Deathsport (1978)

Directors:

Allan Arkush
Nicholas Niciphor

Writers:

Frances Doel (story)
Nicholas Niciphor (writer)

Release Date:

April 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Sport

Tagline:

In the year 3000 there'll be no more Olympic Games, World Series, or Superbowl. There'll be only...

Plot:

Futuristic Science Fiction about a sport to the death, using "destructocycles". |

Plot Keywords:

Fictitious Sport | Sequel | Biker | Red Pubic Hair | Game Of Death

Cast

David Carradine	...	Kaz Oshay
Claudia Jennings	...	Deneer
Richard Lynch	...	Ankar Moor
William Smithers	...	Doctor Karl
Will Walker	...	Marcus Karl
David McLean	...	Lord Zirpola
Jesse Vint	...	Polna
H.B. Haggerty	...	Jailer
John Himes	...	Tritan President
Jim Galante	...	Tritan Guard
Peter Cooper	...	Mr. Bakkar (as Peter Hooper)
Brenda Venus	...	Adriann
Gene Hartline	...	Enforcer Sergeant
Chris Howell	...	Stateman Officer
Valerie Rae Clark	...	Dancer

Also Known As:

Death Sport (Australia) (TV title)

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:18 | USA:R | Sweden:(Banned) (1978)

Filming Locations:

San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA

Quotes:

Ankar Moor: You're not as good as your mother!
Kaz Oshay: But far better... than you!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Directors: The Films of Roger Corman (#1.5)" (1999)

DEATHSPORT (Allan Arkush, Nicholas Niciphor and, uncredited, Roger Corman, 1978) **

I distinctly recall this being on Italian TV when I was still a kid and, as far as I can tell, I watched it along with another violent David Carradine sport flick CANNONBALL (1976); however, at this juncture, I couldn't remember any of the details relating to its plot (if so it can be called)!

The film is confused (a mix of DEATH RACE 2000 and ROLLERBALL {both 1975}) and dreary post-apocalyptic junk passing off as thrilling entertainment: apparently, the world has been reduced to two warring factions – gladiator-type 'runners' (complete with anachronistic skimpy costumes), among them Carradine, son of a legendary female leader, and vicious motorcyclists determined to eliminate the former, including Richard Lynch (who had already killed Carradine's mother); ruling the planet, then, is an old man slowly succumbing to brain damage! Of course, a tough woman (Claudia Jennings) is bound to figure in all of this – even so, her most notable contributions are a couple of totally gratuitous nude torture sequences!

The repetitive action, hampered by the obvious low-budget, isn't exactly exciting and certainly not credible (definitely seeming silly in the age of STAR WARS [1977]); predictably, it all ends with a duel-to-the-death between Carradine and Lynch – no guess as to who emerges victorious either! I guess the film is a harmless way to kill 80 minutes, but there's nothing remotely remarkable about it – which is why it's so forgettable in the first place!