Buck (Gil Gerard, amiable as always) and Twiki are lured to a planet where Buck is enlisted to fight evil alien warlord the Traybor (deliciously played with lip-smacking wicked relish by the always great William Smith). The Traybor has a harem full of girls who include the daughter of the planet's ruler Darius (well played by Keith Andes) and can shoot lethal bolts of electricity out of his hands. However, legend has it that a 500 year old man can defeat him. Director Bob Bender, working from a fun and eventful script by Rob Gilmer, relates the cool story at a snappy pace, adroitly milks a pleasing line in sharp dry'n'deadpan humor, and stages the action set pieces with a good deal of flair (Buck's big fight with the Traybor at the end is especially lively and exciting). With his bad gray wig, sparkly silver vest, scar on his face, and leering Jack Palance-style mannerisms, Smith's Traybor makes for an amusingly campy villain. Naturally, the trademark cruddy matte paintings and dodgy (not so) special effects further add to the considerable kitschy charm. Better still, we also get a bevy of beautiful babes in skimpy outfits and Erin Gray as Wilma Deering looks smoking hot in one of her customary skintight spandex outfits. An enjoyable show.
Review of Buck's Duel to the Death
