Plot: What’s it about?
John Welles (Michael Sarrazin) can’t remember much about his past, but he finds himself in the middle of a massive plan, one that could cost him his freedom or maybe even his life. Welles was found unconscious and on the brink of death outside of the government’s Groundstar Research Complex. The trouble is, the place had just been demolished by an explosion and several important scientists were killed in the process. No one else was located around the complex, so Welles is of course the main suspect in the criminal act. Welles can’t remember what happened to him, but since he was found with top secret documents, he still has some explaining to do. So Tuxan (George Peppard), a government agent arrives and begins to question Welles with little success. Soon however, Welles manages to escape from the agents and makes his way across the landscape, searching for the truth about his past. Welles meets up with a young woman (Christine Belford), who helps him put the pieces of past back together, but he still has some blank spaces. Is Welles the man responsible for the destruction of Groundstar, or his he just the fall guy set up to take the heat?
This is one of those movies that seems to slip below everyone’s radar, but I think a lot of folks would enjoy this film, especially with twists endings being all the rage these days. This one doesn’t have any big names (unless you consider George Peppard a power player), but you will find a terrific storyline and some nice twists and turns here. The story has some holes at times, but nothing too extreme and on the whole, the elements form a solid skeleton for the film. I love a good suspense flick and I was impressed by The Groundstar Conspiracy, though I can see why some might not be so interested. The action driven sequences don’t measure up to modern devices and this movie just reeks of the ’70s. To some people, the style and dress of that era alone is enough to scare them off from a film. But I think it works well within the film, as this film just seems like a ’70s effort, right down to the ultra cool soundtrack. The disc has excellent video, but poor audio, which makes this a tough choice. I recommend this to genre fans as a rental and if you can stand the audio, then go ahead and pick this one up.
When George Peppard (Breakfast At Tiffany’s, Rough Night In Jericho) is the most famous name on a cast, some folks might be worried, but I know I am in for a real treat. I am unsure of what the reason is, but I just love to watch Peppard in action. Best known for his work as Hannibal on The A-Team, Peppard has a cool demeanor and can deliver a catch phrase with the best of them. Sadly, Peppard passed on in 1994, but I will always remember him for the performances he gave us. Also in nice size roles are John Sarrazin (The Flim-Flam Man, Arrival II) and Christine Belford (Christine, Tv’s Beverly Hills 90210), both of whom more than hold their own here. The rest of this film’s cast includes Tim O’Connor (Naked Gun 2 1/2), James Olson (Commando), James McEachin (2010: The Year We Make Contact), and Cliff Potts (Embrace The Darkness). Behind the camera for this film was Lamont Johnson, who delivers a fun and visually impressive motion picture. Johnson usually worked on television projects, but he handles this movie just fine and never seems to falter much. He keeps the pace moving well, never gives away too much, and makes sure once the closing credits roll, we all know how the film got there. If you want to see more films by Johnson I recommend Kona Coast, One on One, and Somebody Killed Her Husband.
Video: How does it look?
The Groundstar Conspiracy is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, with a full frame version also included on this dual layered disc. This is an older film (made in 1972), but you wouldn’t be able to tell from this visual presentation. The print shows minimal debris and grain, which is downright amazing to me, given the age and profile of the film. The colors appear vivid, with no bleeds and flesh tones seem warm and natural. Contrast is excellent also, no detail loss at all and unlike the other versions I’ve seen, shadows are not overexposed. I also found no signs of compression issues, which is always a huge plus.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio doesn’t measure up to the video though, with several problems that stifle the experience. The main issue is the volume level, which runs from almost whispers of dialogue to deafening sound effects at times. I frequently had to adjust the level to maintain a decent balance, and that shouldn’t be the case. In addition to being poorly balanced, the dialogue is also harsh and tunny at times and this is also unacceptable. Some hiss and an annoying buzz can also be heard at times, so be forewarned. If you can handle it, the movie is good enough to suffer through this, but there is still no excuse for such a poor audio mix.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The only bonus feature is the film’s theatrical trailer, though with both visual formats on board, I doubt there was room for much more.
