Based on a popular French comic strip from the '50s, Barbarella is truly a cult film. From the opening strip tease through the evil city of SoGo to the climatic ending, Jane Fonda as the 40th century astronaut oozes sexual charisma. The kitsch, colourful sets are a wonderful example of the experimental work of many designers of the 1960's. The sexual theme is echoed in the furniture, buildings and space ships and provided a pop vision of the future well removed from the sleek, streamlined images of Star Trek and the like.

It all starts with Barbarella floating peacefully around in her cabin, the scene which made this film into a cult. The slow striptease, spilling the credits as she goes, combined with the haunting but lively music sets the tone for the rest of the film. A call from the President of the Earth, who seems unperturbed by the fact that Barbarella is flying her ship naked, brings the news that a young scientist, Duran Duran is in possession of a weapon which is threatening universal peace.

Armed with a rather suggestively shaped weapon of her own she sets off, dressed mostly in PVC, to the planet Tau Seti to track down Duran Duran. After a rather dramatic crash landing, narrated by a suitable camp computer called Alfie, she awakes on an ice plain, undergoes her second costume change and sets off to explore. An encounter with a set of twin girls, with whom she communicates with a tongue box, leads her to a cave and a sticky situation involving some terrifying dolls.

She is rescued by Mark Hand the Catchman, who conveniently can fix her ship, and he requests a small favour in return. It is now that it transpires that sex is no longer performed "like that". For centuries no one has made love unless their psychocardiogram readings are in confluence, no one, that is except for the very poor who can't afford the pills. The favour granted, Barbarella, now woefully "distracted", changes into what appears to be a well-endowed racoon, complete with tail, and heads for SoGo.

After a journey through the centre of the planet, she crashes again and ends up in the Labyrinth. Another quick costume change and she steps out of her ship and into a landslide. She is rescued by Pygar, a blind, grounded angel, with whom she loses no time in providing "a favour". The intensity of the experience returns Pygar's "will to fly" and she is introduced to Professor Ping, who explains a little about the planet and repairs her spaceship After she changes her costume, Pygar flies her past some Black Guard patrols to SoGo, city of evil. While exploring the city she discovers and all pervading force called the Mathmos and is captured by the lesbian evil tyrant, the Black Queen. Her death, at the hands of hundreds of budgerigars seems certain when a bumbling revolutionary leader, Dildano, rescues her. He offers to help, in exchange for a "favour", but in this case he wants to use the 40th century method. Barbarella seems disappointed but again agrees.

After changing into some of his clothes, they discuss the whereabouts of Duran Duran and agree to capture the Black Queen, ruler of the planet. He gives her an invisible key and she escapes through a suction tunnel. Unfortunately she is re apprehended by the Tyrant's Concierge who places her in his Pleasure Organ and begins to play "Sonata for Executioner and Several Young Women". However, despite that fact that it removes her clothes, Barbarella is more than a match for the machine and it finally gives up in a cloud of smoke. The Concierge turns out to be Duran Duran and, after she changes they agree a pact, to help each other. Duran Duran wishes to take power from the Black Queen while she sleeps and Barbarella has the key. However, she is double crossed when he locks her, and the queen, in the chamber. He runs off, letting out a manic laugh.

The Queen frees the Mathmos, causing the end of SoGo, and a bubble caused by her innocence rather improbably saves Barbarella. She pumps Pygar back to life and returns to her spaceship, presumably to live happy ever after.

The plot is simple at the best of times, with absolutely no sub plots, just a straightforward romp through space. However the dialogue, while ridiculous, is played for all its worth. Lines such as "A good many dramatic situations begin with screaming", "I will be the master of the Universe", "We're doomed" and "Make love? But no one's done that for hundreds of centuries!" are all uttered in complete seriousness. The supporting cast all give performances worthy of the kitsch of the film but the show is stolen by Jane Fonda who excels, ensuring Barbarella is a enigmatic mix between innocent airhead and sex kitten. Her facial expressions in particular say more than any line ever could.

The music really drives the film along, with the theme pervading as incidental music throughout and the whirly, fluid patterns accompanied by simple yet catchy pieces, which capture the feel of the cartoon like set and costumes perfectly.

All in all, a film worthy of its cult status.

Images © Paramount Pictures