Added: Jul 26, 2008
From: trekfancvg
Duration: 9:32
Here's an amazing scene from an ultra-rare, kitschy, trippy, Soviet-style SF film, Ikarie XB 1 (aka Ikaria XB1, Icarus XB1 and Voyage to the End of the Universe). Czechoslovakia's first science fiction film, this remarkable 1963 movie tells the story of Starship Ikaria XB 1's 2163 trek to Alpha Centari. ("Voyage" was the savagely cut, English dubbed version released by American International Pictures.)The film is generally apolitical, except for this remarkable scene, in which the explorers enter a derelict 20th Century space craft, littered with evidence of capitalist immorality. The visuals are striking. Corpses of tuxedo-clad, gambling westerners, their bodies preserved by open vacuum. The crew killed by their own chemical hand-weapons as they fought over dwindling oxygen. The ship laden with nuclear weapons -- still active after centuries.Ikarie XB 1 is an ambitious, thoughtful, intelligent film that was decades ahead of its time. It's an ultra-rare "must-see" for any serious SF fan, with high-concept elements galore: a trip to proxima centaura; time dilation; future foods, fashion, music and dance; first-contact protocols; increased longevity; artificial intelligence; bulky socialist robots.It's said the screenplay was inspired by the work of Stanislaw Lem, including "The Magellanic Cloud" from 1955. Available as a PAL Region 2 DVD from European retailers, and in the US from xploitedcinema.com. Please buy the DVD to help encourage future DVD releases of other Eastern-bloc SF gems.
Channel: Film
Tags: derelict end icarus ikaria ikarie of rare sf soviet space the to universe voyage xb
Rating: 4.90 (109 ratings) Views: 34559' favoriteCount='264 Comments: 77
Partspare Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - Seems unfair to say gambling represents "immorality".
SnooperSquirrelFilms Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - wow , pretty good for an very old show ...would love to see the complete movie ...thanks for postion it ...
avant1277 Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - try the russian films "Solaris" and "Stalker" by the director Tarkovsky - amazing...
KojiRecords Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - Everything old is new again: at 8:34 notice the boots lighting up at the bottom, the same way children and teenagers now have flashing lights on the soles of their tennis shoes. This footage is absolutely superb, thanks for posting and my never ending thanks to the greatest movie company of all time, American International Pictures---Sam Arkoff, I will look over the editing; RIP.
ReverendSyn Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - The other ship is from 1987? We never had spacefaring technology that advanced back then.Still dont.Strangely enough that was the year Ranger 3 launched in "Buck Rogers"
KrellLab Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - If you like this, you will LOVE the new movieMan Conquers Spacemanconquersspace dot com
czech068 Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - Classic of the Czech Cinematography 1963
alizta Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - The actual Book Bladerunner was making into an Film was playing in 1994. Tech-Overoptimism is a typical thing of vintage Science Fiction.
Crowstudio Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - for the time this is very good, i can see a couple of patents being copied...such as the glowing soles of the shoes...now owned by Nike
ImNotTrying Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - Great video, nice find.
JcOfD Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - Ah, even they grasped the prime principle of space exploration - it ain't exploration if noone is killed.But damnit, that's some sweet movie.
COKINF Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - interesting film,russian sci-fi tends to be more intellectually stimulating than some western films,but what is this one called? thanks for posting.
COKINF Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - Doh,sorry just read the text,its Chzech and called Icarus x1 or such like.
THEHEMPSTERS Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - How cool...I didn't even know Russian made Sci Fi.Are there any modern Russian Sci Fi flicks,we should check out?
Fedotof Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - "Dead Man's Letters""Solaris""Kin-Dza-Dza"
nebby6 Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - The quality of cinematography, sets, and lighting is stunning, especially for the year! Where can I purchase the subtitled version you show here?
AliasVertigo Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - Um, this is a Czechoslovak SF, not a Russian one. Big difference!AliasVertigo (proud to be Czech)
the13thmoon Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - See the original SOLARIS,better still,read it.
Plutoplatter Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - Cool! These surealistic Sci-Fi movies of the 1950s and 1960s still evoke fascination and wonder for the deep universe. Another one, ironically produced in East Germany which was not known for its cinematography, that was terrific was 'First Spaceship on Venus'. It has a great interplanetary rocket called The Cosmostrator. Thanks, Trekfancvg, for making this treat available for us.
genocidepv Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - i have no words.. this displays and camera moves are so out of the time wow O.ois this a... "b" series movie?or however you call it :S
vanaxx Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - Sunningly beautiful cinematography. Lighting is done just right, and the sets do not look cheezy or weak as in some Star trek episodes. I thing it's better than the original the Day the Earth Stood Still with Michael Rennie, and the message is not overly didactic.
XYZandTime Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - This is dark, intelligent and serious at a time when Western sci-fi was all about heroes in tight pants.
bukster1 Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - Wow. Considering the time and place this was made, this is a very good effort. The image of the abandoned spaceship is better done than in many, more recent productions.In Star Trek, there is always gravity and a breathable atmosphere no matter how old the ship.
JHOseven Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - Tigger Fun...?
badnewswade Says:
Jul 26, 2008 - WOW! Is this Cosmos Patrol? And is the rest of it around anywhere?