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Stars: Raquel Welch and John
Richardson
Writer: Michael Carreras
Adapted From An Original
Screenplay By: Mickell Novak, George Baker, and Joseph Frickert
Director: Don Chaffey
Feature length: 91 minutes
Extras: Restoration Comparison,
Trailers, and Bonus Trailers
Languages: English Stereo and
English and Spanish Language Monaural Sound
Subtitles: English Captions and
Closed Captions and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging: Amaray Keep Case
Chapter Stops: 24
Sound: Stereo Sound and Monaural
Sound
Year of Theatrical Release: 1966/DVD
Release: 2004
Theatrical Distributor: Twentieth
Century Fox
Home Video Distributor: Twentieth
Century Fox Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
What might have been considered
science fiction back in 1966 is now little more than a nostalgic fantasy that
would probably have become obscure were it not for the special visual effects by
Ray Harryhausen and the sexiest cave girl to ever grace the silver screen,
Raquel Welch. Obviously there were no humans running around during the age of
dinosaurs anymore than the conceit of cloning dinosaurs back to life with frog
DNA has yielded a real life “Jurassic Park” save for the big screen
incarnations. Yet I can imagine the story of a burly man from the “Rock
Tribe” hooking up with the sexy blond from the “Shell Tribe” seemed like a
“groovy” idea for the love generation. The shell tribe all have bleach blond
hair while the rock tribe are noted for their predominately brunet hair. Both
appear to have learned various techniques of survival, with the rock tribe
yielding various hunting techniques, but perhaps not so surprisingly the idea of
bathing and having fun under the sun seems all but alien to them when Raquel
Welch’s character frolics in the water to yield a prehistoric “Victoria
Secret” ad that would help solidify her screen image as a “sex goddess.”
The famous poster of her in her cave garb would make her the pinup for a
generation and help make “One Million Years B.C.” a mini-classic of sorts
that could please both adult men and women eyeing the scantily dressed
prehistoric men and women while children could enjoy the dinosaurs.
When I was a little kid “One
Million Years B.C.” was one of my favorite films because of the dinosaurs and
it was one of the few films that was not shown over and over again on daytime
television so when it aired I never got sick of it, but young boys barely over
the age of five tend to love things like dinosaurs and or monsters in general
along with cartoons and cars so I probably would not have gotten sick of it as a
kid if it were on every day. Now in my mid thirties all I can really note about
“One Million Years B.C” is that it is quaint, but still entertaining.
However I don’t consider it science fiction anymore than I would consider some
early 1950’s sci-fi “Drive-In” films to be accurate portrayals of NASA
space flight. It is an ambitious film and at the heart there is a bit of a love
story as well as some classic metaphors on human behavior, but now more than
ever I see it as prehistoric fantasy entertainment.
I may be wrong on this one, but
with the DVD release of “One Million Years B.C.” finally coming out from
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, all of Visual Effects Master Ray
Harryhausen’s classic films are now finally available on DVD-Video. The
original negative has long been lost so Fox used two of the best looking
negative duplicates to restore “One Million Years B.C.” for DVD complete
with comparisons between a 1993 film print and the 1996 laserdisc and then the
new 2002 DVD restoration (4:33). Seeing this restoration example does make one
appreciate the picture quality on this DVD more than one might initially feel
upon first viewing. The colors are much more vibrant and solid except for the
film’s apocalyptic climax that looks appropriately washed out as a new tribe
journeys forward into an uncertain horizon. As can be expected, there is a bit
of visible grain in the stock footage shots as well as some of the stop motion
effects sequences, but otherwise this is probably as good a home video release
of “One Million Years B.C.” as anyone is likely to see until maybe the
advent of HD-DVD. “One Million Years B.C.” is presented on DVD with an
anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) aspect ratio presentation that preserves the
manner in which the film was exhibited theatrically as close as possible for
home video users. Clear English Stereo and English and Spanish Language
Two-Channel Monaural Soundtracks are encoded onto the disc along with English
Captions and Closed Captions for the hearing impaired and Spanish Language
Subtitles as options.
Besides the restoration
comparison, the theatrical trailer (3:07) and Spanish Language trailer (2:57)
are included along with bonus trailers for the Raquel Welch spy spoof
“Fathom” (2:46), “The Abyss” (2:53), “The Day The Earth Stood Still”
(2:09), “Enemy Mine” (1:52), “Independence Day” (2:28), “Journey To
The Center Of The Earth” (3:20), “Planet Of The Apes” (1:00), Tim Burton
2001 remake of “Planet Of The Apes” (: 54), “Wing Commander”, and
“Zardoz” (3:02). The menus are
all standard interactive still frames that are easy to navigate.
“One Million Years B.C.” will
debut on DVD-Video at retailers on and offline on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 from
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. “One Million Years B.C.” will also
be available as a part of “The Raquel Welch Collection” on DVD that also
includes “Fathom,” “Myra Breckinridge,” “Mother, Jugs & Speed,”
and “Bandelero” day and date from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
© Copyright 2004 By Mark A.
Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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