By Forris Day Jr.
“In Search of Ancient Mysteries” is a 53 minute long documentary from 1973 that spun off the TV series “In Search of”. The TV show was hosted by Leonard Nimoy but this pilot program is narrated by Rod Serling, creator of “the popular “Twilight Zone” TV show. He covers many topics in this documentary including unexplainable things such as US astronauts seeing a “bogey” while orbiting Earth. Civilizations that have mysteriously disappeared are discussed also. Dozens of unexplained stone carvings, mysterious events and disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle are among more topics covered.
The documentary is fun to watch and asks more questions than it answers. Serling narrates in his usual haunting style and as a Twilight Zone fan it is cool hearing him host this one. It’s filled with dozens of interviews with nerdy experts who seem to know a ton about these obscure topics. It makes me wonder if some of these folks ever dated. If they did the relationship did not move onto a second date. Although in this documentary they are probably the coolest guys on the block because of their knowledge.
The video looks like it was taken from old filmstrip movies. Filled with jumpy clips, scratches and hairs jumping across the screen and is reminiscent, for me, of watching movies in elementary school on a film projector. I’m traveling back to the early 70s here. Part of the charm of this DVD is the nostalgia factor for me.
I believe anyone who loves UFOs, mysterious happenings and unexplained events will love this program. Conspiracy theory folks will enjoy watching this too as it covers many topics that have been deemed government coverups for many years. Watch this documentary with its shaky camerawork, geeky experts and cryptic narration from Rod Serling and be the judge yourself.
I recommend this dated documentary mostly because of it’s nostalgia factor and not because you will learn anything. Nothing is answered here, only questions are asked but man is it a fun show to watch.
Rating: 7.5/10 – “70s flashback to the ancient past”
