UK, 1985
90m
35mm film, colour
Dolby Stereo, English
A British comedy science fiction film directed by Mike Hodges.
Plot Summary
A group of dim-witted aliens crash-land on Earth and immediately become media darlings. They’re pursued by the military for knowledge they couldn’t possibly have and by the media seeking unusual celebrities – and all the time, they have to somehoe keep everyone believing that they’re actually a lot smarter than they really are…
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Mike Hodges
© Thorn EMI Film Finance plc 1985
Made by Thorn EMI Film Productions Ltd.
Executive Producer: Verity Lambert
Produced by: Barry Hanson
Production Executive: Graham Easton
Production Manager: Peter Price
Production Supervisor: David Ball
Screenplay by: Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith
Developed by: Bob Mercer
Assistant Directors: Jake Wright, Marcia Gay, Russell Lodge
Script Supervisor: Diana Dill
Director of Photography: Philip Meheux
Camera Operator: Bernie Ford
Focus Puller: Bruce Barraclough
Gaffer: Harry Woodley
Grip: Dennis Lloyd
Stills Photographer: David James
Film Editor: Peter Boyle
Music Composed by: Peter Brewis
Orchestra Conducted by: John Cameron
“Iron Maiden” courtesy of Sanctuary Music Ltd.
“Born Free” courtesy of Screen Gems-EMI Music Ltd.
“American Patrol” as performed by Bill May courtesy of Capitol Records, Inc.
Song: “Morons from Outer Space” written by Mel Smith and Peter Brewis, performed by The Morons, produced by John L. Walters and Peter Brewis, released through EMI Records Ltd. © 1984 music published by EMI Film and Theatre Music Ltd.
Sound Mixer: Chris Munro
Boom Operator: Ian Munro
Dubbing Mixer: John Hayward
Sound Editor: Peter Best
Re-Recorded at: Pinewood Studios and Twickenham Studios
Costume Designer: May Routh
Asst Costume Designer: Doreen Watkinson
Wardrobe Supervisor: Keith Denny
Chief Make-up: George Frost
Make-up Consultant: Sara Raeburn
Chief Hairdresser: Joan Carpenter
Special Effects: Jeff Luff
Special Effects Editor: Dennis McTaggart
TV and Computer Effects: Ira Curtis Coleman
Model Maker: Peter Aston
Visual Effects Supervisor: David Speed
Titles by: Optical Film Effects Ltd.
Production Designer: Brian Eatwell
Art Directors: Terry Gough, Bert Davey
Set Dresser: Derek Nice
Property Buyer: Sid Palmer
Property Master: Brian Palmer
Construction Manager: Bill Surridge
Production Accountant: Clair McCoy
Filmed on location in England and at Pinewood Studios, Iver, Bucks, England
Location Manager: Rufus Andrews
Cameras and Lenses by: Joe Dunton (Cameras) Ltd.
Electrical Equipment by: Lee Electric (Lighting) Ltd.
Costumes by: Bermans and Nathans Ltd.
Colour by: Technicolor Ltd.
The producers would like to thank the following for their valuable assistance in the making of this film: Live Action Slit Scan by Geoff Axtell Associates Ltd, London; Lancer Boss Lift Trucks; Mitsubishi projector television courtesy of Morgan Laboratories; Lasers by John Carr at Lasefx; Pickfords Industrial
Rock sequence by Jim Barnett of Zenith Lighting
Stunt Co-Ordinator: Paul Weston
Casting: Debbie McWilliams
Cast
Mel Smith (Bernard)
Griff Rhys Jones (Graham Sweetley)
James B. Sikking (Colonel Laribee)
Dinsdale Landen (Commander Matteson)
Jimmy Nail (Desmond Brock)
Joanne Pearce (Sandra Brock)
Paul Bown (Julian Tope)
Tristram Jellinek (Simpson)
George Innes (Stanley Benson)
John Joyce (Chief Inspector Miller)
Mark Jones (Godfrey)
Leonard Fenton (commissionaire)
Andre Maranne (Trousseaux)
Joanna Dickens (lady farmer)
R.J. Bell (Klutz)
Peter Whitman (Friborg)
Olivier Pierre (Jabowlski)
Edward Wiley (Laribee’s aide)
Robert Austin (newscaster)
John Barcroft (McKenzie)
Bill Stewart (Walters)
Joss Buckley (TV presenter)
Roger Hammond (soundman)
Des Webb (Eskimo chief)
Derek Deadman (man in car)
Angela Crow (woman in car)
Jimmy Mulville (motorway policeman)
Lesley Grantham (motorway policeman’s assistant)
Barbara Hicks (stenographer)
Tim Barker (mathematician)
Graham Fellows (cipher)
Robert Sessions (TV presenter, USA)
Shane Rimmer (redneck)
Diana Ricardo (redneck’s wife)
Miriam Margolyes (lady scientist)
Ian East (first scientist)
Michael J. Jackson (second scientist)
James Taylor (minister)
Christopher Northey (Whitehall flunkey)
Jo Ross (lady in dining room)
Susan Denaker (nurse 1)
Lesa Lockford (nurse 2)
Edward Arthur (chat show host)
Shelley Thompson (Nurse Perce)
John Clamp (Bobby)
Richenda Carey (Countess Gretel)
David Haig (flunkey)
Robert Henderson (diner customer)
Karen Lancaster (Stanley’s assistant)
Ronnie Stevens (hotel manager)
Pamela Mandell (Mary)
David James (policeman)
Thick Wilson (cop)
Dave Whittaker (deputy)
John O’Toole (security guard)
Peter Straker (choir lead singer)
Robin Driscoll (space pilot)
Alternative Titles
Ääliöt ulkoavaruudesta – Finland
Débiles de l’espace, Les – France
Glupcy z kosmosu – Poland
Inéptos interplanetarios – Spain
Närkontakt av värsta greden – Sweden
Space Cracks – West Germany
Star Cracks – Die irre Bruchlandung der Außerirdischen – West Germany
Os Tarados do Espaço – Portugugal (television)
References
Periodicals
- AIP & Co no.64 (March 1985) pp.10-11 – article
- Broadcast 23 September 1983 p.9 – note
- City Limits no.181 (22 March 1985) p.20 – review
- Écran Fantastique, no.56 (May 1985) pp.52-53 – review
- Empire no188 (February 2005) p.152 – illustrated DVD review (RWD by ALS)
- Films and Filming no.366 (March 1985) p.37 – review
- The Hollywood Reporter vol.282 no.4 (22 May 1984) p.19 – credits
- The Hollywood Reporter vol.288 no.43 (25 September 1985) pp.3, 15 – review
- Monthly Film Bulletin vol.52 no.614 (March 1985) pp.86-87 – credits, synopsis, review
- Screen International no.444 (5 May 1984) pp.2; 4 – note; credits
- Screen International no.489 (23 March 1985) p.39 – review
- Screen International no.490 (30 March 1985) pp.30, 35 – note
- SFX no.30 pp.7-9 – illustrated article
- Starburst no.319 (February 2005) p.102 – illustrated DVD review (DVD Reviews: Round Up by Richard Houldsworth)
- Stills no.18 (April 1985) p.52 – review
- Time Out no.761 (21 March 1985) p.51 – illustrated review
- TV Times 23 December 1989-5 January 1990 p.49 – review
- Variety 3 April 1985 p.18 – credits, review
Newspapers
- Southampton Evening Echo 20 April 1985 p.18 – review
Books
- The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Science Fiction by Phil Hardy (ed) p.395
- Film Review 1985-1986 by F. Maurice Speed p.88 – credits, synopsis, review
- The Films of the Eighties by Robert A. Nowlan and Gwendolyn Wright Nowlan p.373
- Horror and Science Fiction Films IV by Donald C. Willis p.333
- Looking for a New England: Action, Time, Vision: Music, Film and TV 1975-1986 by Simon Matthews pp.43, 149
