gog

Retrospective 2017

After the mysterious death of two scientists in the cold room of an underground research station in New Mexico, Dr David Sheppard from the Office of Scientific Investigation (OSI) is sent to look into the incident. He is unable to prevent further deadly acts of sabotage, although he does figure out what happened: an unknown force has been manipulating the facility’s nuclear control computer NOVAC. In order to impede the construction and launch of a solar-powered space station, that force will stop at nothing, including turning the harmless robots Gog and Magog into aggressive instruments of its pernicious aims ... “Science is never frightening” says roboticist Dr Zeitman with a firm belief in progress. With great relish, this low-budget 3D film sets out to prove him wrong by interspersing serious recitals from a variety of scientific disciplines with dynamic action scenes that render the consequences of loss of control. These include actual documentary footage shot during U.S. Air Force reconnaissance flights. Thus science fiction’s “surreal” portrayal of the threatening Cold War situation points up the very real militarisation of space.

by Herbert L. Strock
with Richard Egan, Constance Dowling, Herbert Marshall, John Wengraf, Philip Van Zandt, Valerie Vernon, Steve Roberts USA 1954 English 85’ Colour

With

Richard Egan
Constance Dowling
Herbert Marshall
John Wengraf
Philip Van Zandt
Valerie Vernon
Steve Roberts

Crew

Director	Herbert L. Strock
Screenplay	Tom Taggart based on an idea by Ivan Tors
Cinematography	Lothrop B. Worth
Editing	Herbert L. Strock
Music	Harry Sükman
Sound	Jack A. Goodrich, Joel Moss
Special Effects	Harry Redmond Jr.
Art Director	William Ferrari
Costumes	Valerie Vernon
Make-Up	Ted Larsen
Producer	Ivan Tors

Produced by

Ivan Tors Productions, Inc.

Additional information

DCP: 3-D Film Archive

Herbert L. Strock

Filmography

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2017

gog