Posted by boyo on Jun 16, 2010 18:25 (Jun 16, 2010 18:25)
Back in 1979 I was ten, a time when the winter months seemed to last for ever and mornings were spent clearing the garden path from the snow that had fallen the night below. This wasn’t like the sprinkling of dust that falls for a couple of February evenings these days; this was volumes of white glitter sparkling in the morning sunlight. My grandfather used a rusted old shovel to create a pathway to the garden gate - I followed him closely behind scattering salt on the icy slabs that became exposed in his wake.
This was a regular seasonal occurrence in the late 1970’s – without the pathway the milkman could not deliver the daily bottle; the rent man could not visit to pick up the monthly tab and, more importantly, the post man could not deliver the post.
It was some weeks earlier that I had sent off the four tokens collected from the Frosties cereal boxes. On the back of the Tiger laden box was imagery from Disney’s new movie, “The Black Hole”– a space opera filled with robots, space ships and good and evil (if you believed the blurb). Sending off the tokens entitled you to a 3 ¾” inch figurine of one of the movie characters – all you had to do was wait for 28 days for delivery – a life time for an eight year old.
As the last of the snow was cleared off the path, the daily bottle of milk could be seen on the pavement just inside the gate - the foil top already ripped open by marauding blue tits and the prize cream already taken.
The postman was on his way. I could see his For Escort Van parked at the top of the road and then brief glimpses of the postie himself as he darted in and out of the residents properties, delivering Christmas cards and bills to those inside.
Our postman was called Henry - a middle aged, red faced chap who was always pleasant, cheerful and talkative. He handed my Grandad a bunch of letters, then rummaged in his sack once more and pulled out a small, light package that he handed to me.
I ran back in to the house and then upstairs to my room. Getting a package from the postman was a big deal in my early years, and if truth be told, I still get a tingle of anticipation to this day when the postman knocks the door.
At that time I had not been to see The Black Hole movie in the cinemas. I had though seen movie imagery on many food produce packaging, stationary products and toys in WH Smiths and within movie clips on the TV. I therefore felt I was an expert on my new chosen subject.
Once the package had been opened I instantly recognised the figurine within the clear bubble case on the printed card - it was V.I.N. Cent, the nice, cuddly (!), ‘good’ robot within the movie. This figurine was the first piece of memorabilia that I owned for The Black Hole movie and a truly deep relationship with this film had begun.
A few months after receiving Vincent in the post, my grandfather took me to watch the film at the local cinema, 20 miles away. By this time I had a whole range of Black Hole merchandise – colouring books, paperback books, LP Soundtracks, collecting cards, pyjamas and even slippers.
At the cinema I munched popcorn. My grandfather slept.
As the years passed, the movie retreated to my sub conscience and life went on. I went to college, I got married, I had kids. My grandfather died.
On going back to West Wales for the funeral, I visited the bedroom that I had spent so much time of my youth in. It had changed somewhat – a new lick of paint adjourned the walls; the carpet had been replaced; some neutral curtains hung in front of the windows. In the corner of the room though was my old chest of drawers. I took a look in – and there to my surprise was the Vincent figurine. I put it in my pocket. I bid farewell to my Grandfather and then returned to normal life.
And to the present day…
I still get excited when the postman knocks (twice) to deliver packages; it snows a far lot less and more infrequently than it used to; e-bay is officially the home for the memorabilia collector!; The Black Hole has proven to be my favourite film of all time.
My nostalgic flame has been rekindled and my love for The Black Hole still shines bright. My shelves are now home to a large collection of 3 ¾” figurines from the movie as well as a raft of literature, badges, cups, posters and even a school satchel and drinks flask.
The film is now over 30 years years. Go to you local video store and rent out the Beetamax version today!
Back in 1987 me and my mother went down to the post box with a coupon from the post man pat comic along with £5 for a childrens mug. However am still waiting for that postman to bring the mug to me
The postman probably bought a round of beers with that fiver lol
Hey boyo, I still got VIN albeit in a far worse state than your own (I shall find it & pass it onto you sooner or later though), I also had a the scarlet/purple, mean looking robot & a few of the figures. My kinda review mate.
I was never allowed to waste money sending away for things as a kid. I was well into my adult life before I'd got over the notion that any mail order company advertising in the back of a mag, or promotional 'freebies', must have some sort of cost or risk attached to it. Just in time for the internet to make it easier than ever for me - barely a week has passed since I had Star Wars miniatures delivered.
With that in mind, back to The Black Hole. Its a strange one this as its ostensibly a kids film but I never much liked it. Before it rolled along I'd already devoted myself to the church of Star Wars, so this didn't quite gel with my concept of an action sci-fi flick. It had all the right ingredients - robots, spaceships, lasers, clear good and bad guys, but its pace seemed all wrong. I watched it once or twice and never gave it much thought, mouring the wasted opportunity of Maximilian and demoting V.I.N.Cent to background droid duties in my Star Wars figure play (as one of four kids money was short so any scale figure saw duty).
Then Asda started stocking back catalogue movies at irresistably low prices a couple of years back. At £3 tops, I thought it would do no harm to reassess my childhood assumptions, safe in the knowledge that The Black Hole wouldn't fare well. How wrong could I be? No wonder I didn't like it as a kid - this was proper grown up sci-fi. No mere tale of farm boys rescuing princessessesss, this story had real depth and weight to it, lifting it above the understated effects work that I felt let it down so badly in the past.
If you've dismissed it in the past or not seen it for years, give it a second chance. You might just enjoy it, and its a safer bet than a Mastertronic game for the money.
Jun 17, 2010 12:40:05 (
Jun 17, 2010 12:40
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