The Cold Equations (1996)

Lt. John Barton is sent on a special mission to deliver a special vaccine to a distant mining colony. He is infuriated to find Lee, a stowaway aboard his spacecraft. Barton has only enough ... See full summary »

Director:

Peter Geiger

Writers:

Stephen Berger, Peter Geiger

Stars:

Billy Campbell, Poppy Montgomery, Daniel Roebuck

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Billy Campbell	...	Lt. John Barton (as Bill Campbell)
Poppy Montgomery	...	Marilyn 'Lee' Cross
Daniel Roebuck	...	Mitch
William R. Moses	...	Adrian Cross
John Prosky	...	Markham
Heidi Swedberg	...	Board Member
Derk Cheetwood	...	Corporal
Nicki Micheaux	...	Ground Controller
Albert Hall	...	Capt. Keynes

Storyline

Lt. John Barton is sent on a special mission to deliver a special vaccine to a distant mining colony. He is infuriated to find Lee, a stowaway aboard his spacecraft. Barton has only enough fuel to carry himself and his precious cargo, and Lee's added weight insures that they will crash if she stays on board. They have gone too far to turn back, and Barton's superiors make it clear: the mission takes precedence and Lee has to be dumped into space. But she won't go quietly.

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Was a made for TV movie by the Sci-Fi channel.

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Quotes

Lt. John Barton: One word: captain's orders.

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Connections

Version of Out of This World: Cold Equations (1962)

User Reviews

The endless debate over the sacrifice of one to save the many.

I thought this was a wonderful movie. Granted the effects are pretty bad and the cinematography was horrible, probably due to a very small budget. However, if you dig through all of that, you'll find a wonderful story line and amazing acting talent. Poppy Montgomery and Bill Campbell make the story come alive in this interesting tale of the human reaction to major life decisions when options run out(trapped in a spaceship). You just have to watch it to appreciate it. Onboard a mercy mission to a sick planet a pilot, played by Campbell, is forced to choose between a stowaway, Montgomery, and the medicine that will save the planet. I haven't read the book, but I will now to compare. But as far as the movie is concerned it rocked.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 December 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Emergency in Space - Notfall im All

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alliance Communications Corporation, Chanticleer Films, USA Pictures

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color