Space Mutiny (1988)

Directors:

David Winters
Neal Sundstrom (co-director)

Writer:

Maria Dante (written by)
(more)

Release Date:

1988 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

There is nowhere to hide from the enemy within!

Plot:

A pilot is the only hope to stop the mutiny of a spacecraft by its security crew, who plot to sell the crew of the ship into slavery.

Plot Keywords:

Mutiny | Falling To Death | Cult Film | Battle | Kicked In The Crotch

Cast

Reb Brown	...	Dave Ryder
John Phillip Law	...	Flight Cmdr. Elijah Kalgan
James Ryan	...	MacPhearson
Cameron Mitchell	...	Cmdr. Alex Jansen
Cisse Cameron	...	Dr. Lea Jansen (as Cissy Cameron)
Graham Clarke	...	Capt. Scott Devers (as Graham Clark)
Billy Second	...	Flight Lt. Lemont
Rufus Swart	...	3rd Engineer Steve Codell
Arthur Hall	...	Mortuary Keeper
Norman Anstey	...	Joseph Enforcer
Rick Skidmore	...	Chief Engineer
Guy Pringle	...	Kalgan's Bodyguard
Claudia Jacobs	...	Female Lieutenant
Evan J. Klisser	...	Mohawk - Enforcer
Chip Mitchell	...	Blake - Enforcer
Gary D. Sweeney	...	Ranger - Enforcer
Mark Grayton	...	Max - Enforcer
Dennis Robbins	...	Norris - Enforcer
Kevin Kirby	...	Sid - Enforcer
Keith Carey	...	Draker - Enforcer
Colton Green	...	Colton - Enforcer
Chris Low	...	Zone - Enforcer
Neil Carrick	...	Trask - Enforcer
David Rogan	...	Fritz - Enforcer
Madeleine Reynal	...	Jennera (as Madyelene Reynel)
Camille Mitchell	...	Jennera's Voice (voice)
Naomi Goldberg	...	Twana
Vera Mcullen	...	Bellerian #1
Lisa Alexander	...	Bellerian #2
Jeanet Moltke	...	Bellerian #3
Ginette Reynel	...	Bellerian #4
Laura Fremont	...	Bellerian #5

Directed by
David Winters
Neal Sundstrom		(co-director)

Writing credits
Maria Dante		(written by) (as Maria Danté)
Ian Yule		uncredited

Produced by
John De Kock	....	executive producer (as John DeKock)
Hope Holiday	....	executive producer
Debi Nethersole	....	associate producer (as Debbie Nethersole)
Jonathan Vanger	....	co-associate producer
David Winters	....	producer

Original Music by
Tim James
Mark Mancina
Steve McClintock

Cinematography by
Vincent G. Cox
Andrew Parke		(bellerian sequences)

Film Editing by
Bill Asher
Charlotte Konrad
Catherine Meyburgh

Casting by
Laura Drake		(bellerian sequences)

Production Design by
Geoffrey Hill		(as Geoff Hill)

Set Decoration by
Roy Rudolphe

Costume Design by
Yvonne De Necker

Makeup Department
Briane Caitlan	....	assistant makeup artist: bellerian sequences
Debi Nichiol	....	hair stylist
Debi Nichiol	....	makeup artist
Tori Parker	....	hair stylist: bellerian sequences
Monica Silvera	....	makeup artist: bellerian sequences

Production Management
Catherine Dunn	....	unit production manager: bellerian sequences
Michael J. Harker	....	post-production supervisor
Debi Nethersole	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Evan J. Klisser	....	second assistant director (as Evan Klisser)
Mark D. West	....	first assistant director (as Mark West)

Art Department
Mace Bacon	....	construction assistant: Bellerian sequences
Kim Bailey	....	art assistant: Bellerian sequences
Kirk Banke	....	construction assistant: Bellerian sequences
Dicky Claassen	....	production buyer (as Dicky Classens)
Kevin Davis	....	construction supervisor: Bellerian sequences
Stephen Duvall	....	construction assistant: Bellerian sequences
Daniel Frey	....	construction assistant: Bellerian sequences
Mary Ashe Gavin	....	property master: Bellerian sequences
Gene Hunter	....	construction assistant: Bellerian sequences
Robert Jew	....	storyboarder: Bellerian sequences
Jerry Jones	....	construction assistant: Bellerian sequences
Kevin Kirby	....	construction assistant: Bellerian sequences
Mike Lowry	....	construction assistant: Bellerian sequences
Ben Madumo	....	stand-by props
Ann Monn	....	art director: Bellerian sequences
Graeme Orwin	....	property master
David Robertson	....	art department buyer
Phil Ward	....	construction assistant: Bellerian sequences
Tiff Winton	....	assistant set decorator: Bellerian sequences (as Tiffanie Winton)
Jerry Witt	....	construction assistant: Bellerian sequences

Sound Department
Brian Courcier	....	sound editor
Eric Ericson	....	sound mixer: bellerian sequences
Warren Grisham	....	sound re-recording mixer
Conrad Kuhne	....	sound mixer (as Konrad Khune)
Chris Marten	....	boom operator
Bill Oliver	....	sound re-recording mixer
Karen Perron	....	boom operator: bellerian sequences

Special Effects by
Rick Cresswell	....	special effects coordinator
Alan Ford	....	special effects assistant
Mike Vander Walt	....	powderman (as Mike van der Walt)

Visual Effects by
Margo Gerber	....	assistant editor: visual effects
C.K. Horness	....	assistant editor: visual effects (as Cindy Horness)
Cindy Kenlein	....	assistant editor: visual effects
Jerry Kitz	....	compositing
Jerry Kitz	....	special optical effects
Chris Dawson	....	visual effects animation photography (uncredited)

Stunts
Scott J. Ateah	....	stunt coordinator (as Scott Ateah)
Scott J. Ateah	....	stunts (as Scott Ateah)
Roly Jansen	....	stunt coordinator (as Roley Jansen)
Roly Jansen	....	stunts (as Roley Jansen)

Camera and Electrical Department
Mace Bacon	....	key grip: bellerian sequences
Peter Belcher	....	second assistant camera
Mike Bienstock	....	second assistant camera: bellerian sequences
Marc Brower	....	second camera operator
Edgar Browns	....	dolly grip: bellerian sequences
Kevin 'Rambo' Fitzgerald	....	grip/electrician: bellerian sequences
Kevin Gibb	....	gaffer
Andrew Hallbach	....	grip/electrician: bellerian sequences
Mike Lappins	....	gaffer: bellerian sequences (as Mike Lapins)
Graham McFarlane	....	clapper loader
Ishmail Moeng	....	grip (as Ishmail)
Peter Palmer	....	focus puller
Peter Palmér	....	focus puller (as Peter Palmer)
Meila Penn	....	still photographer: bellerian sequences
Rydo	....	grip
Gary D. Scott	....	first assistant camera: bellerian sequences (as Gary Scott)
Fuzzy Skinner	....	best boy
Tony Slotar	....	key grip
Anthony Smith	....	grip/electrician: bellerian sequences

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marcella Guymon	....	seamstress: bellerian sequences
Christian McCabe	....	wardrobe assistant (as Christian Mcabe)
Michele Minailo	....	wardrobe: bellerian sequences
Rose	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Kathy Nyburg	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Steve Kempster	....	score engineer

Transportation Department
Harry Knapp	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Christoff Assefi	....	production assistant: bellerian sequences
Neal Borman	....	location assistant
Gary Copeland	....	assistant to producer
Kathy English	....	production secretary
Trevor Fish	....	location manager
Benita Fourie	....	production receptionist
Mary Ashe Gavin	....	continuity: bellerian sequences
Ken Hamano	....	script supervisor: bellerian sequences
Doupie MacFarlane	....	production runner
Ron Mull	....	caterer
Amy Powell	....	production runner: bellerian sequences
Paul S. Rowlston	....	production assistant (as Paul Rowlston)
Christofina Shange	....	office assistant
Maureen Turpin	....	production accountant
Isabel van NieKirk	....	cashier (as Isabella Van Niekerk)
Mark Warner	....	caterer: bellerian sequences
Beverley Wilbraham	....	continuity (as Bev Wilbraham)

Production Companies

• A.I.P. Productions

Distributors

• Action International Pictures (AIP) (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• Action International Pictures Home Video (AIP) (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Echo Bridge Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Hellas Cosmos Video (1989) (Greece) (VHS)
• Nova Home Video (1989) (Canada) (VHS)
• Rhino Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Arriflex  camera
• Catalina Post Inc.  sound post-production (as Catalina Post)
• FotoKem Laboratory  optical film lab (as Fotokem)
• Image Transform  color
• McJames Music  music
• Performance Guarantees Australia Pty. Ltd.  completion bond (as Performance Guarantees, Inc.)
• Title House  end title artwork

Also Known As:

Runtime:

93 min | Canada:108 min

Country:

South Africa | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:R | UK:15 (cut)

Filming Locations:

South Africa

Company:

A.I.P. Productions

Trivia:

Most of the film was actually directed by Neal Sundstrom rather than David Winters, who had to drop out in an early stage of filming due to the death of a close relative. However, Sundstrom was not pleased with the end result, blaming a lack of care and attention in pre-production, and refused to be credited as anything more than co-director. Winters was equally unhappy with the film and attempted to have his name replaced with that of the fictional Alan Smithee, but due to his contract he was unable to do so.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Steve Godel (?) is thrown off the railings by Kalgan and hits the ground, his glasses fall off. There's a cut to Kalgan laughing, and in the very next cut, with the papers falling on him, his glasses are back on.

Quotes:

Pirates:Surrender, or be blown to astro-dust!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Obscurus Lupa Presents: A Special Sesame Street Christmas (#3.30)" (2012)

Soundtrack:

The Edge of a Dream

....starring Slab Bulkhead as Whiney McGirl-scream!

I actually quite enjoyed this film. Well, I enjoyed laughing at Mike and the Robots comments on it anyhow. The film itself is just the worst kind of awful you can imagine.

For a start, the budget for any real effects was obviously non-existent, so they stole LOTS of shots from Battlestar Galactica. These scenes occur early on in the movie mostly, and lead you to think that (apart from the plagiarism)it might not be too terrible. Wrong! After the initial ten minutes the Galactica stock-footage is rarely seen again, but the inside of various industrial buildings is seen almost constantly. I was thinking "Ah, a late 70's, early 80's era film" where any old chemical or power plant interior would do as "futuristic" sets. Wrong again! This "movie" was made in 1988, not even twenty years ago! It's like the makers went through a time warp to the late 70's, made the film, then brought it back for our delight.

But the plagiarism, in another form, continues right through the movie. The sound effects of the lasers are ripped straight from Battlestar Galactica again, and also, later on, the sound of the lasers from Battle Beyond the Stars makes an appearance.

Then there is the acting. Or rather, the awful lack of it. Particularly bad is Chunk Benchpress (aka Reb Brown) who lumbers around the sets trying to look dashing and heroic, then spoils the image by screaming like his 'nads have been caught in a food processor. The love interest for Chunk is old enough to be his mother (or maybe even grandmother!) and bares altogether too much flesh for someone of her advancing years and plastic surgery.

The commander of the ship on which the mutiny takes place is Cameron Mitchell, an actor of some note. What the Hell he was thinking in being in this is anybody's guess. But, bad though his choice of movie is, it's nothing compared to the ridiculous Father Christmas beard he's made to wear. It looks sooooo real nobody will be able to tell its a fake. Not!

And finally, the main cast is rounded off by John Phillip Law, another actor who has some credit to his name (At least prior to this turkey). Obviously he yearned for his wacky Barbarella days again and signed up for this abomination. I could never decide here whether he was actually trying to act or just hamming everything up. Suffice to say his maniacal cackling at even the slightest provocation ceases to be funny after the tenth or twentieth time.

Other things to watch out for are the stupid golf carts done up to look like futuristic transportation. The cheap body shells wobble like they're only held on with tape and the "chase" scenes are just hysterical. It's like you've tuned into a re-run of The Banana Splits Show. Try humming "Tra-la-lah, La-la-la-lah!" as you watch and its even funnier.

I won't mention the plot, because there really isn't one to speak of. Just a flimsy premise that people who were actually born in space are more likely to yearn for a real planet to live on than those who came from a planet, which sounds counter-intuitive to me. Or in other words, just plain dumb.

Watch it as an MST3K episode and this one is great. Without their comments it might be rather too much to handle for any normal person. It thoroughly deserves its place in the bottom 100 of the IMDb. You have been warned!