You may think you’ve seen every cheesy cult sci-fi movie out there (after all, COMET does a pretty good job of airing many of them), but there’s one you almost definitely haven’t seen — though you may soon get your chance.
The film in question is a 1982 film from Turkey called The Man Who Saves the World, but you’re more likely to have heard of its nickname: Turkish Star Wars. The film from director Çetin Inanç used stolen footage from Star Wars and other films for its special effects; jacked music from Indiana Jones, Flash Gordon, and James Bond; and featured creatures like robots, mummies, and furry monsters that were clearly copies of other cinematic characters. All of this combined with the movie’s plot — it takes place in a future where Earth has been blown into several smaller planets, one of which is ruled by an evil wizard who boasts an army of bizarre misfits — make for one legend of campy sci-fi goodness.
Now for the best part. Film historian Ed Glaser discovered the last remaining 35mm print of the film in 2016, and he has now completed a 2K digital scan of the movie. This remastered version of a film that was never really mastered to begin with is set to screen to the public at Cinema Museum in London and the CCA in Glasgow on May 4 — that’s right, Star Wars Day. And hopefully, the film will add some screenings stateside after that. Here’s what Glaser told io9 about that prospect:
Gosh, there’s nothing I’d love more than a screening—lots of screenings!—in the US. I am definitely pursuing that possibility. Right now, as you’d imagine, there are some legal and logistical hurdles to overcome. We’re able to do this particular screening as a one-off thanks to the support of King’s College London, the Turkish Cultural Centre, and some other excellent folks.
I should clarify that I don’t own the rights to the film—just the 35mm print and 2K scan. But I’m continuing to reach out to organizations—and am seeking particularly brave distributors—who’d be interested in working together to produce a broader release or series of exhibitions. People need to see it!
We couldn’t agree more.
Image courtesy of Remakesploitation
