Capricorn One (1977)

Director:

Peter Hyams

Writer:

Peter Hyams (written by)

Release Date:

2 June 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

The mission was a sham. The murders were real.

Plot:

A NASA Mars mission won't work, and its funding is endangered, so they decide to fake it just this once. But then they have to keep the secret...

Plot Keywords:

Mission | Astronaut | Mars | NASA | Journalist

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Elliott Gould	...	Robert Caulfield
James Brolin	...	Charles Brubaker
Brenda Vaccaro	...	Kay Brubaker
Sam Waterston	...	Peter Willis
O.J. Simpson	...	John Walker
Hal Holbrook	...	Dr. James Kelloway
Karen Black	...	Judy Drinkwater
Telly Savalas	...	Albain
David Huddleston	...	Hollis Peaker
David Doyle	...	Walter Loughlin
Lee Bryant	...	Sharon Willis
Denise Nicholas	...	Betty Walker
Robert Walden	...	Elliot Whitter
James Sikking	...	Control Room Man (as Jim Sikking)
Alan Fudge	...	Capsule Communicator
James Karen	...	Vice President Price
Virginia Kaiser	...	Mrs. Price
Nancy Malone	...	Mrs. Peaker
Hank Stohl	...	General Enders
Norman Bartold	...	President
Darrell Zwerling	...	Dr. Bergen
Milton Selzer	...	Dr. Burroughs
Lou Frizzell	...	Horace Gruning
Chris Hyams	...	Charles Brubaker, Jr.
Seanna Marre	...	Sandy Brubaker
Paul Picerni	...	Jerry
Barbara Bosson	...	Alva Leacock
Paul Haney	...	Paul Cunningham
Jon Cedar	...	F.B.I. Man Number 1
Steve Tannen	...	Man at Hangar Number 1
Trent Dolan	...	Man at Hangar Number 2
Todd Hoffman	...	N.A.S.A. Usher
Marty Anka	...	Bartender
Ken White	...	Tracking Technician
John Hiscock	...	Reporter Number 1
Bridget Byrne	...	Reporter Number 2
Colin Dangaard	...	Reporter Number 3
James Bacon	...	Reporter Number 4
Sandy Davidson	...	N.A.S.A. Reporter
Ron Cummins	...	F.B.I. Man Number 2
Dennis O'Flaherty	...	F.B.I. Man Number 3
Zack Taylor	...	F.B.I. Man Number 4
Frank Farmer	...	Policeman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Monty Jordan	...	Army helicopter pilot (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Hyams

Writing credits
Peter Hyams		(written by)

Produced by
Paul Lazarus III	....	producer (as Paul N. Lazarus III)
Michael I. Rachmil	....	associate producer (as Michael Rachmil)

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Bill Butler		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
James Mitchell

Casting by
Jane Feinberg
Mike Fenton

Production Design by
Albert Brenner

Art Direction by
David M. Haber

Set Decoration by
Rick Simpson

Costume Design by
Patricia Norris

Makeup Department
Emma M. diVittorio	....	hair stylist (as Emma Di Vittorio)
Michael Westmore	....	makeup artist (as Mike Westmore)

Production Management
Michael I. Rachmil	....	unit production manager (as Michael Rachmil)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter L. Bergquist	....	dga trainee (as Peter Bergquist)
Jack Frost Sanders	....	second assistant director (as Jack Sanders)
Irby Smith	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Vern Hendrickson	....	swing gang
Nikita Knatz	....	production illustrator
Joe Longo	....	lead man
Ken Orme	....	second prop man (as Kenny Orme)
Julian Sacks	....	assistant art director
George Stokes	....	construction coordinator
Marty Wunderlich	....	property master

Sound Department
Les Fresholtz	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Lester Fresholtz)
Robert G. Henderson	....	sound effects editor (as Robert Henderson)
Jerry Jost	....	sound mixer
Joseph Kite	....	boom operator (as Joe Kite)
William Manooch	....	sound recordist (as Bill Manooch)
Michael Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Arthur Piantadosi	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Bruce Mattox	....	special effects
Henry Millar	....	special effects (as Henry Millar Sr.)
Henry Millar Jr.	....	key special effects
Robert Spurlock	....	special effects (as Bob Spurlock)

Visual Effects by
Ernie Huber	....	miniature coordinator

Stunts
Bill Hickman	....	stunt coordinator
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
J. David Jones	....	aerial stunts (uncredited)
Monty Jordan	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Walter Robles	....	stunts (uncredited)
Frank Tallman	....	stunts: aerial (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
David L. Butler	....	aerial camera operator (as David Butler)
Colin J. Campbell	....	gaffer (as Colin Campbell)
Earl L. Clark	....	first assistant camera (as Earl Clark)
James R. Connell	....	camera operator
George Hill	....	key grip
J. David Jones	....	pilot: camera helicopter (as David Jones)
Bruce McBroom	....	still photographer
Rene Menoni	....	second assistant camera
David B. Nowell	....	assistant aerial camera operator (as David Nowell)
A.D. Presley	....	best boy electric
George Staubs	....	best boy grip
John Burton Jr.	....	animation camera operator (uncredited)

Animation Department
Bob Richardson	....	animator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jered Green	....	costumer (as Jered Edd Green)

Editorial Department
Nancy Sales	....	assistant editor
Charles Tetoni	....	associate editor

Music Department
Leonard A. Engel	....	music editor (as Leonard Engel)
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator
Aaron Rochin	....	music recordist (as Aron Rochin)

Transportation Department
Ed Arter	....	transportation co-captain
James D. Brubaker	....	transportation coordinator
Russell McEntyre	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Tracy Berns	....	secretary to director
Tracy Berns	....	secretary to producer
Dixie J. Capp	....	production secretary (as Dixie Capp)
Charles Conley	....	craft service
Lew Grade	....	presenter (as Sir Lew Grade)
Carol Shapiro Janson	....	unit publicist
J. David Jones	....	aerial coordinator (as David Jones)
Karen Jones	....	bookkeeper
Clay Lacy	....	pilot: Lear Jet
George Nolan	....	helicopter pilot
Dan Perri	....	title designer
David Schmoeller	....	intern: American Film Institute
Brent Sellstrom	....	video coordinator
Al Shenfeld	....	production auditor
Frank Tallman	....	aerial coordinator
Frank Tallman	....	pilot: Stearman
Ron Underwood	....	location manager (as Ronald B. Underwood)
Karl A. Wickman	....	helicopter pilot (as Karl Wickman)
Marshall J. Wolins	....	script supervisor (as Marshall Wolins)
Art Scholl	....	pilot (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Associated General Films (for)
• Incorporated Television Company (ITC) (as ITC Entertainment)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1978) (USA) (theatrical)
• Filmways Australasian Distributors (19??) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Artisan Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Artisan Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• CBS/Fox (198?) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Elephant Films (2009) (France) (all media)
• Fox Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Fox Video (199?) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Live Home Video (1997) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Live Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1980) (USA) (TV)
• Top Tape (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• United American Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Van der Veer Photo Effects (special visual effects)
• DePatie-Freleng Enterprises (DFE) (uncredited)

Other Companies

• Bureau of Land Management  grateful acknowledgement (as Ridgecrest Resource Area of the Bureau of Land Management of the United States Department of the Interior)
• Nissan Cars Corporation  Datsun cars supplied by (as Nissan Motor Corporation)
• General Electric (GE)  television sets courtesy of
• Continental Camera Systems  aerial photographic equipment furnished by
• Grove Manufacturing / Santa Fe Equipment  grateful acknowledgement
• Raytheon Data Systems  grateful acknowledgement
• Tallmantz Aviation  grateful acknowledgement
• Worldstage Division of Intercontinental Satellite Network  grateful acknowledgement
• Western Helicopter  grateful acknowledgement
• Pacific Telephone  grateful acknowledgement
• Birtcher  grateful acknowledgement
• Clay Lacy Aviation / Gates Aviation  Lear jet furnished by
• Cadillac Motor Division  cars supplied by

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate no. 25000) | Iceland:L | Netherlands:12 (DVD rating) | Netherlands:6 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Long Beach, California, USA

Company:

Associated General Films

Trivia:

The end helicopter-crop-duster sequence was used in an episode of the television series "The Fall Guy" (1981).

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: Lear Jet Pilot Clay Lacy appears twice in the closing credits.

Quotes:

Charles Brubaker: This is really wonderful. If we go along with you and lie our asses off, the world of truth and ideals is, er, protected. But if we don't want to take part in some giant rip-off of yours then somehow or other we're managing to ruin the country. You're pretty good, Jim. I'll give you that.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Sound of Thunder (2005)

"We're dead." "What?" "We're dead."

WHY CAPRICORN ONE? Capricorn: "Capricorn is one of the most stable and (mostly) serious of the zodiacal types. These independent, rock-like characters have many sterling qualities. They are normally confident, strong willed and calm. These hardworking, unemotional, shrewd, practical, responsible, persevering, and cautious to the extreme persons, are capable of persisting for as long as is necessary to accomplish a goal they have set for themselves." It ain't just about the mission's name.

The space program is in trouble. Their next mission MUST succeed or the funding is axed and the entire agency vanishes. That next mission is the first manned landing on Mars and it is going very smoothly indeed, to the awe and excitement of the U.S.A. and the entire world. What the world outside of the space agency doesn't know is that the whole mission is fake. It's been set up and broadcast from a deserted military base 300 miles west of Houston.

It seems a critical piece of equipment proved faulty too late to abort the project and so the space agency (it is never directly called N.A.S.A.)-- in cahoots with shadowy, high government powers -- had pulled the three astronauts from the capsule moments before launch, whisked them to the deserted base, explained the situation, pleaded for their (reluctant)cooperation through some not-so-subtle intimidation, and all has been peaches and cream and now it looks like their "re-entry and landing" will be near perfect albeit 200 miles off-course so that they can get the spacemen back into the capsule.

Nothing is going to ruin this mission.

So what if one of the console technicians has noticed that the TV broadcasts are earthbound, not from space? He simply disappears.

Nothing is going to ruin this mission.

ALmost nothing: a bad circuit in one of the other consoles claims that the heat shield has separated from the capsule upon re-entry and all three astronauts burned alive in the capsule. But they are alive and well in a deserted base in Texas . . . and they know that they are expendable.

Nothing is going to ruin this mission.

The chase is on between 3 frightened pilots, a far-flung, well organized cover-up machine, two relentless black-ops helicopters, and a lazy, cynical reporter (friend of the missing console jockey) who smells a rat.

Writer/Director Hyams has build himself one slick, fast-paced thriller from a script conceived during his CBS reporter days covering Vietnam. It was there that he envisioned how easy it could be for a huge government to cover up anything it wished. In the post-Moonwalk years, when some wing-nut conspiracy groupies insisted NASA had faked the moon landing, Hyams found his base plot and it works like a charm! The casting is near perfect. Dependable old Hal Holbrook is the head of the space agency, in over his head and resigned to having to kill his crew, including the team leader (Brolin); his friend of 16 years. Nothing is going to ruin this mission. Brolin, O.J. Simpson, and Sam Waterston never really get any chance for character development, save for Waterston's likable wise-cracking. Brenda Vacarro and Karen Black give equally strong performances; David Huddleston is dead on as the Florida senator in support of the space program. In tow with James Karen as the Vice President, they have some enjoyable moments satirizing Washington Double-Speak; Robert Walden, as the doomed console technician, gives an intense, sad, dark sense of puzzlement in his performance of a man who is trying to help but feels like he's to blame. Elliot Gould just normally comes across to me as someone sleeping his way through a role, but for this picture it is perfect for the character of reporter Caulfield. This sleepy, cynical, unenergetic man who is slowly putting the pieces together and too frightened to say his surmises out loud, is deftly handled through Gould's stock-in-trade persona.

I really felt that David Doyle and Telly Savalas should've switched roles. Neither man was truly convincing in his performance and their characters might have been better served being traded between them.

However, the real star of the film is Bill Butler, the Director of Photography. What he releases on your screen is an artful array of cinema: The pull back, and cross pan shots of the in-studio Mars terrain; the terrifying out-of-control car Gould is trying to avoid being pulverized in; the quiet terror of Hal Holbrook's office as he makes and takes his telephone calls; Those evil insect-like helicopters in landing or in flight; the dark dread in the cave as Brolin, hiding from the pursuers, confronts a nasty viper; the stark, dry brittleness of the desert that Brolin, Waterston, and Simpson must challenge; The strain and exhaustion of Waterston as he scales the dry mountain side to escape his fate, but in vain. But most of all it is the exciting, jolting aerial ballet of the copter and bi-plane chase. It draws you in visually to the point of giving you a queasy stomach! (Yes, I know. There are no mountains in central Texas. There are no 50 feet tall gorillas in New York City either, but you enjoyed King Kong didn't you?) The icing on the cake of Butler's images and Hyams well done script is the pounding, driving score by Jerry Goldsmith. It is all beats of percussion, plucks of strings and short orchestral punches. It gives a sense of impending doom, fear, conspiracy, and paranoia.

While it is safe to say that N.A.S.A is the most non-political, benign department of the government, an agency whose efforts have given the public such fruits of success as the microwave oven, superior fibers for insulation, freeze-dried foods, and Tang, just to name a scant few, if you can put your common sense on hold and believe that the space agency could be cold, crisp, self-serving, and ruthless enough to kill to stay alive, then you've come to the right movie.