Two lovers stationed at a remote base in the asteroid fields of Saturn are intruded upon by a retentive technocrat from Earth and a malevolent 8-ft robot. A film full of deep space terror and twisted love, in a man-made Ga... more »rden of Eden. Kirk Douglas, Farrah Fawcett, Harvey Keitel« less
Cheesy sci-fi cult classic starring an aging Kirk Douglas and a hot-n-juicy Farrah Fawcett as a pair of research scientists/lovers on a remote space outpost, whose idyllic existence is threatened by a new arrival from Earth (a young Harvey Keitel) and his psychotic killer robot - both of whom have designs on Farrah.
This flick tries to be a terror bonanza ala "Alien" but though it's got some cool set designs and a bad-ass looking robot, the flick is slow as molasses and never builds up any real suspense. You do get to see Farrah's exposed breast for about two seconds though, which must count for something.
Believe it or not, this flick was directed by Stanley "Singin' In The Rain" Donen, of all people.
Useless trivia: Keitel's dialogue was overdubbed (woodenly) by another actor to cover up his thick Brooklyn-ese accent.
Recommended only for Farrah fans and sci-fi geeks with a high tolerance for B-Movie pain.
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Movie Reviews
Another interesting meld of science fiction and horror
Christopher Dalton | Louisville, Kentucky | 10/18/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Despite what critics have said about Saturn 3, I think it is a very good science fiction film. Another good meshing of science fiction and gothic horror. It may seem like a futuristic version of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, however, it is still a very good film. One of the many best that ITC Entertainment has ever produced. It goes to show you that the British are one of the best film industries in the world.This was the first R-rated film I ever saw, and I was amazed at how the film looked as well as the storyline, and special effects. Most of all, the acting, costumes, sets, the works. The film tells the story about a couple who work on one of Saturn's moons, developing a new hydroponics system for a starving Earth. The old man(played wonderfully by Kirk Douglas)is someone who has rejected Earth and its way of life. The young woman(played really well by Farrah Fawcett)is someone who was born on a colony and has never seen or been to Earth. Along comes a terrorist(played by the ever great Harvey Keitel), who has originally murdered the original pilot who has come to Saturn 3, to help the two scientists get back on schedule. As part of that help, he builds a robot, the first in its series, named Hector. Unfortunately, due to the pilot's instability, the robot becomes a threat and starts a rampage, which forces the two scientists to sacrifice everything they have in order to survive and overcome the odds. Plus the old man making the ultimate sacrifice.It may be a bit like Ridley Scott's masterpiece, ALIEN, however, Saturn 3 is still a very good and entertaining film. Not only with a wonderful soundtrack by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, but with its solid storyline and plot. If you enjoy science fiction, be sure to check this film out. It's certainly better than Star Trek and its spinoffs, let alone the film Supernova. It even has a nude scene with Farrah Fawcett that's pretty good too."
Adam and Evil
Bruce Rux | Aurora, CO | 06/03/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"John Barry and Stanley Donen's misunderstood sci-fi brainchild was panned on initial release, but happily is coming under re-evaluation in a later age.Kirk Douglas and Farrah Fawcett run a hydroponics lab on Saturn's third moon, Titan, which helps feed an overcrowded and progressively more sociopathic Earth. Douglas and Fawcett are "paired," though not actually married (or at least it is never understood that they are), she being an innocent naif who has never seen Earth and lived virtually her entire life with him, and he a disillusioned older man who never desires to see Earth again - though he encourages her to visit their home planet one day, if for no other reason than to further Fawcett's natural development.Earth has decided that Douglas will soon be "obsolete," and sends captain Harvey Keitel to assemble a robot to eventually run Saturn 3. Keitel, however, is actually an impostor - he was washed out of the robot programming division because he was "potentially unstable," and, proving the point, murdered the man given the assignment in order to take his place. The reason is never stated, but the implication is strongly present - given his immediate fascination with Fawcett - that he wanted the assignment in order to be closer to her.The robot - "Adam" - has a human brain, directly programmed by Keitel. Since Keitel is a homicidal psychopath...well, you get the picture. It isn't long before Saturn 3 becomes a battleground for supremacy with a mad metal titan.This is really a great movie, if flawed. The ending is too abrupt. Douglas sometimes seems uncomfortable in his role, or acts as if he is in a different movie than Keitel and Fawcett. The special effects are uneven, though generally pretty impressive.But the script is solid and the suspense never lets up. The action is pretty gripping, shooting out of a gun from the first scene, when Keitel coldly murders the astronaut whose place he is taking by flushing him out into space. The production is gorgeous, and unified. The sets are beautiful, and incredibly colorful. The matte shots for space and Saturn hearken back to 1950's pulp magazine covers. The costuming is futuristic, but functional. And the robot, Adam, is a nightmare out of Leonardo da Vinci's sketchbooks of human anatomy. The terrific music score, by Elmer Bernstein, is mechanistically haunting.A great movie it isn't, but it is very good. There is a nice undercurrent of human feeling to this film, which is emphasized by the contrast of the warm and loving relationship between Douglas and Fawcett with the predatory intrusion of the coldly sociopathic Keitel.This is wonderful sci-fi pulp, and if that's what you're in the mood for, you won't be disappointed."
Horny Robot-- Oh, No!
Jason Vance | Hollywood, CA | 09/04/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Three characters are plenty to fill out this stylish Sci-Fi chestnut, wherein Kirk Douglas and Farrah Fawcett are lone scientists stationed on a remote planet as they try to develop a sustainable new food source for Earth folks who are starvin'. Their idyllic little existence is shattered when Harvey Keitel stops by with his big, badass robot-in-a-box, Hector, in tow. Between salivating over Farrah and plotting how to get into her pants, Harvey assembles Hector, and the two share minds for a while, effectively indoctrinating Hector to the wild woolly world of Harvey's bad manners, general evil, and a supreme desire to knock boots with Farrah."
I don't understand...
R. Legendre | New Orleans, LA | 02/02/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Saturn 3, while certainly not the best of films, does not deserve all of the bashing it gets. This film is sort of a "Fatal Attraction" meets the "Terminator" even though Saturn 3 was released years prior.
I really enjoyed this film. The "atmosphere" of the movie was very convincing and almost literally transports the viewer to the third moon of Saturn.
Yes, the movie has it's flaws. Farrah Fawcett is a terrible actress. She always was. But, then again, this '70s icon was never chosen for roles because of her acting ability, which, unfortunately, seems to be so commonplace in Hollywood.
Harvey Keitel, one of my favorite actors, does seem to give a very wooden performance, but that is probably due to the fact that the director did not like his Brooklyn accent and had all of his lines dubbed in by a British actor. Also, I think his character was meant to be dead-pan and wooden to reflect the current socialogical aspects of Earth's society (apparently, Earth is an overcrowded and socially bankrupt planet, much like it is today!).
The special effects are subpar when compared to similar sci-fi flicks of that time, but that is part of its charm. The effects, while slightly substandard, are still very eye-catching.
The story itself if very original. The idea of a robot becoming sexually obsessed with a woman just like his master and unable to fulfill his unnatural desires is executed in a logical and suspenseful way. The set design and costumes are also well done. The robot Hector, though, does seem to be designed rather oddly. That is probably due to the fact that a suit had to be built that could house a rather large-framed actor inside of it.
All in all, Saturn 3 is worth a look. Fans of sci-fi and thrillers should find this to be an excellent escape. I, for one, am glad to see that this movie is still around and available for purchase."