'GALACTICA 1980' AT 40: 'CONQUEST OF THE EARTH'!

Though my ten-year old self was disappointed that my favourite heroes in Apollo and Starbuck were not coming back to the new series of Battlestar Galactica airing on US TV in 1980, the idea of the Rag Tag fleet finally finding Earth, in Galactica 1980, still caught my interest. The Starlog magazine coverage for the new series at first seemed relatively encouraging, too. And when it was announced that a selection of episodes were being released as a theatrical compilation in Europe, as had been done with BG's Saga of a Star World and The Living Legend/ Fire in Space, my hopes and anticipation were higher spirited, especially as no indication had been given that the new series had actually been bought yet for UK screenings.

Then followed the above great art/photo composite poster, which, for the most part, actually ended up being better and more exciting to witness than the total onscreen edited mess, UK 1981 released, that was ultimately to be Conquest of the Earth!

The poster also made a terrific cover to the rare Japanese laserdisc release! With thanks to John Johnson.

CLASSIC SERIES MERCHANDISE: INTERNATIONAL DVD RELEASE ADDITION

Long-time friend to the site John Johnson has kindly been in touch to let me know of a DVD release I wasn't previously aware of- available in Germany is a compilation release of the three internationally released Galactica movies: Battlestar Galactica, Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack, and Galactica 1980's Conquest of the Earth.

Here's the info:

·         USA, 1978-1980

·         FSK released from 12

·         Order number: 1519987

·         Release date: 23.8.2013

·         Science Fiction, 321 min.

·         Performers: Dirk Benedict , Richard Hatch , Lorne Greene , Herb Jefferson, Laurette Spang , Patrick Macnee

·         Original title: Battlestar Galactica (1978-1980)

·         Language: German, English

·         Sound format: DD 2.0

·         Picture: 4: 3

·         Subtitle: German

·         Specials: Super8 versions, interviews

Contains the movies "Battlestar Galactica," "Mission Galactica," and "The End of an Odyssey." 

After the destruction of the human colonies, the few survivors under Colonel Adama search for the mythical 13th colony on the "Battlestar Galactica." It is not only about surviving the "Cylon attack" but finally even "Ending an Odyssey" on Earth.

Not only since the globally acclaimed "BSG" relaunch, but also the original adventures of "Battlestar Galactica" are celebrated as a cult phenomenon by science fiction fans around the world, even parallel to the then outbreaking "Star Wars" brought to three highly successful theatrical releases. They are now in a box for the first time and follow Adama (Lorne Greene) and Co. from the beginning to their arrival on earth.

https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/movie/detail/-/art/Kampfstern-Galactica-Die-Spielfilm-Trilogie/hnum/1519987

https://www.amazon.de/Kampfstern-Galactica-Die-Spielfilm-Trilogie-DVDs/dp/B00CY6HKUQ/ref=sr_1_12?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1535819193&sr=1-12&keywords=battlestar+galactica

Link:
https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/movie/detail/-/art/Kampfstern-Galactica-Die-Spielfilm-Trilogie/hnum/1519987

If anyone has more info on the special features of this release, please get in touch.

GALACTICA 1980: "OKAY, WHO BROUGHT THE ROBOT?"

It was The Night the Cylons Landed, of which one of its kind certainly survived crashing down to Earth, bearing a mission imperative to let the rest of the Cylon fleet know of humanity's existence on the planet.

Sadly, despite being not a bad story idea, the two-part episode (adapted into the feature movie Conquest of the Earth) was mostly played for laughs, especially as seen here, when the Centurion arrives at a Halloween party (attended by the likes of Wolfman Jack no less!) and is looked over by Val Bisoglio's character of Arnie.

GALACTICA 1980: CONQUEST OF THE EARTH (UK STYLE!)

It sure looks like Galactican warriors Troy and Dillion are on their own as the Cylon attack on Earth, 1980, begins, in the exciting UK movie poster art for CONQUEST OF THE EARTH eventually used for the CIC Video rental release back in the day. Great art- I just wish the cobbled together from three episodes "movie" had ultimately been better!

If anyone has a better quality scan of this image, please get in touch.

CLASSIC ART: THE CYLONS ARE BACK!

The Cylons make their presence felt once more, this time as the cover stars to the original VHS release of GALACTICA 1980's feature compilation movie Conquest of the Earth. The poster campaigns, of which this one featured some adapted Ralph McQuarrie artwork, were ultimately better than most of the Galactica spin-off's end product!