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    Dark Star

    • 19741974
    • GG
    • 1h 23min
    IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    23K
    YOUR RATING
    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    Dark Star (1974)
    Home Video Trailer from Unknown
    Trailer2:23
    2 Videos
    57 Photos
    ComedySci-Fi

    In the far reaches of space, a small crew, 20 years into their solitary mission, find things beginning to go hilariously wrong.
    In the far reaches of space, a small crew, 20 years into their solitary mission, find things beginning to go hilariously wrong.
    In the far reaches of space, a small crew, 20 years into their solitary mission, find things beginning to go hilariously wrong.
    In the far reaches of space, a small crew, 20 years into their solitary mission, find things beginning to go hilariously wrong.
    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
    Top credits
    • 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
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 187User reviews
    • 129Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos2

    Dark Star
    Trailer 2:23
    Dark Star
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary
    Clip 4:54
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary

    Photos57

    A1
    Dark Star (1974)
    Brian Narelle in Dark Star (1974)
    Cal Kuniholm in Dark Star (1974)
    Cal Kuniholm in Dark Star (1974)
    Brian Narelle in Dark Star (1974)
    Miles Watkins in Dark Star (1974)
    Brian Narelle and Dan O'Bannon in Dark Star (1974)
    Dre Pahich in Dark Star (1974)
    Nick Castle and Dan O'Bannon in Dark Star (1974)
    Brian Narelle in Dark Star (1974)
    Dark Star (1974)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dan O'Bannon
    Dan O'Bannon
    • Pinbackas Pinback
    Dre Pahich
    Dre Pahich
    • Talbyas Talby
    Brian Narelle
    Brian Narelle
    • Lt. Doolittleas Lt. Doolittle
    Cal Kuniholm
    Cal Kuniholm
    • Boileras Boiler
    Adam Beckenbaugh
    • Bomb #20as Bomb #20
    • (uncredited)
    John Carpenter
    John Carpenter
    • Talby voiceas Talby voice
    • (uncredited)
    Nick Castle
    Nick Castle
    • Alienas Alien
    • (uncredited)
    Cookie Knapp
    • Computeras Computer
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Joe Saunders
    Joe Saunders
    • Commander Powellas Commander Powell
    • (uncredited)
    Alan Sheretz
    • Bomb #19as Bomb #19
    • (uncredited)
    Miles Watkins
    Miles Watkins
    • Watkins - Mission Controlas Watkins - Mission Control
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Carpenter
    • Writers
      • John Carpenter(original story and screenplay)
      • Dan O'Bannon(original story and screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

    Storyline

    Edit
    A low budget, sci-fi satire that focuses on a group of scientists whose mission is to destroy unstable planets. 20 years into their mission, they have battle their alien mascot, that resembles a beach ball, as well as a "sensitive" and intelligent bombing device that starts to question the meaning of its existence. —yusufpiskin
    aliencult filmspoofsatireparody74 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • What Do You Say To A Talking Bomb? All Systems Snafu!!!
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Sci-Fi
    • Certificate
      • G
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A computer screen flashes: "FUCK YOU HARRIS" during the film. This was a message directed toward Jack H. Harris, the producer, who annoyed director John Carpenter during production. Supposedly, the offensive sentence was his revenge. However, many people have a hard time finding it.
    • 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.
    • Quotes

      [Doolittle convinces the bomb not to explode]

      Doolittle: Hello, Bomb? Are you with me?

      Bomb #20: Of course.

      Doolittle: Are you willing to entertain a few concepts?

      Bomb #20: I am always receptive to suggestions.

      Doolittle: Fine. Think about this then. How do you know you exist?

      Bomb #20: Well, of course I exist.

      Doolittle: But how do you know you exist?

      Bomb #20: It is intuitively obvious.

      Doolittle: Intuition is no proof. What concrete evidence do you have that you exist?

      Bomb #20: Hmmmm... well... I think, therefore I am.

      Doolittle: That's good. That's very good. But how do you know that anything else exists?

      Bomb #20: My sensory apparatus reveals it to me. This is fun.

    • Alternate versions
      Originally released in a shorter 68-minutes version, later expanded to a longer 83 minute version with the addition of new scenes (including the meteor storm, the visit to the crew's quarters and Doolittle playing his music).
    • Connections
      Edited into Star Slammer (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      Benson Arizona
      Music by John Carpenter

      Lyrics by Bill Taylor

      Vocals by John Yager (uncredited)

      [Played over the opening and closing credits]

    User reviews187

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A turning point in Science Fiction
    Up until "Dark Star", crews of rocket ships were usually "spit and polish", highly disciplined members of a crew all working towards a common goal in harmony. This was the image of the astronauts as promulgated by NASA. Dark Star introduced the negative dynamic to spaceship crews: space travel was ho-hum, they had little contact with earth, and everyone had gotten sick of each other.

    Dan O'Bannon used this to good effect in "Alien".

    Also, the use of contemporary music was highly original and helped move the movie along.

    The scene where they talk to the bomb was just a rip-off from Star Trek and the episode "The Ultimate Computer".
    helpful•4
    0
    • rlcsljo
    • Dec 28, 2000

    FAQ2

    • What are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the Director's Cut?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 9, 1979 (West Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Temna zvezda
    • Filming locations
      • Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Jack H. Harris Enterprises
      • University of Southern California (USC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $60,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 23min
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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