Queen of Outer Space

**1/2

Yep

Fans of cheesy sci-fi movie schlock rejoice! Despite what you might
think, Zsa Zsa Gabor, despite being the main star in the credits of the
film, is not in fact the titular man-hating, mask-wearing Queen of
Venus, having devised plans to destroy Earth with a vapor
disintegrator, responsible for decimating an inner space "way station"
used as a port for supplies and such. Eric Fleming (Capt. Neal
Patterson), Paul Birch (Professor Konrad), Dave Willock (Lt. Mike
Cruze), & Patrick Waltz (Lt. Larry Turner) are on a mission to the way
station when their ship is diverted off-course purposely by Queen
Yllana (Laurie Mitchell, in an "all or nothing" performance, her
character's rage spurning from radiation burns on her face because of
"men"). Patterson and his men will have to figure out a way to stop
Yllana from destroying Earth, receiving help from females on Venus
tired of being deprived of men, love, and romance! Gabor is Talleah,
head-over-heels for Patterson and will gain support from others who
will help the men try to rescue Earth from certain demise. Wearing
glamorous attire, Gabor milks her persona for all its worth, even under
such a silly sci-fi premise. Written by Twilight Zone scribe Charles
Beaumont, "Queen of Outer Space" might insult/offend feminists, but I
think most will consider this corny fluff not to be taken seriously.
The sets, props, and special effects aren't half-bad for such a film as
this, but seeing Neanderthal-like women in short dresses with laser zap
guns ordering around the male characters will be certain to draw plenty
of rolling-eyes. I think you will have to approach this without any
hopes of a serious science fiction story told to dramatic effect and
embrace the zaniness of the material in order to enjoy "Queen of Outer
Space". If I am to be honest with you, I did.

I had written the review above back in 2012. I wanted to revisit it since Turner Classic Movies was showing it as part of a Zsa Zsa Gabor lineup. Coming off my DVR on a Saturday evening I listened to Waltz constantly calling Venusian beauty pageant aliens 'baby' and the dialogue sometimes chauvinistically questioning how women could survive without men, and then realizing reactions to all of this by the wrong crowd might visit upon this a scathing critique of epic proportions. I do judge this as a product of it's time. A time capsule B-movie of the era of my favorite science fiction films--Forbidden Planet, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, Thing from Another World, & Day the Earth Stood Still--Queen of Outer Space (1958) is certainly not of their caliber but has a kitchy charm gleaned from it's backwards view of women, lack of real science behind its fantastic fiction, and firebrand villainess with a radioactively burned face who vows to obliterate all warmongering men. Zsa Zsa getting star treatment in this parody of sci-fi B-movie makes all the sense in the world. Fleming is probably best known for Rawhide; he drowned while in Peru at age 41. I have always enjoyed these kinds of movies on boring weekdays while off from work or on sleepy Sunday afternoons. I read trivia that this film borrowed quite a bit from Forbidden Planet and the like regarding props, costumes, and such. Cheap productions like this could fade into obscurity but us weirdos just won't let them fade.