Barbarella (1968)
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A space traveler must navigate a bizarre, psychedelic landscape to retrieve a scientist who has created a weapon capable of destroying humanity.
The story
In an unspecified future, space adventurer Barbarella is dispatched by the Earth's president to the Tau Ceti planetary system to retrieve Dr. Durand Durand. Durand has invented the positronic ray, a laser-powered weapon that Earth's leaders fear will cause mass destruction. After crash-landing on Tau Ceti's 16th planet, Barbarella is rescued by a local Catchman named Mark Hand. To reach the city of Sogo where Durand is located, she must navigate a series of surreal environments, including a labyrinth of outcasts and a city of debauchery, while dealing with the strange customs of the inhabitants.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In an unspecified future, space adventurer Barbarella is sent to the Tau Ceti planetary system to retrieve Dr. Durand Durand, who has created a weapon called the positronic ray. After crashing on a planet and being rescued by a Catchman named Mark Hand, she travels to the city of Sogo. Along the way, she meets Pygar, a blind angel, and Professor Ping. In Sogo, she is captured by the Black Queen's forces and eventually meets Dildano, who helps her pursue Durand. She is eventually placed in the 'Excessive Machine' and discovers that the concierge is actually Durand Durand, who has aged due to the Mathmos. Durand attempts to seize control of Sogo using his positronic ray. In the final confrontation, the Black Queen releases the Mathmos to destroy the city. Due to Barbarella's innocence, the Mathmos forms a protective bubble around her and the Queen, and they are rescued by Pygar.
- First release year
- 1968
- Runtime (minutes)
- 98
- Production countries
- France; Italy
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Roger Vadim
- Writers
- Terry Southern · screenplay; Roger Vadim · screenplay; Claude Brulé · screenplay; Vittorio Bonicelli · screenplay; Clement Biddle Wood · screenplay; Brian Degas · screenplay; Tudor Gates · screenplay; Jean-Claude Forest · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Jane Fonda · Barbarella; John Phillip Law · Pygar; Anita Pallenberg · Black Queen; Milo O'Shea · Dildano; Marcel Marceau · Professor Ping; Claude Dauphin · not specified; David Hemmings · not specified; Ugo Tognazzi · not specified
- Genres
- science fiction; fantasy
- Themes
- exploration of sexuality; futuristic morality
- Tone and mood
- psychedelic; kitsch; camp
- Setting
- An unspecified future in the Tau Ceti planetary system, specifically the city of Sogo.
- Premise and plot tags
- space adventure; sci-fi; fantasy
- Source material / true-story basis
- French comic series by Jean-Claude Forest
- Content notes
- nudity
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews; critics praised its visuals and cinematography but often criticized its weak storyline and 'flat' writing.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 6.2 · scale: 10 · review count: 76
- Production trivia
- The film was the second-highest-grossing film in the United Kingdom in 1968.; The character name of the band Duran Duran was inspired by the film's antagonist.; The film's costumes were influenced by the work of Paco Rabanne.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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