Brenda Bakke in Solar Crisis

Solar Crisis is one of those terrifically entertaining and genuinely great science fiction films that, for whatever reason, has been snubbed by critics and viewers alike since its original 1990 release. With an outstanding male cast (it features Charlton Heston, Peter Boyle, Jack Palance, Tim Matheson and more), the very beautiful actresses Annabel Schofield and Brenda Bakke, an intriguing story about the sun's deadly energy destroying the earth (and the mission to halt such a calamity), plus some of the best-looking and most creative special effects of its era, Solar Crisis is a true sci-fi classic.

In Solar Crisis, the lovely Brenda Bakke portrays the enigmatic Claire Beeson. Working for the evil IXL Corporation, Bakke's character has only a few scenes in the movie but, nevertheless, with her striking physical appearance and campily cold demeanor, she leaves a palpable impression on the viewer. 

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Brenda Bakke has some pretty decent sci-fi credibility. Besides Solar Crisis, she also starred in one of the best science fiction movies of the '80s, Gunhed. Additionally, she also appeared in a first season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 1994 sci-fi cheapie Terminal Voyage (aka Starquest), and various other projects.

Polly Walker in Dark Harbor

Like so many others satisfied viewers across the globe, I was absolutely thrilled with Polly Walker in the 1998 film Dark Harbor. She's a marvelous performer and she certainly had the requisite chops to act alongside the great Alan Rickman. Above and beyond that, however, was her stunning physical beauty. She is so attractive in this movie that I would dare nominate her (if I may be so bold) as the best-looking British actress of the 1990s. Even if I change my mind on this at a later date, being nominated is certainly quite an honor!

Dark Harbor is a great little thriller with some magnificent twists and turns. With an oblique sense of purpose and a dark atmosphere, plus fine performances from the trio of stars (Rickman, Walker and Norman Reedus), the film is well worth watching for a variety of reasons. However, even it was a terrible movie, you'd still have Polly Walker being gorgeous and that's all you really need!

Pamela Sue Martin in Flicks

In 1981, Pamela Sue Martin appeared in a loving tribute/hilarious spoof of the movies called Flicks. Like similar projects such as Kentucky Fried Movie and National Lampoon's Movie Madness, Flicks humorously examines cinematic cliches and typical themes to great effect. However, Flicks was shelved after it was made...but thankfully it was released on video in 1987 so everyone could enjoy this comical masterwork. Though the film has garnered some bad reviews over the years, it really is a very, very funny collection of movie parodies (it also features a number of familiar faces, most notably Martin Mull and Joan Hackett).

Beautiful actress Pamela Sue Martin is first-billed in Flicks. The movie is made up of various segments and Martin stars in the amusing final sequence. In a satire of detective film noir, Harry Shearer provides the voice for an alien/insect private investigator who comes to Earth to find a missing person. Eventually, he crosses paths with the gorgeous Pamela Sue Martin and she must keep a straight face as she interacts with (and kisses!) a guy in a bug suit! She adeptly handles her role and her dazzling physical beauty and charming demeanor is one of the highlights of the funny and very silly Flicks.

Samantha Eggar in A Name for Evil

During the 1970s and 1980s, Samantha Eggar appeared in a number of horror films. The classic 1972 Italian giallo The Dead Are Alive was her first horror project to be released to the public but she actually filmed her first horror movie, A Name for Evil, in 1970. However, A Name for Evil was not released in its original form; it was re-cut and finally released in 1973.

Samantha Eggar is beyond beautiful in A Name for Evil. Though the movie has seen a wide variety of reactions from critics and viewers (ranging from overwhelmingly negative to cheerfully positive), Eggar's physical appeal cannot be denied. It's actually a very entertaining piece of cinema with many unique aspects, fun scenes (including a trippy interpretive dance sequence -- sans clothing), humorous digs at hip/phony self-exploration, plus it has a great score and imaginative camerawork. Samantha Eggar's lovely presence is the icing on the cake for this fine horror flick.

Susan George in Final Eye aka Computercide

In 1977, Susan George starred in a TV movie called Final Eye. This science fiction project was the pilot for a proposed series (never made, of course), but thankfully it isn't one of those lost television artifacts and we are still able to view this gem today.

Some sources say that Final Eye was first aired in 1982 under the alternate title Computercide, but the above 1981 clipping shows that it was indeed broadcast under its original name before that.

Regardless of what you call it, Final Eye or Computercide, one thing is for sure: this is a fun sci-fi movie. In the far off future of 1996, actor Joe Cortese plays the last private detective left on Earth. Since he knows all sorts of old tricks, he is able to dupe the technologically advanced bad guys to gain important information or to escape dangerous situations.

The lovely Susan George plays a client and she wants him to find out what's going on with her missing father. He had founded a small Utopian society but many strange events had since occurred, so Ms. George and the P.I. must go undercover into the elite community (which is now being run by another famous British guest star, the inimitable Donald Pleasence) to investigate. Once inside, things turn out to be weirder than they could have expected and they must risk their lives to get to the truth.

Susan George is quite lovely in her role and she has good chemistry with her co-star, Joe Cortese. Final Eye/Computercide maintains a nice sense of humor throughout and the writers/filmmakers play around with the standard conventions of science fiction and detective films. It's entertaining stuff and Susan George is a great addition to the campy proceedings. 

Ann Dusenberry in Cutter's Way

In 1981, Ann Dusenberry co-starred with John Heard, Jeff Bridges and Lisa Eichhorn in Cutter's Way. The film, a dark and distressing look at a group of emotionally damaged individuals, was great exposure for the beautiful actress. Though she only has a supporting role and her time onscreen is limited, Dusenberry nevertheless manages to make a palpable impression on the viewer and her lovely presence is a great addition to the film. Her long blonde hair, soft appearance and emotional openness are in stark contrast to the sharp features and emotional retardation of her female counterpart (Eichhorn) in the movie.

Kathryn Harrold on Starsky and Hutch

In 1978, Kathryn Harrold made her first ever TV guest appearance on the final episode of the third season of the popular cop show Starsky & Hutch. The lovely and talented actress had already been working on the daytime soap The Doctors for a while and her featured role on S&H signaled a move to the high stakes world of evening television.

In the Starsky & Hutch episode titled "Deckwatch," Kathryn Harrold plays a beautiful young woman named Laura Kanen who gets drawn against her will into an extremely dangerous situation. A serial murderer who was critically wounded during his latest slaying winds up at the home of wheelchair-bound old lady who just happens to be Harrold's character's mother. When she returns home to see her mother she gets taken hostage by the psychotic killer. Luckily, she used to date 'Hutch' Hutchinson and eventually she is able to contact him and have him save the day (with Starsky's help, naturally).

This is a very claustrophobic episode, the bulk of which takes place inside a small suburban home. Tense scenes are played out with the sweaty bad guy making last desperate grasps at freedom even though the viewer knows full well that he is doomed. Kathryn Harrold, with feathered hair and a form-fitting tight sweater, does a fantastic job conveying nervousness and fear. She is perfect for her part and it's easy to see why she was utilized for bigger TV and film projects shortly after this aired.