Damnation Alley (1977) 20th Century Fox Starring George Peppard, Jan Michael Vincent, Dominique Sanda, Paul Winfield and Jackie Earle Haley. Directed by Jack Smight.
Produced by Jerome M. Zietman and adapting a screenplay by Alan Sharp and Lukas Heller from the Roger Zelazny novella of the same name, Damnation Alley was Fox's Big entry into the science fiction genre. The studio was banking on this film to make big money at the box office.
There was also this smaller independent work called Star Wars that they hoped might also make a couple of bucks...
Damnation Alley stars George Peppard (Best known for his television role as Hannibal Smith leader of The A-Team) and Jan Michael Vincent (Known also to telelvision to many as Stringfellow Hawke pilot of Airwolf).
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| Hannibal Smith and Stringfellow Hawke!!! |
The viewer is introduced to the 123rd strategic missile installation located in California.
Jake Tanner (Jan Michael Vincent) and Eugene Denton (George Peppard) are the officers of the day on duty for launch command.
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| Uh oh... go directly to jail!!! |
The story sets up the dynamic that the older Denton is a by the book commander who does not approve of his younger non-conformist fellow officer. Denton tells Tanner that he's applied for a roster change due to the fact he feels that Tanner does not meet his specifications.
No time is wasted as suddenly ICBMs targeting the United States start lighting up the screens of the command centre.
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| But, he'll see the Big Board!!! |
Interceptor missiles are launched as a counter offensive.
Inevitably, with only 40% of the missiles destroyed nuclear attack is imminent.
The US responds in kind and launches their own arsenal, resulting in World War III.
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| Somebody setup us the bomb!!! |
The launch operatives helplessly watch as the country falls to nuclear armageddon.
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| Welcome to this crazy time... |
Two years after the apocalypse, the missile base is now the home for the officers as well as the remaining personnel.
The Earth has gone radical changes. The axis has tilted, severe storms are commonplace, the desert is filled with giant mutated scorpions and no Taco Bell in sight!
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| Release the Gargons!!! |
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| I think we're gonna need Murdoch and BA's help on this one |
Meanwhile at the installation discipline has broken down as some of the men have quit the service and have segregated themselves away from those who still are loyal to base Commander General Landers (Murray Hamilton).
Amongst them are Keegan (Paul Winfield AKA Lt Traxler Terminator, Captain Terrell Star Trek II and the Tamarian Captain of Star Trek TNG "Darmok"), and Tanner.
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| Paul "Darmok" Winfield |
Tragedy strikes when negligence causes an explosion of the main building Killing General Landers and most of the inhabitants of the base save for four survivors.
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| That's why you don't smoke in bed!!! |
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| Gentlemen, the EM 50 Urban Assault Vehicle!!! |
The LandMaster! AKA The TRUE star of the movie!
The reveal is closely followed by the appearance of a second LandMaster, as Tanner and Keegan stare in amazement.
Denton emerging from the access hatch, offers the two rogues a choice. They can join the crew or stay behind.
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| I love it when a plan comes together. |
Tanner states that he's willing to come along as long as he doesn't have to re-enlist. Denton tells Tanner that although he does not have to re-enlist, he is to remember whose in charge.
Tanner notes that though the service is gone, Eugene is still giving orders.
That being said the two mighty vehicles set out on their journey across the radioactive wasteland on a trek to... Albany.
Why Albany? Well it turns out that the survivors are receiving a radio message from the area broadcasted every week.
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| 99 bottles of beer on the wall... |
The goal is to get there through a projected route offering the LEAST resistance, right through Damnation Alley.
Manning the second vehicle is the team of Keegan and Perry.
As both Armoured Carriers drive their way around the desert they encounter a mega storm of multiple twisters.
Perry advises that they stop and dig in, but Tanner disagrees and make his way towards the storms in hope of driving his way around the whirling funnels.
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| ...and the world was woggos. |
Keegan manages to survive and joins up with Denton and Tanner in LandMaster One.
The team manages to make a stopover in Las Vegas where they encounter Janice (Dominique Sanda) a singer/ songwriter who is the lone survivor of Tinsel city.
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| A wolf that takes a peasant to supper, probably won't need any breakfast... |
Damnation Alley can best best be described as middle of the road. There is setup for conflict between by the book Denton and loose cannon Tanner but the conflict that's expected is never paid off.
The story largely centres around beauty shots of the LandMaster and ignores much of the interactions between the characters.
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| What does it mean, Boss? |
It seems the studio execs at Fox thought the cool showpiece and special effects would be enough to carry the film, and while that does work for ten year old me, old, ancient me wants more from the heroes.
The vehicle itself was specially created by Dean Jeffries and is a marvel to look at. Unfortunately it's really the only point of interest for the movie.
Wait I spoke too soon, let's see... Jackie Earle Haley... wow young Rorshach is in this movie...
Seamon Glass!!! Hey Deputy Sherriff Dan Colter survived the apocalypse from the movie This is Not a Test, cool!!! Too bad he's a bad guy here.
In the end the flick is still entertaining but the janky blue screen effects and the lack of story makes it an effort to watch, Still the vehicle is cool.
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| Now keep it under 40!!! |
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