DAMNATION ALLEY

US, 1977, 91 minutes, Colour.
Jan - Michael Vincent, George Peppard, Dominique Sanda, Paul Winfield, Jackie Earle Haley.
Directed by Jack Smight.

Damnation Alley was made in the aftermath of Star Wars and intended to be a science fiction post-nuclear spectacular. It did very poorly and received bad critical reviews. Based on a novel by Roger Zelazny, the screenplay adapts the novel considerably and the running time of the film is very brief.

The film resembles Soylent Green and other futuristic films. Society is destroyed by the Third World War and the survivors have to make their way in a world awry - especially with the weather (special effects of cycloramas and laser beams to indicate strange colours). There is a small representative group which clashes in itself, becomes victim to mutants, encounters hostile human beings, eventually survives to find a community and begin again.

The film works well enough on a very popular and undemanding level - but gives signs of having intended to be much more. Director Jack Smight has made a wide range of comedies and thrillers over several decades.

1. The popularity of science fiction? The plausibility of the plot? The blend of fact and fantasy? An interpretation of the present by a vision of the future? The potential for World War Three? Nuclear disaster? The involvement of people in wars, destruction, the capacity to survive? A vision of a world askew? Mutants? The quest for survival and the endurance of ordeals, coping with dangers? The optimism of the film?

2. Technical credits and their quality: colour Panavision photography, the use of Death Valley? The background of nuclear technology? Explosions? The techniques for showing the new world: the variety of colours, laser flashes in the sky, storms, tidal waves? Location photography? The decor of the future world? The irony of the remnants of the contemporary world? Machines - especially the 4-wheel drive and its variations? The atmospheric musical score?

3. The credibility of the prologue: the strategy for combating nuclear rockets? The technology for knowing what was happening? How satisfactory the explanation of these events in World War Three? The explosions? The preparation of a safe path across America - and the ironic title? Damnation Alley?

4. The transition with explanation to survival of World War Three? The effect on the world? On people? Denton and Tanner and their continued antagonism (how well prepared before the Masts? Keegan and his artwork? Tanner and Keegan moving from the armed services? The carelessness of people in the survival period? Others building and trying to communicate? The mutants? The isolation and the need for making the journey? The journey becoming a mission? The builders - and the carelessness with the cigarette for the last explosion?

5. The antagonism of Denton and Tanner? Their having to resolve the conflict? The building of the vehicles, the plan to go across America? Denton and his intensity and command? Tanner and his motorbike riding - and the android given to the giant scorpions? Keegan and his art? The survivors?

6. The beginning of the journey - the two vehicles? The storm and Tanner's disobeying Denton? Perry and his seriousness, hostility towards the singing? Following the rules and destroying the vehicle and dying? The build-up of the storm? The hard driving?

7. Arriving at Las Vegas, the remnants of the gambling world? The irony or their gambling and the worthlessness of money? The discovery of Janice and her story? Her hard luck story and the interruption of the explosions? The feminine presence in the film? Dominique Sanda and her European background, style, manner of speaking? The drive to Salt Lake? The dead city? The cockroaches and their intensity? The death of Keegan? The exploration of the city - and Tanner and Janice escaping the cockroaches by bike?

8. The move through the desert - the discovery of Billy? The chase? His story?

9. The desert outpost, the playing of the piano, the hostility of the men and the attempted rape of Janice? Billy and his quick thinking and shooting?

10. The goal of Detroit - the used and destroyed cars? The plan to fix the machine? The suddenness of the wave? The survival - like Noah's Ark? The cleansing of the world by water? The transition from the strange colours and storms to peace?

11. Survival and the finding of the group in Albany? Rebuilding and optimism? Encouragement? The film as anti-war? Pro-human nature?

12. The survival of the world - and further chances for destruction or for peace? How effective the film as science fiction - for what audience?