Captain EO (1986)

Captain EO and his space crew are on a mission to save the world from the evil queen by giving her a song and dance.

Director:

Francis Ford Coppola

Writers:

George Lucas (screenplay), Rusty Lemorande (screenplay)

Stars:

Michael Jackson, Anjelica Huston, Dick Shawn

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Jackson	...	Captain EO
Anjelica Huston	...	The Supreme Leader
Dick Shawn	...	Commander Bog
Tony Cox	...	Hooter
Debbie Lee Carrington	...	Idee (as Debbie Carrington)
Cindy Sorenson	...	Geex (as Cindy Sorensen)
Gary DePew	...	Major Domo
Kahea Bright	...	Dancer
Donald Devoux	...	Dancer
Cameron English	...	Dancer
Bruno Falcon	...	Dancer (as Bruno Falcon III)
Eric D. Henderson	...	Dancer (as Eric Henderson)
Hugo Huizar	...	Dancer
Evelyne Jezek	...	Dancer (as Evelyn Jezek)
Ben Lokey	...	Dancer

Storyline

Captain Eo and his rugged crew set out on a mission to deliver a special gift to a wicked queen who lives on a dark, desolate world. Getting there is half the fun, especially when the good captain starts boogying and the special effects start flying.

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Plot Keywords:

character name as title | 3d | witch | alien | space ship | 

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Taglines:

We are here to change the world!

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Genres:

Short | Adventure | Fantasy | Musical | Sci-Fi

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Per Terri Harden, Michael Jackson was very afraid of Anjelica Huston during the filming of this.

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Goofs

As Minor Domo transformers into Hooter's keyboard, towards the right side of the frame is a small transparent-colored faded matte-box for aiding the composite shot of the background and Minor Domo.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: The Cosmos, a universe of good and evil, where a small group struggles to bring freedom to the countless worlds of despair. A rag-tag band lead by the infamous Captain EO.

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Alternate Versions

In the behind-the-scenes the Queen knights Captain EO but this does not happen in the finished film.

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Connections

References Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

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Soundtracks

Another Part of Me
Written and Performed by Michael Jackson

User Reviews

One of pop cultures greatest achievements.

Some of the reviews here come off strangely, because to review this film in the same context you would review a movie or a short film is to review it outside of the context for which it was created. Because it wasn't made to be a Feature length or even a short film, it was made to be a ride at an amusement park.

Someone riding a roller-coaster is better served enjoying the twists and turns of the ride than wondering why the ride turned left THEN right, a ride is really just a combination of things that thrill.

And it does thrill, it's a 17 minute tour of the trade-mark styles of some of the most popular artists of the time, and because it was pulled so many creative forces it goes in a direction unexpected and for me is a refreshing and fantastic experience.

It scratches allot of itches I didn't know I had- It's a long form music video, it's MJ creating a character in the same way David Bowie would, it's an answer to the question 'what would it be like to take the most sought after performer and director and have them work together', and much more.

It ages extremely well, I enjoyed it as much on my most recent trip to Disneyland as I did as a kid before it's initial closing. I love the strange 'analog future' setting that is Lucas's trademark, the outlandish music video story and dancing of Michael Jackson, it has the family friendly cutesy hand of Disney in it and the directing of Coppola.

It is so, so much fun when viewed in the proper context. I'm not saying that we shouldn't analyze the parts of this story, but if you frame it in the right context, it is a masterpiece.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 September 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Captain EO and the Space Knights

Box Office

Budget:

$23,700,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Three D D D Productions, Eastman Kodak Company, Lucasfilm

Technical Specs

Runtime:

17 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1