Dark Star (1974)

In the far reaches of space, a small crew, 20 years into their solitary mission, find things beginning to go hilariously wrong.

Director:

John Carpenter

Writers:

John Carpenter (original story and screenplay), Dan O'Bannon (original story and screenplay)

Stars:

Dan O'Bannon, Dre Pahich, Brian Narelle

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Brian Narelle	...	Lt. Doolittle
Cal Kuniholm	...	Boiler
Dre Pahich	...	Talby
Dan O'Bannon	...	Pinback

Storyline

Low-budget story of four astronauts in deep space, whose mission is to destroy unstable planets in star systems which are to be colonised. The late Commander Powell is stored in deep freeze, where he is still able to offer advice. As their mission nears completion, they must cope with a runaway alien which resembles a beach-ball, faulty computer systems, and a "smart bomb" who thinks it is God.

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Plot Keywords:

alien | cult film | spoof | satire | parody | 

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Taglines:

They're not lost in space, they're loose!

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Genres:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sergeant Pinback's video diary is an 8-track tape, and the machine he uses to read it and record it is a microfiche reader.

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Goofs

In the elevator shaft, Pinback's long hair keeps on pointing towards the wall whenever he moves his head away from it, revealing the shaft to be a tunnel, with him laying on the ground instead of standing on the ledge.

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Quotes

Sgt. Pinback: [Pinback is trying to lure the alien with a rubber toy mouse] Here, boy! Want your mouse? Nice mouse. Pretty toy. Want your mouse? Here, boy.
[Thinks for a second, then loudly eats the mouse]
Sgt. Pinback: Idiot!

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Alternate Versions

The Playboy posters in the crew quarters are not censored in some prints of this film.

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Connections

Referenced in Take One: Fear on Film (1982)

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Soundtracks

Benson Arizona
Music by John Carpenter
Lyrics by Bill Taylor
Vocals by John Yager (uncredited)
[Played over the opening and closing credits]

User Reviews

Astronauts on a senseless mission through Space, Philosophic Bombs, a lot of subtle humor, and those bearts oh my, oh my..

A Great Movie, i think it was made in Film School and is the first Movie available by John Carpenter.. The great thing besides the Humor, are those little typical low-budget Mistakes like the actor in the "lift" scene who is pretty clearly just lying on a common Floor.. The "mOnster" is amazing too its funny to see how a Ball with gloves can actually act, and a little music makes it scary..

The Last Scene is clearly inspired by Ray Bradburys (Fahrenheit 451) Short Story "Kaleidoscope"..

Sorry for my poor English, but i just had to write something to this incredible piece of film..

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 February 1979 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Dark Star

Filming Locations:

Producers Studio, Hollywood, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$60,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jack H. Harris Enterprises, University of Southern California (USC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min 70 min (Original Version) 71 min (Director's Cut) 68 min (original student film)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1