In the radically changing comic book scene of Europe in the 1960s, what had been largely a children/family focused art began to reach out beyond its bounds into the adult focused avant garde, new wave, and exploitation movements. Artists were eager to explore more complex themes of politics, philosophy, sex and violence using the simplistic mediums of pen and paper.
One of the first such groups to make that push were Le Club des bandes dessinées (The Club of Comics), among whom Barbarella creator Jean-Claude Forest was a founding member. His signature work, Barbarella became an immediate smash hit upon publishing in 1962. The film followed just a few years later.
As a standalone work, Barbarella is a decidedly camp, strange piece of fiction. Jane Fonda plays a government agent from the futuristic, peace-loving, sex-positive Earth homeworld, sent to track down rogue scientist Duran Duran. There are fur-lined space ships, attack parakeets, and a labyrinth where men slowly turn into stone. All told it’s a far out 60s space adventure that must be seen to be believed. It’s also one of the earliest adult-oriented comic book movies.
Special Features (via arrowvideo.com)
- 4K restoration from the original negative by Arrow Films
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tula Lotay
DISC ONE - FEATURE (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)
- 4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Original lossless English mono audio, plus remixed 5.1 and Dolby Atmos surround and lossless French mono (featuring the voice of Jane Fonda)
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Audio commentary by film critic Tim Lucas
- Alternative opening and closing credits (in 4K with Dolby Vision)
- Isolated score
DISC TWO - EXTRAS (BLU-RAY)
- Another Girl, Another Planet, an appreciation of Barbarella by film critic Glenn Kenny
- Paul Joyce's behind the scenes featurette, Barbarella Forever!
- Love, a two-hour in-depth discussion between film and cultural historians Tim Lucas & Steve Bissette on the impact and legacy of Barbarella
- Dress to Kill, a 30-minute interview with film fashion scholar Elizabeth Castaldo Lundén on Jacques Fonteray's world-changing costume designs
- Framing for Claude, an interview with camera operator Roberto Girometti
- Tognazzi on Tognazzi, actor/director Ricky Tognazzi discusses the life and work of his father and Barbarella star Ugo Tognazzi
- An Angel's Body Double, actor Fabio Testi discusses his early career as a stuntman and body double for John Phillip Law on Barbarella
- Dino and Barbarella, a video essay by Eugenio Ercolani on producer Dino De Laurentiis
- Trailer
- US TV and radio spots
- Image gallery
