Gor (film)
Encyclopedia
Gor is a 1988 science fiction
and fantasy film
based loosely on the novel The Tarnsman Of Gor
, written by philosophy professor and author John Frederick Lange Jr. (better known as John Norman
).
. Cabot too is abruptly attacked by Sarm's warriors. After inadvertently killing Sarm's own son during the encounter, he is left for dead in the desert. He awakens to find himself being nursed back to health by Talena (Rebecca Ferratti
), a scantily clad barbarian princess
of the Kingdom of Ko-ro-ba. Cabot learns that Talena's father, the King, has been captured by Sarm, along with the Home Stone. Cabot travels with Talena on a rescue mission to Sarm's lands, where they are captured. Cabot leads a group of rebels in an escape effort, whereupon Cabot is able to kill Sarm, rescue Talena and her father, and reacquire the Home Stone. Tarl et al return to Ko-ra-ba, where, after Cabot and Talena admit their love for one another, Cabot accidentally activates the Home Stone, and is returned to Earth.
. The film has been the target of criticism for its overt sexual themes, and its portrayal of women characters as being slaves to men. Fans of the Gor novels dislike it for diverging strongly from the books.
In a 2002 interview with online fan-zine, The Gorean Voice, John Norman recalled that the rights-holders to his novels, Ballantine Books
, balked at the idea of a movie tie-in with the novels, saying that the publisher had to be circumvented in order to make the movie:
Norman further commented that his work was the target of feminist criticism that he portrayed women characters in a negative way, resulting in his being snubbed from at least one science fiction convention:
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
and fantasy film
Fantasy film
Fantasy films are films with fantastic themes, usually involving magic, supernatural events, make-believe creatures, or exotic fantasy worlds. The genre is considered to be distinct from science fiction film and horror film, although the genres do overlap...
based loosely on the novel The Tarnsman Of Gor
Gor
Gor , the Counter-Earth, is the alternate-world setting for a series of 30 novels by John Norman that combine philosophy, erotica and science fiction...
, written by philosophy professor and author John Frederick Lange Jr. (better known as John Norman
John Norman
John Frederick Lange, Jr. , better known under his pen name John Norman, is a professor of philosophy and an author. He is best known for his Gor novel series.-Biography:...
).
Plot
After being snubbed before a weekend-getaway by his teaching assistant, socially awkward professor of history Tarl Cabot accidentally unlocks the magical properties of a ring which transports him to the planet Gor. After his arrival, Cabot encounters a village being attacked by the army of the tyrannical priest-king Sarm. Sarm's forces are invading neighboring settlements in an effort to retrieve the Home Stone, a mystical object that creates pathways between Gor and distant EarthEarth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
. Cabot too is abruptly attacked by Sarm's warriors. After inadvertently killing Sarm's own son during the encounter, he is left for dead in the desert. He awakens to find himself being nursed back to health by Talena (Rebecca Ferratti
Rebecca Ferratti
Rebecca Michelle Ferratti is an actress, model, and dancer. She has worked in over 25 movies. She has been a dancer in many music videos and has posed in many magazines, including Playboy...
), a scantily clad barbarian princess
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
of the Kingdom of Ko-ro-ba. Cabot learns that Talena's father, the King, has been captured by Sarm, along with the Home Stone. Cabot travels with Talena on a rescue mission to Sarm's lands, where they are captured. Cabot leads a group of rebels in an escape effort, whereupon Cabot is able to kill Sarm, rescue Talena and her father, and reacquire the Home Stone. Tarl et al return to Ko-ra-ba, where, after Cabot and Talena admit their love for one another, Cabot accidentally activates the Home Stone, and is returned to Earth.
Cast
- Urbano BarberiniUrbano BarberiniUrbano Barberini is an Italian actor fluent in Italian and French. His most recognized role in the English-speaking countries was in his work in Dario Argento's film Opera though in the English dubbing, his voice was replaced with a more masculine actor's voice...
as Tarl Cabot - Rebecca FerrattiRebecca FerrattiRebecca Michelle Ferratti is an actress, model, and dancer. She has worked in over 25 movies. She has been a dancer in many music videos and has posed in many magazines, including Playboy...
as Talena - Jack PalanceJack PalanceJack Palance , was an American actor. During half a century of film and television appearances, Palance was nominated for three Academy Awards, all as Best Actor in a Supporting Role, winning in 1991 for his role in City Slickers.-Early life:Palance, one of five children, was born Volodymyr...
as Xenos - Paul L. SmithPaul L. SmithPaul L. Smith is an American character actor. Burly, bearded, and imposing, he has appeared in films and occasionally on TV since the 1970s, generally playing "heavies" and bad guys...
as Surbus - Oliver ReedOliver ReedOliver Reed was an English actor known for his burly screen presence. Reed exemplified his real-life macho image in "tough guy" roles...
as Sarm - Larry TaylorLarry TaylorLarry Taylor is an American bass guitarist, best known for his work as a member of Canned Heat from 1967. Before joining Canned Heat he had been a session bassist for The Monkees and Jerry Lee Lewis...
as King Marlenus - Graham ClarkeGraham ClarkeGraham Clarke is an American musician, songwriter, arranger, and entertainer. Active since 1995 and performing frequently in the New York metropolitan area, Clarke is regarded as one of New York's most popular and long-lasting children's entertainers and recording artists having played well over...
as Drusus - Janine Denison as Brandy
- Donna Denton as Queen Lara
- Jenifer Oltman as Tafa
- Martina Brockschmidt as Dorna
- Ann PowerAnn PowerAnn Power is an Irish lawyer and academic, and since 22 January 2008 has been the judge in respect of Ireland at the European Court of Human Rights, the international tribunal tasked with enforcement of the European Convention on Human Rights amongst the Council of Europe's forty-seven Member States...
as Beverly - Arnold VoslooArnold VoslooArnold Vosloo is a South African American actor, best-known for playing Imhotep in The Mummy and its 2001 sequel The Mummy Returns, as well as the role of the superhero Darkman in the sequel Darkman II: The Return of Durant and its 1996 sequel, Darkman III: Die Darkman Die...
as Norman - Chris du Plessis as Sarsam
- Ivan Kruger as Sarm's Rider
- Joe Ribeiro as Auctioneer
- Visser du Plessis as Compound Guard
- Philip Van der Byl as Whipman
- George Magnussen as Old Man
- Fred Potgieter as Brand Master
- Etty Orgad as Hooded Woman
- Amanda Haramis as Hooded Woman
- Eve Joss as Auction Slave
- Bobby Lovegreen as Sarsam's Rider
- Rick Skidmore as Prisoner
- Vic Tearnan as Body Guard
- Andre du Plessis as Body Guard
- Fred Swart as Feast Master
- Nobby ClarkNobby ClarkNobby is the diminutive form of the name Norbert. It is also a nickname most commonly used in English for those with the surname Clark or Clarke.-Nobby Clark:...
as Merchant
Critical Reception
Gor was widely panned upon its release (and subsequently remembered) for its poor production value and campCamp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
. The film has been the target of criticism for its overt sexual themes, and its portrayal of women characters as being slaves to men. Fans of the Gor novels dislike it for diverging strongly from the books.
In a 2002 interview with online fan-zine, The Gorean Voice, John Norman recalled that the rights-holders to his novels, Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books is a major book publisher located in the United States, founded in 1952 by Ian Ballantine with his wife, Betty Ballantine. It was acquired by Random House in 1973, which in turn was acquired by Bertelsmann AG in 1998 and remains part of that company today. Ballantine's logo is a...
, balked at the idea of a movie tie-in with the novels, saying that the publisher had to be circumvented in order to make the movie:
"Ballantine Books refused to do movie tie-ins to either film; they failed even to answer my letters. My attorney finessed his way around Ballantine's rights department and contacted the legal department at Random House. The movies were made by going over the heads of the censors."
Norman further commented that his work was the target of feminist criticism that he portrayed women characters in a negative way, resulting in his being snubbed from at least one science fiction convention:
"I was invited to participate in an sf convention and was listed among the invited guests. Subsequently a prominent fantasy feminist told the program committee that she would feel 'uncomfortable' if I were at the convention when she was. Accordingly, my name was literally crossed off the ready-to-mail brochures...I got one with my name crossed off the guest list with Magic Marker."