Viking Women and the Sea Serpent/Teenage Caveman (1958)

THE VIKING WOMEN AND THE SEA SERPENT: This low-rent epic chronicles the adventures of some beautiful blonde Viking women in "the days when the world was young and the gods had not yet abandoned the race of men." They sail off into the unknown in search of their missing husbands but instead encounter the dreaded Monster of the Vortex a gigantic sea serpent that destroys their ship. They wash up on a strange shore where they are enslaved by a group of hairy unattractive warriors led by the evil Stark (Richard Devon) and his sniveling son (Jay Sayer). Lots of whip-cracking lip-smacking human sacrifice and sword-swinging follows. Director-producer Roger "King of the Bs" Corman allegedly shot this classic quickie in a hectic 10 days. Susan Cabot is Inger the Viking priestess who is obviously evil because she s the only brunette; she tries to steal the shirtless husband of leader Dezir (Abby Dalton). June Kenney Betsey Jones-Moreland and Sally Todd are the other Viking women and Jonathan Haze is a young Viking male who tags along with the girls and participates in most of the film's funniest fight scenes.TEENAGE CAVEMAN: Before he was in THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E Robert Vaughn starred in this intelligent quickie directed by Roger Corman in 10 days for $70000. As the restless son of the caveman tribe's symbol maker (Leslie Bradley) Vaughn hunts for food romances a blonde maiden (Darrah Marshall) and is warned by the elders not to venture beyond the river to the land of the monster "that Gives Death with its Touch." Of course he's a teenager so he goes anyway and discovers some pretty shocking secrets. Before that there are dinosaurs (recycled footage from ONE MILLION B.C.) wild dogs and a giant-bear attack. Actor Beach Dickerson plays a bear in addition to several other roles. (He even beats a tom-tom at his own funeral.) Frank De Kova is the villain in the tribe and June Joceylyn Robert Shayne and Jonathan Haze hunt and gather as needed. Corman originally ca Product Description

Enjoyable

These two movies are pleasant enough, if not especially demanding (or rewarding). What's easy to forget about low-budget Roger Corman movies like this, is the degree to which the actors really played them straight. There's little hamming it up or winking at the camera. In his better movies, like "The Wasp Woman," you can find yourself falling for the quite silly storyline just through the presence of the actors, and the straight faces they manage to keep. (This is less true for his semi-humorous movies, like "Creature from the Haunted Sea" or "Little Shop of Horrors"...)

Anyway, both these movies are pretty fun. Viking Women tells the story of--you guessed it--a bunch of Viking women, who go off in search of their men who left home some time back. There's a nice performance by Susan Cabot, and a brief appearance by a sea serpent. Teenage Cave Man was surprisingly engaging, featuring another slew of committed performances and some mildly convincing cave-dwelling hocus-pocus. There's also some lifted footage from, I think, One Million B.C. (1940), and a nameless monster Who Kills With His Touch. Neither of these films will strain your brain cells much, but neither will they numb your patience, and they's make a fun double feature for a weekend afternoon or evening.

The quality of picture for both is excellent, better than I would have expected for such old movies. April 30, 2007

Robert Vaughn as a caveman..... priceless

Tennage caveman:
Robert Vaughn as a caveman.... just this is worth the price of
admission. Our Man from Uncle is running around the prehistoric
times looking for answers. This is not a bad movie...i actually
found myself enjoying this film. Love those 1950's haircuts and
most of the men all clean shaved. And the best part...there is a
story. August 30, 2006

Low-Budget Twin Bill From the 50s.

Roger Corman has said that he never made a film that didn't turn a profit. Since he spent only slightly more money on his movies than Ed Wood, and had access to hundreds of screens all over North America, you can be sure that his statement was "right on the money" ! His movies were aimed at a youth audience, pulled into theatres by memorable posters that often promised more thrills than the film delivered. At the same time, most of his films provided good, cheesy fun, and a number of talented people got their start in motion pictures by working for Mr. Corman (hello Jack Nicholson).

Both of the movies on this DVD fall into that "so bad they're good" category. I guess I'm one of those baby boomers who sometimes gets a kick out of the "ouevre" of Roger Corman, Bert Gordon and--yes--even the infamous Ed Wood ! Each film runs slightly more than an hour--is full screen, black and white with mono sound. I had no problems with the quality, but extras are scant--comments from Mr. Corman would have been a nice touch.

"The Saga of the Viking Women and their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent"--whew ! What a title ! For obvious reasons, it was usually referred to as "Viking Women versus the Sea Serpent" or something similar. Released in 1957, a number of Viking women--mostly models in short skirts--set sail to find their missing men. The leader of the group--nubile, Barbie-like Abby Dalton--is anxious to be reunited with her "betrothed". However, one of her "shipmates", who seems to have mystical powers (she talks to "Odin" a lot), also covets the same man--this nasty woman is played by Susan Cabot, soon to graduate to the leading role in Mr. Corman's "The Wasp Woman"--in terms of acting, Ms. Cabot steals this movie, although she has very little "competition" !

After battling through a storm, and narrowly escaping the clutches of the titular Sea Serpent (don't get your hopes too high--this is no Ray Harryhausen picture !), our heroines crash-land on a shore where barbarians are waiting to enslave them. By sheer coincidence, these barbarians--led by sneering Richard Devon--are also holding the missing Viking men prisoner, including Ms. Dalton's fiancee ( Brad Jackson, a hunky, blond, vacant Troy Donahue type). Can these plucky Viking women help their men escape, and return to their homeland ? Do Sea Serpents have teeth ? !

"Teenage Caveman" could be seen in theatres in 1958, and stars Robert Vaughn in the title role--is it churlish to suggest that Mr. Vaughn was a shade too "mature" for this role ? With Mr. Vaughn's subsequent success in "A" films and particularly television, "Caveman" is unlikely to be prominently featured on his resume. He plays a rebellious caveman who wishes to explore the "forbidden" zone. The village elders are not amused--to disobey the "law" means death ! Of course, this movie would be even shorter if his curiousity didn't get the better of him. His adventures result in encounters with quick sand, and some of the phoniest-looking monsters you are ever likely to see--stock-footage from movies like the 1940 version of "One Million Years BC" is shamelessly shown on a rear projection screen behind Mr. Vaughn and his friends. There is a love interest--blond starlet, Darah Marshall, quite fetching in an animal-skin outfit, gives our hero "knowing looks". She also has a skinny-dip scene--guys--don't get too excited ! After about an hour of unintentionally funny dialogue and situations, we have a "surprise" ending that actually surprises no viewer who has actually been paying attention.

Bottom line--even with low budget sets, special effects, actors etc., both films can still be a lot of fun, if you are in the mood to be "exploited"--again--by the truly unique Roger Corman ! May 26, 2006

Corman Double Feature

When I see these double features I often wonder what the link between the two films is. Certainly Roger Corman has created countless films so why were these two put together? Both have a sense of defying authority and exploration. But I feel the real link is that each film has some great danes that pursue the heroes.

In the first film we meet a group of Viking women who have been alone since their menfolk disappeared some time ago. Some what to go and search while others want to stay. A vote results in them setting out on the search. But a great sea monster destroys their boat and strands them in a hostile land. There the woman are made captive and find the surviving men of their clan. Can they escape? If they do can they get past the sea monster? You will have to watch the film to find out the answers.

In the second film Robert Vaughn is a teenager with a lot of questions. His clan lives in a cave and follow a strict law that forbids them from journeying anywhere even though the surrounding land appear more fertile than their own. When Vaughn convinces some other youths to cross the forbidden river, a power struggle ensues in the clan. Should Vaughn be killed for breaking the law? What will the gods say? What about the God Who Kills With a Touch? Vaughn remains rebellious and knows that things could be much better for his people if they are not shackled by the law.

Both films are in black and white. Both involve a lot of cave scenes. Teenage Caveman has more monsters, creatures and effects. Both have beautiful women in scanty outfits. Both have mediocre acting. Teenage Caveman even has a clip from She Creature. In other words, they are very typical of early Corman. If you like Roger Corman, you will like these. The two go well together and make a decent double-feature. Check them out. May 9, 2006

More reviews at Amazon.com ...