Gor (1987)

Director:

Fritz Kiersch

Writers:

John Norman (novel)
Rick Marx (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

February 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Plot:

American professor Tarl Cabot is transported via a magical ring to planet Gor, where he must help an oppressed country overthrow its evil king and his barbarian henchmen. |

Plot Keywords:

Ring | Misleading Star Billing | Slavery | Beautiful Woman | Slave

Cast

Urbano Barberini	...	Tarl Cabot
Rebecca Ferratti	...	Talena
Jack Palance	...	Xenos
Paul L. Smith	...	Surbus
Oliver Reed	...	Sarm
Larry Taylor	...	King Marlenus
Graham Clarke	...	Drusus
Janine Denison	...	Brandy
Donna Denton	...	Queen Lara
Jenifer Oltman	...	Tafa (as Jennifer Oltmann)
Martina Brockschmidt	...	Dorna
Ann Power	...	Beverly
Arnold Vosloo	...	Norman
Chris du Plessis	...	Sarsam
Ivan Kruger	...	Sarm's Rider

Also Known As:

John Norman's Gor (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:16 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Mauritius

Company:

Cannon Films

Movie Connections:

Followed by Outlaw of Gor (1989)

A great book made into a lame film

Very sad how they turned a couple of fantastic books into a travesty of a movie. The movies did not do these books justice. Terrible acting, awful screenplay, and inferior directing with not-so-special effects. Sesame Street caliber. Very disappointing ..... this movie could've, and SHOULD'VE, been so much better.

The first book was the best. The unknowing hero (Tarl) is plucked from earth to a similar planet on the other side of the sun, and trained be a great warrior. He encounters various fantastic creatures, an evil ruler, beautiful scantily clad women, and a civilization that considers him an outlaw since he "belongs" to no city. The planet is run by the powerful yet mysterious Priest-Kings, who set a limit on advancement and keep the world in a quasi-medieval age. They live up in a huge mountain that is seemingly impossible to breach. No one has seen them, although many have witnessed their fury when a rule is broken.

The first 3 books are in my collection. That's all I wanted out of the 20-something books by John Norman. After the 3rd, where Tarl goes up the mountain to defiantly confront the Priest-Kings, there really didn't need to be more.

The series began to drop off considerably after that. Women were mostly slaves throughout the series of books. In the 2nd book one of the main female characters was leader of a city, while a few others in the first 5 were aggressive and headstrong. They weren't all submissive all of the time, which provided a few well-timed surprises. The only thing that bored me was Norman's endless descriptions of Gor's culture. This slowed the pace that kept me interested, so I just bypassed those parts when I ran into them. I'm sure a few nerds chose to get involved in the entire culture, similar to many in the Star Trek universe who got into speaking Klingon.

I read up to book 5 and wasn't too impressed with the 4th and 5th. The stories became repetitive with Tarl being captured (again!) and Norman got really hardcore with the female slave subject. Just too over the top in my opinion. The rest of the series is worthless after the 1st 3, I wouldn't take any of the later books even if someone offered them for free.

I absolutely LOATHE remakes, but if EVER a movie or series of movies needed to be remade, it's these. No list of big names needed, I'd be happy with all unknowns if they did it right. With the special effects of today, we could witness a wonderful story brought to the big screen (the right way!), and the majestic Tarns in glorious flight.

A generous 2 stars out of 10. Let's see someone try this again, please.