Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)

Director:

Jimmy T. Murakami
(more)

Writers:

John Sayles (story) &
Anne Dyer (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

13 November 1980 (West Germany)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A battle beyond time, beyond space.

Plot:

Seven futuristic mercenaries are assembled to defend a helpless farm colony from an evil overlord.

Plot Keywords:

Outer Space | Planet | Mercenary | Soldier | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Richard Thomas	...	Shad
Robert Vaughn	...	Gelt
John Saxon	...	Sador
George Peppard	...	Cowboy
Darlanne Fluegel	...	Nanelia
Sybil Danning	...	Saint-Exmin
Sam Jaffe	...	Dr. Hephaestus
Jeff Corey	...	Zed
Morgan Woodward	...	Cayman
Marta Kristen	...	Lux
Earl Boen	...	Nestor 1
John Gowans	...	Nestor 2 (as John Gowens)
Steve Davis	...	Quopeg
Lawrence Steven Meyers	...	Kelvin 1 (as Larry Meyers)
Lara Cody	...	Kelvin 2
Lynn Carlin	...	Nell (voice)
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
Tom Henschel	...	Talking Android
Richard Davalos	...	Yago (as Dick Davalos)
Nate Esformes	...	Dako
Lanny Broyles	...	Tembo
Rob Reece	...	Kalo (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		(story) &
Anne Dyer		(story)
John Sayles		(screenplay)

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
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	....	leadman
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)
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	....	photographer: "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

Distributors

• New World Pictures (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1982) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• 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  re-recording studio
• Modern Props  computers and technical hardware
• PMW  special thanks
• Image 3  special thanks (as Image-3)
• Movie Magic  special thanks
• Rhino Records  soundtrack 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:

Germany:12 (2005, DVD rating) | Singapore:PG | Australia:PG | Norway:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Finland:K-16 (1989) (uncut version) | Finland:K-12 (1980) (cut version)

Company:

New World Pictures

Trivia:

One of the assistant editors on this movie was promised the gig after a rough stint playing a Humanoid in Humanoids from the Deep (1980).

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:

[Cayman's "Zymer" charges "Hammerhead"]
Cayman of the Lambda Zone:This is Cayman of the Lambda Zone, calling Sador of the Malmori. Turn around, you over-aged de-generate, and we'll bump heads!
Sador:...Of what form are you, Cayman?
Cayman of the Lambda Zone:I am of the Lazuli.
Sador:I thought I had the honor of making that form extinct, long ago! I won't fail this time! HERE I COME, CAYMAN OF THE LAZULI!

Movie Connections:

Edited into Starquest II (1996) (V)

Lotta bang for little bucks

Now this is interesting. The movie is another producer's spin on Star Wars; Star Wars obviously being made by George Lucas. The name 'George Lucas' being synonymous with 'epic-scale effects budget.' Battle Beyond the Stars was produced by Roger Corman. The name 'Roger Corman' being synonymous with 'shoe-string budget.'

Let me break from my usual critique style to go over some of the plot - Sador (John Saxon) feels the need to conquer, and he's so powerful that he decides to conquer an essentially helpless (not to mention useless) civilization. But instead of conquering, he courteously shows up to conveniently schedule his conquest a week from now in case they want to mount some sort of defense. (Where's Arnold when you need him? 'I'll be back!')

In response, Shad takes a road trip (space trip?) in Nell the only ship on the planet to round up some misfits (mercenaries--same thing) who happen to be in the neighborhood. Everyone is interestingly (clichély) unique and has their own reasons for wanting to fight, not to mention the actors have a wide range of performances ranging from sliced ham to frighteningly Shakespearian seriousness. And, ah to hell with it, you get the idea. Point is, I have every reason to really hate the plot, hate the characters (Good God, I've hated characters for much much less), hate this movie . . . but I dunno, I don't really mind it.

Through all its narrative faults, Battle Beyond the Stars happens to hit the right goofball mixture of elements from a surprisingly good score by young 'Jamie Horner' to notably weird spaceships and decent effects (for an early 80s low-budget flick) to wacky and tame characters that somehow summons a funky B-movie charm. For the life of me, I can't hate this movie despite the plot that begs me to bash it to oblivion with the Stellar Converter.

The spaceship, Nell, proved to be the highpoint of the film . . . not because of the ship's design, rather because of its personality (no really.)

I've always wanted to see a spaceship with an attitude (the Star Trek equivalent of Kit from Knight Rider?) A perfect counterpoint to the naivety of Shad, flawlessly delivered by Richard Thomas. If I weren't constantly laughing at the characters cluelessness, I'd want to slap that kid around, and I'd sure as hell wouldn't want to charge him with saving my planet. I'd like to die with my dignity, thank you.

Battle Beyond the Stars has a number of positive attributes (especially considering the budget and experience of most people involved on the film at the time), it has a number of reasons to be proud, and it most definitely has a number of charms that surpass its truckload of flaws. I consider Battle Beyond the Stars the spending benchmark for all sci-fi flicks. I mean, if Corman can entertain me with Hollywood pocket change, Lucas, the Wachowskis, and the other heavy spenders better blow my socks off with their ungodly sized budgets . . .