Review of One Million Years B.C. (1966) by Stuart K — 05 Sep 2012
Produced by Hammer, who at the time were trying to branch out into other branches of entertainment other than horror. They settled on this remake of Hal Roach's One Million B.C. (1940), and they got Don Chaffey (Greyfriars Bobby (1961) and Pete's Dragon (1977)) to direct it, with special effects by the inimitable Ray Harryhausen.
It might not be historically accurate, but who cares?? Set in prehistoric times, caveman Tumak (John Richardson), is banished to the barren desert after falling out with his father Akoba (Robert Brown), who is leader of the Rock Tribe.
He comes across many dangers such as a giant lizard, ape men, a brontosaurus and a giant spider, Tumak meets the beautiful and tough cave woman Loana (Raquel Welch), who is part of the Shell Tribe, which looks to be more civilised than the Rock Tribe, and they've developed a culture of cave painting, making jewelry from shells and developing a language.
The Shell Tribe are attacked by creatures like the Ceratosaurus and the Allosaurus, but Tumak is able to be a good asset to the Shell Tribe, defending them. It's impossible to take this film seriously, but that's the point, it's meant to be taken lightly, it's just a piece of silly entertainment.
Even if some of the stop-motion and rear-projection is crude by todays standards, it's still quite effective, even if Raquel Welch can't act for toffee.
This review of One Million Years B.C. (1966) was written by Stuart K on 05 Sep 2012.
One Million Years B.C. has generally received mixed reviews.
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