'70s Class?: Saturn 3

 In Space, nobody can hear you try to avoid an awkward threesome.  Today's Film is Saturn 3, a 1980 Sci-Fi Film.  Wait- do I have to watch Saturn 1 & 2 first?!?  Yeah, no.  That's the name of a Base apparently.  The Plot involves a pair of people in the titular Base getting a new helper...who wants to take over instead.  It's a great example of how people can have a good thing going until someone completely ruins it.  It is a pretty serious and high concept Film at its core.  It was directed by Stanley Donen, the man behind Charade, Bedazzled and Damn Yankees.  It's Star was Kirk Douglas, who also had a bit of an air of seriousness about him.  As you can tell by the release year, it was a bit influenced by Star Wars.  Weirdly, it actually goes further than that.  The man credited as writing the Story- John Barry- only has this as a Writing Credit.  He has more Credits, however, as a Production Designer and Second Unit Director.  One of his most notable works- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.  To add even more to the connected nature of the pair, Donen is the *credited* Director, but, apparently, the bulk of the work was done by Barry!  Sadly, he died during his work as a Production Designer on the next Film- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.  Is this Film more than just 'classy' Star Wars?  To find out, read on...

In a dark future, the Earth is apparently in bad shape and they have two people in the Saturn 3 Base (in the center of the Planet apparently) growing food.

The Intro is the underside of a ship slowly going over the camera while music plays.  I wonder where they got that from?

An Android is assigned to the Base, but is killed by another one who has some clear issues.

It fails the Turing Test and kills said random guy on the Base before it leaves.  Poor Bastard of Cinema?

He shows up and immediately goes about adding a fourth resident- a big-ass robot.

So, to be clear, an Android who can't act human enough is making a robot that he wants to act like a human...and it is based on his brain patterns.

They're doomed.

Android Keitel (who was dubbed in post-production) wants to replace Douglas and take Fawcett.

He's evil...but he has good taste.

Keitel and the Robot (this fall on CBS) bond and they both seem to love Fawcett.

Well, love might be a strong word.  
It's just more polite than lust.

Will they get what they want?  Can our Heroes escape?
Does this picture make you hurt just looking at it?

To find out, watch the Film.

Seriously, don't bring people in when you have a good thing going.  Seriously, the Film is good.  It has a bit of a reputation as a mess.  Is that warranted?  I mean, the Film could be better.  It could also be alot worse.  While it is weird to see Keitel dubbed, they did a good enough job matching his voice and getting a good performance.  Fawcett and Douglas do a good job playing a couple.  The Robot looks good and moves pretty well all things considering.  They supposedly spent around a million dollars on it, so it had better!  Was it a mess to make and trouble to shoot?  It sounds like it.  Even so, I don't think that really affects the final product all that much.  Saturn 3 isn't some amazing, sci-fi gem that you must track down right now.  I mean, it's not Galaxina.  Even so, it is actually kind of good, so check it out.  Here's a little glimpse behind the Scenes to close us out...

Next time, a familiar tale with a familiar Star.  Will they bring anything new to the table?  Stay tuned...