Just Another Martian Monday

You know, if I had more on the ball, I would have recognized today's Mars Curiosity Rover landing with a full review of the 1980 television miniseries, The Martian Chronicles, based on the book by Ray Bradbury, with a screenplay by Richard Matheson, directed by Logan's Run's Michael Anderson. But I was, frankly, clueless as usual.

Instead - here are links to the two previous posts I've done on the telefilm (which I actually like a great deal, by the way), and will try to to re-watch the DVD (pictured above) and get a review posted here soon.

The Martian Chronicles (1980) Posters

The Martian Chronicles (1980) TV Guide Ads

You can buy the DVD here (cheap!):  The Martian Chronicles

THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES (1980) Posters

Here's a collection of International promotional art and theatrical one-sheets for the 1980 NBC television miniseries The Martian Chronicles, which was apparently distributed overseas as an edited-down, 90-minute feature film.

The 3-part miniseries was based on the novel by the legendary Ray Bradbury with a script by the almost-as-legendary Richard Matheson. It was directed by Logan's Run's Michael Anderson and starred Rock Hudson, Darren McGavin, Bernadette Peters, Bernie Casey, Fritz Weaver and Space: 1970 favorites Roddy McDowell and Barry Morse. Though flawed and not nearly as lyrical as Bradbury's book, the ambitious television production does have some genuinely enjoyable moments. The cast is good, too. I suspect that I'll review the whole thing here, one of these days.

It's available on a nice - and cheap - DVD: The Martian Chronicles

MARTIAN CHRONICLES (1980) TV Guide Ads

More ads from my collection, this time for the 1980 NBC miniseries, The Martian Chronicles, starring Rock Hudson.

I enjoyed this three-part television miniseries adaptation of Ray Bradbury's classic novel/story cycle as a kid, and when I bought the DVD a few years ago, I enjoyed watching it again. Helmed by Logan's Run director Michael Anderson from a teleplay by the great Richard Matheson, The Martian Chronicles was something of a television event back in the Winter of 1980. It's far from perfect - the effects are remarkably primitive for a post-Star Wars production, and the adaptation lacks much of Bradbury's poetry - but it has a fascinating cast, an occasionally eerie atmosphere, and was remarkably ambitious for its time.

I expect I'll be writing a full review one of these days.