THE BLACK HOLE (1979) Radio-Controled V.I.N.CENT Robot

Courtesy of the the archivists at Megomuseum, here's a toy fair presentation film (not an on-air commercial) for a proposed radio-controlled V.I.N.CENT robot toy intended for their Black Hole toy line.

As it turned out, the 'bot never got past the prototype stage and never went into production, being deemed too expensive to produce. Too bad, it looks like it would have been really cool... even if it didn't levitate!

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME (1979) Thai One-Sheet

Just when I figured I'd dug up just about all there was worth sharing about the 1979 Canadian-made space opera, The Shape Of Things To Come, I stumbled across this Thai theatrical one-sheet for the flick on eBay. It's similar to the North American posters, but sports completely re-painted art, and it wins my heart by spotlighting the lovely Anne-Marie Martin (a/k/a Eddie Benton) in the composition.

If any movie I've written about on this site qualifies (even in my sci-fi addled mind) as a "guilty pleasure," it's probably this one, as I've watched the Blue Underground DVD edition* of this movie far more often than its cinematic quality warrants.

But what can I say? The very existence of this blog itself illustrates just what a sucker I am for anything with miniature spaceship effects, robots, and pretty girls in spandex... and The Shape Of Things To Come has them all, cheap and derivative as the film may be.

* Buy The DVD From Amazon: The Shape of Things to Come

DR. STRANGE (1978) TV Movie

One of the more creatively successful attempts by CBS to adapt Marvel Comics characters to television was the Philip DeGuerre TV pilot, Dr. Strange, starring Peter Hooten as Marvel's Sorcerer Supreme. While comics fans nitpicked the change in costume and some story details, I thought it was a pretty fair translation of the four-color source material with some surprisingly elaborate special effects sequences (including a creepy, stop-motion demon). Stan Lee was reportedly pretty pleased with it, and comics artist Frank Brunner contributed designs for the project (including that revised costume).

Sure, the whole thing - especially Hooten's mustache - is terribly dated when viewed with modern eyes, but for a 70's TV production it was pretty well done.

Admittedly, Hooten was fairly unmemorable in the lead, but I liked the casting of Jessica Walter (as Morgana LeFay), Clyde Kusatsu as Dr. Strange's Asian manservant, and Anne-Marie Martin (The Shape Of Things To Come) as his apprentice, Clea.

Although produced as a pilot film, CBS aired it as TV movie, and passed on a Dr. Strange series. The movie is not on DVD, but was released on VHS tape in the 1980s.

News: THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN Season 3 DVDs Coming in February

As reported over on the indispensable TV Shows On DVD site yesterday, Universal will be releasing the standalone DVD set of the classic middle season of The Six Million Dollar Man to retail outlets on February 19th, 2013. For fans like me, who couldn't afford the exclusive Complete Series megaset from Time-Life, and have been patiently (and often impatiently) waiting for the individual seasons to be released, this is great news!

Season Three features the classic return/resurrection of Lindsay Wagner as Jaime Sommers (and the set includes the relevant Bionic Woman episodes) and the introduction of Steve Austin's most iconic adversary: the Bionic Bigfoor (Andre the Giant)!

Bonus features in this set include audio commentaries by producer Kenneth Johnson on those fan-favorite episodes. The 6-DVD set is priced at $39.98 SRP, and can be pre-ordered from Amazon at a discounted price here:The Six Million Dollar Man: Season 3

I'll try and stay on top of this eagerly-anticipated DVD release; Season Two was available several months before its official release date as a Best Buy exclusive. If that turns out to be the case with this 3rd Season package, I'll try to give Space: 1970 readers a head's up.

BUCK ROGERS (1979) Syndication Ads

This industry trade magazine ad from MCA-TV, circa 1983, boasts of the popularity of Buck Rogers In The 25th Century in syndication, specifically in weekday daily airings (known in syndication as "stripping"). While I'm sure that the series did do well in some markets, the "Is a cult developing?" line seems more like wishful thinking on the part of MCA's marketing department.

I suppose it does have a cult following now (and if so, I'm certainly a part of it), but in '83? A mere two years after it ended its network run? I love the show, but Star Trek it ain't.

Thanks to Star Kid Peter Noble, for sharing this ad on the Space: 1970 Facebook page. Here are a few more MCA trade ads, also courtesy of Master Noble:

THE BIONIC WOMAN (1977) Charlton Comics Cover Gallery

Jack Sparling

Jack Sparling

Jack Sparling

Jack Sparling

Jack Sparling

It's been a while since I last compiled one of these comic book cover galleries, but I thought it was time to showcase the 5-issue, bi-monthly Bionic Woman series published by Charlton Comics back in 1977-78.

Because Charlton comics had spotty distribution in my area in the 70s, I never saw any of these issues on the stands - and, to be honest, I probably wouldn't have bought them if I had. I enjoyed the show on TV, but I don't think I would have wanted to carry a Bionic Woman comic up to the counter of my local general store. I took enough crap from people about buying comics as it was; I sure didn't need to be accused of buying a girl's comic on top of everything else.

It wasn't easy being a geeky kid in the 1970s....

Coming Attractions: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977) Theatrical Trailer

Hope you're all having a great weekend. For your nostalgic viewing pleasure, here's the original theatrical trailer for the other big science fiction classic of 1977, Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters Of The Third Kind.

I haven't posted nearly enough about this fantastic sci-fi film on the blog over the last three years. It was highly influential on me back in '77, and its commercial and critical success re-ignited public interest in Unidentified Flying Objects, inspiring everything from Ed Hunt's low-budget Starship Invasions to Jack Webb & NBC's Project U.F.O.

Looking back on it 35 years later, the trailer is surprisingly dry & serious, with Columbia clearly determined to make sure that CE3K is not dismissed by audiences as mere "entertainment," but as a serious piece of cinema. Of course, it's both - terrifically entertaining and a great movie.