Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Elliott Gould | ... | Robert Caulfield | |
James Brolin | ... | Charles Brubaker | |
Brenda Vaccaro | ... | Kay Brubaker | |
Sam Waterston | ... | Peter Willis | |
O.J. Simpson | ... | John Walker | |
Hal Holbrook | ... | Dr. James Kelloway | |
Karen Black | ... | Judy Drinkwater | |
Telly Savalas | ... | Albain | |
David Huddleston | ... | Hollis Peaker | |
David Doyle | ... | Walter Loughlin | |
Lee Bryant | ... | Sharon Willis | |
Denise Nicholas | ... | Betty Walker | |
Robert Walden | ... | Elliot Whitter | |
James Sikking | ... | Control Room Man (as Jim Sikking) | |
Alan Fudge | ... | Capsule Communicator |
Charles Brubaker is the astronaut leading NASA's first manned mission to Mars. Seconds before the launch, the entire team is pulled from the capsule and the rocket leaves earth unmanned much to Brubaker's anger. The head of the programme explains that the life support system was faulty and that NASA can't afford the publicity of a scratched mission. The plan is to fake the Mars landing and keep the astronauts at a remote base until the mission is over, but then investigative journalist Robert Caulfield starts to suspect something. Written by Col Needham <col@imdb.com>
James Brolin, Sam Waterston and O.J. Simpson are astronauts on the way to Mars. NASA knows the mission will not be a success; so the trio is removed from the capsule before the actual launch. The astronauts are then coerced into playing a hoax on the watching world.
Fine performances also from Hal Halbrook, Brenda Vaccaro, Robert Walden and Elliot Gould. Gould actually has the most exciting scene of the movie. He tries to blow the whistle on the hoax and someone fixes his car to malfunction.
Interesting movie that gives you something to think about.