War of the Robots, The
Entry updated 26 October 2026. Tagged: Film.
Italian film (1978; original title La guerra dei robot; vt Reactor). Nais Film. Directed by Alfonso Brescia (as by Al Bradly). Written by Alfonso Brescia (as by Al Bradley) and Aldo Crudo (as by Alan Rawton). Cast includes Aldo Canti (as Nick Jordan), Jacques Herlin, Malisa Longo (as Melissa Long), Ian Pulley, Antonio Sabato and Yanti Somer. 103 minutes. Colour.
One of Earth's security satellites' alarm system stops working. Shortly after, we see Professor Carr (Herlin) and his assistant Lois (Longo), the latter voicing qualms about his research into creating life (see Genetic Engineering) which he believes will bring benefits such as Immortality and growing forests in what now is desert. They are interrupted by golden, bewigged Robots who carry them off in their Spaceship. A further problem is that for his work the professor uses a modified atomic reactor (see Nuclear Energy) which only he can operate; if it is not turned off within eight days a chain reaction will destroy a nearby City and space base (see Disaster), with the authorities refusing to order evacuation for fear of causing panic. Because only the satellite's alarm system was sabotaged, the Earth's space base sends a spaceship commanded by John Boyd (Sabato) to examine its records and so calculate the kidnapping ship's course, realizing they will catch up with it in four days. On the romantic front, John is courting Lois, which saddens lovelorn colleague Julie (Somer).
Three Alien spaceships approach: rightly concluding their intentions are hostile, John opens fire, destroying two; but his ship is damaged and has to land on a nearby planet for repairs. The locals are aggressive, believing them to be from the aliens' home Anthor (as John learns by using his Universal Translator). Anthorian robots from the third spaceship now arrive: the locals are rounded up to become Slaves, but the humans attack. The battle is one-sided, with Earth's Ray Guns mowing down the robots. Kuba (Canti), the leader of the now grateful locals, explains Anthorian science has prolonged its people's lives indefinitely (see Rejuvenation), but they have lost the ability to reproduce (see Sex) and so survive by transplanting organs from their slaves. John realizes they kidnapped Carr and Lois because of their work on artificial life. Kuba goes with the humans to Anthor to act as their guide. After landing they approach the ruler's palace via unguarded tunnels that conveniently lead to Professor Carr and his laboratory; but the Scientist betrays them and they are taken to the Empress. En route they see the wizened native Anthorians. The Empress is Lois, who orders that they become the professor's guinea pigs. Apparently the old Empress died and the professor – who is happy to continue his work here – persuaded the Anthorians to make Lois the new Empress; she says she only agreed to buy time, knowing Earth would send rescuers. Knowing Carr fancies her – he has been a bit of a pest – Lois offers herself if he lets the others free: he agrees. She organizes the rescue party's escape, accompanying them and drugging the professor to bring him along too: after a battle – which includes light sabres – and dealing with a Force Field, they leave in the spaceship.
Professor Carr has plans to escape, but is murdered by Lois, who has smuggled some robots aboard and now takes over the spaceship, intending to conquer the Earth and then the universe with the Anthorian leader (Pulley). After a couple of unconvincing fights the humans regain control, mainly through the efforts of Julie and Kuba. Kuba also happens to have picked up a slide containing the professor's notes which include the reactor code, so tying up that plot thread. However, Lois suits up and escapes through an airlock to the Anthorian fleet. As this approaches, John and two others attack in their spaceship's fighter craft; a prolonged Space Invaders-like battle follows with the other pilots dying, and John looking to be next until Julie saves him in a fourth fighter. His grateful response does not go down well with Lois, whose spaceship targets Julie: John has to make a choice, and destroys Lois's ship. Meanwhile a crew member suddenly remembers their ship has special torpedoes that would destroy the attackers quickly. Though these are intended for use in atmosphere, he speedily adjusts them for space and the Invasion fleet is wiped out.
As with Brescia's two previous low-budget Star Wars (1977) inspired films, Cosmos: War of the Planets (1977) and Battle of the Stars (1978), The War of the Robots is poor, and is best enjoyed as a bad film. The story's flaws are many: Lois's shift from moral concern over creating life to an enthusiast for Earth's conquest, said conquest to be undertaken by robots with unremarkable combat skills, a nuclear reactor which only one person can turn off, and the deus ex machina of the torpedoes, to name a few. Added to this are unremarkable acting and poor special effects, though the latter can be blamed on the low budget. More positively, Lois and – despite her pining for John – Julie do have reasonably strong roles (see Women in SF). [SP]
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