In Search of Ancient Astronauts

In his books, von Däniken promoted the idea that the mysteries of the world can all be explained by space aliens, who inspired the ancients to write strange things in their literature, and helped them build archaeological wonders. Of course, his ideas don't stand up to any real scrutiny. As a child, I found the von Däniken fiction-disguised-as-documentary fascinating, because I didn't check behind his nonsense. Years later, I asked an ancient languages scholar to translate the text on an ancient inscription photographed in a von Däniken book. The scholar, lacking a sensationalized agenda, translated it as something like "King [somebody] ruled here. Scribe Gishga wrote this", in contrast to the book's translation about flying chariots of fire. His quotes from materials with well-known translations are distorted by taking selected passages out of context.

I'd give the movie a "1" for its academic dishonesty in a movie that pretends to be a documentary, but it deserves slight credit (maybe a "2") for convincingly presenting its indefensible claims. For someone who is aware of the dishonesty of the movie's claims, there might also be some camp entertainment value.

In Search of Ancient Astronauts (1973)

*** (out of 4)

Before Leonard Nimoy took over the narration duties for the In Search Of.. series, there were two television specials with Rod Serling doing the talking. This first special takes a look at how humans got started on the Earth. The theory being discussed here is whether or not "ancient astronauts" came to Earth and started civilization.

We could debate how much "truth" or "fiction" is here but to me that's rather pointless. There are countless documentaries out there that take a look at alien life, Bigfoot and various other monsters and the point of them is to keep you entertained as well as make you think one way or another. This film does both and for the most part it kept me entertained throughout its running time. There certainly wasn't anything ground-breaking here but it was entertaining and Serling did a nice job with the narration.

Several here have made the assertion that ALL of the author's theories and assertions have been debunked. It certainly doesn't bode well if one poster was correct that a book completely mistranslated a photo just to be sensational.

I saw this in High School 30 years ago and ran across it again a few months ago. There are enough unexplained to-this-day things in here to make you wonder if ancient astronauts visited the earth. This is not to say I accept everything presented at face value, I just don't know.

Certainly this is worth viewing for entertainment as many have said, I just happen to think there are some legitimate theories. The most intriguing one for me was what appeared to be a battery. Well, watch for yourself and decide.

"Chariots of the Gods"...The Book and Subsequent Documentary-Movie by Mega-Selling Author and Researcher "Erik von Daniken", Is the Source-Material.

This is an Edited (about 50%) TV-Version of the Documentary that was a Blockbuster Film, Based on the Book. Rod Serling was the New Narrator and a Few New Interviews Not in the Movie were Added.

This 52 min. Film was Made for Introducing the TV-Series with the Shorten Title..."In Search of...",

because the Series would Expand from "Ancient Astronauts" to Include Many Other Mysteries. The TV-Series Ran 6 Seasons (1977-82)

Included in this Pilot is Carl Sagan, the Most Famous "Debunker" of UFO's, The Paranormal, and Ancient Astronauts...

He Finishes the Film with Infamous Line...

"There's not a smidgen of evidence that we have been visited in the past by Aliens."...

Really Carl?... Smidgen is a Stretch for even You to Defend.

You See...Nothing...There is Nothing...Move Along...There is Nothing to See Here...No Smidgens...No Nothing...It's All Bunk...Every Word, Every Bit of "Evidence"...Every Speculation...Everything You Think You See You Do Not See...Seeing is Not Believing...Believe Me...and Move Along.

Folks Obviously Felt there was...Something to See.

Sagan Aside there is a Wealth of Material to See...If You are Interested in Such Things.

This Little Film is Only the Tip of the Paranormal Ice-Berg Out There "Submitted For Your Approval".

Note...Here is the LeonLouisRicci Original Review for "Chariots of the Gods" (1970)...

VON DANIKEN LAUNCHES ANCIENT ASTRONAUT THEORY...EXPONENTIALLY EXPANDING EVER SINCE

"Chariot of the Gods" (Book) Published in 1968 Landed with a Thunderbolt and was so Popular that it Sent Scholars Reeling and Flabbergasted.

They Now had to Actually Try and Explain Away All of Erich von Daniken's Assertions. About Megalithic Structures and other Anomalies that were Previously Ignored because there was Simply No Way to Explain it.

But Try the Academics Did and Try the Academics Still Do to this Day.

Von Daniken was Attacked on All Fronts from All Sides. He was Called Every Nasty Name, Ridiculed, and Dismissed as a Fake.

His Research was Scrutinized in Microscopic Detail and Given "No Quarter". The So-Called Scholars with Close Minded Intensity. The Nay-Sayers had Little Success. The Controversial Author went on to Publish 16 Books and Stood His Ground Amidst the Incoming Aimed at His Head.

Von Daniken has Sold Over 70 Million Books.

An Industry was Launched and is Still Expanding Today. His Legacy is Incalculable.

It was the 9th Highest-Grossing Films of 1970. Box-Office Over $25 Million. The Film was Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary. Arguably Not the Best but Certainly the Most Influential.

Today, it Plays Dated, but Fascinating. The Narration is Dry and One-Sided. But the Music is Cutting-Edge and Surreal and the Photography is Outstanding.

Recommended: Zecharia Sitchin's Earth Chronicles Series of Books. More Detailed and Researched. Focusing On the Sumerians and Anunnaki Gods of the Near East.

"A LONG TIME AGO...IN A GALAXY FAR FAR AWAY"

Saw this for the first time on the "In Search Of..." DVD set, which can be found on the bonus disc. Rod Serling narrated this, and does a fine job presenting it in his matter-of-fact way, since he had such a unique voice, he was a perfect narrator, as was proved by "The Twilight Zone", though Rod does not appear on screen, which makes his job much easier!

This focuses on possible alien visitors being the "astronauts" that visited Earth, and may have helped humans along, with the Nazca lines being their landing strip, as it were. Speculative fiction, but interesting, if a bit dry. Worth watching at least once or twice, though not as memorable as the Leonard Nimoy series that followed.