Saturday, June 23, 2012

WARLORDS OF ATLANTIS (1978) International Posters

Back in the Summer of 1978, I was on a trip with my parents to the Pennsylvania Dutch country and then, Washington D.C. I believe that it was on that trip that we drove by a movie theater marquee with the title Warlords Of Atlantis emblazoned upon it. Based on the title alone, I knew it was a movie I had to see.

Unfortunately, by the time we returned home it was no longer playing in area theaters (if, indeed, it ever had), and strangely, it never seemed to show up on network or local TV. Some years later, I found out more about the film (no doubt through articles in Starlog or Fangoria), and discovered that it was part of the John Dark-produced, Kevin Connor-directed cycle of 70s fantasy adventure films that included The Land That Time Forgot, The People That Time Forgot, and At The Earth's Core - all of which starred (or featured, in People's case), the indomitable Doug McClure. But although I eventually saw all of those other films on television, Warlords never seemed to crop up in the TV Guide. I never found it on VHS in the Eighties, either. And once DVD came along, MGM released all the others on DVD... but not Warlords, dammit.

A few weeks ago, I finally got a multi-region DVD player. I knew that Warlords (also known as Seven Cities To Atlantis) had been released on DVD in the UK, so I set out on an Internet safari to try and track a copy down for purchase. Unfortunately, I haven't found one that I can afford... so it looks like it will be a while longer before I finally get a chance to see the film. I could probably find it on YouTube... but I hate watching movies that way.

So, for now, I've got these terrific theatrical one-sheets to enjoy - and I hope you do, too.
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15 comments:

  1. Metal MarkJune 23, 2012 at 8:52 AM

    I remember in the mid-80's seeing a part of a fantasy theme week on a UHF channel with John Ratzenberger playing a small part. I don't think I watched much of it, but years later I remembered that. Then I saw the other two time forgot films and went back and realized that small part from years earlier must have been Warlords of Atlantis. Like you I kept waiting hoping it would show up on TV or come out on video/DVD, but nothing. If it's anything like the other two films it's probably cheesy fun at best, but I still want to see it.

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  2. TexJune 23, 2012 at 11:37 AM

    HBO showed Warlords back in either late 79 or early 80. I had the closing theme on a tape with the HBO Battlestar Galactica ads from the same period ("...engaged in a war so devastating, it MIGHT change history.")

    Katrina ate the tape, natch, and I've been looking for the soundtrack (and film) ever since.

    Tex
    (who remembers when HBO would show GOOD movies)

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  3. Patrick D. BooneJune 23, 2012 at 12:23 PM

    I am in the same boat. Never got to see it and never ran into it again. One would think it would have popped up in this digital age, but it hasn't.

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  4. shintokamikazeJune 23, 2012 at 2:23 PM

    i love this movie, its is being re released on dvd in the uk region 2 at the end of the month, as is the other 3 doug monster movies, im not sure if they will be restored or if their will be extras, i have the region 1 double feature of the land/people time forgot dvd, i done have the earths core or warlords,ill have to pick them up after release

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  5. AnonymousJune 23, 2012 at 5:40 PM

    Warlords, The Land That Time Forgot and At The Earth's Core (as well as They Came From Beyond Space which was directed by Freddie Francis and not Kevin Connor like the others, all from Amicus Studios thought) are all coming out on UK DVD on July 30th. I've got check discs for them and Land looks pretty good, will probably get around to Warlords tomorrow.

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  6. Christopher MillsJune 24, 2012 at 2:26 AM

    I guess I'll have to hope that I can find the re-issued DVD more affordable...

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  7. KalJune 24, 2012 at 3:25 AM

    I have some deep love for those Doug McClure action adventure movies. He was really onto something with all the Jules Verne themed movies, goofy monsters and steampunk designed vehicles and weapons. I wish he would have had the budget to do what a James Cameron can do today with all his technology. Of course that would destroy the beautiful campy nature of these movies. I never knew about this one at all. Nothing sweeter than finding a new McClure. Thanks for the post.

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  8. Patrick D. BooneJune 24, 2012 at 10:34 AM

    Thank you to the UK posters here! I just found the link to the preorder at Amazon UK and it will be ten pounds or roughly fifteen dollars. That will be affordable even after shipping, I think.
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Warlords-Atlantis-DVD-Doug-McClure/dp/B0086TW1KE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1340548289&sr=8-2

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  9. AnonymousJune 24, 2012 at 11:21 AM

    I saw 'Warlords' at the cinema here in the UK when it was first released. I remember being a bit disappointed with it and didn't think it was nearly as enjoyable as 'Land That Time Forgot'. I guess you'll want to judge for yourself Chris, but I wouldn't spend a fortune on it

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  10. dusty abellJune 24, 2012 at 11:26 AM

    I guess i'm the one that can say I saw it in the theatre when it came out, the giant octopus is my most definitive memory of the movie, pulling the ship down under the sea....and the diving bell............ I do know, from reading the article about the movie in one of the "Starmag's" of the time, Roger Dickens, who created the facehugger and chestburster for Alien also created the creatures, at the very least, the Giant Octopus, for this film! I love the wide range of posters this film generated, very interesting to see what differnt elements the various artists were tasked with creating a montage with!

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  11. MarkJune 24, 2012 at 1:13 PM

    I remember my dad taking me to the cinema to see that in the late 70s; years later we must have recorded it off a TV showing as I've fond memories of seeing it countless times on VHS. And that nostalgia is why I made sure to pick up a copy of it on DVD when I spotted it several years back. Trying to convince my wife of the greatness that is a Doug McClure film was no easy task but I managed it.

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  12. AnonymousJune 24, 2012 at 5:19 PM

    Right, had a look at the press release, it says "revived and digitally remastered". Picture on the check discs starts off looking quite pale, but these are mostly exterior shots on a boat and the problem may be one at source, the image gets a lot sharper quickly and the colours more vivid as it progresses. The rrp is £15.99 which will probably mean you'll be able to get it for about a tenner. Disc is pretty bare bones, barely even a menu (just "Play" and 'Scenes") but the movie is great and people who enjoy this site will love it for sure. These Kevin Connor movies are like the British version of Toho, saw them all plenty of times in cinemas growing up and they stand up really well. Always love to see movies that attempt stuff well beyond what you'd expect from their budget, that was pretty much what 70's genre movies were all about.
    Phelim.

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  13. richardJune 25, 2012 at 5:10 AM

    Did this Atlantis have 7 cities? I magine the idea is inherited from the legendary island of 7 cities (sometimes "7 bishops") aka Antillia (sorry, can't link from my phone), while Warlords clearly refers to ERBurroughs. Really interesting to see how different marketing groups try to sell to different audiences.

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  14. AnonymousJune 26, 2012 at 12:25 PM

    Wow! This posting is really in my wheelhouse. I have all 4 original posters mounted and glass framed hanging in my house. I also have the first three movies on DVD and due to my beloved wife who puts up with all of these type of things, for our 20th wedding anniversary she got into a bidding war on ebay and purchased Warlords of Atlantis for me in glorious 16mm film on two reels. I really miss Doug McClure.

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  15. SteveJune 26, 2012 at 4:00 PM

    I remember watching this on Showtime in the early 80's. It's nowhere near the quality of The Land that Time Forgot (story-wise), but Doug McClure always made the movies more interesting than they deserved to be. If he were still alive today, I'm sure that he would see that he still has a lot of fans out there.

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