There are few more splendid sights in 60s cinema than Raquel Welch in a fur bikini playing a cavewoman. It is the main attraction of this Hammer adventure tale, an attempt to depart from formula and a reasonably successful one (indeed, it was one of Welch’s few actual hits as a leading lady, despite all the publicity she used to attract); it prompted a string of follow up caveman tales, which did not do as well.
The production values are pretty impressive – Hammer films always had strong art design, and there are great rocky locations and caves, and furry outfits. The cast throw themselves into caveman acting with a flourish – lots of ughs and ahs and screaming. I agree with George MacDonald Fraser that John Richardson’s features are far too classical to make a believable caveman, but he does have presence (what happened to him? With this and She it seemed he was in line for a big future – maybe he was far too overshadowed by his leading ladies in both films.)
The plot has Richardson kicked out of his tribe (well, falling off a cliff and they don’t care) after a dinnertime argument with his dad. He goes out into the world and has adventures, including an encounter with a blow up lizard, a cave full of human skulls and running to the sea, where he meets Raquel’s blonde tribe - and a giant tortoise. There he gets along well with the locals, fighting off a dinosaur in an exciting sequence, but he gets kicked out of there too when he tries to pinch the spear he used to kill the dinosaur. Raquel goes with him – even then, clearly it was sexy to have an out of town boyfriend.
They go back to visit Richardson’s family, where Raquel has a great cat fight with Martine Beswick, then Raquel teaches the girls to swim (if I’m not mistaken) before being picked up by a tetradactyl and being dropped in the ocean. Then she goes back to her family and the film starts to get a bit confusing – Richardson turns up and then him, Raquel and her blonde tribe attack Richardson’s tribe (what for?) then a volcano comes along. And some survive and they walk off into the distance. Huh? I was hoping for a battle where the two tribes would team up and defeat the Neanderthals who live in that creepy cave – but it’s not to be. Instead there’s this deux ex machina volcano, just like in a Maria Montez film.
Until the weird ending this is quite entertaining. It’s really like a silent movie, the only sounds being ugs and arghs, plus a bit of screaming and dinosaur noises. Ray Harryhausen’s effects are fine and the volcanic landscapes impressive. To be honest Raquel isn’t very good but she looks great and Richardson is fine.
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