At the end of the 1960’s, the sexual revolution was well under way. Movies from that period of cinema history or about that era, for instance like the cheeky, randy, Austin Powers series, displayed campy and overt double entendres. And that’s where we find Jane Fonda, playing Barbarella, a 41st Century “5-star, double-rated, astronautic-aviatrix” fighting and loving her way through the universe in what has become a cult film, “Barbarella, Queen of the Galaxy.
It debuted in 1968 and was filmed in Rome, Italy. Barbarella, was originally a comic strip, and therefore uses bold albeit garish colors. However, for the time, the sets and costumes must have seemed modern. The storyline in this movie begins with an urgent directive from the powers that be, to destroy a newly found weapon in the galaxy created by a former resident of Earth, named Durand Durand that is now living somewhere in the galaxy. So Barbarella embarks on a voyage to save her home planet from those beings who are “living in a primitive state of neurotic irresponsibility.” (i.e. a world with sex, war, greed) Because in Barbarella’s futuristic world, “The universe has been pacified for centuries!” from those dangers. In fact, in Barbarella’s world you can even answer your space ship phone without your clothes on, talk to the President in the nude, and it’s all very innocent. So, off Barbarella goes to learn about the outer limits, and it’s all very silly, weird, and very 60’s. This film has all those garish colors of the 60’s and early 70’s, from the gold shag wall-to- wall carpeting in the opening scene, that matches Barbarella’s hair, to the gold and brown landscapes, and dirty wings of Barbarella’s friend and guide Pygar, to that prehistoric brown/red sky of Sogo the city where Durand Durand is found. It is interesting to note however, that wherever Barbarella goes, there is a major symbolic color of white, or clear, or plastic around her. She is considered innocent, and that is one of the major reasons she survives many of her adventures. Black of course is used in the city of Sogo, which is a contraction of the words Sodom and Gomorrah, and therefore represents evil. Other places symbolic color is used is her ship, Alpha 12, it’s bright girl pink, and after an intergalactic meeting of the minds for the first time with someone who saves her life, it pulsates several times in innuendo. The movie, dated as it is, whether bad or good, is just one of those movies you keep watching for the corny lines, her outfits, and interesting sets, and contraptions. Fantastical movie, with fantastical garish colors! Included article: 12 Reasons to love Barbarella http://www.constantineintokyo.com/2010/09/07/barbarella-roger-vadim/
1 Comment
4/22/2022 12:59:27 am
forgot i wrote about this movie for class :) glad to know i wrote coherently during the mad rush of finals. lol :)
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