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Capricorn One

  • 1977
  • PG
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
24K
YOUR RATING
Capricorn One (1977)
Home Video Trailer from Artisan
Play trailer3:08
1 Video
98 Photos
ActionAdventureDrama

When the first manned flight to Mars is deemed unsafe and scrubbed on the launch pad, anxious authorities must scramble to save face and retain their funding - and so an unthinkable plot to ... Read allWhen the first manned flight to Mars is deemed unsafe and scrubbed on the launch pad, anxious authorities must scramble to save face and retain their funding - and so an unthinkable plot to fake the mission is hatched.When the first manned flight to Mars is deemed unsafe and scrubbed on the launch pad, anxious authorities must scramble to save face and retain their funding - and so an unthinkable plot to fake the mission is hatched.

  • Director
    • Peter Hyams
  • Writer
    • Peter Hyams
  • Stars
    • Elliott Gould
    • James Brolin
    • Brenda Vaccaro
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    24K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Peter Hyams
    • Writer
      • Peter Hyams
    • Stars
      • Elliott Gould
      • James Brolin
      • Brenda Vaccaro
    • 203User reviews
    • 80Critic reviews
    • 38Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 nominations

    Videos1

    Capricorn One
    Trailer 3:08
    Watch Capricorn One

    Photos98

    James Brolin, O.J. Simpson, and Sam Waterston in Capricorn One (1977)
    James Brolin, O.J. Simpson, and Sam Waterston in Capricorn One (1977)
    O.J. Simpson in Capricorn One (1977)
    Elliott Gould and Telly Savalas in Capricorn One (1977)
    Monty Jordan in Capricorn One (1977)
    James Brolin, O.J. Simpson, and Sam Waterston in Capricorn One (1977)
    James Brolin, O.J. Simpson, and Sam Waterston in Capricorn One (1977)
    James Brolin, Hal Holbrook, O.J. Simpson, and Sam Waterston in Capricorn One (1977)
    James Brolin, Hal Holbrook, O.J. Simpson, and Sam Waterston in Capricorn One (1977)
    James Brolin in Capricorn One (1977)
    James Brolin, O.J. Simpson, and Sam Waterston in Capricorn One (1977)
    James Brolin in Capricorn One (1977)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Elliott Gould
    Elliott Gould
    • Robert Caulfield
    James Brolin
    James Brolin
    • Charles Brubaker
    Brenda Vaccaro
    Brenda Vaccaro
    • Kay Brubaker
    Sam Waterston
    Sam Waterston
    • Peter Willis
    O.J. Simpson
    O.J. Simpson
    • John Walker
    Hal Holbrook
    Hal Holbrook
    • Dr. James Kelloway
    Karen Black
    Karen Black
    • Judy Drinkwater
    Telly Savalas
    Telly Savalas
    • Albain
    David Huddleston
    David Huddleston
    • Hollis Peaker
    David Doyle
    David Doyle
    • Walter Loughlin
    Lee Bryant
    Lee Bryant
    • Sharon Willis
    Denise Nicholas
    Denise Nicholas
    • Betty Walker
    Robert Walden
    Robert Walden
    • Elliot Whitter
    James Sikking
    James Sikking
    • Control Room Man
    • (as Jim Sikking)
    Alan Fudge
    Alan Fudge
    • Capsule Communicator
    James Karen
    James Karen
    • Vice President Price
    Virginia Kaiser
    • Mrs. Price
    Nancy Malone
    Nancy Malone
    • Mrs. Peaker
    • Director
      • Peter Hyams
    • Writer
      • Peter Hyams
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Despite being portrayed as a villain, NASA provided technical assistance, including mock-up spacecraft, sets, vehicles, front screen projection expertise.
    • Goofs
      When reporter Robert Caulfield tells his editor about NASA technician Elliott Whitter's disappearance, he says that Alva Leacock claims to have been living in what he knows to be the other man's apartment "for over a year." Even *if* NASA engaged the connivance of the telephone company to change their own current records, they could not possibly have altered and/or replaced every copy of the telephone directory in the Houston metropolitan area, and just a handful would not only put the lie to Leacock's claim, they would also document Whitter's existence.
    • Quotes

      Robert Caulfield: Mr Albaine, how much do you charge to dust a field?

      Albain: Twenty five dollars.

      Robert Caulfield: I'd like to hire your plane.

      Albain: That'll be a hundred dollars.

      Robert Caulfield: You said you charged twenty five?

      Albain: Twenty five dollars to dust a field, but you ain't got no field because you ain't no farmer, which means you ain't poor and I think you're a pervert!

      Robert Caulfield: Okay, one hundred.

      Albain: One hundred and twenty five.

      Robert Caulfield: What?

      Albain: Because you said yes to a hundred too quick, which means you can afford a hundred and twenty five.

    • Connections
      Edited into Magnum, P.I.: Two Birds of a Feather (1983)

    User reviews203

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Capricorn One: a real Gem-ini of a movie. I'm Apollo-ed that it's not rated higher.
    "Capricorn One" is one of the last great 70s thrillers, alongside "The China Syndrome", "The Andromeda Strain", "Coma", heck maybe even "The Exorcist". Perhaps taking their cues from Stanley Kubrick (2001: A Space Odyssey, Clockwork Orange, etc), all of these classics are presented with an artistic, slightly off-kilter, brightly creepy vibe that encapsulated the end of 60s flower-power optimism and the beginning of 70s cold cynicism.

    Stylistic examples include wide angle shots and slow, mechanical camera movements that give the viewer a disturbing feeling of voyeurism or disconnection from humanity (à la "Open the pod bay doors, Hal." "I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid can't do that."). This quiet yet bone-chilling style is the opposite of MTV-type filmmaking which made heavy use of flashy, closeup, disorienting camera shots cut together so quickly that you feel like someone slipped some magic pixie dust in your Kool-Aid. No, the 70s classics, in particular "Capricorn One" and other films by Peter Hyams, instead give you long, deliberate shots from a distance, allowing you to absorb every bizarre detail that was meticulously laid out for you.

    If you get bored easily, then this isn't for you. But if you're looking for a film that slowly reels you in without any gimmicks, carefully building momentum for the 1st hour leading to an explosive, roller-coaster finale, then look no further. It's best if you know nothing about the story, so I won't say anything about the plot except that it centers around a mission to Mars. But this is not a sci-fi flick, it's closer to a political thriller.

    "Capricorn One" won't necessarily scare the pants off you like some of the other films, but the story will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what's going to happen. The director never telegraphs the ending, so you're never quite sure if things will turn out good or if it'll be a miserable tragedy. You have to ride it out to the very last scene.

    Two things won me over immediately. First is the careful, artistic approach to cinematography which is evident in the opening scene: a slow rusty sunrise behind the colossal silhouette of the Capricorn spacecraft. Many other shots are as powerful, whether they're outdoors or indoors. Hyams frequently does a neat little trick where he establishes a shot and leaves the camera where it is but slowly, over the course of 2 minutes or more, moves the camera in or out of the action, creating a thick suspense.

    The 2nd thing that won me over was something many thrillers overlook: HUMOR. There are some priceless scenes that had me rolling, and it's all due to the great script and lines delivered by great actors. Telly Savalas makes an appearance as a grumpy old airplane pilot, and his rapid fire volley of dialogue with Elliot Gould is like something straight out of a Cary Grant-Catherine Hepburn comedy. Another hilarious rapid-fire comedic scene is Elliot Gould arguing with his boss, played by David Doyle ("Bosley" on the original Charlie's Angels). Big laughs without disrupting the tension of the story. It takes a bold filmmaker to put such comedy in a serious film, and Hyams & his acting troupe succeeded brilliantly.

    A final note that's worth mentioning: there's a scene where a snake meets with an unfortunate fate. While the snake is real (hats off to James Brolin for having the guts do the scene), the snake's stunt double was a dead carcass they had found. No snakes were harmed. So animal lovers as well as 70s thriller lovers, have no fear. Once you start watching "Capricorn One", nothing will make you Sat-turn the channel! (wow that was lame)
    helpful•59
    9
    • rooprect
    • Aug 17, 2014

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    FAQ5

    • With current rocket technology the trip to mars would take over a month. How did they expect to get three astronauts to mars in a Apollo type capsule?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 2, 1978 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Unternehmen Capricorn
    • Filming locations
      • Red Rock Canyon State Park - Highway 14, Cantil, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Associated General Films
      • ITC Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $402
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 3 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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