Cult Connections

Ian reviews three classic sci-fi novels and decides if they would make good screen adaptations.

The Stars My Destination (1956) by Alfred Bester

The City and The Stars (1956) by Arthur C Clarke

Greybeard (1964) by Brian Aldiss

What happened when French action star Olivier Gruner teamed up with Israeli writer/producer Avi Nesher for a string of straight to video action movies.

Automatic (1995). Directed by John Murlowski. Written by Avi Nesher. Co-starring Daphne Ashbrook, John Glover and Troy Evans

Savage (1997). Writen and Directed by Avi Nesher. Co-starring Jennifer Grant, Kario Salem and Sam McMurray

Mars (1997). Directed by John Hess. Written and produced by Avi Nesher. Co-starring Shari Belafonte and Alex Hyde-Whyte

Ian and Mark "Planty" Plant head west to return to their "favourite" director.

Lawman (1971). Directed by Michael Winner. Written by Gerald Wilson. Starring Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan and Lee J Cobb

Familiar faces and places await our trio

The Judas Goat. Directed by Paul Krasny. Written by John Meredyth Lucas. Guest starring Nicholas Hammond and Lance LeGault

This week our trio encounter sinister scientists and more corridors

Fear Factor. Directed by Gerald Mayer. Written by John Sherlock. Guest starring Ed Nelson and Jared Martin

Fresh from reviewing Top Gun Ian ending up bingeing a whole load of other 1950s westerns. Here are four of the highlights.

Man of the West (1958). Directed by Anthony Mann. Written by Reginald Rose. Starring Gary Cooper, Julie London and Lee J Cobb

The Gunfighter (1950) Directed by Henry King. Written by William Bowes and William Sellers. Starring Gregory Peck, Helen Westcott and Millard Mitchell

The Tall T. Directed by Budd Boetticher. Written by Burt Kennedy from a story by Elmore Leonard. Starring Randolph Scott, Maureen O'Sullivan and Richard Boone.

Gunsight Ridge (1957). Directed by Francis D Lyon. Written by Talbot & Elizabeth Jennings. Starring Joel McCrae, Mark Stevens and Addison Richards.