Search - Barbarella: Queen of the Galaxy on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Violence, Nudity, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1968 DVD Release: 06/22/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 38 mins Studio: Paramount Members Wishing: 18 Genres: Science Fiction, Satire, Superhero Film, Fantasy Adventure, Space Adventure See Also: Barbarella

A voluptuous outer space agent travels to another galaxy in search of a missing inventor in this science fiction send-up. Barbarella (Jane Fonda), an interstellar representative of the united Earth government in the 41st century, is dispatched to locate scientist Durand Durand, whose positronic ray, if not recovered, could signal the end of humanity. Outfitted in an array of stunning Star Trek/Bond girl outfits and cruising around in a plush, psychedelic spaceship, Barbarella travels to the Tau Seti system and promptly crash-lands. She then spends the rest of the film discovering the joys of interstellar sex with a keeper of feral children (Ugo Tognazzi), a blind, beatific angel (John Phillip Law), and an inept revolutionary named Dildano (David Hemmings). Slowly but surely, she also finds her way to Durand Durand by moving from one exotic, Wizard of Oz-style locale to another. Along the way, she meets the kindly Professor Ping (a surprisingly verbal Marcel Marceau), a Eurotrash dominatrix named the Great Tyrant (Rolling Stones gal pal Anita Pallenberg), and the Concierge (Milo O'Shea), a strangely familiar lackey of the Great Tyrant who tries to destroy Barbarella with his great big organ of love. Jean-Claude Forest, who created the character Barbarella in 1962 for V-Magazine, served as visual advisor on the adaptation. The film's missing scientist character famously inspired the band name of '80s pop stars Duran Duran (who altered the spelling slightly). Almost two decades later, the film also inspired electronic act Matmos, which was named after the aqueous personification of evil unleashed by the Concierge at the movie's climax. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Jane Fonda - Barbarella
John Phillip Law - Pygar
Anita Pallenberg - Black Queen
Milo O'Shea - Durand-Durand, The Concierge
David Hemmings - Dildano
Joan Greenwood - The Great Tyrant [uncredited]
Maria Theresa Orsini - Suicide Girl (uncredited)
Catherine Chevallier - Stomoxys
Marie Therese Chevallier - Glossina

In 1965 Jane Fonda married French director Roger Vadim, who had enjoyed spectacular success with his convention-breaking film And God Created Woman, which starred his then-wife Brigitte Bardot. Vadim cast Fonda as the title character in his colorful 1968 Panavision film Barbarella, Queen of the Galaxy, and the results shine on DVD. The film is presented in widescreen format which does the bizarre sets and landscapes justice. It also comes in Dolby Digital stereo and can be played in English or French. Also included are the standard interactive menus and scene selections, as well as the original theatrical trailer, which in and of itself is a great example of true kitsch from this bygone era. Unfortunately, the DVD does not include any information on the actors or director, or a history of the film's production. For such a bizarre and campy film, some sort of additional information would have been appreciated, especially for the uninitiated, who are probably wondering how on earth Jane Fonda came to make this film. ~ All Movie Guide