Meteor (1979)

Director:

Ronald Neame

Writers:

Stanley Mann (screenplay) and
Edmund H. North (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

19 October 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

There's No Place On Earth To Hide!

Plot:

After a collision with a comet, a nearly 8km wide piece of the asteroid "Orpheus" is heading towards Earth...

Plot Keywords:

Satellite | NASA | Nuclear Weapons | Comet | Mudslide

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Sean Connery	...	Paul Bradley
Natalie Wood	...	Tatiana Donskaya
Karl Malden	...	Harry Sherwood
Brian Keith	...	Dr. Dubov
Martin Landau	...	General Adlon
Trevor Howard	...	Sir Michael Hughes
Richard Dysart	...	Secretary of Defense
Henry Fonda	...	The President
Joseph Campanella	...	General Easton
Bo Brundin	...	Rolf Manheim
Katherine De Hetre	...	Jan Watkins
James G. Richardson	...	Alan Marshall
Roger Robinson	...	Bill Hunter
Michael Zaslow	...	Sam Mason
John McKinney	...	Peter Watson
John Findlater	...	Astronaut Tom Easton
Paul Tulley	...	Astronaut Bill Frager
Allen Williams	...	Astronaut Michael McKendrick
Bibi Besch	...	Helen Bradley
Gregory Gaye	...	Russian Premier (as Gregory Gay)
Clyde Kusatsu	...	Yamashiro
Burke Byrnes	...	Coast Guard Officer
Joseph G. Medalis	...	Bartender (as Joe Medalis)
Charles Bartlett	...	Guard
Raymond O'Keefe	...	Guard
Henry Olek	...	Army Translator
Peter Bourne	...	U.N. President
Stanley Mann	...	Canadian Representative
Ronald Neame	...	British Representative
Philip Sterling	...	Russian Representative
Arthur Adams	...	Ghana Representative
Fred Carney	...	United States Representative
Sybil Danning	...	Girl Skier
Meschino Paterlini	...	Boy Skier
Johnny Yune	...	Siberian Man (as Jon Yune)
Eileen Saki	...	Siberian Woman
Christine Anne Baur	...	Communications Center Technician (as Chris Baur)
Paul Camen	...	Communications Center Technician
Dorothy Catching	...	Communications Center Technician
Bill Couch	...	Communications Center Technician
William Darr	...	Communications Center Technician
Joan Foley	...	Communications Center Technician
Paul L. Ehrmann	...	Communications Center Technician (as Paul Laurence)
John Moio	...	Communications Center Technician (as Johnny Moio)
Read Morgan	...	Communications Center Technician
Conrad E. Palmisano	...	Communications Center Technician (as Conrad Palmisano)
Tony Rocco	...	Communications Center Technician
Jesse Wayne	...	Communications Center Technician
Carole Hemingway	...	Sherwood's Secretary
Clete Roberts	...	Network Newscaster
Stu Nahan	...	Football Announcer
Osman Ragheb	...	Swiss TV Newscaster
Yung Henry Yu	...	Chinese Fisherman (as Yu Wing)
Tsui Ling Yu	...	Chinese Fisherman's Wife (as Yau Tsui Ling)
Ricker Slaven	...	Canteen Worker (as Rick Slaven)
James Bacon	...	News Reporter
Yani Begakis	...	News Reporter
Selma Archerd	...	Woman in Subway
Domingo Ambriz	...	Boy with Radio
Peter Donat	...	Opening Sequence Narrator (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Simon Cadell	...	BBC News Reporter (uncredited)
George Golden	...	U.N. Meeting Attendee (uncredited)
Wei Tu Lin	...	Escaping Tenant (uncredited)
Tony Regan	...	U.N. Meeting Attendee (uncredited)
John Spencer	...	Control Center Worker (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey	...	U.N. Meeting Attendee (uncredited)

Directed by
Ronald Neame

Writing credits
Stanley Mann		(screenplay) and
Edmund H. North		(screenplay)
Edmund H. North		(story)

Produced by
Sandy Howard	....	executive producer
Gabriel Katzka	....	executive producer
Arnold H. Orgolini	....	producer (as Arnold Orgolini)
Theodore R. Parvin	....	producer (as Theodore Parvin)
Run Run Shaw	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Laurence Rosenthal

Cinematography by
Paul Lohmann		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Carl Kress

Production Design by
Edward C. Carfagno		(as Edward Carfagno)

Art Direction by
David A. Constable

Set Decoration by
Barbara Krieger

Costume Design by
Albert Wolsky

Makeup Department
Del Armstrong	....	makeup artist
Sugar Blymyer	....	hair stylist
Edwin Butterworth	....	makeup artist (as Ed Butterworth)
Lynn Del Kail	....	hair stylist
Hallie Smith-Simmons	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Frank Baur	....	production supervisor
Salvatore Billitteri	....	post-production executive
Lam Chua	....	production manager/Hong Kong (as Chua Lam)
Jere Henshaw	....	executive in charge of production
Chris Holenia	....	production manager/Europe

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
D. Scott Easton	....	second assistant director (as Scott Easton)
Daniel McCauley	....	first assistant director (as Daniel J. McCauley)
Albert M. Shapiro	....	second assistant director (as Albert Shapiro)

Art Department
David Evans	....	assistant property master
Jack M. Marino	....	property master (as Jack Marino)
Gary Martin	....	construction coordinator
Tom Southwell	....	assistant property master
Kevin Shanks	....	drapery man/floor covering (uncredited)

Sound Department
Craig Hundley	....	electronic effects
Joe Kenworthy	....	sound boom operator
Michael J. Kohut	....	re-recording mixer
Tom McCarthy Jr.	....	sound editor
William L. McCaughey	....	re-recording mixer (as William McCaughey)
Charles E. Moran	....	sound editor (as Charles Moran)
Aaron Rochin	....	re-recording mixer
Jack Solomon	....	sound mixer
Mark Winitsky	....	sound editor
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Glen Robinson	....	special effects supervisor
Robert Staples	....	special effects supervisor
Allen Hurd	....	special effects (uncredited)
Wayne Rose	....	special effects crew (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Margo Anderson	....	visual effects supervisor
Byron Bauer	....	visual effects unit
Allen Blaisdell	....	visual unit camera operator
Dave Cornell	....	visual effects unit
William Cruse	....	visual effects
Alessandra De Clario	....	visual effects unit
Sam DiMaggio	....	visual unit camera operator (as Sam Di Maggio)
Jim Doyle	....	visual effects unit
Marcia Dripchak	....	visual effects unit
Mimi Gramatky	....	visual effects unit
John Greenleigh	....	visual effects unit
Ron Kolman	....	visual effects unit
Dennis Michelson	....	visual effects unit
Charles Naddour	....	visual effects unit
Martin Jay Sadoff	....	visual effects editor
Catherine Schlesinger	....	visual effects unit
Clyde Tichenor	....	visual unit physicist
Max W. Anderson	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Robert Blalack	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Paul Kassler	....	model maker (uncredited)
Paul Kassler	....	sculptor (uncredited)
Pete Kleinow	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Michael Minor	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Gene Warren	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Robbie Banks	....	stunt person
Bruce Paul Barbour	....	stunt person (as Bruce Barbour)
Leah Creed	....	stunt person
Roger Creed	....	stunt coordinator
Ted Duncan	....	stunt person
Larry Duran	....	stunt person
Barbara Eaton	....	stunt person
Kenny Endoso	....	stunt person
Martha Garza	....	stunt person
Len Glascow	....	stunt person
Marilyn Jones	....	stunt person
Valerie Kelly	....	stunt person
Jack Lilley	....	stunt person
Nick Palmisano	....	stunt person
George Robotham	....	stunt person
Sonny Shields	....	stunt person
Al Wyatt Sr.	....	stunt person (as Al Wyatt)
Leslie Hoffman	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jesse Wayne	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Ferra	....	assistant cameraman
Ron Frantzvog	....	assistant cameraman
James Globus	....	still photographer
Gerald A. King	....	key grip (as Gerald King)
Edmond L. Koons	....	camera operator (as Edmond Koons)
J. Michael Marlett	....	gaffer (as Mike Marlett)
Guy Polzel	....	key grip
Thomas Thatcher	....	best boy
Doug Byers	....	electrician (uncredited)
Bruce Chimerofsky	....	rigging grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Darryl M. Athons	....	costumer
Barry Kellogg	....	costumer
Bucky Rous	....	costumer
Peggy Thorin	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Dee D'Orazio	....	additional film editor (as Etter Vincent D'Orazio)
Dody Dorn	....	assistant film editor
Carrie Ellison	....	assistant film editor
Janice Hampton	....	associate film editor
Marsha Hoke	....	assistant film editor
Jibralta Merrill	....	assistant film editor
Dale Mishkin	....	assistant film editor
Toni Morgan	....	assistant film editor
Maureen O'Connell	....	assistant film editor
Bruce Pearson	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Derek Brechin	....	music editor
Allison Caine	....	vocal effects advisor
Jack Hayes	....	orchestrations
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrations
William Saracino	....	music editor
Herbert W. Spencer	....	orchestrations
Laurence Rosenthal	....	conductor (uncredited)
Laurence Rosenthal	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Michael McDuffee	....	transportation coordinator (as Mike McDuffee)
Tim Roslan	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Frank Bonner	....	cast coordinator
Renee F. Brown	....	production accountant (as Renée F. Brown)
Carolyn Effler	....	research assistant
Bill Ewing	....	cast coordinator
Dona Friedberg	....	production liason
Stephanie Garman	....	assistant to the producers
Penny Gillman	....	assistant to accountant
Connie Greenwood	....	post-production accountant
Ken Hardie	....	craft service
John James	....	location manager
Ginger Mason	....	director's assistant
Melinda McRae	....	assistant to accountant (as Melinda Clark-Bell)
Ray Quiroz	....	script supervisor
George Rubinstein	....	advisor: Russian language
John Small	....	technical advisor (as John Small {JPL})
Doug Ward	....	technical advisor (as Doug Ward {NASA})
Robert Werden	....	unit publicist (as Bob Werden)
Anna Zappia	....	production coordinator
David Hakim	....	publicity writer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• American International Pictures (AIP)
• Meteor Joint Venture
• Palladium Productions

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1979) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1982) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (1979) (USA) (theatrical) (as Warner Bros A Warner Communications Company)
• Ambassador Film Distributors (Canada)
• GoodTimes Home Video (video)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Video Releasing Organization (VRO) (198?) (Netherlands) (video) (Betamax)
• Warner Home Video (1984) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• California Institute of Technology  special thanks to: for their cooperation and assistance (as the California Institute of Technology)
• Controlled Demolition  special thanks to: for their cooperation and assistance (as Controlled Demolition, Inc.)
• Griffith Observatory  special thanks to: for their cooperation and assistance (as Griffith Park Observatory)
• Kress Editorial Services  post production
• Lynn Stalmaster & Associates  casting
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)  special thanks to: for their cooperation and assistance (as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and M.I.T. Press)
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)  special thanks to: for their cooperation and assistance (as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
• Polaris Observatory Association  special thanks to: for their cooperation and assistance
• U.S. Coast Guard  special thanks to: for their cooperation and assistance (as the U.S. Coast Guard)
• Weddle Brothers Co.  special thanks to: for their cooperation and assistance
• Worldstage  projected video effects by

Also Known As:

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Russian

Color:

Color (Technicolor) (as Technicolor®)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Certification:

West Germany:12 | Italy:T | Australia:M | Peru:14 | UK:PG (tv rating) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1979) | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | UK:A (original rating)

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

The "spaceship" the astronauts were in was actually a model of NASA's first manned space station "Skylab".

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The Russian Transport that takes Dr. Dubov to America is an American Boeing 707 with a Russian Star on it.

Quotes:

Tatiana Donskaya:One day you will come to Moscow and I will show you a clean subway.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in House of Games (1987)

In defense of the film.

I've read the negative reviews in here and am perplexed at the vitriol directed at this film. "Meteor" is, admittedly, a flawed movie, but still one with many strengths that deserve attention.

Firstly, it was made in 1979, so the effects are not going to be as stellar as they were in the 80's and 90's. And even then, some of those effects still hold up quite well to movies produced today. The modeling work, especially of the orbiting Hercules and Peter the Great nuclear missile platforms, is extremely impressive. The meteor itself is a big, ugly, and rather scary chunk of scarred rock, reminiscent of the Texas-sized shard in "Armageddon". Yes, some of the effects DO look cheesy (the avalanche being the most frequently cited example), but others are quite striking. At worst, "Meteor"'s effects are extremely uneven, but certainly not completely junkable.

Secondly, unlike "Deep Impact" and "Armageddon", the film focuses on the multitude of hurdles that have to be overcome in order to combat the threat. Personal, politicial, and scientific obstacles are given due screentime, which serves to advance the story rather than bogging it down.

Thirdly, "Meteor" is a far more globalized film, as it pulls together Russian, English, and even Chinese characters into the story. The attempt to track the rock and derive a viable solution to knock it out of its Earth-based trajectory is not solely an American one, but instead a closely coordinated international effort. Indeed, even the U.N. is (briefly) featured.

Fourthly, the film doesn't get mired in the 'human element' (as what happened in "Deep Impact" and "Pearl Harbor"). "Meteor" is non-tangential in that it STICKS TO THE STORY, which is the main interest of the viewer (at least, for me). Yes, there is the attraction between Connery and Wood's characters, but it's generally unobtrusive and the screentime limited.

Fifth, Laurence Rosenthal's score is great! Its boldness reminds me of Poledouris' legendary score for "Conan: The Barbarian". It effectively captures both the 'feel' of space and the direness and immediacy of the situations portrayed.

Finally, I emjoyed the acting. Connery, Keith, Malden, and Fonda turn in sincere performances (especially Malden). "Meteor" is an ensemble production in the tradition of Irwin Allen's best disaster productions.

Don't let the naysayers in here turn you off from this underrated gem. If "Deep Impact" and "Armageddon" left you wanting, give "Meteor" a try. Sure, it may not be as polished as those two productions, but it has more going for it than you might think.