Filmgroup

A 1960 American science fiction film produced and directed by Roger Corman. Shady businessman Harold Gern (Antony Carbone), his wife Evelyn (Betsy Jones-Moreland), and his lawyer Martin Joyce (Robert Towne, in his screenwriting debut, credited as Edward Wain) are scuba diving off Puerto Rico when a mysterious temporary absence of oxygen kills everyone on the island — and possibly the world. When they surface, they find themselves the sole survivors of an unexplained apocalypse. As the three adjust to their new existence, the tension of being the last people on Earth — with only one woman — drives the two men into a deadly rivalry. Shot in Puerto Rico on a low budget, the film features an early screenplay by Robert Towne, who later won an Oscar for Chinatown (1974).

Sci-Fi · Drama

A 1960 American drama film directed by Harvey Berman, starring Jack Nicholson as Johnny Varron, a rebellious Beat Generation punk who spends his days as an amateur dirt track driver between partying and troublemaking. After forcing a motorcycle cop off the road, Johnny's escalating recklessness alienates his best friend Dave, who has found a new girlfriend named Nancy. When Dave decides to leave the gang, Johnny kidnaps Nancy in a desperate bid to maintain control, leading to a tragic conclusion. Executive produced by Roger Corman and released through Filmgroup as a double feature with The Girl in Lovers Lane. An early Nicholson role, made when he was 23.

Drama · Crime

A 1968 American science fiction film directed by Peter Bogdanovich (credited as Derek Thomas) for producer Roger Corman. The film is a re-edit of the 1962 Soviet science fiction film Planeta Bur (Planet of Storms) by Pavel Klushantsev, with new English-dubbed footage and additional scenes starring Mamie Van Doren as Moana, leader of a band of blond Venusian women. Astronauts landing on Venus encounter dangerous prehistoric creatures and unknowingly kill a pterosaur-like creature that is worshipped as a god by the Venusian women. In revenge, the women attempt to kill the astronauts, who eventually make an emergency blast off from Venus — leaving behind their damaged robot, which the women adopt as their new god. Bogdanovich also narrated the film. The Venusian women do not appear in the original Soviet film.

Sci-Fi · Adventure