The Reluctant Astronaut (1967)

Director:

Edward Montagne

Writers:

James Fritzell (written by) and
Everett Greenbaum (written by)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

He's an ASTRO-KNOTT turned ASTRONAUT in the Maddest Mixup in Space History!!

Plot:

Don Knotts is Roy Fleming, a small town kiddie-ride operator who is deathly afraid of heights. After...

Plot Keywords:

Astronaut | Doll | Cowardice | Floating In Space | Drunkenness

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Don Knotts	...	Roy Fleming
Leslie Nielsen	...	Major Fred Gifford
Joan Freeman	...	Ellie Jackson
Jesse White	...	Donelli
Jeanette Nolan	...	Mrs. Fleming
Frank McGrath	...	Plank
Arthur O'Connell	...	Buck Fleming
Joan Shawlee	...	Blonde in Bar
Guy Raymond	...	Bert
Nydia Westman	...	Aunt Zana
Paul Hartman	...	Rush
Robert F. Simon	...	Cervantes (as Robert Simon)
Robert Pickering	...	Moran
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Thomas Bellin	...	Technician (uncredited)
Marjorie Bennett	...	Woman at Mailbox (uncredited)
Jim Boles	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Paul Bradley	...	Man Seated at Table (uncredited)
Loie Bridge	...	Frieda Wilcox (uncredited)
Paul Bryar	...	First Bus Driver (uncredited)
Ceil Cabot	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Bob Carraway	...	Bob Friendly (uncredited)
Al Checco	...	Man at Console (uncredited)
Pat Colby	...	Scientist (uncredited)
John Daheim	...	Startled Motorist (uncredited)
Fabian Dean	...	Second Bus Driver (uncredited)
Fay DeWitt	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Jerry Dexter	...	Technician (uncredited)
Nick Dimitri	...	Astronaut (uncredited)
Jerry Dunphy	...	TV Newscaster (uncredited)
Cecil Elliott	...	Roselle Duncan - Woman with Dog (uncredited)
Pamelyn Ferdin	...	Mary - Little Girl (uncredited)
Mickey Finn	...	Charley (uncredited)
Med Flory	...	White Shirt in Bar (uncredited)
Melissa Gilbert	...	Niece (uncredited)
Harry Holcombe	...	Dr. Bowen (uncredited)
Vince Howard	...	Technician (uncredited)
William Hudson	...	Fireman (uncredited)
Ray Kellogg	...	Brown Shirt in Bar (uncredited)
Dorothy Konrad	...	Woman Playing Piano (uncredited)
Lee Krieger	...	Second Janitor (uncredited)
Pat McCaffrie	...	Scotty (uncredited)
Ralph Montgomery	...	First Janitor (uncredited)
Burt Mustin	...	Ned (uncredited)
Bill Neff	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Nelson Olmsted	...	Dr. Lowe (uncredited)
Bill Quinn	...	Captain Ferguson (uncredited)
Clint Ritchie	...	Officer (uncredited)
Don Ross	...	Airport Ticket Clerk (uncredited)
Billy Sands	...	Airport Announcer / Man Mopping Floor in Film (uncredited)
Orville Sherman	...	Personnel Clerk (uncredited)
Herb Vigran	...	Dr. Bussart (uncredited)
Grant Woods	...	Technician (uncredited)

Directed by
Edward Montagne		(as Edward J. Montagne)

Writing credits
James Fritzell		(written by) (as Jim Fritzell) and
Everett Greenbaum		(written by)

Produced by
Edward Montagne	....	producer (as Edward J. Montagne)
Billy Sands	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Vic Mizzy

Cinematography by
Rex Wimpy		(director of photography) (as Rexford Wimpy)

Film Editing by
Sam E. Waxman

Art Direction by
William D. DeCinces
Alexander Golitzen

Set Decoration by
John P. Austin		(as John Austin)
John McCarthy Jr.		(as John McCarthy)

Costume Design by
Rosemary Odell

Makeup Department
Larry Germain	....	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Edward Muhl	....	in charge of production
Wes Thompson	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Phil Bowles	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Earl Crain Sr.	....	sound (as Earl N. Crain Sr.)
Waldon O. Watson	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Albert Whitlock	....	matte supervisor

Stunts
Jerry Brutsche	....	stunt double

Music Department
Joseph Gershenson	....	music supervisor
Tommy Tedesco	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (presents) (as Universal)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1967) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1968) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Cinematique  cosmetics
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.®)
• Pacific Title  titles
• Percepto Records  score album released by

Also Known As:

Runtime:

Canada:102 min | USA:101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (Certificate No. 21412)

Filming Locations:

Courthouse Square, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The film was set for release shortly after the Apollo 1 fire which took the lives of 3 astronauts. Raising questions about the appropriateness of releasing a space themed comedy film so close to the tragedy.

Goofs:

Factual errors: There is no desert in the vicinity of the NASA space center in Houston.

Quotes:

Donelli:Fleming, you've been here two weeks now, and I don't think your mind has been on your work for one second!
Roy Fleming:Uh, um, well to tell you the truth, sir, my heart really isn't in this.
Donelli:We are not interested in your heart, Fleming! We want your elbow grease!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Space Travellers (#5.1)" (1992)

Soundtrack:

Space Song

One for the Late-Nite Stoner Brigade

Alan Rafkin (1928-2001, who mostly directed television shows and was nominated for four Emmies and won one in 1982) directed his last bit-screen film with "The Reluctant Astronaut" in 1971. Taking place in a small fictional town, a bungling city accountant, Hollis Alexander Figg (Don Knotts), becomes the unwitting patsy of the town's mayor (Mayor Chisholm played by Edward Andrews), the town's wealthiet man (Old Charley Spaulding played by Parker Fennelly) as well as several other high-ranking city officials who have been embezzling the town's money. To prevent from being caught, the embezzlers fire all of the town's accountants, except for Hollis so that he can operate their newly purchased (but used), room-filling computer known as LEO. While demonstrating the computer to his friend Prentiss Gates (Frank Welker), Hollis stumbles upon a questionable city contract that Prentiss (who works for the city's sanitation department) has in his waste collection cart. To keep Hollis from finding any other questionable financial statements, Mayor Chisholm appoints Hollis to be a commissioner with his own private secretary, Glorianna Hastings (Yvonne Craig, who is better known as Batgirl/Barbara Gordon in the 1966-1968 TV series "Batman") to the chagrin Hollis' girlfriend, Ema Letha Kusic (Elaine Joyce), who works as a diner waitress. Hollis remains oblivious to being used until Old Charley Spaulding is ready to lower the boom upon him and is forced to find a way to prove his innocence. "How To Frame A Figg" isn't known as well as some of his previous films ("The Incredible Mr. Limpet" in 1964, "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" in 1966, etc.) due to its somewhat weak plot, but it's still a very funny film that can entertain both children and adults alike. Memorable scenes in the film include Hollis' fingers getting stuck in a bowling ball, Old Charlie Spaulding using his cane in city hall meetings, the ketchup scene at the diner, the garbage truck delivery, and the search for extension cords. Overall, I rate "The Reluctant Astronaut" with 4 out of 5 stars. Other memorable characters in the film include Kermit Sanderson (Joe Flynn, 1925-1995), Commissioner Henderson (Bill Zuckert, 1915-1979) and Dr. Schmidt (Pitt Herbert, 1902-1980).