BARBARELLA'S SHAGPILE COCKPIT

BARBARELLA on BLU-RAY!

2012-01-19T22:20:00.000+01:00

Not much else to say than that at this stage. Paramount Studios have announced a July 3rd, 2012 release date for BARBARELLA (1968) on Blu-ray in the USA. Here's an example in a news release.

No cover art or details of extras, if any. A commentary track from Jane Fonda herself would be the best news.

Any further news about this exciting release will of course be posted here and tweeted on twitter under @Barbarella1968 which I hasten to remind you is an unofficial fan-based account dedicated to the movie.

BARBIE-RELLA!

2011-10-05T17:15:00.000+02:00

A Barbarella Barbie doll seems logical to me, but sadly hasn't happened yet... officially. Bruce Zwinge in LA has created this one-off edition with a perfect replica of a Barbarella costume, weapon, and hairstyle. Note that he's opted for a naughty pink backing, rather than the authentic brown shagpile...

Thanks to Barbarella fan Ken Anderson for pointing this out. Here's the full report on his blog, with more photos...

BARBARELLA soundtrack CD - new release!

2011-09-07T17:39:00.001+02:00

September 2011

Harkit Records have re-released their CD of BARBARELLA, ten years after they first debuted the cult soundtrack, formerly only available on vinyl.

The new release is also very welcome because of a couple of additions, making it the best release of the soundtrack ever made.

One of the lasting impressions from the film, is the music. Without it, so many static scenes, lacking in dialogue, would be pretty mystifying without the music to guide us as to what's going on.

Using a small orchestra and an electric guitar with it's fuzzbox on overdrive, the soundtrack is a uniquely sixties' sound for the far future. Suitably menacing for the attack of the deadly dolls, depressing enough for the walk through the Labryinth (bummer!), and elated for Pygar's newfound ability to fly. Most of the excitement for the fight in the sky and the climax in Sogo comes from the music - Barbarella would be lost without it.

Besides the celebrated, and much covered, opening song ("Barbarella Psychedella") and the closing number 'An Angel Is Love', several songs crop up during the story, even though they're not source music. Only 'Smoke (Viper Vapour)' and 'The Sex Machine' can actually be heard by the characters. Mind you, Barbarella is humming her own theme tune in Pygar's nest, so she must have it playing in her spaceship!

The additional songs, also performed by Bob Crewe and The Glitterhouse, are heard over Barbarella's ride with Mark Hand ('Love, Love Love Brings Me Down'), and a vocal version of 'I Love All The Love In You' - the tune heard when Barbarella meets Pygar.

Besides a remastering of the original soundtrack, there is a previously unheard alternate version of the main theme (track 23), a very different arrangement, but using the same orchestra. It's an instrumental, as opposed to the song used under opening titles. Perhaps this version was intended to be released as a single.

This new release also reinstates the full version of the opening title song (track 1), now 90 seconds longer. The original vinyl soundtrack (and the 2002 CD) used a slightly different arrangement which starts more abruptly and jumps jarringly into the song. While I much prefer this version, I must say that it doesn't sound quite as 'bright' as the original album.

The new CD also correctly breaks up the tracks as they were on the original vinyl. The 2002 CD track running times didn't correspond to the listed durations, and therefore some of the music wasn't under the right track titles. It might have been just my copy, but the 2002 CD also had a four second chunk missing from 'Pygar's Persecution'. This has now been corrected.

In addition to the soundtrack are three original radio adverts. The five cover versions by The Young Lovers that were on the 2002 CD aren't included, but aren't really essential.

Barbarella CD - samples and ordering information from Harkit Records.

Mark Hodgson

INTRODUCTION

2010-02-15T18:16:00.005+01:00

Welcome to the the Shagpile Cockpit.

A psychedelic visual guide to the world of Barbarella as envisioned in the 1968 movie.

Barbarella is definitely a cult film. It wasn't designed to be a cult, like some films, it was made to make money. But like Blade Runner it had a rough ride from the critics, and the film continues to not be taken seriously as sci-fi, or even as a comedy! But despite being ignored by the mainstream, Barbarella still has a huge following as a cult film.

The script keeps getting quoted, the costumes are copied, the set designs are still way out, the soundtrack music is still playing... The movie is always one of the first films out on any new home video format and always somewhere on TV. Postcards, posters, comic books keep getting printed. Barbarella refuses to go away. Not mentioned much in the media, it's a film that succeeds by word-of-mouth.

It's at the top of my top films, not because it's an underdog, but because I genuinely love it and haven't tired of it in thirty years. I first saw Barbarella at midnight on TV in a double-bill with This Island Earth. I love the look, the story, the characters, the cast, the dialogue, the visuals, the music and the intent.

While the announced Barbarella remake by Robert Rodriguez isn't happening, there may still be a new movie in the near future. Keep watching the Barbarella Twitterfeed in the sidebar for any new news.

Why not also try this Italian site for more marvellous photos from the film.

This site is dedicated to everyone involved in the making of the movie, especially the character's creator, Jean-Claude Forest.

Updated, August 2010