck Rogers. I'm waiting to see when Amazon.com gets episodes including the Hawk clan!! ... Read more