Zeta One
| Zeta One | |
|---|---|
 Italian poster | |
| Directed by | Michael Cort |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by | George Maynard Tony Tenser |
| Starring | James Robertson Justice Charles Hawtrey Dawn Addams |
| Cinematography | Jack Atchelor |
| Edited by |
|
| Music by | Johnny Hawksworth |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Tigon Film Distributors |
Release date | December 1969 |
Running time | 86 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £60,000 |
Zeta One is a 1969 British comedy science fiction film directed by Michael Cort and starring James Robertson Justice, Charles Hawtrey and Dawn Addams.[1]
Plot[]
A spy for Section 5, James Word, finds a secretary for the section waiting as he returns home. As they play strip poker, he tells about tailing Major Bourdon. Bourdon was conducting an investigation into the women from Angvia. The Angvians are led by Zeta, and are an all-women secret society. The Angvians regularly abducted other planet's women into their ranks where they were brainwashed to become operatives. Their next target is stripper ‘Ted’ Strain and so Section 5 uses her to set a trap for them. As Bourdon’s men take several of the Angvian agents prisoner, a final confrontation between the various parties occurs at his estate
Cast[]
- James Robertson Justice as Major Bourdon
- Charles Hawtrey as Swyne
- Robin Hawdon as James Word
- Anna Gaël as Clotho
- Dawn Addams as Zeta
- Brigitte Skay as Lachesis
- Valerie Leon as Atropos
- Lionel Murton as W
- Yutte Stensgaard as Ann Olsen
- Wendy Lingham as Edwina 'Ted' Strain
- Carol Hawkins as Zara
- Rita Webb as Clippie
- Steve Kirby as Sleth
- Paul Baker as Bourdon's Assistant
- Angela Grant as Angvia Girl
- Kirsten Betts as Angvia Girl
Production[]
Zeta One was the first film shot at Camden Studios, which was formerly a wallpaper factory in North London.[2] The plot of the film was based on a comic strip short story in the magazine Zeta.[2] Art director Christopher Neame designed the film's sets. Location shooting took place around the city. The film was produced and distributed by the independent company Tigon Films run by Tony Tenser.
Release[]
Zeta One was released in the United Kingdom in 1969.[3] The film was not a commercial success on its release.[2]
It was made for a budget of £60,000.[4]
It was released in America by Film Ventures International, briefly in 1973 as The Love Slaves and then wider in 1974 under the titles Alien Women and The Love Factor.[5] It was released as a Blu-ray DVD in 2013.[6]
Reception[]
The film received negative reviews on its initial release.[2] In the Monthly Film Bulletin, David McGillivray described the film's themes as "quite preposterous in illogicality and silliness".[2] The movie was given 1 out of 5 stars, stating the movie was basically soft core pornography Moria noted it is an odd mix of the James Bond type movies with a sex comedy.[7]
References[]
- ^ Zeta One (1969) at British Film Institute Film & TV Database.
- ^ a b c d e I.Q. Hunter, British Science Fiction Cinema, Routledge, 2001 p 69
- ^ "Release". BFI Film & Television Database. London: British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ John Hamilton, Beasts in the Cellar: The Exploitation Film Career of Tony Tenser, Fab Press, 2005 p 145
- ^ Stanley, J. (2000) Creature Feature: Third Edition
- ^ "Zeta One Blu-ray (The Love Factor)".
- ^ "Zeta One (1969)". 16 March 2016.
External links[]
- English-language films
- 1969 films
- British films
- British science fiction comedy films
- 1960s science fiction comedy films
- 1969 comedy films
- Films shot in London
- Parody films based on James Bond films