Spaceballs (1987)

Director:

Mel Brooks

Writers:

Mel Brooks (written by) &
Thomas Meehan (written by) ...

Release Date:

24 June 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

May The Farce Be With You

Plot:

Planet Spaceball's President Skroob sends Lord Dark Helmet to steal Planet Druidia's abundant supply of air to replenish their own, and only Lone Starr can stop them.

Plot Keywords:

Planet | Princess | King | President | Space

Cast

Mel Brooks	...	President Skroob / Yogurt
John Candy	...	Barf
Rick Moranis	...	Dark Helmet
Bill Pullman	...	Lone Starr
Daphne Zuniga	...	Princess Vespa
Dick Van Patten	...	King Roland
George Wyner	...	Colonel Sandurz
Michael Winslow	...	Radar Technician
Joan Rivers	...	Dot Matrix (voice)
Lorene Yarnell	...	Dot Matrix
John Hurt	...	Himself
Sal Viscuso	...	Radio Operator
Ronny Graham	...	Minister
Jim J. Bullock	...	Prince Valium
Leslie Bevis	...	Commanderette Zircon

Also Known As:

Planet Moron (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

UK:12 (2000) (re-rating) (uncut) | Portugal:M/6 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Finland:K-12 | Canada:PG (Canadian Home Video rating) | USA:PG (#28661) | Brazil:Livre | Australia:PG | Canada:14A | Iceland:L | Ireland:PG | Norway:12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:12 (video re-rating) (2000) (uncut) | UK:PG (original rating) (cut) | UK:PG (video rating) (1988) (cut) | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Imperial County, California, USA

Company:

Brooksfilms

Trivia:

A full face mask resembling a wrinkled bulldog was originally constructed for the character of Barf, but Mel Brooks quipped that 'if they were going to hide John Candy behind a mask, he might as well hire someone else for half the price'. A nose and upper lip piece was tried next, which Candy approved but again Brooks did not. They finally settled on animatronic ears connected to a hairpiece, a small nose application and a patch over one eye just like the dog from the 'Our Gang' shorts.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: When Roland solicits help from Lone Starr, they talk like they know each other (after all, Roland hails him by name), yet Lone Starr and Barf act surprised that they have picked up a Druish princess.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Radio Operator: Colonel Sandurz!
Colonel Sandurz: What is it, Sergeant Ricco?
Radio Operator: You told me to let you know the moment Planet Druidia was in sight, sir.
Colonel Sandurz: So?
Radio Operator: Planet Druidia's in sight, sir.
Colonel Sandurz: You're really a Spaceball. You know that, don't you?
Radio Operator: Thanks, sir.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Planet of the Apes (1968)

Soundtrack:

Raise Your Hands

Crazy, manic and hilarious.

Spaceballs is probably one of the more ridiculous films that I've ever seen, but also one of the oddly funniest. I'm not necessarily a die-hard science fiction fan, so I was under the assumption that a spoof of this kind would, for the most part, completely go over my head. How wrong I was. Mel Brooks has made a film that makes even the most resistant sci-fi fan laugh out loud. Sure, it' juvenile and crass at times but isn't that what good comedy is all about? Who needs sophistication when you have great comedy like this? I personally loved it. The cast of Spaceballs are all excellent, fleshing out their roles perfectly whilst also having an understanding about the genre, and also how to have fun with it. Rick Moranis is a scream as Lord Dark Helmet, all pent up frustration and anger, which works brilliantly. Bill Pullman and John Candy work well as a duo, and Daphne Zuniga plays the distressed Princess Vespa well enough, even if she can be a little wooden at times. Yet Dot Matrix was the character that did it for me, Joan Rivers voices her excellently, and I defy anyone not to laugh out loud at the "Virgin Alarm" scene, it's classic! In short, Spaceballs is a nice little film to have a bit of a brainless laugh at, so if that's your thing, then you're in luck. They don't get any better than this.