The High Crusade (1994)

Roland Emmerich (Stargate, Independence Day, and Godzilla) brings you John Rhys-Davies in a Monty Pythonesque tale of a band of Crusaders who find themselves in possession of an Alien ship ... See full summary »

Directors:

Klaus Knoesel, Holger Neuhäuser

Writers:

Poul Anderson (book), Robert G. Brown,

Stars:

John Rhys-Davies, Rick Overton, Michael Des Barres

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Rhys-Davies	...	Bruder Parvus
Rick Overton	...	Sir Roger
Michael Des Barres	...	Monsieur du Lac
Catherine Punch	...	Lady Catherine
Patrick Brymer	...	Red John
Debbie Lee Carrington	...	Branithar
Rinaldo Talamonti	...	Alien Chief
Frank Kanakusen	...	Alien Assistant
Tahareh Becker	...	Second Alien Assistant
Ray Cokes	...	Messenger
Holger Neuhäuser	...	Hubert the Executioner
Werner Baum	...	Lars the Executioner
Tim Luna	...	Squire
Fabian Rösler	...	Squire
Bobby Knoesel	...	Squire / Saracen

Storyline

Roland Emmerich (Stargate, Independence Day, and Godzilla) brings you John Rhys-Davies in a Monty Pythonesque tale of a band of Crusaders who find themselves in possession of an Alien ship and the Alien to pilot it. Armed with the means to conquer the Holy Land the naive Crusaders set off for a grand crusade only to find themselves not in Jerusalem but at the mercy of an entire alien world....heaven help the Aliens.

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Plot Keywords:

alien | knight | independent film | based on book

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 June 1994 (Germany)

Also Known As:

High Crusade - Frikassee im Weltraum

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carolco Pictures, Centropolis Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There were two different versions of the film made... Version 1. The aliens mostly speak in an alien language, with subtitles. There is one alien that speaks English, but it is a lifeless dialogue, with an equally dull voice. Version 2. Same version as above, in terms of video. But the alien subtitles and dialogue have been completely removed, along with their dull voices. It has been re-dubbed with a silly Monty Python styled English dialogue, and just as silly voice actors. Who are extremely funny, the alternate audio transforming the movie completely.

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Crazy Credits

As the credits roll, a remixed song featuring funny quotes from the movie plays.

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Connections

Referenced in Der Freund meiner Mutter (2002)

User Reviews

Wonderfully funny - twisted, even.

I have to strongly disagree with the previous review, and perhaps it's because I haven't read the Poul Anderson book; in fact I never knew there was one. This is one of the funniest Brit-com pieces I've seen, and it only gets funny once you get past the thick brogues of the dwarf aliens, and of course you have to already have a taste for Python-esquire humour and understand some of the references in the rapidly-delivered alien speech. The madcap slapstick and pathetic buffoonery of the story's "hero" and the villainy of his alter-ego cracks me up every time. I recommend this film quite often and have never considered anything but magnificently twisted. Sorry it's not faithful to Anderson's book; it's not the first time that Hollywood's savaged a novel.