- For the episode, see MST3K 1206 - Ator, the Fighting Eagle.
| “ | You remember how our ancestors allowed marriage between brother and sister? I know times have changed, but... | ” |
| - Ator |
Ator, the Fighting Eagle is a 1982 sword-and-sorcery adventure film directed by Joe D'Amato (credited as David Hills). It is the first in a series of films to feature the character Ator, as played by Miles O'Keeffe.
Plot[]
Ator, a prophesied hero, is adopted by a peasant family as a baby. When he is older, his plan to marry his adoptive sister is thwarted when she is abducted by a villainous cult leader. Ator must rescue his love and defeat the cultists.
Cast[]
- Miles O'Keeffe as Ator
- Sabrina Siani as Roon
- Ritza Brown as Sunya
- Dakar as High Priest of the Spider Cult
- Nello Pazzafini as Bardak
- Edmund Purdom as Griba
Notes[]
- Miles O'Keeffe would return as Ator in The Blade Master (AKA Cave Dwellers, which was used in Episode #301). The sequel was also directed by Joe D'Amato and was released in America in 1984.
- O'Keeffe would reprise the role of Ator in 1987's Iron Warrior, a production which did not involve D'Amato.[1]
- Joe D'Amato released Ator 4 (AKA Quest for the Mighty Sword) in 1990, in which O'Keeffe does not appear. It features Eric Allen Kramer as Son of Ator.
Riffed Versions[]
MST3K Connections[]
- Director, writer, and cinematographer David Hills was also director, writer, and cinematographer for Cave Dwellers.
- Miles O'Keeffe would portray Ator again in Cave Dwellers.
- Nello Pazzafini also portrayed Wallon in Cave Dwellers, Charity's bodyguard in Secret Agent Super Dragon, Gunk in Colossus and the Headhunters, and Frank in Danger!! Death Ray.
- Sound editor May Greenfeld was also sound editor for Cave Dwellers.
- Assistant sound editor Laurie Kellin was also assistant sound editor for Cave Dwellers.
- Stunt coordinator James Hadley was also stunt coordinator for Cave Dwellers.
- Chief electrician Joe Little was also chief electrician for Cave Dwellers.
- Assistant camera Ed McBride was also assistant camera for Cave Dwellers.
- Key grip Henry Noxley was also key grip for Cave Dwellers.
- Wardrober Kim Dascovitz also did wardrobe for Cave Dwellers.
- Assistant editor Shirley Kingston was also assistant editor for Cave Dwellers.
- Script supervisor Jean Salzer was also script supervisor for Cave Dwellers.
- Transportation captain Chuck Mills was also transportation captain for Cave Dwellers.
- Carolyn de Fonseca (English dub voice of Indun) also provided English dub voices for Queen Samara in Hercules Against the Moon Men, Charity Farrel in Secret Agent Super Dragon, and unspecified roles in The Loves of Hercules.
- Gregory Snegoff would voice Ator again in the English dub of Cave Dwellers.
Critical Response[]
- Leonard Maltin wrote: "BOMB. Ridiculous Italian-made imitation of Conan the Barbarian."[2]
- Michael Weldon stated in The Psychotronic Video Guide, "This was the first of several PG-rated lunkhead muscleman adventures made just after the first Conan. Miles O'Keeffe (Bo Derek's Tarzan) stars. It's pretty bad but not as bad as the sequels. With Edmund Purdom as Griba, blond beauty Sabrina Siani, Laura Gemser, Ritza Brown, a "tarantula man", and a visit to "the land of the walking dead". The Blade Master, Iron Warrior, and Quest for the Mighty Sword followed."
- Received a Dishonorable Mention for the Worst Picture category in the 1983 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards.
- Good Bad Flicks: Ator, the Fighting Eagle is stupid fun. It's not Conan. It's more the level of The Beastmaster TV series. This is the kind of movie that you know going in what you're gonna get out of it. If you expect more than that, well you should probably watch Conan the Barbarian.
References[]
- ↑ The Blade Master. CultCelebrities.com. Retrieved on April 29, 2019.
- ↑ Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide, 2015 Edition