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Buck Rogers
 
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Buck Rogers (1939)

Buster Crabbe , Constance Moore , Ford I. Beebe;Saul Goodkind    NR   DVD
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)

List Price: $29.99
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Frequently Bought Together

Buck Rogers + Flash Gordon: Box Set (Space Soldiers/Flash Gordon's Trip To Mars/Flash Gordon Conquers The Universe) (3DVD) + Adventures of Captain Marvel
Price For All Three: $48.97

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  • Flash Gordon: Box Set (Space Soldiers/Flash Gordon's Trip To Mars/Flash Gordon Conquers The Universe) (3DVD) DVD ~ Buster Crabbe$9.99

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Product Details

  • Actors: Buster Crabbe, Constance Moore, Jackie Moran, Henry Brandon, Wheeler Oakman
  • Directors: Ford I. Beebe;Saul Goodkind
  • Format: Black & White, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Original recording remastered, Restored
  • Language: English
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Rated: NR (Not Rated)
  • Studio: VCI Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: November 3, 2009
  • Run Time: 241 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B002KVSJ6O
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #16,525 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

While it lacks the baroque, fantastical quality of the previous Flash Gordon serials (which also starred Buster Crabbe), the Buck Rogers serial still exemplifies the freewheeling spirit of pulp-magazine space opera of the 1930s. Crash-landing in the Arctic in the 20th century, Buck Rogers and his sidekick Buddy Wade (Jackie Moran) use a special gas to induce suspended animation, only to be awakened 500 years later when the world is ruled by the evil Killer Kane. We are told that Kane's ascendancy is a direct result of the 20th century's failure to solve the problem of crime. But luckily, Buck Rogers is here to fight Kane's evil domination of mankind, which involves making obedient robots out of folks by strapping an "amnesia helmet" on their heads. (The helmet looks like the sawed-off end of a cheesy rocket ship, complete with fins.) Most of the episodes deal with invasion forces from the planet Saturn and whose side they're going to take, Killer Kane's or Buck's, affording plenty of opportunity for spaceships to zip back and forth, propelled by sparks and rising smoke. All the trappings and tropes of space opera abound: ray guns, space travel, villainous political figures, alien civilizations. In a way, the flaws seem quaint--the wooden acting, the cheesy costumes and sets, the flimsy space crafts, the similarity between the surface of Saturn and certain California deserts, and the way Buck needs no learning curve after traveling 500 years into the future. It's great adolescent fun. --Jim Gay

Product Description

Preserved in a state of suspended animation for 500 years by the Nirvano gas in the gondola of their dirigible wrecked in the arctic ice wastes, Buck Rogers (Buster Crabbe) and Buddy (Jackie Moran) are rescued by scientists in the year 2500 to find the world under the despotic rule of Killer Kane (Anthony Warde) and his super gangsters. Using an arsenal of fantastic weapons created in Dr. Huer's (C. Montague Shaw) clandestine laboratory, the group attempts to seek aid from the planet Saturn to oust the tyrannical ruler only to find that his henchmen have already taken over control of the Prince of Saturn. After several harrowing adventures with the Zugg men, Buck and Buddy return to Earth only to be shot down, imprisoned and finally rescued to participate in a spectacular air battle to wrest control of the Universe from the sinister intergalactic despot. Bonus Features: Liner Notes by author Hank Davis, "The History of Buck Rogers" by Clifford Weimer, Photo Gallery, 1933 Buck Rogers short feature. Product Specs: 2-DVD9s; Dolby Digital; 241 minutes; B&W; 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA-NR; Year - 1939; SRP - $29.99.

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Customer Reviews

28 Reviews
5 star:
 (14)
4 star:
 (8)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (28 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
62 of 63 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A True THRILL-O-RAMA, September 22, 2002
By Matthew L. Mutchmore (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Buck Rogers (DVD)
The 12 chapter BUCK ROGERS serial, was shot between the Flash Gordon serials "Flash Gordon's Trip To Mars" and "Flash Gordon Conquers The Universe." Audiences seemed indifferent to it, so the plans for a sequel were scrapped in favor of continuing the Flash Gordon series. While the Flash Gordon serials are probably better, I really enjoy the Buck Rogers serial too.

Buck Rogers has STYLE. Not to say that Flash didn't, but the Buck Rogers serial has:

The Art Deco Headquarters of Killer Kane, with it's convenient topiary shrubs for hiding behind.

The swirling mirror pool monitor screens.

The equally Art Deco space ships, with sparklers as exhaust and that sound, something like a microwave oven and a car missing a muffler. These ships were so advanced, all they needed was a simple door with handle.

A future full of wimps. Flash and Buddy easily push away or tackle anyone who they clash with.

The groovy De-Gravity belts and the transporter.

The Saturnian tram system.

The exotic terrain of the planet Saturn, which in no way looked like a California desert.

The Saturnian MUGGS, who should have all been nominated for academy awards.

Okay, I'm being a little sarcastic. But I really do have a great love for this serial, even with all its many flaws. Terrible performances by some of the supporting characters, a few cases of severely bad stunt doubling, and the effects, well......they did their best with what they had to work with. I love the little dolls in the Saturnian tunnel trams.

And Buck himself--Larry "Buster" Crabbe was so handsome. That wavy hair and that killer smile were all he needed. I wonder if the producers ever realized what kind of confusion they would cause in the years that followed, by casting the same actor for both Flash and Buck. It's always interesting to see a VHS version of Buck Rogers with a picture from Flash Gordon on the cover, and vice versa.

Buck Rogers is a true pleasure to watch. It's so much fun, and it's the perfect length. It's over before it has worn out its welcome. And if you want more, then watch the next chapter. The menu screens are fun too, with the ships swinging around on visible wires. If only they would have included a booklet instead of advertising.

This is well worth checking out, especially if you enjoy the Flash serials. Like the cover proclaims, it's a 12 chapter Thrill-O-Rama!

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39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars VCI edition just fine, June 3, 2004
By Roger Travis Jr. (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Buck Rogers (DVD)
As I've been trying to collect some classic serials, I've been frustrated by the lack of specific information on the various editions. So let me first say that while the print is far from pristine, for the price this VCI edition is hard to beat.

Second, let me say that I am astonished--to the point of feeling like my 10-year old self was had--how much of "Star Wars" Lucas lifted almost whole-cloth from this serial. Even the prologue as a steeply pitched crawl comes from Buck Rogers, not to mention countless scenes in the Millennium Falcon as the ship is chased by an evil-empire-like force of villains.

So here's the advice I would have been happiest to have had a few days ago when I was trying to decide whether to buy this disc: if you love science fiction on film, or are interested in the popular culture of the late 30's and early 40's, BUY THIS DISC.

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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Awful fun, May 23, 2006
This review is from: Buck Rogers (DVD)
Chances are, if you're here, you've already made up your mind. People don't just stumble across a 1930s serial. So you're probably a fan of this kind of stuff.

Which means we aren't going to judge this like we would a new, slick, Hollywood release with top-notch actors. This is budget sci-fi made for kids of the 1930s. It's not sophisticated, the acting is a little stilted, and the science laughable. But if you wanted that stuff, you'd buy something else, right?

Comparing this to other serials, I think it's one of the best. Like all serials, it tends to bog down a bit after the first half. That's because most of the really new ideas get presented in the first chapters.

However, the inventive approach to effects and matte painting are really enjoyable. The story is just silly fun. The presence of a fairly non-stereotyped Asian actor is interesting (even though his acting's as bad as everyone else's).

If you're adding to your archive, don't miss this one. Cool ray guns, gravity belts, transporters...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Have not received
I ordered this title at the same time as "Son of Tarzan" & I have never received it as of this date.
Published 4 months ago by Joseph W. Rippinger

5.0 out of 5 stars No Flash Gordon, but you may not care when you watch this stunning VCI restoration
First things first: BUCK ROGERS is rather weak and disappointing compared to the two FLASH GORDON serials (1936 and 1938) that preceded it and that also star Buster Crabbe -... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Muzzlehatch

4.0 out of 5 stars One small complaint
The restoration and quality of the picture is outstanding. This is the best DVD version of Buck Rogers that has ever been and likely will ever be released. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Bradley Davis

5.0 out of 5 stars a 70 year old series that looks this good has to get 5 stars
I'm not reviewing this classic serial (nor get into a Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon debate)...but offering a review of the 2 DVD set that I picked up yesterday out of curiosity as it... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Richardson

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent remastered picture! Worth the upgrade.
I've watched three of the episodes so far. The picture quality is a HUGE improvement over the original VCI release which I found to be murky, dark and blurry at times. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Cinema Un-Verite

5.0 out of 5 stars "70th Anniversary (1939) ... Buck Rogers (Buster Crabbe) ... Vci Ent. (2009)"
VCI Entertainment and Universal Pictures present "BUCK ROGERS:70TH ANNIVERSARY" (1939) (Dolby digitally remastered) --- adapted from Edgar Wallace novel with 12 Chapters of... Read more
Published 8 months ago by J. Lovins

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting devices but plot is weak.
One of the few good aspects of this serial is the use of futuristic devices such as transporters and a cloaking device, concepts later seen on the original Star Trek, and high... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Vocal Music

3.0 out of 5 stars Buck is Ok, Flash still rules
For fans of old fashioned science fiction hokum and mumbo-jumbo, this isn't bad. Buster Crabbe (Buck) and his teenage pal Buddy have their blimp lost in the snow for 500 years and... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Andre M.

3.0 out of 5 stars Buster Crabbe's Only Go-Round as Buck Rogers
Universal's 1939 adaptation of "Buck Rogers" is no match for the "Flash Gordon" cliffhangers. Buster Crabbe's space heroics are still fun to watch, but this 12-chapter serial... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Scott T. Rivers

5.0 out of 5 stars The antiquated future
The minute this disk starts rolling, any day becomes a rainy Saturday, no matter what the weather, and the smell of tired popcorn fills the air. Read more
Published 13 months ago by wiredweird

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