Yes, Sheena, one of the more notorious bombs in summer movie history. I guess Columbia Pictures figured they couldn't miss--a beautiful leading lady (Tanya Roberts), an experienced director at the helm (John Guillermin, who directed the 1976 King Kong and The Towering Inferno), and a fun, comic book-y premise.
Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. When all the receipts were added up at the end of the Summer, I bet Columbia thanked its lucky stars it had also released Ghostbusters around the same time.
Anyway, Marvel went full steam ahead, hiring comic book pros Cary Burkett and Gray Morrow (Gray Morrow!) to do the comic book version. And like a lot of these adaptations, turns out the comic book is better than the movie.
The movie opens with the "origin" of Sheena, as her missionary parents are killed in a cave in, and she is taken in by the local tribe and raised as one of their own.
Over time, Sheena grows up and learns the ways of the jungle:
We meet the other characters in the story, like TV sportscaster Vic Casey (played by...Ted Wass?), King Jabalani, and his intended bride, Countess Zanda.
Countess Zanda runs around in a sheer nightie, the king is assassinated by a mysteriously-fired arrow, and a local shaman is imprisoned by some government thugs. The shaman calls out for help from Sheena, who arrives with her animal friends in tow:
Sheena gets caught in a power struggle between two rival factions now that the king is dead, she gets arrested, some animals get shot, and Sheena gets taken away in a helicopter. She then calls out a flock of really angry flamingos to save her:
...Gray Morrow had the ability to make flamingos look really mean. They end up causing the chopper to crash, killing the people who kidnapped Sheena. Hardcore!
During an explosion, Vic Casey is hit and dies in Sheena arms, but she turns to her tribe who use their voodoo powers and revive him by burying him up to his neck in dirt. Sure, why not?
Vic tells Sheena she can't come home with him, because then the world would discover the little slice o' heaven they've made for themselves in the jungle, and he just can't do that to her. They part ways, and Sheena rides off on a zebra.
Is there something missing here? Yes, there is--probably the most famous scene in the movie, the one that makes people wonder how the hell this movie got rated PG:
...I guess if you're gonna hire Tanya Roberts to star in your movie, you're going to write a scene like this into it. But it seems like an odd inclusion for a movie presumably meant for families.
The issue has its usual assortment of text features about the making of the movie, including interviews with cast and crew:
...here's a shot of director John Guillermin, working through the realization he was making a giant turkey of a movie.
Before we go, let's look at the back cover, featuring a still from the movie:
During an explosion, Vic Casey is hit and dies in Sheena arms, but she turns to her tribe who use their voodoo powers and revive him by burying him up to his neck in dirt. Sure, why not?
Vic tells Sheena she can't come home with him, because then the world would discover the little slice o' heaven they've made for themselves in the jungle, and he just can't do that to her. They part ways, and Sheena rides off on a zebra.
Is there something missing here? Yes, there is--probably the most famous scene in the movie, the one that makes people wonder how the hell this movie got rated PG:
The issue has its usual assortment of text features about the making of the movie, including interviews with cast and crew:
Before we go, let's look at the back cover, featuring a still from the movie:
...sure, the movie was lame, but this specific image is well-composed, nicely lit, and looks dynamic to my eye. I remember Sheena as a film being way over-lit, with virtually no memorable shots.
But I think if the whole movie had looked like this, it might've been a lot more compelling. Visually, at least.
But I think if the whole movie had looked like this, it might've been a lot more compelling. Visually, at least.
8 comments:
Ostriches?
Those look like flamingos to me.
I'm wondering how it is that I've never seen this movie; I'm going to have to see if its on DVD and add it to my collection.
oops. that's what i meant, flamingos.
and it is on dvd. as to adding it to your collection...
You write: "probably the most famous scene in the movie, the one that makes people wonder how the hell this movie got rated PG". Well, the answer is simple. The USA was not as ridiculous as it is now regarding nudity.
That comic looks pretty cool, though, especially with that Gray Morow art.
Chris, you'll be sorry! LOL She also rides a horse PAINTED to look like a zebra (It doesn't. It's obviously a horse!) because zebras are apparently untrainable. A disaster of epic proportions!
Joe – you don't know my DVD collection.... :)
It IS available on DVD and I was recently going to purchase it too but I passed it over in favor of Beastmaster.
I met Tanya Roberts at a film convention about three years ago -- hasn't aged a day! Very friendly and outgoing, and justifiably proud of her BEASTMASTER and CHARLIE'S ANGELS résumé. She even liked the TOURIST TRAP DVD I asked her to sign. Nice person, silly movie. Ted Wass?? And where was Irish McCalla's overdue cameo?
wow, so the movie almost received a stronger rating because it showed a nude body? thats what was considered dangerous? I remember this film had a scene where a man has a spear thrust through his neck. no problem with that, i guess. id much rather my daughter saw a nude body than an excessive impalement. i guess im just strange.
thanks for the review. the comic had to have been better than the film.
Keny from Prague
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