Movie review - “Battle Beyond the Sun” (1962) *

Francis Ford Coppola’s early film career stands as a shining example for other emerging directors. It’s underlying theme: just make something. He wrote his own scripts, directed some “nudies”, and worked for Roger Corman doing a whole bunch of things, of which this was one. Corman bought a Soviet science fiction film and had Coppola recut it. I think all aspiring directors at film school should have to recut a foreign film into English. (Coppola is credited as “associate producer” and his dad is down as composer – the other credits have been Americanised”.) 

 

This is set in a post-World War Three society where the world has been divided into North and South Hemisphere. Astronauts from one country get into trouble so ones from another go to help. I think there were other plots along the way but to be honest I kind of zoned out – it was a little dull. When they land at the planet at the end there’s a real good old fashioned crappy late 50s AIP style monster cut into the film – it does look like an angry vagina with teeth as the urban legend says.