(Ape caricature art by Richard Smith)
by Anthony Taylor, Contributing Writer
In Collaboration with ATLRetro
Welcome to Apes on Film! This column exists to scratch your retro-film-in-high-definition itch. We’ll be reviewing new releases of vintage cinema and television on disc of all genres, finding gems and letting you know the skinny on what to avoid. Here at Apes on Film, our aim is to uncover the best in retro film. As we dig for artifacts, we’ll do our best not to bury our reputation. What will we find out here? Our destiny.
THE QUESTOR TAPES – (1974) – Blu-Ray
4 out of 5 Bananas
Starring: Robert Foxworth, Mike Farrell, John Vernon, Dana Wynter , Lew Ayres
Director: Richard A. Colla
Rated: NR
Studio: Kino Lorber
Region: Region A
BRD Release Date: 12/05/2023
Audio Format: 2 Channel DTS Master Audio
Video Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1
Run Time: 100 minutes
After the cancellation of STAR TREK, creator Gene Roddenberry wrote a stinker of a film called PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW that was what’s kindly known in the business as a “flop at the box office,” and that put the brakes on his career in Hollywood. But then a funny thing happened; syndicated re-runs of STAR TREK began garnering higher ratings than first-run network programs in many markets. Suddenly the “little sci-fi show that couldn’t” was gathering steam. By 1972, it was the highest-rated syndicated show on the market, and the studios came knocking at Roddenberry’s office door looking for new concepts. His first new pilot was called GENESIS II and failed to garner a network series order; this would set the precedent for much of his output in the early 1970s. Moving on from that (which he would revamp twice more in an attempt to sell a series), his next pilot was a step up in tone and concept – THE QUESTOR TAPES is the story of an android (Foxworth) built in secret, and his attempt to find his creator (missing for several years by the time the protagonist is finally activated in a Cal Tech laboratory) after his original programming tapes are partially erased. Along for the ride is the brilliant robotics tech (Farrell) who brought him to life despite the interference of the government agent (Vernon) overseeing the project.
Written by Roddenberry and frequent TREK collaborator Gene L. Coon, THE QUESTOR TAPES is a very watchable and engaging film, mostly thanks to a deft hand by director Colla and the performances by the cast. Retrospectively, it’s easy to see this movie as the genesis of the character of Mr. Data from STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. Roddenberry was loathe to ever toss anything out just because a network executive didn’t care for it; he repurposed concepts and characters wholesale throughout his career. The film was aired on NBC on January 23, 1974, and ratings were high enough that the network reportedly thought a series might be worth pursuing if changes were made, but Roddenberry felt they wanted too many. Rather than letting them remove Farrell’s character (truly the heart of the program) in favor of a new romantic interest for the robot every week, he told them thanks but no thanks.
Kino Lorber’s presentation of the film is sourced from a new 2K master from the movie’s interpositive element, which I assume means that the original camera negative either no longer exists or was unable to be found. Either way, the picture quality is very good, as is the DTS audio track. Though labeled a “Special Edition”, the disc has few supplemental materials – a couple of short trailers for the film, trailers for other films from Kino Lorber, and a new audio commentary track by author and television historian Gary Gerani. Gerani packs an awful lot into the hundred minutes of his commentary at a fast pace, but I confess as I watched the film listening to him and reading the subtitles, I was more drawn into the film than his comments. Nothing against his work, it’s just that Farrell and company are doing such compelling work onscreen that missing the audio didn’t hamper the viewing experience.
THE QUESTOR TAPES is a milestone look at mid-1970s speculative television and may well have been a little too smart for its time, just as STAR TREK was in the 1960s. When contrasted with other programs of the era, a series could have been a stand out amongst its competition. Foxworth and Farrell would, of course, go on to have long careers in television, and it’s interesting to see them both in early starring and co-starring roles. Very much recommended viewing.
Now, Kino – how about a Blu-ray of Roddenberry’s pilot for SPECTRE? Certainly, it’s his second-best television project of the era, and an influence on genre shows that would follow. Oh, and please include the European theatrical version as an extra on the disc while you’re at it, ok? Thanks!
Anthony Taylor is not only the Minister of Science, but also Defender of the Faith. His reviews and articles have appeared in magazines such as Screem, Fangoria, Retro Fan, Famous Monsters of Filmland, SFX, Video WatcH*Dog, and many more. He is the author of the book The Art of George Wilson from Hermes Press.
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