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    Capricorn One

    • 19771977
    • PGPG
    • 2h 3min
    IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    21K
    YOUR RATING
    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    Karen Black, James Brolin, Elliott Gould, Hal Holbrook, Telly Savalas, O.J. Simpson, Sam Waterston, and Brenda Vaccaro in Capricorn One (1977)
    Home Video Trailer from Artisan
    Trailer3:08
    1 Video
    88 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 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.
    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.
    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.
    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
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Peter Hyams
    • Writer
      • Peter Hyams
    • Stars
      • Elliott Gould
      • James Brolin
      • Brenda Vaccaro
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 180User reviews
    • 83Critic reviews
    • 38Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 5 nominations

    Videos1

    Capricorn One
    Trailer 3:08
    Capricorn One

    Photos88

    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 Caulfieldas Robert Caulfield
    James Brolin
    James Brolin
    • Charles Brubakeras Charles Brubaker
    Brenda Vaccaro
    Brenda Vaccaro
    • Kay Brubakeras Kay Brubaker
    Sam Waterston
    Sam Waterston
    • Peter Willisas Peter Willis
    O.J. Simpson
    O.J. Simpson
    • John Walkeras John Walker
    Hal Holbrook
    Hal Holbrook
    • Dr. James Kellowayas Dr. James Kelloway
    Karen Black
    Karen Black
    • Judy Drinkwateras Judy Drinkwater
    Telly Savalas
    Telly Savalas
    • Albainas Albain
    David Huddleston
    David Huddleston
    • Hollis Peakeras Hollis Peaker
    David Doyle
    David Doyle
    • Walter Loughlinas Walter Loughlin
    Lee Bryant
    Lee Bryant
    • Sharon Willisas Sharon Willis
    Denise Nicholas
    Denise Nicholas
    • Betty Walkeras Betty Walker
    Robert Walden
    Robert Walden
    • Elliot Whitteras Elliot Whitter
    James Sikking
    James Sikking
    • Control Room Manas Control Room Man
    • (as Jim Sikking)
    Alan Fudge
    Alan Fudge
    • Capsule Communicatoras Capsule Communicator
    James Karen
    James Karen
    • Vice President Priceas Vice President Price
    Virginia Kaiser
    • Mrs. Priceas Mrs. Price
    Nancy Malone
    Nancy Malone
    • Mrs. Peakeras Mrs. Peaker
    • Director
      • Peter Hyams
    • Writer
      • Peter Hyams
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —Col Needham <col@imdb.com>
    astronautnasahoaxinvestigative reporterconspiracy258 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The most important event in our nation's history...what if it never really happened?
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Adventure
      • Drama
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide

    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 reviews180

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Great film that has stood the test of time!
    I randomly stumbled across the film "Capricorn One" (released before my time) and I had to check out. The premise of the film sounded very interesting and the movie looked like something that may be more about story and no so much theatrics like the films of 2014 and up. Watching this film I was not disappointed. The story is interesting and exciting, the acting is excellent, and overall this is a pretty good B grade sci fi film that has stood the test of time. I really enjoyed Capricorn One and I have to say this movie is a must-watch if you are a fan of classic and/or sci fi flicks.

    In a nutshell, Capricorn One is a film about a NASA hoax where astronauts perform a Mars landing on a soundstage fooling the country and families of the astronauts alike. The film revolves around the drama and conspiracies of what is going on within the confines of NASA and the struggles of the astronauts trying to maintain the secret. The rest is pretty self explanatory and you just have to watch the film to see all the events of the film unfold! This movie has a lot of pluses going for it. Great cast, great storyline, and overall it is just a great film. For a while I forgot I was watching a movie that is almost 40 years old now! The only bumps in this movie are in the scientific area. The Saturn V was no where powerful enough to travel to Mars. The ships were too small to carry enough oxygen and supplies for such a trip. The LEM from the Moon was the same design for Mars, and the LEM was completely incapable of ever landing on Mars. One of the main (and only) reasons I am docking a few points for the film is that they blatantly ignored scientific facts about landing on Mars. Even someone that doesn't know NASA science that well should know that a LEM cannot land on Mars and how ridiculous the entire concept of the Mars mission in this film was. Besides the scientific fact, I won't spoil the movie but I was hoping for a more "satisfying" ending...

    Overall, Capricorn One is a great movie.One of the reasons I think this movie has been "swept under the rug" (meaning you don't see it much on streaming services such as Netflix or hear about it much in modern times) is I think because of O.J. Simpson's notoriety. This film is a great movie with a diverse cast and you are missing out on a great film (as well as not admiring the performance from the rest of the cast) by avoiding this film simply because of O.J. Simpson. This film came out far before he ever committed any crimes or had any notoriety. If you get the chance, check out this film. It is very enjoyable and I hope some day it gets a proper remastering in blu ray!
    helpful•13
    2
    • sedativchunk
    • Jun 18, 2014

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 2, 1978 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • HBOMAX
      • 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
      • 2h 3min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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