Movie of the Week: Barbarella

 

"And the moral of this story is never lean on the weird. Or they will chop your head off. And perverts will eat your brains." - Hunter S. Thompson

The year is 40.000. Peacefully floating around in zero-gravity Barbarella (Jane Fonda) is suddenly interrupted by a call from the President of Earth. A young scientist, Duran-Duran, is threatening the ancient universal peace and Barbarella is the chosen one to find him and save the world. During her mission, Barbarella never finds herself in a situation where it isn't possible to lose at least part of her already minimal dressing.



Fun trivia:

SoGo, the evil city Barberella travels to, is a reference to Biblical cities Sodom and Gomorra.

Future Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour was one of the session musicians who performed the film's original score. (A favorite album in my collection)

The scenes during the opening credits where Barbarella seems to float around her spaceship were filmed by having Jane Fonda lie on a huge piece of plexiglas with a picture of the spaceship underneath her. It was then filmed from above, creating the illusion that she is in zero gravity. (If you look carefully, you can see the reflection in the glass as she removes her gloves.)

Dildano's password, "Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch", is the name of a real village in Wales, United Kingdom (unsurprisingly, it's the longest place name in the UK).

 Fun quotes:
Barbarella: De-crucify the angel!
The Great Tyrant: What?
Barbarella: De-crucify him or I'll melt your face!

Barbarella: You mean they could still be living in a primitive state of neurotic irresponsibility?

Barbarella: A good many dramatic situations begin with screaming.

Pygar: An angel does not make love, an angel *is* love.


If you haven't seen this movie you really should.
Becca