The 1970s were a rare era. On the cusp of the electronic revolution, we grew up with many old fashioned notions about how things were done and what was possible. It was a period dominated by both interest in the paranormal and by Hal Lindsey’s Late, Great, Planet Earth, looking for the end of the world. I was sent scampering to the strange documentary Chariots of the Gods by Gary Rhodes’ Weirdumentary. I honestly can’t recall whether I saw it growing up. I know I read Erich van Däniken’s book on which it’s based. As a kid with little exposure to a truly educated community, I was swayed by the book and that makes me think I may have begged to have been taken to the Drake Theater in Oil City to see the film. Watching it as an adult, however, is truly an odd experience.
First of all, it’s freely available on multiple streaming services. All you have to put up with is commercials and, since it’s not a high-demand movie, there aren’t that many of them. The film, done by a German director and voiced over in English, begins by suggesting religious writings worldwide tell of wisdom from above. People have always, I expect, felt that there is something divine about the sky. We still get that impression from our experience of the weather. The documentary makes the suggestion that Elijah’s fiery chariot was more technologically advanced than supposed. Same with Ezekiel. But then it sets out on a worldwide tour of ancient monumental building, stressing how such simple folk could never have built these things all on their own. Although this doesn’t stand up to scrutiny, there’s nevertheless something compelling about it.
Among the more interesting items are some of the ancient rock carvings. Without the written context, however, jumping to the conclusion that these were astronauts is foolhardy. There are legitimate mysteries of history. We don’t know who built certain structures, or why. Our own modern fragile skyscrapers raise the same question. People seem to be compelled to do such things simply because we can. We don’t need aliens to help us with them. Placing all of these mysteries together and suggesting a single solution is so 1970s. Breaking things down and study of them by experts yields quite different results. No less fascinating, but perhaps with feet more solidly on the ground. This documentary is a strange period piece of a time I remember well. And one from which, it seems, an even stranger culture has grown.
Steve A. Wiggins 