Wow Elizabeth, you went from sunshine and the scent of pine needles to falling snow, all in one day. I looked up your weather and it says the Polar Vortex is back. I remember that from a few years ago, except that time, it was in the Winter, around February when you'd expect it. That particular Polar Vortex was really bad as I recall. Well, hopefully this time it's just temporary so you can get back to your hikes in the warm sun. :) Today I was able to go on my first hike in two months, up at Aliso Canyon. All our trails are open again, which I think I mentioned. Anyway, it was nice to get back out there. Since the fire last October, the yellow wildflowers have taken over at Aliso. The whole place is covered with them, so it was Bee City! (yikes)
Last night's movie was a mash-up of science fiction, biblical epic and Star Trek, complete with matte painted backgrounds, styrofoam rocks, and characters dressed in Robin Hood togas. It was called "Captive Women" (1952), a title that would be decidedly non-PC nowdays. The year is 3000AD, New York City has long ago been reduced to rubble in a nuclear war, sometime during an unspecified Dark Century. Three tribes roam the wasteland: The Up-River Men, a band of hunters and thieves who prey on the weak. The Mutates, who are the most severely affected by the war. They inherit the genetic mutations, brought on by radiation, that were suffered by their ancestors. Every Mutate is born with a birth defect, making them undesirable and pitiful, and in the eyes of The Up-River Men, not worthy of life. The Mutates are their prey, to be exterminated from the face of the Earth. Finally, there are The Norms, who try to stay out of the war between the other two tribes. The Norms, as their name suggests, have attempted to hold on to the shreds of "normality" that are left in the post-apocalyptic world. The Norms have wives, whom The Up-River Men and Mutates covet. When they aren't fighting each other, both tribes will attack The Norms to try and steal their women. The Norms also have access to a stable food supply.
The Up-River Men have made a pact with The Devil to satisfy their needs, believing that he is now stronger than God. Why else would the world have come to an end? The Mutates, on the other hand, have remained devout. They believe God will restore them (i.e. their genetics) over time, as He restores the Earth. God has already showed them a hiding place that protects them from The Up-River Men. The Norms are atheistic. They've lost faith and believe in self-sufficiency. This is the set-up as the movie gets underway.
There isn't a lot to the story, other than a series of takeovers and double crosses. The Up-River Chief approaches the leader of The Norms, asking for the honor of attending his wedding. The Chief even disarms himself as a show of trust. But of course, his goodwill is a front. He only means to gain access to the wedding in order to imprison The Norm leader and take his bride. He has an ally in this devious plot, the Leader's second-in-command, in an "E Tu Brute" role. Soon, The Leader is in chains, the Second is now in charge, and the Up-River Chief has himself a new woman. She was in on the scheme too as you might've suspected.
The Mutates argue over whether on not to help The Norm leader regain his throne. One group says "yes", as it is the Christian thing to do, but another votes a resounding "no"! This faction is led by William Schallert, who went on to play Patty Duke's Dad. Anyone remembering him from that series will watch in disbelief at his treachery here. "Mr. Lane" was one of the most easygoing characters in the history of TV, but in the movie he furiously objects to helping The Norms.
"What have they ever done for us?! They only provide for themselves. They're even worse than The Up-River Men, who at least stand for something! I say we leave him to rot". Can you believe this is the same guy who always let Patty take the car, or stay out late with her boyfriend? I guess the war must've upset his temperment, but anyhow, Schallert's cause is outvoted. The Mutates decide to help restore The Norm Leader to power. Schallert will then pull his own double-cross by staging a secret meeting with The Up-River Chief, at great risk to his life. But, he has a prime bargaining chip to offer : The location of The Mutates' hiding place, which - once known - will allow The Up-River Men to sweep in and annihilate them.
Prior to this climactic battle, there will be a Fight To The Death challenge between Schallert and an Up-River Man who resents his intrusion. "You deserve to die just like the rest of your scabrous kind"! Their duel will be fought, once again, with the same kind of Long Sticks that Spock and Kirk used on "Star Trek", in the episode called "Amok Time". You know, the sticks with scythes on the end, where you can either swing them at your opponent or bang them together over and over again crossways. We saw this in another Coronavirus Quarantine movie, right after the pandemic began. I can't recall the name of it, but I remember writing that Gene Roddenberry must have seen that movie, and I have to double down on that assertion now. I'm telling you - the Stick Fight in "Captive Women" is almost note-for-note the same as the one in the "Trek" episode. The only thing missing is the music by Gerald Fried. So once again I'm surmising about where Mr. R got some of his ideas, haha.
That's basically the storyline of the movie. There's not a lot more to report, other than the location of the hiding place, which I might as well tell you is an old subway tunnel, out of use for centuries, that The Mutates call "the river cave" because it runs under the East River in NYC. They will use a scheme right out of Exodus to bamboozle The Up-River Men when they mount their attack; this is why I say the movie is part Biblical. There's even a Shakepearean Tinge to the dialogue, so I guess you can add that into the mix. It's a fun movie, more like a Saturday Afternoon Adventure Matinee than a Weird Friday Night Thriller Chiller. There are no sets, except for the Home Cave of The Norms, and the subway tunnel, which appears to be the real thing. Everything else is matte backgrounds and fake boulders on a sound stage, with some ferns scattered about. But the script is decent and the actors give it their all, in a "Jason & The Argonauts" kind of way. The only one I'd heard of other than William Schallert was Gloria Saunders, who played the Scheming Bride. She was very good, too.
"Captive Women", which was later re-released under the title "1000 Years From Now", gets Two Solid Thumbs Up, for it's general Trekkiness and the thoughtful elements in it's story, such as the religious and philosophical differences between the tribes, and the denunciation of eugenics and/or genocide toward The Mutates. Recommended for something different. /////
That is all for the moment. It was great to go to Aliso today. Tomorrow I will try for O'Melveny Park. Right now I am gonna go for a CSUN walk to finish up my daily mileage requirement (five miles, which is the equivalent of the popular "10,000 Steps"). My neighbors are making their Usual Sunday Evening Racket, so it is a good time to head out, lol. See you later tonight, at the Usual Time.
Tons of love! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo :):)
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