THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME
US, 1979, 98 minutes, Colour.
Jack Palance, Carol Lynley, Barry Morse, John Ireland, Nicholas Campbell.
Directed by George Mc Cowan.
Yet another Star Wars' derivative like Star Crash, The Humanoid and the Galactica series. The title is from H. G. Wells but otherwise the film has nothing to do with his work or the film, Things to Come made in the thirties by William Cameron Menzies as a forecast about World War II and its consequences.
However, Wells was always interested in popular science fiction. TV director George Mc Cowan (who made the animal horror classic 'Frogs') directs a routine cast which includes a villainous Jack Palance and Carol Lynley as an unlikely ruler of a galactic planet. The film has the usual technological effects, presentation of space, moon inhabitation and a genial robot called Sparks. Enjoyable but derivative.
1. the impact of Star Wars and its derivatives in the seventies? Audience interest in space, space exploration, wars? Influence of H. G.Wells and the use of his title?
2. The appeal of science fiction and fantasy? A possible world, the future, coping with the future in the light of the way of coping with the present? The conventions of Star Wars material, the derivation and lack of originality?
3. The audience interest in technical aspects of space exploration and warfare: the visualizing of space, the cities and the inhabitation of the moon and other planets, technological development in the cities, in the spacecraft, in the wars? The backgrounds of robots and the robot wars of their destruction? Genial robots? Such devices as the creation of images in the sky? Technology for creation and destruction?
4. The impact of the special effects of the film, entertainment, excitement?
5. The introduction of the civilisation of the moon and the introductory explanation? New Washington, its appearance, inhabitants, the threat of the crash and its actual destruction? The threats of radiation and the need for safeguarding drugs? Politics, the senator, the development of new space vehicles, disputes?
6. The collision and the build-up of tension, the powerful ruler of Delta Three and his attack on the moon, his background as a scientist and his development of techniques, his megalomania and power, his use of robots? His deposing Nikki, the former ruler, his control, his aims of destruction and the irony of his being destroyed by his own devices?
8. The hero and heroine and their age, technological background, relationship with their parents? Their decision to go to Delta Three, their visit to the Earth, exploration and suspense, the encounter with the children? Delta Three and their confrontation of the ruler, the meeting of Nikki and the rescue, the excitement of the escape, the confrontation of the villain, the danger of the return and the high speeds, their survival? Comic book hero and heroine for this kind of film - audience expectations of how they should behave and succeed?
9. The scientist and his development of spacecraft, clash with the senator, his decision to go to Delta Three to confront the villain, his experience of radiation, his illness during the voya ge, support, his death?
9. Sparks and the genial robot, his skills, swift movement, need for his moving against the villain? repairs?
10. The children and their hiding, victims of the robot wars? their need for rescue?
11. Nikki and her story, her faithful followers, their training, attempts at eacape, their deaths?
12. The build-up of the climax and the destruction of Delta Three, the escape through space, peace in the galaxy? The perennial appeal of this kind of matinee material no matter what the guise?
