''Gor'' is a 1987

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

fantasy film Fantasy films are films that belong to the fantasy genre with fantastic themes, usually magic, supernatural events, mythology, folklore, or exotic fantasy worlds. The genre is considered a form of speculative fiction alongside science fiction f ...

. It was loosely based on the 1966 novel ''Tarnsman of Gor'', the first in the ''

Gor Gor () is the fictional setting for a series of sword and planet novels written by philosophy professor John Lange, writing as John Norman. The setting was first described in the 1966 novel ''Tarnsman of Gor''. The series is inspired by science f ...

'' series of

sword and planet Sword and planet is a subgenre of science fantasy that features rousing adventure stories set on other planets, and usually featuring humans as protagonists. The name derives from the heroes of the genre engaging their adversaries in hand-to-ha ...

novels. The series was written by philosophy professor and author John Frederick Lange Jr. under his pen name

John Norman John Frederick Lange Jr. (born June 3, 1931) is an American writer who, as John Norman, has authored the '' Gor'' series of science fantasy novels. Norman is also a philosophy professor. Early life and education Lange was born in Chicago, I ...

. There was a sequel to the film, ''

Outlaw of Gor ''Outlaw of Gor'' (also known as ''Gor II'') is a 1988 adventure fantasy science fiction film directed by John "Bud" Cardos. A sequel to '' Gor'', it is loosely based on the '' Gor'' novel series by John Norman, but has strong plot and qualitative ...

'' (1989).

Plot

After being snubbed before a weekend-getaway by his teaching assistant, socially awkward professor of physics 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

Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surfa ...

. 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 (née Underwood, born November 27, 1961) is an American model. She has worked in over 25 films. She has been a dancer in many music videos and has posed in many magazines, including ''Playboy''. She was Playmate of the Month in ...

), a scantily clad barbarian

princess Princess is a regal rank and the feminine equivalent of prince (from Latin ''princeps'', meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or for the daughter of a king or prince. Princess as a subst ...

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-ro-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 Barberini Urbano Barberini Riario Sforza Colonna di Sciarra (born 18 September 1961), best known as Urbano Barberini or sometimes Urbano Barberini Sforza, is an Italian actor. He is also a translator, theater producer and artistic director. He is fluent ...

as Tarl Cabot *

as Talena *

Jack Palance Jack Palance ( ; born Volodymyr Palahniuk ( uk, Володимир Палагню́к); February 18, 1919 – November 10, 2006) was an American actor known for playing tough guys and villains. He was nominated for three Academy Awards, all fo ...

as Xenos *

Paul L. Smith Paul Lawrence Smith (June 24, 1936 – April 25, 2012) was an American-Israeli actor. Burly, bearded and imposing, he appeared in feature films and occasionally on television since the 1970s, generally playing "heavies" and bad guys. His most no ...

as Surbus *

Oliver Reed Robert Oliver Reed (13 February 1938 – 2 May 1999) was an English actor known for his well-to-do, macho image and "hellraiser" lifestyle. After making his first significant screen appearances in Hammer Horror films in the early 1960s, his ...

as Sarm *

Larry Taylor Samuel Lawrence Taylor (June 26, 1942 – August 19, 2019) was 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 Le ...

as King Marlenus * Graham Clarke as Drusus * Janine Denison as Brandy * Donna Denton as Queen Lara * Jenifer Oltman as Tafa * Martina Brockschmidt as Dorna * Anne Power as Beverly *

Arnold Vosloo Arnold Vosloo (born 16 June 1962) is a South African-American actor. He is famous for roles such as Imhotep in ''The Mummy'' and ''The Mummy Returns'', Colonel Coetzee in ''Blood Diamond'', Pik van Cleef in ''Hard Target'', Dr. Peyton Westlake ...

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 Clark as Merchant * Nigel Chipps as Hup

Production

Cannon Films The Cannon Group, Inc. was an American group of companies, including Cannon Films, which produced films from 1967 to 1994. The extensive group also owned, amongst others, a large international cinema chain and a video film company that invested ...

had initially planned to release the film in September of 1987, but the theatrical release was cancelled.

Critical reception

''Gor'' was widely panned upon its release (and subsequently remembered) for its poor production value and

camp Camp may refer to: Outdoor accommodation and recreation * Campsite or campground, a recreational outdoor sleeping and eating site * a temporary settlement for nomads * Camp, a term used in New England, Northern Ontario and New Brunswick to descri ...

. The film has been the target of criticism for its overt sexual themes, and its portrayal of women as slaves to men. In a 2002 interview with online fanzine ''The Gorean Voice'', John Norman recalled that

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 in 1998 and remains ...

, holder of the rights to his novels, balked at the idea of publishing movie tie-in books. He said that Ballantine had to be circumvented in order to make the movie:Gorean Voice interview (quote 1)
/ref>

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.

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gor (Film) Gor 1987 films 1987 fantasy films 1980s science fiction films 1980s English-language films English-language South African films Films directed by Fritz Kiersch Films scored by Pino Donaggio Films set on fictional planets Films shot in South Africa Films shot in Mauritius Films based on American novels Films based on science fiction novels Golan-Globus films Sword and planet films Films produced by Avi Lerner