THE
LAND THAT TIME FORGOT (1975)/THE PEOPLE THAT TIME
FORGOT (1977)Director: Kevin Connor
MGM
THE
LAND THAT TIME FORGOT (1975)/THE PEOPLE THAT TIME
FORGOT (1977)Amicus
Films, the British company best known for its macabre horror anthologies, turned
to large-scale fantasy for a successful series of films in the mid 1970s. Produced
by John Dark and directed by Kevin Connor (FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE), the team adapted
some of the works of noted sci-fi author Edgar Rice Burroughs, and the results
were THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT (1975), AT THE EARTH'S CORE (1976), and LAND's
sequel, THE PEOPLE THAT TIME FORGOT (1977) which was credited totally to AIP,
for Amicus had already ceased to exist by the time it was released. MGM had released
CORE and PEOPLE as single DVD releases in 2001, but now they have re-released
PEOPLE properly with LAND on one great-looking double-feature disc!
THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT begins when the torpedoes from a German U-boat sink an ally cargo ship during World War II, killing off most of the passengers. The survivors include American Tyler (Doug McClure), British biologist Lisa Clayton (Susan Penhaligon), British officer Bradley (Keith Barron) and some of his soldiers. Shortly after the attack, they stumble upon the German submarine in a fog bank, and manage a surprise attack, soon seizing control of it. The Germans, led by the amicable Captain Von Schoenvorts (John McEnery, whose voice was dubbed by Anton Diffring!) and the stubborn Dietz (Anthony Ainley) take control back, but eventually lose it once again. Having to deal with a destroyed radio, a tampered-with compass, and now, prehistoric reptiles, they decide to remain neutral and work together as the sub becomes lost.
Believing
to be somewhere in the south Atlantic, they soon encounter what appears to be
a lost continent surrounded by icebergs and snowy cliffs. A theory is that it's
the lost continent of Caprona, last seen two hundred years before by the Italian
navigator Caproni. The submarine makes its way under the ice and into a sunny,
tropical land where all sorts of adventures ensue. In a fight for survival, they
find themselves battling an onslaught of giant dinosaurs, as well as various tribes
of savage Stone Age men, but they do meet up with one friendly one named "Ahm"
(Bobby Parr) who proves helpful to their cause.
A
co-production between AIP and Amicus, THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT remains a fun
ride 
today.
The film does have its share of faults. Roger Dicken's puppet dinosaurs -- including
floppy-bodied Allosaurus creatures and Pterodactyls that just glide on highly
visible strings -- are less than convincing, but some of them are passable. On
the other hand, the miniatures and other effects come off quite well, especially
during the fiery climax. McClure often gets criticism for his acting job here,
but he is 
actually
very likable and durable, and it's hard to imagine anyone else as Tyler. Suitable
for the kids (although it is packed with comic book violence), this is one of
the most ambitious British fantasy films of its time with a charm that's not easy
to replicate in the humdrum of the flashy and over-expensive modern movie world.
MGM's
release of THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT presents the film in its original 1.85:1
aspect ratio with anamorphic enhancement. It now looks better than ever, with
vivid colors and nice detail. There is some grain in various scenes, but it's
mainly due to flaws inherent to the film's original elements. The mono audio track
is excellent and serves the film's sound effects, dialog and superb Douglas Gamley
score very well. There are also optional English, Fre
nch
and Spanish subtitles, and the original AIP theatrical trailer is included as
an extra.
On the flip side of the disc is AIP's smart sequel THE PEOPLE THAT TIME FORGOT, which picks up right where LAND left off. During the First World War, Bowen Tyler (Doug McClure, who now makes a "guest" appearance) was marooned on the lost island of Caprona, having battled German soldiers, cavemen and prehistoric creatures. Years later, a canister containing a note by Tyler is discovered off the coast of Scotland. His long time friend Ben McBride (Patrick Wayne) sets up a rescue expedition to see for himself Tyler's incredible claims about Caprona.
Along
for the journey are Sarah Douglas (SUPERMAN II), an attractive and gutsy newspaper
photographer, Hammer regular Thorley Walters as a distinguished English biologist
and Shane Rimmer (THE SPY WHO LOVED ME), as a rugged airplane mechanic. They fly
into the island in an aircraft that barely manages to lift its four passengers
above the tall ice-cliffs. The plane is then damaged by a feisty pterodactyl,
forcing them to land and take off on foot, leaving the mechanic behind to try
and make repairs. During
their excursion they meet Ajor (Dana Gillespie), a voluptuous native girl who
has learned to speak English from Tyler, and she is able to help them find him.
Tyler has been taken prisoner by a barbarous tribe called the Nagas, who have
a nasty habit of sacrificing women to their volcano god. They reach the City of
Skulls, only to be captured themselves by the Nagas, led by veteran Hammer villains
Milton Reid and Dave Browse (wearing a hooded mask). McBride finds Tyler, but
as prisoners, they must battle and escape the clutches of their captors before
the two girls are too tossed into the volcano.
Based on the novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, PEOPLE THAT TIME FORGOT is another fun sci-fi adventure that makes for great Saturday afternoon entertainment. Sure the special effects are uneven, and the dinosaurs appear less frequently then they did in the first film, but it's got a lot going for it. The characters are well developed, and the cast is excellent. Wayne also starred in SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER the same year, and here he's suitable as the clean-shaven stalwart. Douglas is both beautiful and confident as the newspaper photographer, and Gillespie is the most stunning brunette cavegirl since Raquel Welch.
The
film was mostly shot on the location in the Canary Islands and the immense open
land makes for exquisite scenery. The City of Skulls (revealed as an admittedly
unconvincing cell drawing) and its Nagas soldiers resemble something out of a
Frazetta painting, giving an added dimension to the film's dazzling fantasy look.
John Scott (who has done a lot before and after PEOPLE) composed the score, and
it's one of his best and certainly most memorable (and I would love to see this
get issued on CD someday).
MGM's DVD of PEOPLE THAT TIME FORGOT utilizes a new anamorphic transfer, letterboxed in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The film now looks incredible, as the transfer is immaculate, with bold colors and sharp detail. The mono sound is terrific, as this is a very loud adventure. The audio does not reflect the film's age and is definitely rendered nicely. A second audio track is available in French, and there are optional French and Spanish subtitles. The original theatrical trailer is also included.
NOTE: MGM's August 24 Midnite Movies are in-store exclusives to Best Buy, but they can also be found online at CD Universe, as well as Canadian retailer DVD Soon. (George R. Reis)