Main Cast: Victoria Vetri, Robin Hawdon, Patrick Allen, Sean Caffrey
Release Year: 1970
Country: UK
Run Time: 96 minutes
MPAA Rating: G
Plot
Sanna (Victoria Vetri), a beautiful blonde woman, is condemned to death when she is blamed for a sudden aberration of the sun. Fortunately, the girl is rescued by fisherman Tara (Robin Hawdon), a member of the nearby Sand Tribe, but Sanna's presence infuriates Tara's girlfriend Ayak (Imogen Hassall). While others run from the carnivorous dinosaurs, Tara trains one of the beasts who believes she is one of her offspring. A typhoon leaves four survivors to fight for survival in this prehistorically inaccurate science fiction story. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
Drewe Henley - Khaku; Magda Konopka - Ulido; Imogen Hassall - Ayak; Patrick Holt - Ammon; Janet Rossini - Rock Girl; Carol-Anne Hawkins - Yani; Connie Tilton - Sand Mother; Maggie Lynton - Rock Mother; Jimmy Lodge - Fisherman; Billy Cornelius - Hunter; Ray Ford - Hunters; Maria O'Brien - Omah
Credit
John Blezard - Art Director, Carl Toms - Costume Designer, Val Guest - Director, Mario Nascimbene - Composer (Music Score), Richard Mills - Makeup, Dick Bush - Cinematographer, Aida Young - Producer, Roger Dicken - Special Effects, Jim Danforth - Special Effects, Allan Bryce - Special Effects, Brian Johncock - Special Effects, Val Guest - Screenwriter
Like several of Hammer's previous films, such as One Million Years B.C. (1966), the film portrays dinosaurs and humans alongside each other. Directed and scripted by Val Guest, it was based on a treatment by J.G. Ballard, and nominated for an Oscar for its visual effects.[1]
The special effects are considered a benchmark in stop-motion animation believability, so much so that the film is referenced in the movie Jurassic Park. Stop-motion effects were created by Jim Danforth, assisted by David W. Allen and Roger Dickens.
The landscapes (Earth during the Quaternary) were filmed in Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura (Canary Islands), in some places as Maspalomas beach, Ansite Mountain, Amurga and Caldera de Tejeda, in others. It was briefly released on DVD as an exclusive from Best Buy with a G-rating, but was later recalled because it was the uncut version and contained nudity. The original is now a collector's item.
