Main Cast: Richard Thomas, Robert Vaughn, George Peppard, John Saxon, Darlanne Fluegel
Release Year: 1980
Country: US
Run Time: 105 minutes
Plot
Produced by Roger Corman and scripted by John Sayles, Battle Beyond the Stars is a cheerfully blatant imitation of The Seven Samurai (or at least the American remake The Magnificent Seven). A peaceloving planet is attacked by malevolent aliens. The powers-that-be hire a group of mercenaries, headed by George Peppard, to protect the planet from harm. Peppard's contingent includes squeaky-clean Richard Thomas Jr. and statuesque Sybil Danning. John Saxon goes through his usual paces as the villain, while the supporting players include such dependables as Sam Jaffe, Jeff Corey, and, from Magnificent Seven itself, Robert Vaughn. Keep an eye out for Julia Duffy as "Mol". A deft blend of standard sci-fi action and knowing "inside" humor, Battle Beyond the Stars was one of Corman's biggest hits of the 1980s-not to mention an endless supply of stock footage for future New World Productions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Here's a little test. If you know who Tom Savini is but have never heard of Krzysztof Kieslowski, then this delightfully naked rip-off of Star Wars (1977) from Roger Corman -- that master of cheesy, no-budget "filmmaking" (a term that can only be carefully, loosely applied to his darkly lit, stiffly performed oeuvre) -- is a treasure-trove of delights for you, a discerning appreciator of Z-grade entertainment. Here are the top ten aspects of this 1980 relic that you may savor on repeated viewings: (1) Whip smart despite his drive-in sensibilities, Corman decides not to directly rip off Star Wars -- which is, of course, precisely his intention -- but to rip off an example of classic Japanese cinema from the 1950s, The Seven Samurai (1954), in much the same way that Star Wars rips off an example of classic Japanese cinema from the 1950s, The Hidden Fortress (1958). How many of Corman's typical ticket buyers got the joke back then? Probably not many, which makes it even funnier. (2) The utterly perplexed, slightly crushed, and disappointed performance of "John-Boy" himself, Richard Thomas, clearly wondering how whiny no-name whelp Mark Hamill was cast as Luke Skywalker instead of him. A good question, Richard. A good question. (3) That space ship that looks like it was cast directly from a mold of a Victoria's Secret catalogue model's torso? Designed by James Cameron. Hmmmm. He does write strong female roles...(4) John Saxon, typically chewing up the scenery and spitting it back out as venomous darts in the role of the villain. Ah, Saxon. Where is the next generation's Saxon? It could've been Michael Ironside, but his energy seemed to dissipate at the same time as his ER guest-starring role. (5) The hilariously disturbing thought that Mel Brooks' Spaceballs (1987), which is intended as a wicked spoof of George Lucas' fantasy universe, is eerily similar in both tone and content to this film. (6) The realization, when seen in the reflected glory that is George Peppard's train-wreck of a performance as a space cowboy, of how extremely good an actor Harrison Ford really is. (7) Although you won't be able to detect his artistic fingerprints much except in the credits, the simple, pleasurable thrill of knowing that John Sayles wrote this screenplay. And that the money he made -- as well as checks for penning dual Jaws (1977) rip-offs Piranha (1978) and Alligator (1980) -- probably funded the production of Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980), itself to be ripped off later as The Big Chill (1983). Somehow, this has all got to be related to Kevin Bacon. (8) Robert Vaughn plays the same character here he portrayed in The Magnificent Seven (also a rip-off -- er, homage -- to The Seven Samurai), and even his dialogue is essentially the same. Possibly the man's easiest payday ever. (9) Budget for hair? $0.00. (10) Sybil Danning, in an era before silicone or saline, ushering nearly as many young boys to the cusp of manhood as did Tina Louise in Gilligan's Island. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Sybil Danning - St. Exmin; Sam Jaffe - Dr. Hephaestus; Morgan Woodward - Cayman; Steve Davis - Quopeg; Earl Boen - Nestor No. I; John McGowans - Nestor No. 2; Larry Meyers - Kelvin; Lara Cody - Kelvin; Lynn Carlin - Nell; Jeff Corey - Zed; Julia Duffy - Mol; Eric Morris - Feh; Marta Kristen - Lux; Doug Carleson - Pok; Ron Ross - Dab; Terrence E. McNally - Gar; Don Thompson - Cush; Daniel Carlin - Pez; Ansley Carlin - Wok; Whitney Rydbeck
Credit
James Cameron - Art Director, Charles William Breen - Art Director, Dorinda Rice Wood - Costume Designer, Jimmy T. Murakami - Director, Allan Holzman - Editor, Robert J. Kizer - Editor, Roger Corman - Executive Producer, Paul Turner - Lighting, James Horner - Composer (Music Score), Sharon Compton - Production Designer, Daniel Lacambre - Cinematographer, Ed Carlin - Producer, Roger Corman - Producer, John Zabrucky - Set Designer, Chuck Comisky - Special Effects, Kenneth V. Jones - Special Effects, John Sayles - Screenwriter, Anne Dyer - Short Story Author
Battle Beyond the Stars is a Roger Corman-produced science fiction film, directed by Jimmy T. Murakami and released in 1980. The film is notable in that the screenplay was partly written by John Sayles, the score was by James Horner and the special effects were directed by James Cameron. Several of the effects shots were re-used for other films throughout the 1980s. An example of this can be seen during the movie theater fight scene at the end of Bachelor Party. Additionally the space ship models and effects were re-used in the film Space Raiders.
Prior to production, a Hollywood trade paper[who?] announced that John Wayne would star in the film under the direction of Ingmar Bergman. In all likelihood this was a joke either by the trade paper or the film's publicist[citation needed]. At the time of its release, it was the most expensive film produced by Roger Corman - much of the budget allegedly[citation needed] went toward paying the salaries of George Peppard and Robert Vaughn.
Some of the audio effects such as laser blasts are re-use of sounds from the "Battlestar Galactica" series.
One of the main star ships seen in the movie was noted for appearing to have a breast-shaped front to the ship. (As seen in the movie poster)
The film is notable for the enormous amount of up and coming talent who worked on it. James Cameron did Art Direction for the film, Gale Anne Hurd produced, James Horner wrote one of his first film scores for the picture and John Sayles wrote the script.
The story is a pastiche of Akira Kurosawa's film Seven Samurai and its western remake, The Magnificent Seven. The farmers of the peaceful planet Akir, named in honor of Akira Kurosawa, are threatened by the space tyrant Sador (played by Corman regular John Saxon, carrying the old Eli Wallach role). Richard Thomas plays Shad, who sets out to recruit a band of mercenaries to fight Sador. This band includes Gelt, played by Robert Vaughn in a part that is essentially a reprise of his role in The Magnificent Seven with many of the same lines of dialogue; George Peppard (who was originally considered to play Vin, Steve McQueen's character, in The Magnificent Seven) as a space cowboy; and Saint-Exmin, a member of the alien Valkyrie race, played by Sybil Danning.
The film contains many of the clichés that came to dominate sci-fi films following Star Wars including giant spaceships, exotic aliens and the finale of a suicidal assault on a space fortress.
Footage from the movie was used in the creation of the laser disk game Astron Belt.
