F I L M G H O U L

Saturn 3 (Stanley Donen, 1980)

Conceived by John Barry (set designer/art director on Star Wars, A Clockwork Orange, Phase IV and other iconic films), who was initially set to direct this film starring Kirk Douglas, Farrah Fawcett and Harvey Keitel (mysteriously dubbed out of his own voice), Saturn 3 is a surprisingly effective space huis-clos - in which our three characters confront the sentient “Demi-God” super-robot Hector. More atmospheric than suspenseful, the production must have retained some of Barry’s initial vision because it’s main appeal lies in the set design; a lavish, expressionistic and unexpected vision of the future in which practical effect wizardry (hydraulics and matte composites, mainly) reigns supreme, overshadowing a thin plot populated by huge actors.