Product Description: No Description Available. Genre: Serials Rating: NR Release Date: 10-AUG-2000 Media Type: DVD
Amazon.com: While it lacks the baroque, fantastical quality of the previous Flash Gordon serials (which also starred Buster Crabbe), the Buck Rogers serial still exemplifies the freewheeling spirit of pulp-magazine space opera of the 1930s. Crash-landing in the Arctic in the 20th century, Buck Rogers and his sidekick Buddy Wade (Jackie Moran) use a special gas to induce suspended animation, only to be awakened 500 years later when the world is ruled by the evil Killer Kane. We are told that Kane's ascendancy is a direct result of the 20th century's failure to solve the problem of crime. But luckily, Buck Rogers is here to fight Kane's evil domination of mankind, which involves making obedient robots out of folks by strapping an "amnesia helmet" on their heads. (The helmet looks like the sawed-off end of a cheesy rocket ship, complete with fins.) Most of the episodes deal with invasion forces from the planet Saturn and whose side they're going to take, Killer Kane's or Buck's, affording plenty of opportunity for spaceships to zip back and forth, propelled by sparks and rising smoke. All the trappings and tropes of space opera abound: ray guns, space travel, villainous political figures, alien civilizations. In a way, the flaws seem quaint--the wooden acting, the cheesy costumes and sets, the flimsy space crafts, the similarity between the surface of Saturn and certain California deserts, and the way Buck needs no learning curve after traveling 500 years into the future. It's great adolescent fun. --Jim Gay
Have not received ^ I ordered this title at the same time as "Son of Tarzan" & I have never received it as of this date.
No Flash Gordon, but you may not care when you watch this stunning VCI restoration ^ First things first: BUCK ROGERS is rather weak and disappointing compared to the two FLASH GORDON serials (1936 and 1938) that preceded it and that also star Buster Crabbe - though I think it's at least the equal of the last FLASH (FLASH GORDON CONQUERS THE UNIVERSE). It looks even cheaper - I think FLASH had at least a couple more sets and not every outdoor shot was done in the same rocky western terrain - and it lacks a couple of the major ingredients that make those first two Flash serials as fun as they are:
- a good villain: Killer Kane (Anthony Wade) despite having a vague resemblance in his attitude and power to Hitler or other real-world totalitarians comes off more as a dull third-rate gangster; Charles Middleton's Ming is a hundred times as charismatic and has a wacky New York accent that sticks out so much you can't help but laugh.
- a good heroine: again, Constance Moore's Wilma Deering is just plain boring - not I think through the fault of the actress so much as the writing. She just has nothing much to do except occasionally take orders from Buck, get rescued, or help in rescuing. She wears dumpy clothes and there's not the slightest hint of a love interest - until literally the very last moment of the whole thing, when it seems totally out of place.
I do like the set-up to the whole thing - dirigible pilot Buck Rogers and his sidekick Buddy crash in some inaccessible mountains and through a miraculous experimental gas are left in suspended animation for 500 years. Of course, when they're thawed out they IMMEDIATELY join the forces of the obvious good guys in the Hidden City to overthrow the tyrant ruling the world, Killer Kane. You'd think people would be more suspicious....and the plot of course piles implausibility on impossibility for the remaining 11 episodes.
BUT if you already like serials and know what you're getting into, it's lots of fun. Same silly doors with the submarine-like valve mechanisms as FLASH; same spark and sound effect on the spaceships (which look like the Civil War ironclad Merrimack for the most part), lots of silly dialogue and the occasional ahead-of-its-time ideas, like an early usage of mind-controlled robots, and a teleportation chamber. Lots of Wagnerian and generally grand-sounding 19th century romantic music that mingles strangely with the cheap sets, silly plot and constant repetition. Oh, and of course the infamous chapter-beginning crawls and creative wipes between scenes that George Lucas was to homage (or "steal" if you're not so charitable to Mr. Lucas) in STAR WARS and its sequels.
This VCI 70th Anniversary restoration is just stunning; this is probably the best-looking b-movie from this era that I've ever seen, crystal clear and sharp with good contrast and next to no dirt or scratches. Great extras include the very weird 1934 short Tiger Men of Mars and a really nice half-hour audio lecture by Crabbe from 1974. There's a short but informative history of the character, and two complete radio episodes from the early 1930s.
A must for those who are already serial fans; anybody dipping their toes into this form - very much an acquired taste I think - would be better off checking out FLASH GORDON, THE DRUMS OF FU MANCHU or THE PHANTOM first, or my personal favorite Phantom Empire As with most serials, I'd suggest watching it one or two episodes at a time, both because the repetetiveness can get a little tedious, and to preserve the cliffhanger feeling that is built into it.
One small complaint ^ The restoration and quality of the picture is outstanding. This is the best DVD version of Buck Rogers that has ever been and likely will ever be released. One small quibble -- as far as I can tell the picture is interlaced. Why, oh WHY, go to all the trouble and expense to restore this serial from film and then release it interlaced???
a 70 year old series that looks this good has to get 5 stars ^ I'm not reviewing this classic serial (nor get into a Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon debate)...but offering a review of the 2 DVD set that I picked up yesterday out of curiosity as it was so inexpensive and I remember seeing many of these episodes as a youngster on Saturday morning tv. The main reason for my review is to say that these are NOT public domain garbage transfers but seemingly first generation prints right off the film and film that is in remarkably great shape! Of course the space crafts are easily identifiable as models but its part of the charm.
Not only are the episodes in great shape but this company has also added some bonus features including an audio history by Buster Crabbe (which they have put great video in support of)..and more, including a 10 minute history of Buck Rogers and several radio shows!
I can't imagine a better looking or more comprehensive set coming out so if this is something you are a fan of this would be the one to purchase.
Excellent remastered picture! Worth the upgrade. ^ I've watched three of the episodes so far. The picture quality is a HUGE improvement over the original VCI release which I found to be murky, dark and blurry at times. The remastered image of the new release blows the old one away by miles. It is consistently sharp and bright. The audio quality is also very good.
The 2 disc set also includes a bunch of extras including a brief history of Buck Rogers, an audio speech given by Buster Crabbe about his career, 2 radio episodes of Buck Rogers, and an old Buck Rogers short form the 30's with different actors.
If you enjoy this serial, this is well worth the upgrade.
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