Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969) [42400]

Maybe it's just a great coincidence but MCA/Universal really delivered some nice laserdisc transfers. Most of their jackets with "letterboxed" on top and "edition" on the bottom both written in bars with the films artwork sandwiched in between looked pretty darn good. JTTFSOTS is no exception. This is a film that can make you think when you haven't seen it for ten years, "was this a Twilight Zone episode?" Actually this is a unique movie of it's own starring the underrated actor Roy Thinnes as Col. Glenn Ross. A parallel Earth on the other side of our sun is the thrust of the movie. When Ross is recruited with another astronaut to travel into space and visit this other Earth, all the weird stuff happens. Are you into doppelgangers? The set pieces depicting a futuristic Earth are realistic and actually ground the film. The cars of the future are staggering and easily on par with some much later films desperately trying to project a future Earth.

Released just as the real Apollo 12 was counting down toward landing on the moon, it captivated the sixties audience with awe because of it's solid special effects and set pieces that still flair imagination. Ross' domestic situation with his wife and the continual challenges about his libido are stoically acted . Some may know Thinnes from the cult horror film "Satan's School For Girls" with Kate Jackson where he played a school teacher. He is better know for early tv shows like "The Invaders" and "The Fugitive". The film is at times slow but you might say that draws you to the artistic nature of it. Excellent science fiction all around.

Mint, mint and mint. That is my review of the transfer. If ever there was a film made specifically for the laserdisc format, this is it. The audio (like most films of that period) is limited by it's source but it does not detract one iota from the viewing experience. I found the dvd audio to be thin and the picture a bit glossy. Stick with the laserdisc for a theatrical experience.

A great little film, yes. The original title was Doppelgänger and it was produced by the Thunderbirds creators, Gerry and Slyvia Anderson. There is some puppetry and modelling work of most excellent quality, better than the usual Thunderbirds level.

There is an amusing anecdote on Wikipedia about a telecine operator not realising that one of the reels should be inverted - a crucial plot point - and "correcting" it in error for TV broadcast.

I love this film and didn't even know it was released on LaserDisc - the good thing about films like this is the studios didn't do much processing, like edge enhancement since they were not "major" films, so they tend to look more like real film and more natural. The made to order DVD's are similar.

How rare is this disc? I'd like to get a copy after I find a fairly priced copy of the widescreen Colossus the Forbin Project/Silent Running double feature disc.

Pease excuse grammar and spelling mistakes - I didn't sleep last night and my vision is so blurred that even with the IPads screen zoomed up I can barely read it.

Hi disclord,

This disc is not extremely rare. I have had my copy for a long time, and I didn't give a lot for it. There are two copies of it on eBay right now, both of them Buy It Now with a Best Offer option. One of our own fine sellers here, mikeystoyz, has the cheaper of the two copies, at $23. I'm sure he would be happy to entertain a Best Offer from you, and make you a good deal on it. It's a nice disc, and well worth adding to your collection.

Best Regards,
David

one is posted here for only 9 bucks.

Yeah, the one here is cheaper then I would sell it for, good deal actually, probably another 5 or so in shipping.

Another Earth(2011) seems to be heavly influenced by this film. There is no space travel but an unknown planet approaching earth for a very close flyby. As the planets gets closer, more information about it gets revealed. It is an identical planet to earth in many ways. It is made on a very low budget ($200.000) so not a lot of action but good acting and good story

Yes, I thought of JTTFSOTS when I watched Another Earth which is a great indie film. It is not for the artistically stunted however as it delves deep into drama (that works).

Alas, Herbert Lom (Dr Hassler in this film) has died: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19745910