The phenomenal success of Star Wars and the resulting surge of interest in all things science-fictional inspired TV producer Glen A. Larson to revive the original space-opera superstar, Buck Rogers, a character who first appeared in Philip Nowlan's 1928 magazine story and was subsequently featured in comic strips, radio dramas, movie serials, and even a short-lived 1950-51 television series. Larson revamped the Buck Rogers story considerably, but retained the basic premise: after spending 500 years in a state of suspended animation, Buck awakens to find Earth overrun by alien invaders and human renegades, after which he joins a confederation of freedom-loving rebels and brings his not-inconsiderable skills to the ongoing struggle against the forces of evil. Brawny Gil Gerard played Buck with the appropriate panache, and he was ably supported by Erin Gray and Tim O'Connor as, respectively, Wilma Deering and Dr. Huer, characters carried over from the comic strip Nowlan began scripting in 1929. The strip's primary villain, “Killer” Kane, was played at first by Henry Silva and later in the series by Michael Ansara, with Pamela Hensley slinking through several episodes as the seductively sinister Princess Ardala. Larson added alleged comedy relief in the form of a wisecracking, diminutive robot called Twiki, voiced by Mel Blanc. Some 37 episodes aired between 1979 and 1981, initially maintaining a delicate balance between straitlaced futuristic adventure and lighthearted whimsy but later tending more toward cheeky, self-referential comedy. Cast-wise, the series did quite well, utilizing the talents of a passel of supporting players familiar to devotees of episodic television in the late ‘70s. Buster Crabbe, who played Buck in a 1939 cliffhanger serial, guest-starred in one of the early episodes, “Planet of the Slave Girls,” and Gray made a fetching, formidable costar. Sporting above-average production values (it employed some fairly elaborate special effects), the show was not nearly as influential as the various Star Trek series', but does remain a nostalgic favorite of the disco generation. Presenting all 32 episodes (including the feature-length original movie) on five double-sided discs (with no extras), this is a strong optional purchase. (E. Hulse)
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: The Complete Epic Series
Universal, 5 discs, 1,799 min., PG/not rated, DVD: $89.98 January 24, 2005
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: The Complete Epic Series
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