There are about six awesome things about Damnation Alley. Jan-Michael Vincent, George Peppard, Giant Scorpions, a teenage Jackie Earle Haley, Jerry Goldsmith’s bombastic score and the Landmaster. There are a few of you reading this that may have no idea what I’m talking, but for some of you, those six things have your nostalgia sense tingling. Fortunately, for the enjoyment of all, SHOUT! Factory have released Damnation Alley on DVD and Blu-ray.
Damnation Alley has been long out of print and I don’t know if it has been shown much on cable. It definitely has not looked this good, possibly even in its original theatrical release in 1977. Here’s the synopsis: “The world is devastated by a nuclear holocaust, causing the Earth to tilt on its axis and bringing vast meteorological chaos. As the weather stabilizes, mutated insects start to emerge, preying on the survivors. The surviving crew at a U.S. Air Force bomb shelter in the Mojave Desert picks up radio signals coming from Albany. The commander, Major Eugene Denton (George Peppard, The A-Team), unveils two armored vehicles he has constructed and announces a plan to cross ‘Damnation Alley,’ the hundred-mile-wide strip between areas of radiation hazard, to join the survivors. They set off, taking on two civilians – a novice singer they find in the ruins of Las Vegas and a wild teenager (Jackie Earle Haley, Watchmen) – along the way. The journey is also beset by giant mutated cockroaches, storms and crazed survivalists, making for some hair-raising escapes in this post-apocalyptic thriller.” And it is every bit as cheesily wonderful as it sounds. Remember, not only giant scorpions, but killer cockroaches!
In addition to this awesome film being presented in a new anamorphic 2.35:1 transfer, there are also some nifty special features on the DVD. There is a fascinating audio commentary with Producer Paul Maslansky that has some great insight of the making of this film. Survival Run takes a look at the challenges of adapting the celebrated novel with co-screenwriter Alan Sharp. This is of particular interest considering how much the film deviated from the source. Road To Hell is a detailed analysis by Producer Jerome Zeitman into the process of making the film and the difficulties it encountered along the way. My favorite feature is Landmaster Tales, which is a detailed examination of the Landmaster with stunt coordinator and car designer Dean Jeffries. When I was a kid I wished for my family to own one of these vehicles and I kind of still do. One of the coolest cars ever invented for film. Rounding out the Special Features are the obligatory Theatrical Trailer and TV Spot, which are terrifically nostalgic.
You should own this and own it now, especially since SHOUT! Factory is offering a free, limited edition 8″x10″ Damnation Alley lithograph with purchase, available exclusively at SHOUT! Factory’s website.
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