•BALLET ROBOTIQUE (1982),

A humorous entertaining look at the use of robots in American industry. Many of the robots movements are set to classical music and they are shown replacing humans in tedious and hazardous tasks. A perennial Splodge! favourite. Music played by the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Prod Co: Pyramid Films. Prod/Dir: Bob Rogers. 8 mins. ALC

•MR KOUMAL INVENTS A ROBOT (1969),

Mr Koumal envisions a simple mechanical device to shine his shoes for him. But the more he works on it, the more complex it becomes, until he eventually creates a huge robot which becomes master instead of servant and forces Mr Koumal to shine its shoes. Prod Co: Kratky Films. Dir: GENE DEITCH. 2 MINS. ALC

 

•Trailer –THE MYSTERIOUS DR. SATAN (1940),

Around 1940, Republic Pictures was negotiating to film a screen-version of SUPERMAN™. A script was partially written, but talks with the copyright owners broke down and the screenplay was quickly adapted to become "The Mysterious Dr. Satan". The Man of Steel was replaced by a human hero - a masked fighter known as The Copperhead. The villain was retained, whilst reporter Lois Lane became reporter Lois Scott. The result was a cracking serial, dominated by a Science Villian to rival those we have running around today, - a marvelous performance by the great EDUARDO CIANNELLI (JOHNNY STACCATO).

The leading man, Robert Wilcox, was a dead loss, but his part came to life when he draped on the hood ("YOUR FATHER WANTED YOU TO HAVE THIS" – I think I’ve heard that somewhere before!), whereapon top stuntman David Sharpe took over for some great action.

This trailer is very well constructed and thrilling. Dr. Satan's "robot" is a bit of a hoot, but the fights are top class. We are recommended to watch "15 Shivering Shuddering Surprising Episodes"! Directed by serial geniuses, WILLIAM WITNEY and JOHN ENGLISH! 3.5 mins. RM

                              Plus Quickie Theatre returns! -

•TRON (1969),

This is an digest version of the feature-length film of the same name. It is a story about a whiz-kid computer programmer trapped inside a computer world where he is pitted against electronic foes. Featuring some very impressive computer-generated animation. Nominated for Best Costume and Best Sound in the 1982 Academy Awards™. Prod Co: Walt Disney Studios. Prod: Donald Kushner. Dir: Steven Lisberger. Cast: Jeff Bridges, DAVID WARNER and Bruce Boxleitner. 23:15 mins. ALC

and featuring:

•THE IRON GIANT (1999),

A loving homage to 'fifties science fiction movies, Brad Bird's animated THE IRON GIANT has a strong sense of that era's unerring innocence mixed with the looming paranoia of the unfamiliar 'other'.

 

Based on the 1968 children's story "THE IRON MAN" by British poet-laureate Ted Hughes, the film's archetypal story of fear and prejudice depicts the unusual friendship between a nine year old boy called Hogarth Hughes (voiced by Eli Marienthal) and a giant robot that mysteriously lands in small town Maine circa 1958. The town's suspicious adults greet the enigmatic visitor with open hostility, pushing the young boy into a protective role with the misunderstood giant. When nosy government agents descend upon the town in search of the robot, Hogarth begins to find hiding the car-eating giant a challenging task. Brad Bird laces this wonderful children's fantasy with a strong political parable about the cold war fear that permeated every aspect of American society and includes a hilarious cartoon version of the now infamous educational film DUCK AND COVER (1951). Prod Co: Warner Bros. Prods: Allison Abbate, Des McAnuff. Dir: Brad Bird. Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick JR, Vin Diesel, CLORIS LEACHMAN, John Mahoney, M. Emmet Walsh, Christopher McDonald. 84 mins. ALC