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IMDbPro

Dark Star

  • 19741974
  • GG
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
25K
YOUR RATING
Dark Star (1974)
Home Video Trailer from Unknown
Play 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.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
25K
YOUR RATING
    • John Carpenter
    • John Carpenter(original story by)
    • Dan O'Bannon(original story by)
  • Stars
    • Dan O'Bannon
    • Dre Pahich
    • Brian Narelle
    • John Carpenter
    • John Carpenter(original story by)
    • Dan O'Bannon(original story by)
  • Stars
    • Dan O'Bannon
    • Dre Pahich
    • Brian Narelle
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 203User reviews
    • 125Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos2

    Dark Star
    Trailer 2:23
    Watch Dark Star
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary
    Clip 4:54
    Watch 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
    • Pinback
    Dre Pahich
    Dre Pahich
    • Talby
    Brian Narelle
    Brian Narelle
    • Lt. Doolittle
    Cal Kuniholm
    Cal Kuniholm
    • Boiler
    Adam Beckenbaugh
    • Bomb #20
    • (uncredited)
    John Carpenter
    John Carpenter
    • Talby voice
    • (uncredited)
    Nick Castle
    Nick Castle
    • Alien
    • (uncredited)
    Cookie Knapp
    • Computer
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Joe Saunders
    Joe Saunders
    • Commander Powell
    • (uncredited)
    Alan Sheretz
    • Bomb #19
    • (uncredited)
    Miles Watkins
    Miles Watkins
    • Watkins - Mission Control
    • (uncredited)
      • John Carpenter
      • John Carpenter(original story by) (screenplay by)
      • Dan O'Bannon(original story by) (screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    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
      The incoming message at the beginning of the movie says that there is a 10 year lag time, and that Dark Star is 18 parsecs from Earth. 18 Parsecs is 58.7 light years, therefore any radio transmissions from Earth would take 58.7 years to reach the ship, traveling at the Speed of Light: the perceived fastest velocity that radio waves can travel. But, being that the Dark Star has an advanced technological propulsion system which provides it the ability to travel significantly faster-than-light to its various destinations, it is entirely feasible that there also exists advancements in technology which allows forms of communication to be transmitted faster-than-light as well.
    • Quotes

      Doolittle: [Doolittle convinces the bomb not to explode]

      Doolittle: [1:12:12] 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

      Doolittle: 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 reviews203

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    In space, no one can see you be weird
    Being that this is one of the first of Carpenter's works, and that it had O'Bannon's involvement(more the former than the latter), I made it a point to get to watch it. I noticed that, for being listed a comedy, there aren't that many laughs in it... which is not at all to say that it isn't funny, portions of it certainly are, with several kinds of humor blended together well... some is clever, there's a remarkably well-done absurdity bit(and more than one thing herein is bizarre), and there are black parts, as well. Not every gag or joke works, and with how far there can be between them, I should think that someone just going into this expecting only that will leave disappointed. Meanwhile, if you dig John and the other two genres, you're likely to have a great time. There is genuine tension(he managed to do that skillfully even then), and among the technology and such are interesting aspects to be found(according to the Trivia, a little of it was even inspired by two marvelous writers in the field). Music, as usual on one of his films, is done by John Carpenter himself, and also to be expected, is really good(if not necessarily his best or most memorable). Cinematography, editing and effects all show promise of things to come, from both men. Acting could be better. Writing varies, but there is the occasional nugget of pure gold. I recommend this to any fan of Mr. Carpenter and/or Dan, as well as those who are into sci-fi. 7/10
    helpful•6
    1
    • TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews
    • Apr 29, 2008

    FAQ4

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

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 17, 1975 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • 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

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 23 minutes
      • Color

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