Main Cast: Cindy Williams, Harry Dean Stanton, Fred Ward, Robert Gray, Darrell Larson
Release Year: 1981
Country: US
Run Time: 100 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
A small California town is gripped by UFO fever in this well-acted, surprisingly rich comedy. At the center of the mania is Arlene, a grocery store clerk and born-again Christian fascinated with flying saucers. This interest soon evolves into a full-blown obsession when Arlene is visited by a visionary dream, which she believes predicts the imminent arrival of a vessel from outer space in the nearby desert. Not even the doubts of her skeptical boyfriend, a good-hearted petty thief named Sheldon, are enough to dissuade her from her new role as prophet of the coming spaceship. At first hesitant and awkward, Arlene soon blossoms into a confident leader, and Sheldon puts aside his disbelief to revel in their sudden fame. Indeed, two have soon attracted enough of a following to pique the interest of Reverend Bud Sanders, the local revivalist preacher. Soon, Reverend Bud has joined in the crusade, and a good portion of the town has gathered to anxiously await the spaceship's arrival. Rather than resorting to easy ridicule, director John Binder creates an unexpectedly sympathetic, yet still comedic, portrait of the UFO believers, neither condemning their faith nor denying the fine line between belief and gullibility. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
Beverly Hope Atkinson - Naomi; Alan Beckwith - Brother Roy; Harry Carey, Jr. - George Martin; James Deeth - CHP Helicopter Pilot; Diane Diefendorf - Delores; Gene Edwards - Bearded Local in Bar; Jordon Hahn - Mystical Knight Magician; Ted Harris - Gregory; Pamela Lamont - Female Newscaster; Herman Lee Montgomery - Singer in the Bar; Mindy Sterling; Erik Stern - Sheriff Anderson; Charlotte Stewart - Brother Roy's Girl Friend; Esther Sutherland - Deaf Woman's Aunt; Joe Unger - Gas Station Attendant; Terry Wilson; Andrew Winner - Male Newscaster; Kedric Wolfe - Swami; Hank Worden - Colonel; Morgan Ames - Piano Player; Rodney W. Bergen - Solar Fair Exhibitor; Terry Brannon - Deputy; Tony Braunagle; William Callaway - Gardan; Frank de la Rosa; Oma Drake; Nick Edwards - Pyramid Man; Kirk A. Francis - Heckler; McAdoo Greer - Salesgirl; James Hartley - Grocery Shopper; Rolaine Knight - Grocery Shopper; Stefanie Kohl - Deaf Woman; Wayne Kruse - Deputy; Phil Lee; Dennis MacArthur - Man in Wet Suit; Marji Martin - Fat Housewife; Russell L. Matheny - Deputy; Perry Mathews - Fat Little Boy; Angela Newell - Fat Little Girl; Sharon Rae Oberg - Pyramid Girl; Constance Pfeifer - Woman with Withered Arm; Cris E. Reese - Local Woman in Bar; Ashley Robb - Krishna Jesuse; Jennifer Robb - Krishna Jesuse; Gray Rowles; Sally Russell - Bank Officer; Tony Santoro - Local Man in Bar; Claudia Sloan - Future Farmer of America; Dwayne Smith; Torben Torp-Smith - Mr. Bellemy; Snuff Walden; Robert A. Weisler - Deputy; Monalisa Young; Terry Young; Peggy McKay - Celia Martin; Karen Stern - Sister Bellamy
Credit
Bill Malley - Art Director, Susan Spinks - Co-producer, Betsy Faith Heimann - Costume Designer, Thomas Ed Sunly - Costume Designer, Anthony Brand - First Assistant Director, John Binder - Director, Dennis M. Hill - Editor, Barry Krost - Executive Producer, Melvin Simon - Executive Producer, Richard Baskin - Composer (Music Score), Bruce Hutchinson - Makeup, Leo Lotito - Makeup, Bill Malley - Production Designer, David Myers - Cinematographer, Barry Krost - Producer, Gordon Wolf - Producer, Melvin Simon - Producer, Carl Biddiscombe - Set Designer, John Binder - Screenwriter
