This bizarre film was directed by Peter Bogdanovich using the name Derek Thomas. Roger Corman wanted to use the Russian footage as much as possible and I'd say he did a very good job of that.
The film centers around a team of astronauts who head to Venus to rescue two others who have crashed. The dialogue is of course redubbed and the film recut. However this time it is recut with scenes of gorgeous Mamie Van Doren as the leader of a tribe of "gill women" who lounge on the beach, communicate with telepathy and eat raw fish.
These women, of course, never make contact with the astronauts, but in the film they are watching them and commanding the elements to become so harsh the men have to leave.
This is my favorite of the three movies Corman used the footage in, and Mamie is the reason why. I would watch anything with her in it. Oh yes, the movie does include all of the monster footage seen in the other film, the lizard men, the brontosaurus, the flying monster and the man eating plants.
I never caught this film until the early 1980's but was immediately captivated by Mamie in a clamshell bikini and skin tight pants on Venus. The film is fun and yes, I would recommend it to Mamie fans and Corman fans. The print from Retromedia is very good as well.
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