ONE MILLION YEARS BC

ONE MILLION YEARS BC

The film opens with an ominous voiceover: "This is a story of long, long ago - when the world was just beginning". There follows a rapid reconstruction of the ice age meltdown beneath the opening credits, bringing us swiftly to the prehistoric era the bulk of the story is set in.

We meet man. Or, rather, a whole tribe of men. The voiceover introduces us to the tribe's leader, Akhoba (Robert Brown), as he chases a hog into a trap and gathers his men round to help him kill it and drag it back to camp. By Akhoba's side are his two fully-grown sons, Tumak (John Richardson, DELIRIUM; EYEBALL) and Sakana (Percy Herbert) - and the voiceover informs us the film will now concentrate on the sibling rivalry between these two.

After angering his Dad, Tumak is expelled from the tribe and forced to wander the desert aimlessly for days on end, encountering dinosaurs and - bizarrely - a giant tarantula on the way. At his lowest ebb, Tumak's luck changes when he happens upon the female members of another tribe as they bathe in the sea. Spotting that he is about to be eaten by a giant, er, turtle, they rush to his aide.

Nursed back to health by buxom beauty Loana (Raquel Welch, THE FOUR MUSKETEERS), Tumak seems to have fallen on his feet for a while - until the chief of that tribe also kicks him out (well, he is Loana's father!).

Beautifully lensed, colourful and bold in that aside from the voiceover there is no discernible dialogue on offer, ONE MILLION YEARS BC qualifies as one of Hammer's more original and leftfield efforts. It's also unintentionally funny on frequent occasions too, with dated Ray Harryhausen monster effects raising wry smiles just as much as the sight of stone-age women in perfectly stitched bikinis does.

But amongst the titters and keen photography, ONE MILLION YEARS BC doesn't really add up to much. It's a mild diversion, but one that has hasn't stood the test of time. It is, I dread to say it, quite boring. Take away Harryhausen's quaintly naff FX work and Welch's gorgeous figure, and there is not much left to titillate.

And any film set in a time when dinosaurs roamed the earth, that feels the need to carry a disclaimer in the opening credits declaring "The characters in this film are fictitious and any resemblance to real people is coincidental" - with seemingly no hint of irony - really is too dumb for words!

Picture and audio quality of the movie are both excellent. The impressive cinematography is done full justice by a clean and vibrant, sharp and grain-free transfer (1.85:1 anamorphic).

Static menus include a scene selection menu, allowing to the main feature via 12 chapters.

Extras are restricted to two new video interviews. The first is a 7-minute affair with Welch. She looks amazing, but clearly wasn't keen on initially shooting the movie.

Harryhausen is up next for a more substantial 12-minute chat. He's an interesting guy to listen to - talking through how he got the gig for BC, and how the original KING KONG was an enormous influence on what he wanted to do with his life. Hmm, wonder if he's seen the recent KINKY KONG?!

A nice disc from Optimum, and a classic title that stands out from the usual Hammer fare as being something a little different. But in the cold light of day, ONE MILLION YEARS BC just simply isn't very entertaining.

Review by Stu Willis


 
Released by Optimum
Region 2 - PAL
Rated 18
Extras :
see main review
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