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The Return of Captain Invincible

  • 1983
  • PG
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
910
YOUR RATING
The Return of Captain Invincible (1983)
In World War II, Captain Invincible used his superpowers against the Nazis, and he was a hero. But when they accused him of supporting the Communists, he retired to Australia. Now, after a U.S. super secret super weapon is stolen, he's asked to come back to help. Unfortunately, he's an alcoholic now.
Play trailer2:26
1 Video
34 Photos
ComedyFantasyMusical

In World War II, Captain Invincible used his superpowers against the Nazis, and he was a hero. But when they accused him of supporting the Communists, he retired to Australia. Now, after a U... Read allIn World War II, Captain Invincible used his superpowers against the Nazis, and he was a hero. But when they accused him of supporting the Communists, he retired to Australia. Now, after a U.S. super secret super weapon is stolen, he's asked to come back to help. Unfortunately, h... Read allIn World War II, Captain Invincible used his superpowers against the Nazis, and he was a hero. But when they accused him of supporting the Communists, he retired to Australia. Now, after a U.S. super secret super weapon is stolen, he's asked to come back to help. Unfortunately, he's an alcoholic now.

  • Director
    • Philippe Mora
  • Writers
    • Steven E. de Souza
    • Andrew Gaty
    • Peter Smalley
  • Stars
    • Alan Arkin
    • Christopher Lee
    • Kate Fitzpatrick
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.6/10
    910
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Philippe Mora
    • Writers
      • Steven E. de Souza
      • Andrew Gaty
      • Peter Smalley
    • Stars
      • Alan Arkin
      • Christopher Lee
      • Kate Fitzpatrick
    • 27User reviews
    • 25Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:26
    Watch Trailer

    Photos34

    Christopher Lee in The Return of Captain Invincible (1983)
    Christopher Lee in The Return of Captain Invincible (1983)
    Christopher Lee in The Return of Captain Invincible (1983)
    Alan Arkin and Kate Fitzpatrick in The Return of Captain Invincible (1983)
    The Return of Captain Invincible (1983)
    Alan Arkin, Amanda Dole, and Bill Hunter in The Return of Captain Invincible (1983)
    The Return of Captain Invincible (1983)
    Virginia Hey in The Return of Captain Invincible (1983)
    Alan Arkin in The Return of Captain Invincible (1983)
    The Return of Captain Invincible (1983)
    Alan Arkin in The Return of Captain Invincible (1983)
    Christopher Lee in The Return of Captain Invincible (1983)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Alan Arkin
    Alan Arkin
    • Captain Invincible
    Christopher Lee
    Christopher Lee
    • Mr. Midnight
    Kate Fitzpatrick
    Kate Fitzpatrick
    • Patty Patria
    Bill Hunter
    Bill Hunter
    • Tupper…
    Michael Pate
    Michael Pate
    • President
    David Argue
    David Argue
    • Italian Salesman
    John Bluthal
    John Bluthal
    • Deli Owner
    Chelsea Brown
    Chelsea Brown
    • Tour Guide
    Max Cullen
    Max Cullen
    • Italian Man
    Arthur Dignam
    Arthur Dignam
    • Lawyer
    Noel Ferrier
    • Airforce General
    Hayes Gordon
    • Kirby
    Chris Haywood
    Chris Haywood
    • Maitre D'
    Graham Kennedy
    Graham Kennedy
    • Prime Minister
    Gus Mercurio
    Gus Mercurio
    • Noisy Garbageman
    Max Phipps
    Max Phipps
    • Admiral
    Alfred Sandor
    • New York Police Captain
    Brian Adams
    • Reporter
    • Director
      • Philippe Mora
    • Writers
      • Steven E. de Souza
      • Andrew Gaty
      • Peter Smalley
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Apparently, this movie is one of writer Terry Pratchett's favorite movies. Pratchett has said: "May I also add that the film 'The Return of Captain Invincible', which is a series of bad moments pasted together with great songs and a budget of fourpence, is also a regularly-viewed video in the Pratchett household."
    • Quotes

      Captain Invincible: You'll never change.

      Mr. Midnight: And you will never win.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Many Faces of Christopher Lee (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      New York, New York
      Music by Leonard Bernstein

      Words by Betty Comden and Adolph Green

      Performed by Alan Arkin

      Used by permission by Warner Bros. Music

    User reviews27

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Christopher Lee … Singing!
    Christopher Lee is, apart from a demigod of horror and an amazing human being altogether, a very strange and unpredictable individual… Not that long ago I saw a film called "Meat Cleaver Massacre" and Lee allegedly wanted to sue the producers for using footage of him that he wasn't aware of. He wanted to go to court because he didn't know he starred in a not even that bad film, yet he voluntarily starred in THIS totally bonkers and jaw-dropping flamboyant Aussie flick?!? What the hell kind of career-swings are these?

    Anyway, "The Return of Captain Invincible" is one gigantically delirious and extravagant cinematic conglomeration of Sci-Fi, comedy, musical, superhero-action and satire. I probably never would have known this movie existed if it wasn't for the recently released documentary "Not Quite Hollywood: the Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation". I swear, I've stumbled upon a lot of crazy and obscure Aussie stuff since the fine day I watched that film, but this puppy is undoubtedly the craziest of them all! The set-up of "The Return of Captain Invincible" is a lot more clever and original than you might think, actually. One could even claim that it's a forerunner of such popular films like Pixar's "The Incredibles", "Spiderman" and "Hancock", as this movie was the first to depict the powers and responsibilities of a superhero more as a burden rather than as a blessing. The film opens marvelously with a series of newspaper clippings and black-and-white flashbacks illustrating the glorious rise and immediately subsequent fall of superhero Captain Invincible. He saved the world from Nazi terrorism but then the media soiled his reputation linked him to a communist network. The disappointed Cap retired from New York to Sydney and spent many years drinking and drifting around. Now the world desperately needs him again, as the evil Mr. Midnight plots to take over New York, but Captain Invincible is reluctant to save the hypocrites that exiled him and – moreover – he forgot how to fly…

    "The Return of Captain Invincible" is the prototypic example of a 'hit- and-miss' film. Many of the conceptual ideas are terrific and several sequences are both very creative and downright hilarious, but at the same time the film suffers from numerous defaults. Practically every great scene and/or moment of ingeniousness is followed by an irrelevant and dull scene or a needlessly mushy musical interlude. The film is very uneven in its set-up, exchanging absurd jokes and singing evil masterminds with moments of sentimental romance. It sometimes even feels like you're watching two entirely different films; especially when you're watching stoned like I was… The biggest entertainment value of "The Return of Captain Invincible" lies in the smaller details. Christopher Lee's sidekick, for example, looks like an evil version of Yoda with a Fu-Manchu mustache. The undeniable highlight is, as a matter of course, owned by Lee himself when he sings a hymn glorifying evil activities. Lovers of offbeat musicals might be very interest to know that nearly all songs are reminiscent to the soundtrack of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show". Overall, this definitely could have been a much better film if certain parts were cut and others had been more elaborated, but it's nevertheless a unique and strangely exhilarating film. Thank you, crazy Aussie people, for yet another wondrous piece of cult legacy.
    helpful•6
    2
    • Coventry
    • Aug 10, 2009

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 17, 1984 (West Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • Australia
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Return of Captain Invincible oder Wer fürchtet sich vor Amerika?
    • Filming locations
      • Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
    • Production company
      • Seven Keys
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • A$5,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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