Tuesday, November 10, 2015

The Wizard of Mars (1965)


American General Pictures
Directed by David L. Hewitt
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(YouTube)

An American mission to Mars crash lands on the planet and the crew has only limited oxygen to survive. They set out for a previously established base but end up in an ancient city ruled by the disembodied head of John Carradine. He gives them a long lecture on the nature of time before sending them on their way. Although it is hampered by a low budget and amateur acting, there is a dreamlike atmosphere which makes it almost hypnotic to watch. Some of the themes and even the photography foreshadow 2001, just not nearly as sophisticated. The print is in desperate need of restoration to determine if the blown out colors were intentional or just an artifact of the neglect it has received over the years. Pair it with 1962's The Creation of the Humanoids for a bizarre double feature.

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