Zaat
Encyclopedia
Zaat is a 1972 cult movie that gained significant exposure when it was used in an episode of movie-mocking television series Mystery Science Theater 3000
in May 1999.
Dr. Kurt Leopold – it is revealed later in the film that he graduated cum laude from MIT in 1934 – in his lab, where he has lived alone for about twenty years. He is contemplating his former colleagues' laughter at his formula (described as "
Leopold looks for a mate, and he injects Zaat into her neck. As she is immersed into a tank of Zaat, the girl wakes up and struggles against the ropes holding to a mesh basket. She eventually dies.
The movie diverts from the storyline for approximately 10–15 minutes to show a lingering scene of the town sheriff Lou, watching a small group of youth playing religious folk music. After one of the youth (an acoustic guitarist, Jamie DeFrates, who also wrote the songs for the film) finishes leading the group in a song, the sheriff places them all in the town's jail, presumably for their own protection.
Leopold attempts to kidnap another mate: his choice is Martha Walsh, the lovely female member of a scientific team sent to investigate the weird happenings in the town (caused by Dr. Leopold). Leopold grabs her after her male counterparts leave her alone.
resident Don Barton co-wrote, directed and produced the film, which was shot during one month in 1970 on a $75,000 budget. Scenes were filmed at Rainbow Springs, Green Cove Springs, Switzerland, Florida
and Marineland of Florida
. Upon its release, the movie was shown in Jacksonville, Florida
and theatres in mostly southern states. It was shown on July 11, 2009 in Atlanta then in Jacksonville on October 28, 2009, reviving interest in the film. The movie appeared in Statesboro, Georgia
on November 1, 2009 but received a poor response.
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
in May 1999.
Plot
The film begins with Nazi mad scientistMad scientist
A mad scientist is a stock character of popular fiction, specifically science fiction. The mad scientist may be villainous or antagonistic, benign or neutral, and whether insane, eccentric, or simply bumbling, mad scientists often work with fictional technology in order to forward their schemes, if...
Dr. Kurt Leopold – it is revealed later in the film that he graduated cum laude from MIT in 1934 – in his lab, where he has lived alone for about twenty years. He is contemplating his former colleagues' laughter at his formula (described as "
ZaAt" — read Z-sub-A, A-sub-T — but which he simply calls "Zaat").Leopold looks for a mate, and he injects Zaat into her neck. As she is immersed into a tank of Zaat, the girl wakes up and struggles against the ropes holding to a mesh basket. She eventually dies.
The movie diverts from the storyline for approximately 10–15 minutes to show a lingering scene of the town sheriff Lou, watching a small group of youth playing religious folk music. After one of the youth (an acoustic guitarist, Jamie DeFrates, who also wrote the songs for the film) finishes leading the group in a song, the sheriff places them all in the town's jail, presumably for their own protection.
Leopold attempts to kidnap another mate: his choice is Martha Walsh, the lovely female member of a scientific team sent to investigate the weird happenings in the town (caused by Dr. Leopold). Leopold grabs her after her male counterparts leave her alone.
Cast
- Marshall Grauer as Dr. Kurt Leopold
- Wade Popwell as The Monster
- Paul Galloway as Sheriff Lou Krantz
- Gerald Cruse as Marine Biologist Rex Baker
- Sanna Ringhaver as NPIT Agent Martha Walsh
- Dave Dickerson as INPIT Agent Walker Stevens
- Archie Valliere as Deputy Sheriff
- Nancy Lien as Girl Camper
- Jamie DeFrates as Acoustic Guitarist
Production
Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
resident Don Barton co-wrote, directed and produced the film, which was shot during one month in 1970 on a $75,000 budget. Scenes were filmed at Rainbow Springs, Green Cove Springs, Switzerland, Florida
Switzerland, Florida
Switzerland, Florida is an unincorporated community in St. Johns County, Florida, United States. It is adjacent to Fruit Cove. The approximate population of Switzerland is 18,063. Switzerland is situated on the eastern bank of the St...
and Marineland of Florida
Marineland of Florida
-External links:**...
. Upon its release, the movie was shown in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
and theatres in mostly southern states. It was shown on July 11, 2009 in Atlanta then in Jacksonville on October 28, 2009, reviving interest in the film. The movie appeared in Statesboro, Georgia
Statesboro, Georgia
Statesboro is a city in southeast Georgia, United States, and is the county seat and most populous city of Bulloch County. Statesboro has a population of 28,422 and the Statesboro, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 70,217...
on November 1, 2009 but received a poor response.