Post by docsteve on Sept 27, 2007 19:23:39 GMT -5
EPISODE 104 - WOMEN OF THE PREHISTORIC PLANET
David’s Notes on the Cast:
Women of the Prehistoric Planet is a major weapon for the next time you play “Six Degrees of Separation.” Sam from Quincy, Captain Stubing, Angel, and Hey Boy all make an appearance. Kam Tong, who played the Centaurian Elder character, was the preeminent Asian character actor in early American television. He played Hey Boy in Have Gun-Will Travel, who worked at Paladin’s hotel; Tong also had a lead role on the short-lived dramatic series The Garlund Touch. After Kam Tong died, Robert Ito (Tang) generally got these kinds of parts for most of the 1970s. John Agar has a small part in this movie, but he does not disappoint. Agar’s limited screen time is dominated by his patented formula of incessant, moralistic droning.
David’s Review:
As ACEG explains (p. 17), this episode was actually the last S1 episode to be MSTed. Not knowing this at the time, I was surprised by the quantum leap in quality when I first saw this on tape. In retrospect, the lack of Commando Cody should have tipped me off that something unusual was happening. In brief, this is the best S1 ep. I could also make arguments for The Black Scorpion (#113) and Robot Monster (#107). At any rate, WotPP feels more like a S2 episode.
WotPP is a perfect MST3K movie. Ridiculous people do ridiculous things in glorious color. Agar goes on for a bit about our “true selves.” A cast member (in the movie, not in the theater) is visibly intoxicated, make that “tanked.” Gilbert, the comic relief engineer, is a sort of “Monkey Boy” prototype. (ACEG confuses him with Wendell Corey, the drunk one.) The movie has delusions of adequacy, perhaps even aspirations above mediocrity. Of course, it fails miserably; otherwise, it wouldn’t be on our favorite puppet show.
As Don pointed out, WotPP has no prehistoric women. Irene Tsu as Linda is sort of mod, in fact. Ms. Tsu has the distinction of being the first Official MST3K Babe (sticking with the #104 approach, otherwise she is fourth, or something). She also introduces the Rhino DVD version of this episode, and she is as lovely and charming as ever. Most female characters in truly bad movies are absolute doormats and/or window dressing. Linda is actually a strong character (most of the time). This initially surprised me, and it came through even more during subsequent viewings. Ito and Tsu do a credible job with this train wreck of a script. Unfortunately, most of the veterans (i.e. the rest of the cast) are obviously phoning it in on this one.
I actually still enjoy the “Literary Doomsday Machine” host segments, as I am no Asimov fan.
David’s Rating: 4.0 (FOUR CROWS) With Kevin’s voice, this could pass for a later ep.
David’s Suggested Stinger: Comic Relief Stooge: “HI-KEEBA!” Since that’s almost too easy. I also nominate Wendell Corey’s final, outlandishly pretentious line. (I don’t want to spoil the “surprise” ending.)
David’s Notes on the Cast:
Women of the Prehistoric Planet is a major weapon for the next time you play “Six Degrees of Separation.” Sam from Quincy, Captain Stubing, Angel, and Hey Boy all make an appearance. Kam Tong, who played the Centaurian Elder character, was the preeminent Asian character actor in early American television. He played Hey Boy in Have Gun-Will Travel, who worked at Paladin’s hotel; Tong also had a lead role on the short-lived dramatic series The Garlund Touch. After Kam Tong died, Robert Ito (Tang) generally got these kinds of parts for most of the 1970s. John Agar has a small part in this movie, but he does not disappoint. Agar’s limited screen time is dominated by his patented formula of incessant, moralistic droning.
David’s Review:
As ACEG explains (p. 17), this episode was actually the last S1 episode to be MSTed. Not knowing this at the time, I was surprised by the quantum leap in quality when I first saw this on tape. In retrospect, the lack of Commando Cody should have tipped me off that something unusual was happening. In brief, this is the best S1 ep. I could also make arguments for The Black Scorpion (#113) and Robot Monster (#107). At any rate, WotPP feels more like a S2 episode.
WotPP is a perfect MST3K movie. Ridiculous people do ridiculous things in glorious color. Agar goes on for a bit about our “true selves.” A cast member (in the movie, not in the theater) is visibly intoxicated, make that “tanked.” Gilbert, the comic relief engineer, is a sort of “Monkey Boy” prototype. (ACEG confuses him with Wendell Corey, the drunk one.) The movie has delusions of adequacy, perhaps even aspirations above mediocrity. Of course, it fails miserably; otherwise, it wouldn’t be on our favorite puppet show.
As Don pointed out, WotPP has no prehistoric women. Irene Tsu as Linda is sort of mod, in fact. Ms. Tsu has the distinction of being the first Official MST3K Babe (sticking with the #104 approach, otherwise she is fourth, or something). She also introduces the Rhino DVD version of this episode, and she is as lovely and charming as ever. Most female characters in truly bad movies are absolute doormats and/or window dressing. Linda is actually a strong character (most of the time). This initially surprised me, and it came through even more during subsequent viewings. Ito and Tsu do a credible job with this train wreck of a script. Unfortunately, most of the veterans (i.e. the rest of the cast) are obviously phoning it in on this one.
I actually still enjoy the “Literary Doomsday Machine” host segments, as I am no Asimov fan.
David’s Rating: 4.0 (FOUR CROWS) With Kevin’s voice, this could pass for a later ep.
David’s Suggested Stinger: Comic Relief Stooge: “HI-KEEBA!” Since that’s almost too easy. I also nominate Wendell Corey’s final, outlandishly pretentious line. (I don’t want to spoil the “surprise” ending.)
