Zeta One
Zeta One is a 1969 British comedy science fiction film directed by Michael Cort and starring James Robertson Justice, Charles Hawtrey and Robin Hawdon.[1]
Zeta One | |
---|---|
![]() Italian poster | |
Directed by | Michael Cort |
Produced by | George Maynard |
Written by |
|
Music by | Johnny Hawksworth |
Cinematography | Jack Atchelor |
Edited by |
|
Production company | |
Distributed by | Tigon Film Distributors |
Release date | 1969 |
Running time | 82 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Budget | £60,000 |
It was made for a budget of £60,000.[2] Released in America as Alien Women the Love Factor.[3]
Plot
A spy for Section 5, Bourdon, 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 - Major Bourdon
- Charles Hawtrey - Swyne
- Robin Hawdon - James Word
- Anna Gaël - Clotho
- Dawn Addams - Zeta
- Brigitte Skay - Lachesis
- Valerie Leon - Atropos
- Lionel Murton - W
- Yutte Stensgaard - Ann Olsen
- Wendy Lingham - Edwina 'Ted' Strain
- Carol Hawkins - Zara
- Rita Webb - Clippie
- Steve Kirby - Sleth
- Paul Baker - Bourdon's Assistant
- Angela Grant - Angvia Girl
- Kirsten Betts - Angvia Girl
Production
Zeta One was the first film shot at Camden Studios, which was formerly a wallpaper factory in North London.[4] The plot of the film was based on a comic strip short story in the magazine Zeta.[4]
Release
Zeta One was released in the United Kingdom in 1969.[5] The film was not a commercial success on its release.[4] It was released in America by Film Ventures International, briefly in 1973 as The Love Slaves and then wider in 1974 under the title The Love Factor. Released as a Blu-ray DVD in 2013.[6]
Reception
The film received negative reviews on its initial release.[4] In the Monthly Film Bulletin, David McGillivray described the film's themes as "quite preposterous in illogicality and silliness".[4] 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.
- 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
- I.Q. Hunter, British Science Fiction Cinema, Routledge, 2001 p 69
- "Release". BFI Film & Television Database. London: British Film Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Zeta-One-Blu-ray/62160/#Review
- http://www.moriareviews.com/sciencefiction/zeta-one-1969.htm