Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)

Director:

Jimmy T. Murakami
(more)

Writers:

John Sayles (screenplay)
John Sayles (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

13 November 1980 (West Germany)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A battle beyond time, beyond space.

Plot:

A young farmer sets out to recruit mercenaries to defend his peaceful planet, which is under threat of invasion by an evil tyrant and his armada.

Plot Keywords:

Mercenary | Planet | Outer Space | Space Travel | Space War

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Richard Thomas	...	Shad
Robert Vaughn	...	Gelt
John Saxon	...	Sador
George Peppard	...	Cowboy
Darlanne Fluegel	...	Nanelia
Sybil Danning	...	St. Exmin
Sam Jaffe	...	Dr. Hephaestus
Morgan Woodward	...	Cayman
Earl Boen	...	Nestor 1
John Gowans	...	Nestor 2 (as John Gowens)
Steve Davis	...	Quopeg
Lawrence Steven Meyers	...	Kelvin (as Larry Meyers)
Lara Cody	...	Kelvin
Lynn Carlin	...	Nell (voice)
Jeff Corey	...	Zed
Marta Kristen	...	Lux
Julia Duffy	...	Mol
Eric Morris	...	Fen
Doug Carleson	...	Pok
Ron Ross	...	Dab
Terrence E. McNally	...	Gar (as Terrence McNally)
Galen Thompson	...	Min
Whitney Rydbeck	...	Saunders: Dr. Hephaestus' Staff
Tom Henschel	...	Talking Android: Dr. Hephaestus' Staff
Nate Esformes	...	Dako: Malmori
Richard Davalos	...	Yago: Malmori (as Dick Davalos)
Lanny Broyles	...	Tembo: Malmori
Rob Reece	...	Kalo: Malmori (as Robert Reece)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ansley Carlin	...	Wok (uncredited)
Daniel Carlin	...	Pez (uncredited)
Dallas Clarke	...	Askew (uncredited)
Brian Coventry	...	Alien Extra (uncredited)
Rick Davidson	...	Alien Extra (uncredited)
James Dunaway	...	Stretcher Bearer (uncredited)
Kerry Frank	...	Alien Extra (uncredited)
Kathy Griffin	...	Alien Extra (uncredited)
S.A. Griffin	...	Lettress (uncredited)
Gary D. Robbins	...	Alien Extra (uncredited)
Kimberly Sommer	...	Kintwarna (uncredited)
Dan Thompson	...	Cush (uncredited)
Dan Vincent	...	Alien Extra (uncredited)

Directed by
Jimmy T. Murakami
Roger Corman		(uncredited)

Writing credits
John Sayles		(screenplay)
John Sayles		(story) &
Anne Dyer		(story)

Produced by
Ed Carlin	....	producer
Roger Corman	....	executive producer
Mary Ann Fisher	....	associate producer

Original Music by
James Horner

Cinematography by
Daniel Lacambre		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Allan Holzman
R.J. Kizer

Casting by
Lisa Mionie

Art Direction by
Charles William Breen		(as Charles Breen)
James Cameron		(as Jim Cameron)

Set Decoration by
John Zabrucky
Forrest Chadwick		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Durinda Wood		(as Durinda Rice Wood)

Makeup Department
Karoly Balazs	....	hairdresser (as Charles Balazs)
Sue Dolph	....	makeup artist
Ken Horn	....	prosthetic assistant
Karen Kubeck	....	assistant makeup artist
Michael Lavalley	....	prosthetic assistant (as Mike La Valley)
Steve Neill	....	prosthetic makeup
Cliff Raven	....	makeup artist: Quopeg's tattoo
Thom Shouse	....	prosthetic assistant
Rick Stratton	....	prosthetic makeup

Production Management
Michael Bennett	....	production manager
Gale Anne Hurd	....	assistant production manager (as Gale Hurd)
Aaron Lipstadt	....	assistant production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Martinez	....	second assistant director
Don Keith Opper	....	second assistant director (as Don Opper)
James Sbardellati	....	first assistant director (as Jim Sbardellati)

Art Department
Francesca Bartoccini	....	property master
Robert Bovill	....	art department
Chris Brightman	....	art department
Forrest Chadwick	....	carpenter foreman
Jim Childs	....	visual consultant
Sharon Compton	....	art department coordinator
Dick Davis	....	lead man
Douglas Dick	....	construction coordinator (as Doug Dick)
Don Dixon	....	visual consultant
Tim Duffy	....	special props
Jim Dultz	....	property master
Alec Gillis	....	art department
Alex Hajdu	....	assistant art director
Gene Hamm	....	props
Kenneth Wayne Hanis	....	art department (as Ken Hannis)
David Hodges	....	art department
Robert Johnson	....	art department
Roger Kelton	....	art department
Charles Kern	....	art department
Sam Kirson	....	visual consultant (as Sam Kearson)
Antony Pedicini	....	art department
Tim Rafelson	....	art department
Guy Smith	....	art department
Paul Strong	....	art department
Phil Thomas Jr.	....	art department
Phil Thomas Jr.	....	construction supervisor (as Phil Thomas)
Judi Trevor	....	art department (as Judith Treavor)
Christopher Tyner	....	art department
Jan Ferris	....	designer: jewelry and some props (uncredited)
Jan Ferris	....	set designer (uncredited)
Dory Forma	....	props (uncredited)
David Halver	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Sam Kirson	....	set designer (uncredited)
Jay Koiwai	....	painter (uncredited)
Rick Moore	....	graphic artist (uncredited)
Eugene P. Rizzardi	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Mark A. Shelton	....	art department electrician (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gary C. Bourgeois	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joseph Geisinger	....	boom operator (as Joe Geisinger)
Alan Howarth	....	special sound effects (as Alan S. Howarth)
Ron Judkins	....	sound mixer
Steve Rice	....	dialogue editor
David Lewis Yewdall	....	supervising sound editor

Special Effects by
Frank DeMarco	....	pyrotechnics
Roger George	....	pyrotechnics
Hal Miles	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Larry Albright	....	lighting pieces
Ed Banks	....	gaffer: special photographic effects
Stephen Barncard	....	effects lighting and props
Chris Brightman	....	additional photography: special photographic effects
Isabelle Brightman	....	rotoscope/animation/graphic effects
Steve Caldwell	....	camera operator: special photographic effects
James Cameron	....	additional director of photography: special photographic effects (as Jim Cameron)
James Cameron	....	miniature design and construction (as Jim Cameron)
Tom Campbell	....	additional photography: special photographic effects
Tom Campbell	....	engineering: miniature design and construction
Jo Carson	....	production manager: special photographic effects
Brian Chin	....	miniature design and construction
Chuck Comisky	....	producer/supervisor: special photographic effects (as C. Comisky)
John Cruz	....	effects lighting and props
Chuck De Cola	....	effects lighting and props
George D. Dodge	....	director of photography: special photographic effects
Marcia Dripchak	....	optical effects supervisor
Steven Elliott	....	rotoscope/animation/graphic effects (as Steve Elliott)
Judith Evans	....	rotoscope/animation/graphic effects
Michele Ferrone	....	production manager: special photographic effects
Randall Frakes	....	additional photography: special photographic effects
Deborah Gaydos	....	rotoscope/animation/graphic effects
Alec Gillis	....	miniature design and construction
Daniel Gross	....	rotoscope/animation/graphic effects
Doug Hall	....	effects lighting and props
Kenneth Jones	....	technical director: special photographic effects (as Dr. Ken Jones)
Rob Maine	....	additional photography: special photographic effects (as Robert Maine)
Austin McKinney	....	additional director of photography: special photographic effects
René Meunier	....	optical lineup
Josh Morton	....	additional director of photography: special photographic effects (as Joshua Morton)
John Muto	....	rotoscope/animation/graphic effects
Eric Peterson	....	additional photography: special photographic effects
Tony Randel	....	editor: special photographic effects (as Anthony Randel)
Jack Reed	....	effects lighting and props
Peter Regla	....	optical consultant
David Riley	....	additional photography: special photographic effects
Maury Schallock	....	supervisor: model design and construction
Dennis Skotak	....	director of photography: special photographic effects
Dennis Skotak	....	miniature design and construction
Robert Skotak	....	miniature design and construction
Robert Skotak	....	special designs/effects creations
Dan Slater	....	optical consultant
Dan Smith	....	camera operator: special photographic effects
Carolyn Strauss	....	additional photography: special photographic effects
Pat Sweeney	....	additional photography: special photographic effects
Jonas Thaler	....	optical editorial (as Jon Thaler)
Pat Thompson	....	miniature design and construction
Melissa Tripp	....	assistant editor: special photographic effects
Paul Turner	....	effects lighting supervisor
Nina Vlahos	....	editor: special photographic effects
Gary Wagner	....	additional photography: special photographic effects
Susan Welsh	....	assistant editor: special photographic effects
Barry Zetlin	....	rotoscope/animation/graphic effects
Rob Maine	....	miniature process projection (uncredited)
Mike Warren	....	optical effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Kenny Bates	....	stunts (uncredited)
James Rekart	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Gene Witham	....	utility stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John K. Adams	....	electrician
Ben Batzdorff	....	key grip (as Ben Batzdorf)
Michael Bolner	....	best boy
Greg Callahan	....	electrical supervisor
Paul Elliott	....	camera operator (as Paul Elliot)
Steven Finestone	....	first assistant camera (as Steve Finestone)
Grant Fratt	....	grip
James J. Gilson	....	rigging gaffer (as Jim Gilson)
Brenda Haverstock	....	electrician
Paul Hodara	....	"Dial-A-Date" projections (as Paul Sterling Hodara)
Paul Hodara	....	still photographer (as Paul Sterling Hodara)
Arthur Holtz	....	gaffer
Robert Hutchinson	....	electrician
Larry Markart	....	second assistant camera
Tom McGrath	....	grip
Terry Moore	....	electrical supervisor
David W. Nims	....	grip (as David Nims)
David O'Connell	....	electrician
Craig Storper	....	grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jan Ferris	....	jewelry designer
Timaree McCormick	....	assistant costume designer
Sara Nelson	....	wardrobe assistant
Daniel Orlandi	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
John K. Adams	....	assistant editor
Debra Chiate	....	assistant editor (as Debbie Chiate)
Jeff Shank	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Greg Fulginiti	....	music engineer (uncredited)
David Newman	....	conductor (uncredited)

Other crew
Todd Allan	....	production assistant
Jane Covner	....	unit publicist
Mike Fairman	....	production assistant (as Mike Farman)
Clark Henderson	....	craft service
Amy Kenney	....	production assistant
Sharon Kirkpatrick	....	script supervisor
Betsy Magruder	....	production coordinator
Wade Mayer	....	production assistant
Eric Morris	....	dialogue director
Gregory Orr	....	production assistant
Tom Plant	....	auditor
Charles Skouras III	....	production coordinator
Rob Snyder	....	production assistant
Carolyn Strauss	....	titles
Petro Vlahos	....	technical advisor
Mark Witzer	....	production assistant

Thanks
Peter Anderson	....	special thanks
Eli Cyngiser	....	special thanks
Walt Dodge	....	special thanks
Edi Murway	....	special thanks
Ease Owyeung	....	special thanks
Jack Rabin	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• New World Pictures (presents) (as A New World Picture also)

Distributors

• New World Pictures (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1982) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (1986) (Greece) (VHS)
• International Film Distributors (Canada)
• New Horizons Home Video (????) (USA) (DVD)
• New Horizons Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Orion Pictures Corporation (non-USA)
• Shout! Factory (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Shout! Factory (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• New World Effects (miniature photographic effects) (as New World Studio)

Other Companies

• Cuttlefish  special props
• West Hills Community Chorus  voice effects
• Elicon  motion control camera system
• Ryder Sound Services  rerecording studio (as Ryder Sound Service)
• Modern Props  computers and technical hardware
• PMW  special thanks
• Image 3  special thanks (as Image-3)
• Movie Magic  special thanks
• Rhino Records  sound track available on
• Hal Mann Laboratories  matte processing (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Norway:11 | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Finland:K-16 (1989) (uncut version) | Finland:K-12 (1980) (cut version) | Germany:12 (2005, DVD rating) | Singapore:PG | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (SubTV) (1991) | UK:PG (tv rating)

Company:

New World Pictures

Trivia:

This is considered to be the first "major" theatrical film to be scored by James Horner, and his breakthrough into the sci-fi/adventure blockbusters he would become known for in the 1980s and 1990s.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: During Saint Exmin's final battle against Sador a crewmember can be seen on the left-side of the screen (over Sybil Danning's right shoulder). The crewman is visible during the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th cut to her during the battle. The crew person appears to be sitting just behind the wall immediately behind Sybil.

Quotes:

[Shad can't bring himself to shoot down Kalo and Tembo's Malmori warship]
Shad:Can we outrun 'em?
Nell:We sure as hell can't OUTFIGHT 'em, not with YOU in the driver's seat!

Movie Connections:

Edited into Not of This Earth (1988)

Seven Samurai in Space

John Sayles was asked by Roger Corman to adapt The Seven Samurai into a sci fi picture and the result is this delightfully inventive tongue-in-cheek romp.

What is most enjoyable to me about the film is the fact that every mercenary hired by the peaceful "villagers" has a distinct personality and style and their motivations clearly defined. George Peppard, as the only human among them, is laid back and charming. Morgan Woodward seems to be having a grand old time playing the vengeful lizard-man--dig his gonzo war-cry during the climactic battle! Robert Vaughn does seem a bit bored but he effectively communicates his character's unpleasant coldness. Sybill Danning simply has one of the most stunning bodies to ever be stuffed into a styrofoam viking costume, even if she can't act. Add to these characters two elfin aliens who communicate thru heat (the Kelvin, wink, wink) and a troupe of what looks like Mimes called "Nestor" who operate sort of like the collectivist Borg from Star Trek and in disposition seem to anticipate the infectious optimism and curiosity of Mr Data as well.When first introduced they explain, "We believe you are seeking mercenaries for an adventure. We would like to participate." The costumes, sets and spfx are quite striking though obviously done on a low budget but that hardly detracts from the fun. Special mention must be made of John Saxon who, as the evil scourge of the galaxy Lord Sador, grabs his opportunity to chew the scenery with amusing gusto. Check the sequence where he gets to enact what must be every actors dream since Dr Strangelove: to have a battle with his own rebellious arm! He plays it all-out, with just the right mix of comic book theatrics and menacing humor. Its sometimes just enjoyable to watch veteran actors cut loose and have a good time, the spirit is infectious, as it certainly is with this film. Fun for the whole family as well as bonged-out college students and other usually disparaging types.