******DRACONIA-SIZED SPOILERS!******

I did a column on 1979’s “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” TV series (1979-1981) five years ago for the series’ 40th anniversary, which included a quick synopsis of the film. The TV version of the movie, retitled “Awakening” for the series, included several scenes shot specifically for the TV version that were not in the theatrical version, but I still remember seeing the shorter, sleeker cut of “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” theatrically on a hot summer day 45 years ago, a few months before its NBC-TV premiere.

Kino Lorber Home Video released an HD remastered Blu-Ray box set of the TV series that includes the feature film version of the pilot in its original aspect ratio (2:1), and watching it the other night through my digital projector on a 7 ft/2-meter collapsible screen took me back to the ol’ Highland Twin Cinema; a tiny little movie house next to a steakhouse & bar, and across the street from a large “Gemco” membership department store.  This was one of those cheap little theaters where you could blow your allowance on a double-feature, with money left over for snacks; which would serve as your lunch or dinner, depending on when you went.  For my 12-year old self, this little place was a house of dreams.

That particular summer afternoon I waded through the somewhat dull first feature (which my memory is somewhat faulty on) to see the latest “Star Wars” coattail rider; producer Glen Larson’s (“Battlestar Galactica”) reimagining of Philip Francis Nowlan’s 1929 comic strip character, “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.” The low budget, 90-minute made-for-TV flick was surprisingly entertaining, and whetted my appetite for the enjoyably campy series that followed.

The following synopsis of the movie is edited from my original “Buck Rogers” TV series overview five years ago, but with new notes added:

“Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” (1979)

The 1979 movie’s intro features shots of a Saturn V rocket launch on a three-way split screen with William (“Cannon”) Conrad narration telling us that in the year 1987 (now 37 years ago), NASA launched the last of America’s deep space probes. Captain William ‘Buck’ Rogers (a charmingly goofy Gil Gerard) is accidentally flash-frozen aboard his mini-space shuttle, Ranger 3.

Note: The movie’s opening launch of Ranger 3 across a three-way split screen (assisted by Saturn V rocket launch stock footage), opens with only Mission Control voiceovers and no music, just before William Conrad’s narration begins. The later TV series’ would feature a condensed version of this opening intro and its narration. Unlike his 1920s comic book counterpart, Buck is smartly reimagined as an astronaut instead of a coal mine inspector; using a vaguely-phrased cryogenic suspension to freeze Buck, instead of mysterious gases in a cave.

Cut to a James Bond-style credits sequence featuring with a bevy of beautiful women (including costars Erin Gray and Pamela Hensley) writhing across a floor glowing with the title character’s name. The music was created by “Battlestar Galactica” maestro Stu Philips, with the title song (“Suspension”) sung by an almost achingly sincere Kipp Lennon (no relation to the late ex-Beatle, John).

Note: In addition to costars Hensley and Gray, other uncredited actresses seen in this Bond-style opening credits sequence also appeared on Glen Larson’s original 1978 version of “Battlestar Galactica”; Kelly Harmon (sister of Mark) played Terran settler ‘Sarah’ in the two-parter “Greetings From Earth,” and Leann Hunley played an unnamed rookie Viper pilot in the two-parter “Lost Planet of the Gods.” Singer Kipp Lennon, who was about 18 or so when he recorded the title song “Suspension,” was perhaps not the strongest vocalist ever, but he was no doubt a budget saver for this $3.5 million movie. Talented composer Stu Phillips’ playful musical score, however, is a perfect match for the material.

The action then cuts to the year 2491, and a frozen Ranger 3 is intercepted by bombers from a massive starship called the Draconia, the flagship of the aptly-named Draconian Empire. The Draconia is commanded by Princess Ardala (Pamela Hensley), and her courtier Kane (Henry Silva). Aboard the Draconia, a disoriented Buck is awakened, and Ardala takes an instant liking to the brash 20th century astronaut.  A suspicious Kane sends Buck home aboard Ranger 3 with a hidden transmitter planted aboard his ship designed to reveal a secret access corridor through Earth’s planetary defense shield.

Note: The movie’s visual effects and miniatures were done by Universal’s Hartland FX facility, which also worked on “Battlestar Galactica.” Ranger 3 (the miniature and full-scale ship) was a reuse of the Terran shuttle seen in that series’ “Greetings From Earth” two-parter.  The Draconia miniature is laden with detailing—including spires—vaguely suggesting ancient Asian and Arabic influences for the Draconians—something also seen in the Draconian costumes, created by “Battlestar” costumer Jean-Pierre Dorleac.

Ranger 3 is intercepted by Earth’s defensive starfighter squadron, led by no nonsense Colonel Wilma Deering (Erin Gray). Ranger 3 lands on future Earth, and Wilma doesn’t trust this ‘barbarian’ Buck Rogers, though she slowly warms to his 1970s, Burt Reynolds-style charms.  Buck is then told when and where he is, by Directorate administrator Dr. Elias Huer (Tim O’Connor). 

Note: Col. Wilma Deering, played by Erin Gray (in only her second acting role), was a groundbreaking sci-fi role model for women; coming out only months before “ALIEN”’s Ripley (Sigourney Weaver). Though her competence as squadron leader takes a few dents early on in the movie, she’s well redeemed by saving the day in the movie’s climax. The Earth Directorate Starfighters were a rejected design for the ‘Starhound’ fighters (later Colonial Vipers) seen in 1978’s “Battlestar Galactica,” as conceptualized by Ralph McQuarrie. 

Determined to learn what happened to the world he knew, Buck leaves Wilma’s custody and heads outside the domed city.  Against their better judgment, Twiki (Felix Silla, voice of Mel Blanc) and “Theo” (Eric Server) escort a determined Buck into the surrounding wastelands of Old Chicago, now called Anarchia, to help the lost astronaut gain some closure on his past. 

Note: The expanded, reedited TV version of the feature film, retitled “Awakening” Parts 1 and 2, changed Buck’s leaving New Chicago for Old Chicago, aka “Anarchia.” In the TV version, there is a new scene where Twiki and Theo wait for Buck in his New Chicago apartment and unsuccessfully try to talk him out of trekking into Anarchia, before agreeing to go with him.  In the feature film, Buck simply wanders away from Wilma’s custody because she can’t bring herself to stun him; another ding against her strong-willed character. 

In a scene reminiscent of many early 1970s dystopian flicks (such as “The Omega Man,” and “Beneath the Planet of the Apes”), Buck learns that Old Chicago is a post-atomic wasteland populated by dangerous mutants. Buck then finds a graveyard, and a single stone with no date for his buried parents. He now realizes and accepts that he truly is on Earth. This utopian/dystopian world (similar to that of H.G. Wells’ Eloi and Morlocks in “The Time Machine”) is indeed the one he left behind in 1987, since ravaged by a nuclear war.

Note: The futuristic cityscapes of New Chicago, as well as the ruins of Old Chicago, are beautifully realized by FX artist Syd Dutton (“Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Blade Runner,” “Bicentennial Man”), combined with miniatures. 

Surrounded by a wild mob of vicious mutants, Buck, Twiki and Theo are nearly done for before they are rescued by Wilma and her soldiers.  Reluctant to leave until he learns more, Buck is then stunned by Wilma’s lieutenant, and taken back to the safety of New Chicago. There, Dr. Huer tells Wilma that a transmitter has been discovered aboard Buck’s ship, and Buck is believed to be a spy for the nameless pirates harassing Earth’s trade lanes. 

Note: There is (apparently) a deleted scene from earlier in the film, where Dr. Theopolis shows Buck a video chronicle of the the nuclear holocaust during Buck’s 16 hour debriefing. For full disclosure, no version of “Awakening” I’ve ever seen (theatrically or on TV) has ever included this scene, though it might’ve been included in overseas versions of the film. 

Buck is then put on trial by the ruling Computer Council and quickly sentenced to death. Before his death sentence is carried out, however, Buck is offered a chance to make his case with a trip to the Draconia to prove his claim that the vessel is fully armed; against the terms of the treaty. Unbeknownst to Earth forces, the ‘pirates’ are actually disguised Draconian bombers, intentionally attacking Earth’s shipping lanes to other planets in order to force Earth into a protective treaty with the Draconian Empire.  During the Earth squadron’s visit to the Draconia, the disguised bombers launch a staged attack against the ship, and the computer-dependent Earth starfighters are mostly pulverized—forcing Buck to use his 20th century fighter jock skills in order to save a grateful Wilma’s life.

Note: If Earth forces typically get their asses handed to them like that every time, how did they ever survive this long?  This attack further denigrates Wilma’s effectiveness as a squadron leader, sad to say.

During a full-dress reception on Earth for Draconian ‘peace envoys’ Ardala and Kane (cough cough), Buck decides to get to the bottom of things by meeting with Ardala personally. He offers the princess a rose, and takes advantage of her clear infatuation with him to learn the truth behind the Draconian ‘peace treaty.’ During an archaic disco dance number requested by Buck (laughable even for 1979), Ardala makes Buck an offer to work as a spy for the Draconians.  Buck pretends to accept, and later ghosts Wilma after the reception…

Note: It’s never explained how 25th century ‘ambu-quad’ Twiki (Felix Silla, voice of Mel Blanc) learned so much Old Earth verbiage before he met Buck (“L’chaim,” “Groovy,” “Get down,” etc), which we see quite a bit during the reception for the Draconians. Mel Blanc, the voice actor behind Bugs Bunny and many other classic cartoon characters, was quite a coup for this low-budget film. Twiki performer Felix Silla (1937-1921) also played ‘Cousin Itt’ in “The Addams Family” TV series (1964-1966).

With Wilma and Huer uncertain of his innocence, Buck proves his mettle by seducing his way aboard Ardala’s private shuttle, rendering her and her animalistic bodyguard Tigerman (Duke Butler) unconscious. Buck then sabotages most of the Draconian bomber fleet, causing them to explode upon launch, and saving Earth from conquest.  As the Draconia collapses around Buck and his quad companions, Wilma arrives in her fighter to rescue them once again. Ardala and Kane escape the exploding Draconia in a shuttle…

The End.

Note: The TV version, “Awakening,” included a coda where Wilma and Dr. Huer visit Buck in his new apartment afterward, where they try to recruit him into becoming an undercover agent for the Earth Defense Directorate, setting up the TV series that followed.  At first, Buck is reluctant, but as the series progresses, he quickly becomes a planet-hopping James Bond.

No Bucks, No Buck Rogers

Having already seen the edited-down version of “Battlestar Galactica” (1978) theatrically (multiple times) earlier that year, it wasn’t so strange seeing a made-for-TV movie in a theater at that point, though it was still generally uncommon in those days.  Now you see live TV premieres and concerts at Fandango Events and other special theatrical screenings, but in the late 1970s, there was a clear boundary between movies and TV.  

Personally, 12-year old me didn’t really care that “Buck Rogers” was coming to TV in a few months, because in those pre-home video days with three TV networks, kids like myself were starved for more space opera entertainment in the wake of “Star Wars,” which changed movies forever.  Seeing these epic space fantasies on a larger movie screen was always better, since the average TV screen in those days was a dinky 25” (64 cm) or so.  Not to mention there was no DVDs, Blu-Rays, streaming, etc. Even VCRs were clunky and ridiculously expensive.  Besides, an afternoon at a double-feature only cost a few bucks for a whole day’s entertainment.

When the movie and TV show came out, there was a bit of marketing muscle at work, with Buck Rogers action figures, a free poster from Burger King, and other toys.  I remember having a few of the action figures, but I’ve since lost them over the decades. I also had the novelization by Addison E. Steele; a decent read that filled in some of the missing bits of the movie. The novelization also saw Buck being deliberately exiled to Anarchia, after being found guilty by the Computer Council; a member of which was later revealed to be reprogrammed by saboteur Kane in the book’s climax. 

At a WonderCon in Anaheim, I also found an original theatrical program booklet for the movie, which I promptly bought, of course.  The book had some great photos; many of which I’d never seen before. Also enjoyed reading the bios about the movie’s promising young actors, such as Gil Gerard, Erin Gray and Pamela Hensley; a few of whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in person. 

And somewhere in my overgrown home library, I still have my original copy of the old “FotoNovel” as well, with screencaps and captions creating a graphic novel of the entire film—including Twiki’s risqué line, “I’m freezing my ball bearings off!” That line was dubbed for the TV version with the unfunny quip, “My micro-discs are turning blue!”

Summing It Up

“Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” is breezy, silly, and camp but also undeniably entertaining. Yes, the disco-era space hero is clearly dated, but no worse than the Buster Crabbe “Buck Rogers” (1939) serials were when I was a kid. In fact, the 40 years between those serials and the 1979 film are a bit less than the 45 years between 1979 and 2024.  That last thought really carbon dates me…

Gil Gerard plays Buck Rogers with a slightly silly, Burt Reynolds’-style charm, while his costar Erin Gray quietly broke the glass ceiling in her role as Defense Directorate Colonel Wilma Deering, even if her character’s authority is sometimes subverted. The late Tim O’Connor (“The Outer Limits”) is that rarest of supporting actors who can appear both coolly detached and warm in the same instant. Pamela Hensley is wonderfully over-the-top as Princess Ardala, and late veteran actor Henry Silva (“The Manchurian Candidate,” “Ocean’s Eleven”) is fine as Killer Kane, even if his articulation is sometimes blunted by his Brooklyn accent. Special mention goes to the late Felix Silla, who no doubt suffered greatly for his craft inside the sweltering ‘Twiki’ suit. 

Note: I never noticed until watching the movie on a larger screen again that the Twiki suit had a thick, dark gray foam collar around the neck, which was apparently removed when the costume was refined for the TV series.

There are, of course, far superior sci-fi offerings from the 1970s. However, if you have an appetite for high camp with just enough heart to invest emotion in, you could do a lot worse than “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.” At just under 90 minutes, it’s not exactly a huge time investment, either. The TV series that followed requires greater stamina, granted, but the feature film still has enough fuel in its retro rockets for a jaunty, if dated ride.

Where To Watch

The Kino Lorber Blu-Ray set of “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” may not be affordable for most (at around $69.99) though check the Kino Lorber website for occasional sales (I got it during the “March Madness” sale for half-price). The movie and series also periodically stream on Tubi and Peacock, though not at the moment, sadly.  Keep your eyes open.