Written by Roger Mitchell
Foreword by John Boorman
Published by BearManor Media
Apparently Zardoz, the surreal and almost psychedelic 1974 Irish-American science fiction co-production starring Sean Connery and directed by John Boorman (Deliverance, Excalibur), has become a bit of a cult movie.
Had I given it much thought in the half century since I saw it at the theater (twice!), this would not have surprised me.
To be honest, though, going into this book I remembered precious little about it beyond the clever big twist—which I’m not going to reveal here for those of you who have yet to experience it.
Experiencing Zardoz is a good way to put it, too. As I say, it is, in the classic counter-cultural sense of the world, a trip!
Author Roger Mitchell has certainly experienced it, from all angles, before, during, and after, and he shares as many details as possible in the more than 450 pages that comprise his new book, Zardoz Speaks To You! How a Classic Movie was Created, Died, and was Born Again.
Is/was Zardoz really a classic?
If I recall correctly, it was not a critical favorite nor even much of a hit at the time of release. Still, I have often found it enjoyable to read about the making of a film, even if I’ve never heard of the film. The mere fact that someone can have a vision and get a movie made at all with all the financial issues and compromises involved generally makes for compelling reading. Zardoz Speaks To You! is definitely compelling reading.
One could argue that Mitchell goes into too much detail as we find ourselves 80 pages in before we even get to the actual production of the film.
The earlier pages, though, are necessary to introduce us to our narrative’s star, director Boorman (who also provides a new two-page Foreword). Boorman’s earlier career as a film director is chronicled. It was immediately after achieving major Hollywood success with Deliverance that the director took on the ultra-quirky Zardoz.
Columbia Pictures, we’re told, “very much wanted to make a film with John Boorman” and paid him to write a script…which they then turned down. Eventually he had to buy the script back from them. It was decided to shoot the film anyway, on a relatively tiny budget, in Ireland.
Early casting saw Burt Reynolds—breakout actor of Boorman’s recent Hollywood hit—attached as the star. Sean Connery ended up wearing the giant diaper-like outfit, however.
For those who haven’t seen it, the core plot is one group of people lying to another group of people about religion in order to keep them under control. If you break it down like that, it’s also the plot of Logan’s Run, made two years later.
Specifically in the case of Zardoz, though, in the future, Earth is ruled by Eternals, an elite sect of beings who reign over a savage group called Brutals.
The Eternals have created a “god” they call Zardoz to control the Brutals, making them believe that killing is their natural state. Brutal Zed (Connery) challenges that assumption when he enters the Zardoz monument and is captured by an Eternal (Charlotte Rampling) only to learn the truth.
Connery’s James Bond sophistication is nowhere to be seen in the film.
Co-star Charlotte Rampling (The Night Porter) is/was known for the often unusual roles she accepted and Zardoz is a good example. Apparently, the two weren’t big fans of each other. The book offers biographical pieces on them, as well as other actors and behind-the-scenes folks.
Likewise, there’s some oral history with extensive quotations both vintage and modern, about the making of Zardoz.
There’s lots about budgets and costumes and special effects and editing. You’ll also find tons of illustrations and photos. In the end, before a long list of quote sources and the index, there’s a chapter on the movie’s afterlife!
I’m on record as truly admiring obsessive books such as Zardoz Speaks To You! It shouldn’t surprise anyone then that I admire Roger Mitchell’s Zardoz Speaks To You! It’s made me want to watch Zardoz again after all these years.
Booksteve recommends.
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