Capricorn One **** (1977, Elliott Gould, James Brolin, Brenda Vaccaro, Sam Waterson, O J Simpson, Hal Holbrook, Telly Savalas, Karen Black) – Classic Movie Review 6794

Skillfully written and directed by Peter Hyams (The Presidio), this invigorating 1977 action adventure thriller supposes that NASA’s first manned mission to Mars is actually an American Government hoax simulated in a TV studio. But then the mock astronauts (James Brolin as leading astronaut Charles Brubaker, Sam Waterson as Peter Willis, and O J Simpson as John Walker) find themselves in real danger…

Elliott Gould makes a useful, attractive hero as Robert Caulfield, the investigative journalist reporter who blows the conspiracy story to the world.

A rare unqualified success for Lew Grade’s ITC company, Capricorn One is stupendous entertainment packed with good action, clever ideas, amusing lines and actors having fun.

Just when Hyams’s imaginative screenplay finally seems to be starting to run out of steam on comes Telly Savalas as Albain in a crop-dusting plane for an outrageously entertaining finale.

It stars Elliott Gould, James Brolin, Brenda Vaccaro, Sam Waterson, O J Simpson, Hal Holbrook, Telly Savalas, Karen Black, David Huddleston, Robert Walden and Alan Fudge, with David Doyle, Lee Bryant, Denise Nicholas and James Sikking.

Capricorn One is directed by Peter Hyams, runs 130 minutes (with a 123 minute cut version),  is produced by Associated General and ITC, is release by Warner Bros, is written by Peter Hyams, is shot by Bill Butler, produced by Paul N Lazarus III and Lew Grade, scored by Jerry Goldsmith and designed by Albert Brenner.

Hyams is also the director of 2010, Timecop, End of Days, The Presidio and Outland.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6794

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