The
12 chapter BUCK ROGERS serial, was shot between the Flash Gordon serials
"Flash Gordon's Trip To Mars" and "Flash Gordon Conquers The
Universe." Audiences seemed indifferent to it, so the plans for a
sequel were scrapped in favor of continuing the Flash Gordon series. While
the Flash Gordon serials are probably better, I really enjoy the Buck Rogers
serial too.
Buck Rogers has STYLE. Quite a bit
different from today's flashy high-tech
Sci Fi MMO games and movies, but it definitely had STYLE. Not to say that
Flash didn't, but the Buck Rogers serial has:
The Art Deco Headquarters of Killer
Kane, with it's convenient topiary shrubs for hiding behind.
The swirling mirror pool monitor screens.
The equally Art Deco space ships, with sparklers as exhaust and that
sound, something like a microwave oven and a car missing a muffler. These
ships were so advanced, all they needed was a simple door with handle.
A future full of wimps. Flash and Buddy easily push away or tackle anyone
who they clash with.
The groovy De-Gravity belts and the transporter.
The Saturnian tram system.
The exotic terrain of the planet Saturn, which in no way looked like a
California desert.
The Saturnian ZUGGS, who should have all been nominated for academy awards.
Okay, I'm being a little sarcastic. But I
really do have a great love for this serial, even with all its many flaws.
Terrible performances by some of the supporting characters, a few cases of
severely bad stunt doubling, and the effects, well......they did their best
with what they had to work with. I love the little dolls in the Saturnian
tunnel trams.
And Buck himself--Larry "Buster"
Crabbe was so handsome. That wavy hair and that killer smile were all he
needed. I wonder if the producers ever realized what kind of confusion they
would cause in the years that followed, by casting the same actor for both
Flash and Buck. It's always interesting to see a VHS version of Buck Rogers
with a picture from Flash Gordon on the cover, and vice versa.
Buck Rogers is a true pleasure to watch.
It's so much fun, and it's the perfect length. It's over before it has worn
out its welcome. And if you want more, then watch the next chapter. The menu
screens are fun too, with the ships swinging around on visible wires. If
only they would have included a booklet instead of advertising.
This is well worth checking out,
especially if you enjoy the Flash serials. Like the cover proclaims, it's a
12 chapter Thrill-O-Rama!
By: Matt
Mutchmore