Captain America (1979/I) (TV)

User Rating:

4.0/10   

Director:

Rod Holcomb

Writers:

Don Ingalls (writer)
Jack Kirby (characters)

Release Date:

19 January 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Plot:

A recipient of an experimental body enhancement chemical retaliates against his would be killers as a star spangled superhero.

Plot Keywords:

Superhero | Motorcycle | Dead Man Switch | Neutron Bomb | Nuclear Bomb

Cast

Reb Brown	...	Captain America (Steve Rogers)
Len Birman	...	Dr. Simon Mills
Heather Menzies	...	Dr. Wendy Day
Steve Forrest	...	Lou Brackett
Robin Mattson	...	Tina Hayden
Joseph Ruskin	...	Rudy Sandrini
Lance LeGault	...	Harley
Frank Marth	...	Charles Barber
Chip Johnson	...	Jerry
Dan Barton	...	Jeff Hayden
Nocana Aranda	...	Throckmorton
Michael McManus	...	Ortho
James Ingersoll	...	Lester Wiant
Jim B. Smith	...	FBI Assistant
Ken Chandler	...	Doctor #1

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Sweden:7

Company:

Universal TV

Movie Connections:

Version of Ultimate Avengers II (2006) (V)

Barely recognizable and unremarkable quasi-adaptation of the Classic Marvel Comics Character

Following the success of the Spider-Man and Hulk TV series, Universal Studios produced this feature-length pilot starring Marvel Comic's iconic star-spangled avenger, Captain America. Steve Rogers, ex-marine and aspiring artist, is injected with FLAG (Full Latent Ability Gain) serum by the government after being run off the road by terrorists who plot to use a hydrogen bomb to extort money from the city of Phoenix.

Competently made, but ultimately lackluster film. Brown has the build, but not the gallantry the character needs, often smiling dumbly while foiling the enemies' efforts. The need to update the character was understandable but too many liberties were taken with the character. Here he is not the WWII hero but the son of the original "Captain America" of WWII (whom here was the scientist who created the formula, rather than a soldier/super hero, and earned the nickname from his mocking colleagues.) The costume looks more inspired by Evil Kenievel than anything Jack Kirby ever created, which is perhaps fitting given the motorcycle he rides into battle and the motorcycle helmet he never takes off even after disembarking.

Final verdict: Standard action TV fare of the times; completely unremarkable. This nevertheless ought to get at least a bare-bones DVD release coupled with its sequel, which is a fun albeit cheesy movie, simply for historical purpose.