Main Cast: Ned Beatty, Neil Patrick Harris, Shelley Winters, Peggy Lipton, James Houghton
Release Year: 1988
Country: US
Run Time: 91 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Linda Shayne wrote and directed this children's story based on the 1958 novelty song "Purple People Eater" by Sheb Wooley. Billy Johnson (Neal Patrick Harris) is joined by a friendly alien from outer space who wants to play in a rock & roll band. Peggy Lipton plays Billy's mom, with James Houghton as the father and Ned Beatty as Grandpa. The band lends a hand to some senior citizens in their fight to keep their beloved retirement complex. Add Little Richard and Chubby Checker to the fun as the heroes try and stop the greedy landlord Mr. Noodle (John Brumfield) from kicking out the elderly residents. Only one word in the film gives the movie a PG rating instead of G. Watch for Sheb Wolley in a cameo role as the trapeze instructor in this low-budget family feature. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
Thora Birch - Molly Johnson; John Brumfield - Mr. Noodle; Little Richard - Mayor; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; Chubby Checker - Himself; Kimberly McCullough - Dorra Orfus; Shonda Whipple - Allison; Sheb Wooley - Harry Skinner; Linda Shayne - Nurse; Dustin Diamond - Big Z; Molly Cheek - Mrs. Orfus
Credit
Linda Shayne - Casting, Ted Lin - Choreography, Terry Dresbach - Costume Designer, Linda Shayne - Director, Jack Behr - Second Unit Director, Cari Coughlin - Editor, Dennis Dreith - Composer (Music Score), Stephen Greenberg - Production Designer, Peter Deming - Cinematographer, Steven Stabler - Producer, Brad Krevoy - Producer, Ike Magal - Sound/Sound Designer, Linda Shayne - Screenwriter
When a kid plays the novelty song, a flying purple one-eyed one-horned alien from outer space appears and helps him help and an elderly couple from being evicted by their greedy landlord while joining a Rock N' Roll band.
