The Starlost Complete Series DVD Review - Part 1

http://www.zaranyzerak.com

In this edition, I talk about the long forgotten gem of low budget early 70's sci-f, The Starlost! In part 1 I talk about the show itself, some of the problems that plagued its production back in the day, and how I feel the despite the harsh opinions of some people towards the show, that I actually think there is some good to be found in it. And we take a look at the rather cool intro!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• dvd
• collection
• review
• starlost
• keir
• dullea
• harlan
• ellison
• cordwainer
• bird
• phoenix
• without
• ashes
• ben
• bova
• walter
• koenig
• john
• colicos
• 70s
• hard
• sf
• scifi
• science
• fiction
• low
• budget
• production
• problems
• creative
• differences
• vci
• entertainment
• complete
• series

[atrumira]

No. I'm sorry, the acting in this series is god awful.

Robin Ward - I could replace him with a banjo playing monkey & I guarantee you the monkey wud do a better job AND there wud be the added bonus of the banjo playing to help take your mind off the terrible special effects.

[Zaranyzerak]

@atrumira I could care less about whether the special effects are amazing or not, as long as it's got an interesting story. While some episodes were painful to sit through, others were top notch science fiction yarns. Robin Ward was acceptable, but Keir Dullea was excellent. As were many of the guest stars. It was a mixed bag. Thanks the production issues behind the scenes. It could and should have been amazing, it wasn't. But I don't think it's unwatchable, I quite enjoy it warts and all.

[truenorth1968]

Robin Ward. Wow. I forgot he was in this! He's the weaterm, er, meteorologist at our local CTV affiliate here in Toronto. I may check this out. I remember watching repeats in the late 70s.

[Zaranyzerak]

@truenorth1968 Oh, cool! He's done a lot of voice acting and narration over the years too, even taught some course about it.

[bluto1992]

Sorry for bashing, but Keir Dullea looks like Jeff Foxworthy in the intro. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I felt like I had to point that out

[Zaranyzerak]

@bluto1992 Just a TAD before Jeff Foxworthy was anyone. Dude was still in school at the time this came out.

[tekwarsg1]

Your very interesting to listen to.your very informed about the topic you talk about and your very articulate in the way you express your thoughts and apinions. Keep up on being articulate and your subscriptions will surly rise.keep up the great work.

[Monkofmagnesia]

All I remember about this show was that the computer never was able to help them.

[straker2]

British TV was doing SF shows like Dr.Who and Blakes 7 on video so this was no problem to me, but Americans were not used to that at the time, so it came as shock and I think Ellison wanted it to be spectacular and expensive. Trumbull cut his teeth on 2001 A Space Odyssey so with him and Keir Dullea, it should've been amazing. But despite Ellison's outrage, this was much better than its rep, I really enjoyed Starlost as a kid and the ideas still compell.

[Ranger7studios]

LOL! I just bought the graphic novel of The Phoenix Rises from the ashes! And I knew about The Star Lost and never made the connection between the two. Now I can't wait to start reading this GN. Thanks for the awesome video!

[OronOfMontreal]

@Dracopol

I was just going to write about the similarity between Orphans of the Sky and The Starlost! I'm glad somebody else noticed too.

(I'm glad somebody else reads those old S.F. novels!)

[JGlaister]

I've been remembering a TV show I watched as a teen. The title was "The Ark." My memories of the show are quite sketchy, but I remember domes and tunnels, and two or three people going from dome-to-dome. Internet searches for "The Ark" brought up too many false hits, and I couldn't find any data on "The Ark" until I somehow just remembered that the show was produced in Canada. A fresh internet search took me to "The Starlost." It wasn't great, but it was entertaining to me as a young adolescent.

[Dracopol]

As you say, the series was a mixed bag. I thought at age 12, in Canada, it was great. Great music, starts off with really high concept and "all humanity is at stake". Of course it should be remade.

If you like this, you would like the novel ORPHANS OF THE SKY by Robert A. Heinlein (originally as 2 magazine stories "Universe" and "Common Sense").

[Dracopol]

@bluto1992 Only because of the mustache!

[eldersprig]

Ben Bova as science editor was completely ignored. Ellison was able to have his name taken off the production cause he had that as a stipulation in his contract.