Spaced Invaders (1990)

Director:

Patrick Read Johnson

Writers:

Patrick Read Johnson (screenplay) and
Scott Lawrence Alexander (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 April 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Earth Will Never Be The Same!

Plot:

Dimwitted Martians drop into a little Illinois town on the day that the local radio station happens to rebroadcast Orson Welles 1938 "War Of The Worlds".

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Halloween | Killer Robot | Reference To John Wayne | War Of The Worlds Broadcast

Cast

Douglas Barr	...	Sam
Royal Dano	...	Wrenchmuller
Ariana Richards	...	Kathy
J.J. Anderson	...	Brian (Duck)
Gregg Berger	...	Klembecker
Wayne Alexander	...	Vern
Fred Applegate	...	Russell
Patrika Darbo	...	Mrs. Vanderspool
Tonya Lee Williams	...	Ernestine
Ryan Goldstein	...	Sid Ghost (as Ryan Todd)
Barry O'Neill	...	Clown Kid
Adam Hansley	...	Pig Kid
Casey Sander	...	Radio Announcer
Rose Parenti	...	Old Wife
Glen Vernon	...	Old Guy #1
Hal Riddle	...	Old Guy #2
William Holmes	...	Dumb Guy #1
James Eustermann	...	Clown (as Jim Eusterman)
Justine L. Henry	...	Dody
Kent Minault	...	Dumb Guy #2
Kevin Thompson	...	Blaznee
Jimmy Briscoe	...	Captain Bipto
Tony Cox	...	Pez
Debbie Lee Carrington	...	Dr. Ziplock
Tommy Madden	...	Giggywig
Jeff Winkless	...	Captain Bipto (voice) (as Jeff Winklis)
Bruce Lanoil	...	Pez (voice)
Joe Alaskey	...	Dr. Ziplock (voice)
Tony Pope	...	Giggywig (voice)
Patrick Read Johnson	...	Commander / Enforcer Drone (voice) (as Patrick Johnson)
Kirk R. Thatcher	...	Shortstuff (voice) (as Kirk Thatcher)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Patrick Brock	...	Cowboy (uncredited)

Directed by
Patrick Read Johnson

Writing credits
Patrick Read Johnson		(screenplay) and
Scott Lawrence Alexander		(screenplay)

Produced by
Luigi Cingolani	....	producer
Jason Clark	....	associate producer
John S. Curran	....	line producer
Caroline Pham	....	associate producer (as Caroline Pham Johnson)
Djordje Zecevic	....	executive producer (as George Zecevic)

Original Music by
David E. Russo		(as David Russo)

Cinematography by
James L. Carter		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Seth Gaven
Daniel Gross

Casting by
Barbara Dodd		(as Barbara Remsen)
Ann Remsen Manners

Production Design by
Anthony Tremblay		(as Tony Tremblay)

Art Direction by
Scott Lawrence Alexander

Set Decoration by
Chava Danielson

Costume Design by
Sanja Milkovic Hays

Makeup Department
Barrie Buckner	....	hair assistant
Barrie Buckner	....	makeup assistant
Laura Gorman	....	hair assistant
Laura Gorman	....	makeup assistant
Suzanne Parker Sanders	....	hair stylist supervisor (as Suzanne Sanders)
Suzanne Parker Sanders	....	makeup supervisor (as Suzanne Sanders)
Rob Sherwood	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Daniel J. Heffner	....	executive in charge of production
Kelly Van Horn	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Cass Jr.	....	second assistant director (as Dave Cass Jr.)
Alexandra E. Perce	....	second second assistant director
Scott Andrew Ressler	....	second unit director (as Scott Ressler)
Kelly Van Horn	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Greg Aronowitz	....	model maker
Greg Aronowitz	....	prop builder
Ted Berner	....	property master
John Davenport	....	carpenter
Charles Doane	....	carpenter
Russell Draper	....	set dresser
Mitch Eakin	....	carpenter
Randy Echols	....	carpenter
Jim Eustermann	....	prop maker
John Frady	....	carpenter
Gordon Germaine	....	propmaker
Val Harris	....	leadman (as Val R. Harris)
Michael J. Henderson	....	assistant property master
Michael Hirst	....	carpenter
Dayna Lee	....	assistant props
Kent W. Luttrell	....	prop maker
Scott Mann	....	carpenter
Rudy Mercado	....	scenic artist
Pierre Minault	....	carpenter
Julius Norman	....	carpenter
Natalie Pope	....	art department coordinator (as Natali Pope)
Michael Rohen	....	construction coordinator
Francis J. Roix	....	carpenter (as Francis Roix)
Michelle Turnbull	....	assistant decorator

Sound Department
Robert J. Anderson Jr.	....	production sound mixer
Ara Ashjian	....	sound recordist
Zane D. Bruce	....	foley artist (as Zane Bruce)
Gregory Cheever	....	sound recordist (as Greg Cheever)
Andy D'Addario	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeffrey J. Haboush	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Jeffery J. Haboush)
John Hays	....	boom operator (as John Paul Hays)
Harry Hitner	....	adr editor
Harry Hitner	....	dialogue editor
Jim Hodson	....	foley recordist (as James Hodson)
Jim Hodson	....	sound effects recordist (as James Hodson)
Allen Hurd	....	sound recordist
Warren Kleiman	....	adr mixer
Bill Koepnick	....	foley artist
Bill Koepnick	....	supervising sound effects editor
John Lawson	....	stereo sound consultant
Judd Levison	....	recording assistant
David Mancini	....	additional foley artist (as David K. Mancini)
Dan Ortiz	....	transfers
Art Schiro	....	sound recordist
David Van Meter	....	production assistant: re-recording

Special Effects by
Bret Alexander	....	model & prop maker
Wayne Alexander	....	model & prop maker
Steve Berrit	....	lab technician
Mark Carbirino	....	lab technician
Fox Carney	....	model & prop maker
Frank Ceglia	....	special effects supervisor
Sandy Collora	....	lab technician: head Martian crew (as Sandy Collara)
John Criswell	....	alien special effects: supervisor
John Criswell	....	animatronic aliens: Shortstuff creator
Jon Dawe	....	animatronic aliens: puppeteer
Jon Dawe	....	animatronic eye
James Eustermann	....	model & prop maker
Thomas Floutz	....	painter (as Thom Floutz)
John Frassrand	....	animatronic aliens: Shortstuff creator
John Frassrand	....	animatronic aliens: puppeteer
Dan Frye	....	lab technician
Deborah Galvez	....	model & prop maker
Gordon Germaine	....	model & prop maker
Carl Horner	....	miniature effects supervisor: second unit (as Carl Horner Jr)
Carl Horner	....	model & prop maker
Terry Huud	....	miniature effects supervisor
Terry Huud	....	model & prop maker
Cindy Johnson	....	model & prop maker
Greg Johnson	....	alien special effects: supervisor
Andrew Kenworthy	....	lab technician: puppeteer
Dave Kindlon	....	animatronic aliens
Rima Litonjua	....	model & prop maker
Paul Lopez	....	second unit effects: Martian
Bob Lynn	....	lab technician: puppeteer
Roger MaCoin	....	lab technician
Mark Maitre	....	painter
Brian McFadden	....	model & prop maker
Bob McKee	....	model shop supervisor (as Robert Mckee)
Hal Miles	....	animatronic aliens
Kenny Myers	....	consultant: Martian anatomical
Ann Riley	....	model & prop maker
Russel Serfart	....	foam technician
Wayne Toth	....	lab technician: puppeteer
Wayne Tsusaki	....	model & prop maker
Jeff Varga	....	special effects crew
Steve Wang	....	designer: paint
Ron Wild	....	lab technician: key sculptor

Visual Effects by
Greg Aronowitz	....	matte painter
Nina Chierichetti	....	rotoscope artist: Perpetual Motion
Isobel DeLuca	....	crew: Perpetual Motion
Charles L. Finance	....	crew: Perpetual Motion
Robert Habros	....	optical department supervisor: Perpetual Motion
Steve Hyde	....	digital effects artist
Jennifer Knoll	....	production supervisor
John Knoll	....	visual effects supervisor
Pete Kozachik	....	camera operator: lead
Richard Malzahn	....	art department supervisor: Perpetual Motion
Brian McFadden	....	model maker
Cameron Noble	....	camera operator
Barry A. Nolan	....	crew: Perpetual Motion
Arturo Sinclair	....	matte painter
Eric Swenson	....	camera operator
Yas Takata	....	stage manager
Edward Thompson	....	camera assistant: Perpetual Motion
Bruce Walters	....	camera operator
Daniel Brown	....	model maker (uncredited)

Stunts
Lori Crowder	....	stunts (as Lori Estep)
Phil Culotta	....	stunts
Andy Gill	....	stunts
David M. Graves	....	stunt co-coordinator (as David Graves)
Joseph S. Griffo	....	stunts
Fred Lerner	....	stunts
Bernie Pock	....	stunts (as Bernhard Pock)
Spiro Razatos	....	stunt coordinator
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	....	stunts (as Ronald Rondell)
Gregg Sargeant	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Patric J. Abaravich	....	best boy electric (as Patric Abaravich)
Jerry Day	....	best boy grip
David E. Elkins	....	assistant camera: additional camera
Kevin Erb	....	electrician
Gary Farr	....	still photographer
Craig Horwitz	....	dolly grip
Shane Hurlbut	....	dolly grip (as L. Shane Hurlbut)
Mark Jackson	....	first assistant camera (as Mark R. Jackson)
Leslie Charles MacDowell	....	electrician (as Leslie C. MacDowell)
Art Martin	....	second assistant camera (as Arthur J. Martin)
Chuck Mason	....	best boy electric
Moana Oliver	....	electrician
Raymond M. Perosi	....	best boy grip (as Raymond Perosi)
Robert A. Preston	....	grip
Richard Quinn	....	grip
Scott Andrew Ressler	....	director of photography: second unit (as Scott Ressler)
Marc David Schultz	....	grip (as Marc Shultz)
William Sentelik	....	electrician
Mark R. Shultz	....	gaffer: second unit (as Mark Shultz)
Mark R. Shultz	....	grip (as Mark Shultz)
Mark Sicoli	....	assistant camera: second unit
Antonio Soriano	....	gaffer
Antonio Soriano	....	grip
Robert Stone	....	key grip
Chris Worland	....	camera intern

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Greg Aronowitz	....	costume illustrator
Mona May	....	assistant costumer
Mell Petersen	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Harry Hitner	....	assistant editor
Terry Hubbard	....	assistant editor

Music Department
David E. Russo	....	conductor (as David Russo)
Tim Simonec	....	conductor
Tim Simonec	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
'Wild' Bill Mock	....	transportation captain (as 'Wild Bill' Mock)
Kip Parker	....	driver: honeywagon (as Clifford J. Parker)
Griff Ruggles	....	transportation coordinator
Mark Twogood	....	driver
Danny Westerberg	....	transportation captain
Michael C. Wolcott	....	chapman crane driver

Other crew
Bret Alexander	....	on-set supervisor
James G. Anka	....	set detailer
Wili Baronet	....	production consultant
Don Brewton	....	police motor officer
Paul A. Calabria	....	animal trainer (as Paul Calabria)
John Criswell	....	animatronic designer/puppeteer
Dawn Todd Curfman	....	production coordinator (as Dawn Todd)
Michael Donner	....	production accountant
Gerrit V. Folsom	....	location manager (as Gerrit Folsom)
Dan Frye	....	laboratory technician
Carol Gans	....	studio teacher
Penelope Gottlieb	....	title designer: main titles
Douglas Kondo	....	production secretary
Clive Lewis	....	accounting supervisor
Katherine Lewis	....	script supervisor
Tracy Mills	....	production assistant
Kenny Myers	....	martian anatomical consultant
Chris Nielsen	....	car preparer
Mary T. Quigley	....	set nurse (as Mary C. Quigley R.N.)
Ann Marie Riley	....	on-set supervisor (as Ann Riley)
Richard Roderer Jr.	....	set detailer
Dan Spaulding	....	production assistant
Tracey Thompson	....	stand-in
Paul Zecevic	....	production assistant

Thanks
Marty Brennis	....	special thanks
Jo Carson	....	special thanks
Linwood G. Dunn	....	special thanks
John Ellis	....	special thanks
Don Fox	....	special thanks
George Joblove	....	special thanks
Doug Kay	....	special thanks
Douglas Trumbull	....	special thanks
Harry Walton	....	special thanks
Richard Yuricich	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Silver Screen Partners IV
• Smart Egg Pictures
• Touchstone Pictures

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• Planète Double (1991) (France) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Criswell and Johnson Effects (make-up effects)
• Criswell and Johnson Effects (animatronics)
• Griswell and Johnson Effects (makeup effects and animatronics)
• Perpetual Motion Pictures (animation and optical effects)

Other Companies

• Advantage Audio  sound effects design
• B & B Sound Studios  re-recording (as B & B Studios)
• Cinema Research  titles
• Filmtrucks  grip and lighting equipment
• Hill Production Services  camera equipment provided by
• Moviecam  camera equipment provided by

Also Known As:

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Australia:G | Germany:12 | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #29713) | UK:U (video rating) | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Pacific Electric Power Station, Lake Ave. and Calaveras St., Altadena, California, USA

Company:

Silver Screen Partners IV

Trivia:

The call letters for the radio station playing the "War of the Worlds" program are W.E.L.Z. after Orson Welles, or H.G. Wells, or both.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: In the opening scene, when Sherrif Hoxley is getting a bottle of soda pop out of the machine and talking to Russell on his radio, reflected in the window over the machine are two rather-tall palm trees, trees which are not native to Big Bean, Illinois.

Quotes:

Pez:Who taught you to drive, ya moron?

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Soundtrack:

Polka Changed My Life Today

Fun.

Stupid? Yes.

Laughable? Yes, again.

Fun? Definitely!

This movie accomplishes it's primary goal: entertain and have fun. That's all a good movie need do.

Worth a rent, at least one time.