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{{Short description|1970 British film by Michael Cort}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
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| name = Zeta One
| name = Zeta One
| image = "Zeta_One".jpg
| image = "Zeta_One".jpg
| image_size =
| border =
| alt =
| alt =
| caption = Italian poster
| caption = Italian poster
| native_name =
| native_name =
| director = Michael Cort
| director = Michael Cort
| producer = [[George Maynard (film producer) |George Maynard]] <br> [[Tony Tenser]]
| producer = [[George Maynard (film producer)|George Maynard]] <br> [[Tony Tenser]]
| writer = {{plainlist|
| writer = {{plainlist|
*Michael Cort
*Michael Cort
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| studio = [[Tigon British Film Productions]]
| studio = [[Tigon British Film Productions]]
| distributor = [[Tigon British Film Productions|Tigon Film Distributors]]
| distributor = [[Tigon British Film Productions|Tigon Film Distributors]]
| released = December 1969
| released = {{Film date|1970|10}}
| runtime = 86 minutes
| runtime = 86 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| country = United Kingdom
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| gross =
| gross =
}}
}}
'''''Zeta One''''' is a 1969 British [[comedy film|comedy]] [[science fiction film]] directed by Michael Cort and starring [[James Robertson Justice]], [[Charles Hawtrey (actor born 1914)|Charles Hawtrey]] and [[Dawn Addams]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090117233010/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/406336 Zeta One (1969)] at [[British Film Institute]] Film & TV Database.</ref>
'''''Zeta One''','' also known as '''''The Love Slaves''''', '''''Alien Women''''' and '''''The Love Factor''''', is a 1970 British [[comedy film|comedy]] [[science fiction film]] directed by Michael Cort and starring [[James Robertson Justice]], [[Charles Hawtrey (actor born 1914)|Charles Hawtrey]] and [[Dawn Addams]].<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=Zeta One |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150339115 |access-date=4 December 2023 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref> It was written by Cort and Alistair McKenzie, based on a comic strip short story in the magazine ''Zeta,''<ref name="hunter69" /> and was produced by [[George Maynard (film producer)|George Maynard]] and [[Tony Tenser]] for [[Tigon British Film Productions|Tigon Films]].


==Plot==
==Plot==
A spy for Section 5, James Word, finds a secretary for the section waiting as he returns home. As they play strip poker, he tells about tailing Major Bourdon. Bourdon was conducting an investigation into the women from Angvia. The Angvians are led by Zeta, and are an all-women secret society. The Angvians regularly abducted other planet's women into their ranks where they were brainwashed to become operatives. Their next target is stripper ‘Ted’ Strain and so Section 5 uses her to set a trap for them. As Bourdon’s men take several of the Angvian agents prisoner, a final confrontation between the various parties occurs at his estate
James Word is a spy for Section 5 who finds a secretary for the section waiting when he returns home. As they play strip poker, he tells about tailing Major Bourdon, who was conducting an investigation into the women from Angvia. The Angvians are led by Zeta, and are an all-women secret society. The Angvians regularly abducted other planet's women into their ranks where they were brainwashed to become operatives. Their next target is stripper "Ted" Strain and Section 5 uses her to set a trap for them. As Bourdon’s men take several of the Angvian agents prisoner, a final confrontation between the various parties occurs at his estate.


==Cast==
==Cast==
Line 48: Line 47:
* [[Lionel Murton]] as W
* [[Lionel Murton]] as W
* [[Yutte Stensgaard]] as Ann Olsen
* [[Yutte Stensgaard]] as Ann Olsen
* Wendy Lingham as Edwina 'Ted' Strain
* Wendy Lingham as Edwina "Ted" Strain
* [[Carol Hawkins]] as Zara
* [[Carol Hawkins]] as Zara
* [[Rita Webb]] as Clippie
* [[Rita Webb]] as clippie
* Steve Kirby as Sleth
* Steve Kirby as Sleth
* Paul Baker as Bourdon's Assistant
* Paul Baker as Bourdon's assistant
* [[Angela Grant]] as Angvia Girl
* [[Angela Grant]] as Angvia girl
* [[Kirsten Lindholm|Kirsten Betts]] as Angvia Girl
* [[Kirsten Lindholm|Kirsten Betts]] as Angvia girl


==Production==
==Production==
''Zeta One'' was the first film shot at Camden Studios, which was formerly a wallpaper factory in [[North London]].<ref name="hunter69">I.Q. Hunter, ''British Science Fiction Cinema'', Routledge, 2001 p 69</ref> The plot of the film was based on a comic strip short story in the magazine ''Zeta''.<ref name="hunter69" /> [[Art director]] [[Christopher Neame (writer/producer)|Christopher Neame]] designed the film's sets. [[Location shooting]] took place around the city. The film was produced and distributed by the [[independent film|independent]] company [[Tigon British Film Productions|Tigon Films]] run by [[Tony Tenser]].
''Zeta One'' was the first film shot at Camden Studios, formerly a wallpaper factory in [[North London]].<ref name="hunter69">I.Q. Hunter, ''British Science Fiction Cinema'', Routledge, 2001 p 69</ref> [[Art director]] [[Christopher Neame (writer/producer)|Christopher Neame]] designed the film's sets. [[Location shooting]] took place around the city.


==Release==
==Release==
First screened to journalists in April 1969 to hostile reviews, the film sat on the shelf for 18 months before finally getting a UK release in October 1970, as the supporting feature to Kobi Jaegar's 1969 film ''Kama Sutra''.<ref>Sheridan, Simon: ''Saucy 70s'' booklet, 88 Films, 2022, p.20.</ref>
''Zeta One'' was released in the United Kingdom in 1969.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/406336?view=release|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202123455/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/406336?view=release|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2009|work=BFI Film & Television Database|publisher=[[British Film Institute]]|location=London|access-date=2 June 2013|title=Release}}</ref> The film was not a commercial success on its release.<ref name="hunter69" />


⚫
It was released in America by Film Ventures International, briefly in 1973 as ''The Love Slaves'' and then wider in 1974 under the titles ''Alien Women'' and ''The Love Factor''.<ref>Stanley, J. (2000) Creature Feature: Third Edition</ref> It was released as a [[Blu-ray]] DVD in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zeta One Blu-ray (The Love Factor) |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Zeta-One-Blu-ray/62160/#Review |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=blu-ray.com}}</ref>
It was made for a budget of £60,000.<ref name="hamilton">John Hamilton, ''Beasts in the Cellar: The Exploitation Film Career of Tony Tenser'', Fab Press, 2005 p 145</ref>


==Critical reception==
⚫
It was released in America by Film Ventures International, briefly in 1973 as ''The Love Slaves'' and then wider in 1974 under the titles ''Alien Women'' and ''The Love Factor''.<ref>Stanley, J. (2000) Creature Feature: Third Edition</ref> It was released as a [[Blu-ray]] DVD in 2013.<ref>https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Zeta-One-Blu-ray/62160/#Review</ref>
The film received negative reviews on its initial release.<ref name="hunter69" />


In ''[[The Monthly Film Bulletin]]'' [[David McGillivray (producer/screenwriter)|David McGillivray]] wrote: "The picture-stories for adults in the ill-fated magazine ''Zeta'' were an imaginative experiment, but this adaptation of one of them blunts its satire and magnifies its quite preposterous illogicality and silliness. In fact, the treatment would render the film suitable only for Saturday morning audiences were it not for the glut of stark and near-naked girls that cavort incessantly through the hurriedly improvised settings. It is difficult to understand how James Robertson Justice and Dawn Addams came to be involved in such a project unless they were unaware of the banal treatment in store for the script."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1971 |title=Zeta One |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305829296 |journal=The Monthly Film Bulletin |volume=38 |issue=444 |pages=62 |id={{ProQuest|1305829296}} |via=ProQuest}}</ref>
==Reception==

The film received negative reviews on its initial release.<ref name="hunter69" /> In the ''[[Monthly Film Bulletin]]'', [[David McGillivray (producer/screenwriter)|David McGillivray]] described the film's themes as "quite preposterous in illogicality and silliness".<ref name="hunter69" /> The movie was given 1 out of 5 stars, stating the movie was basically [[soft core pornography]] Moria noted it is an odd mix of the [[James Bond]] type movies with a sex comedy.<ref>http://www.moriareviews.com/sciencefiction/zeta-one-1969.htm</ref>
''[[Kine Weekly]]'' wrote: "This is a light skit on special agents and science fiction that should please the undemanding. &nbsp;... The plot is introduced very slowly with a lot of talk, but improves once it gets going in the fantastic world of the Angvians, who, judging by their costumes, enjoy perfect central heating. Probability is a scarcity in the story: the touches of humour are obvious but amusing and some of the sequences are more than a little silly; but, generally speaking, it is fairly entertaining nonsense on a small scale. Robin Hawdon is a bland James Word; James Robertson Justice gives his usual, large performance as the wicked Col. Bourdon, and the main Angyian seductions are represented by Anna Gael and Yutte Stensgaard, with guest star Dawn Addams appearing as the Angvian queen bee. "<ref>{{Cite journal |date=18 April 1970 |title=Zeta One |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2600861610 |journal=[[Kine Weekly]] |volume=633 |issue=3262 |pages=10 |id={{ProQuest|2600861610}} |via=ProQuest}}</ref>

''Moria Reviews'' noted it is an odd mix of the [[James Bond]] type movies with a sex comedy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 March 2016 |title=Zeta One (1969) |url=http://www.moriareviews.com/sciencefiction/zeta-one-1969.htm |access-date=4 December 2023 |website=Moria Reviews}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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*{{IMDb title|0065243}}
*{{IMDb title|0065243}}


[[Category:1969 films]]
[[Category:1970 comedy films]]
[[Category:British films]]
[[Category:1970 films]]
⚫
[[Category:1970 science fiction films]]
[[Category:1970s English-language films]]
[[Category:1970s science fiction comedy films]]
[[Category:British science fiction comedy films]]
[[Category:British science fiction comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:English-language action adventure films]]
[[Category:1960s science fiction comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language science fiction comedy films]]
⚫
[[Category:1969 comedy films]]
[[Category:Films shot in London]]
[[Category:Films shot in London]]
[[Category:Parody films based on James Bond films]]
[[Category:Tigon British Film Productions films]]

Latest revision as of 13:01, 28 December 2024

Zeta One
Italian poster
Directed byMichael Cort
Written by
  • Michael Cort
  • Alistair McKenzie
Produced byGeorge Maynard
Tony Tenser
StarringJames Robertson Justice
Charles Hawtrey
Dawn Addams
CinematographyJack Atchelor
Edited by
  • Jack T. Knight
  • Dennis Lanning
Music byJohnny Hawksworth
Production
company
Distributed byTigon Film Distributors
Release date
  • October 1970 (1970-10)
Running time
86 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£60,000

Zeta One, also known as The Love Slaves, Alien Women and The Love Factor, is a 1970 British comedy science fiction film directed by Michael Cort and starring James Robertson Justice, Charles Hawtrey and Dawn Addams.[1] It was written by Cort and Alistair McKenzie, based on a comic strip short story in the magazine Zeta,[2] and was produced by George Maynard and Tony Tenser for Tigon Films.

Plot

[edit]

James Word is a spy for Section 5 who finds a secretary for the section waiting when he returns home. As they play strip poker, he tells about tailing Major Bourdon, who was conducting an investigation into the women from Angvia. The Angvians are led by Zeta, and are an all-women secret society. The Angvians regularly abducted other planet's women into their ranks where they were brainwashed to become operatives. Their next target is stripper "Ted" Strain and Section 5 uses her to set a trap for them. As Bourdon’s men take several of the Angvian agents prisoner, a final confrontation between the various parties occurs at his estate.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Zeta One was the first film shot at Camden Studios, formerly a wallpaper factory in North London.[2] Art director Christopher Neame designed the film's sets. Location shooting took place around the city.

Release

[edit]

First screened to journalists in April 1969 to hostile reviews, the film sat on the shelf for 18 months before finally getting a UK release in October 1970, as the supporting feature to Kobi Jaegar's 1969 film Kama Sutra.[3]

It was released in America by Film Ventures International, briefly in 1973 as The Love Slaves and then wider in 1974 under the titles Alien Women and The Love Factor.[4] It was released as a Blu-ray DVD in 2013.[5]

Critical reception

[edit]

The film received negative reviews on its initial release.[2]

In The Monthly Film Bulletin David McGillivray wrote: "The picture-stories for adults in the ill-fated magazine Zeta were an imaginative experiment, but this adaptation of one of them blunts its satire and magnifies its quite preposterous illogicality and silliness. In fact, the treatment would render the film suitable only for Saturday morning audiences were it not for the glut of stark and near-naked girls that cavort incessantly through the hurriedly improvised settings. It is difficult to understand how James Robertson Justice and Dawn Addams came to be involved in such a project unless they were unaware of the banal treatment in store for the script."[6]

Kine Weekly wrote: "This is a light skit on special agents and science fiction that should please the undemanding.  ... The plot is introduced very slowly with a lot of talk, but improves once it gets going in the fantastic world of the Angvians, who, judging by their costumes, enjoy perfect central heating. Probability is a scarcity in the story: the touches of humour are obvious but amusing and some of the sequences are more than a little silly; but, generally speaking, it is fairly entertaining nonsense on a small scale. Robin Hawdon is a bland James Word; James Robertson Justice gives his usual, large performance as the wicked Col. Bourdon, and the main Angyian seductions are represented by Anna Gael and Yutte Stensgaard, with guest star Dawn Addams appearing as the Angvian queen bee. "[7]

Moria Reviews noted it is an odd mix of the James Bond type movies with a sex comedy.[8]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Zeta One". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b c I.Q. Hunter, British Science Fiction Cinema, Routledge, 2001 p 69
  3. ^ Sheridan, Simon: Saucy 70s booklet, 88 Films, 2022, p.20.
  4. ^ Stanley, J. (2000) Creature Feature: Third Edition
  5. ^ "Zeta One Blu-ray (The Love Factor)". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Zeta One". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 38 (444): 62. 1971. ProQuest 1305829296 – via ProQuest.
  7. ^ "Zeta One". Kine Weekly. 633 (3262): 10. 18 April 1970. ProQuest 2600861610 – via ProQuest.
  8. ^ "Zeta One (1969)". Moria Reviews. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
[edit]
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