USA, 1979
97m 40s
35mm film, 70mm film, “filmed in Technovision”, Technicolor, 2.35:1
Dolby Stereo, English
An American science fiction film directed by Gary Nelson. Production began on 11 October 1978 1Variety 11 April 1979 p.34
Plot Summary
On a routine mission, the crew of the spaceship Palamino discovers the the supposedly lost vessel, the USS Cygnus in orbit around a massive black hole. They find that the ship is being run by robots under the command of its only human crew member, Dr Hans Reinhardt who has been missing for the past twenty years. Reinhardt now plans to enter the black hole…
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Gary Nelson
© MCMLXXIX [1979] Walt Disney Productions
Distributed by: Buena Vista Distribution Co., Inc.
Walt Disney Productions presents
Produced by: Ron Miller
Screenplay by: Jeb Rosebrook and Gerry Day
Story by: Jeb Rosebrook and Bob Barbash & Richard Landau
Director of Photography: Frank Phillips
Editor: Gregg McLaughlin
Music Composed and Conducted by: John Barry
Sound Mixer: Henry A. Maffett
Costumes Designed by: Bill Thomas
Make-up Supervisor: Robert J. Schiffer
Hair Stylist: Gloria Montemayor
Mechanical Effects Supervisor: Danny Lee
Robots Created by: George F. McGinnis
Miniature Effects Created and Supervised by: Peter Ellenshaw
Special Effects Photographed by: A.C.E.S. Automatic Camera Effects Systems
Production Designed by: Peter Ellenshaw
Cast
Maximilian Schell (Dr Hans Reinhardt)
Anthony Perkins (Dr Alex Durant)
Robert Forster (Captain Dan Holland)
Joseph Bottoms (Lieutenant Charles Pizer)
Yvette Mimieux as Dr Kate McCrae
Ernest Borgnine as Harry Booth
Tommy McLoughlin (Captain S.T.A.R.)
Roddy McDowall [voice of V.I.N.C.E.N.T.] *
Slim Pickens [voice of Bob] *
Alternative Titles
Il buco nero – Italy
Das Schwarze Loch – Germany
Space Station One – working title
Links
Extracts included in
A Brief History of Time (1992)
Screen Test: 13 December 1979
Screen Test: 21 October 1980
Production Notes
Production
When filming began in October 1978, British trade journal Screen International reported that Jennifer O’Neill was among the cast 2Screen International no.161 (21-27 October 1978) p.1. She was set to play Dr Kate McCrae but dropped out soon afterwards and was replaced by Yvette Mimieux.
Press
1980
Screen International no.222 (5-12 January 80) p.21
Jumping on the spacewagon a bit late in the day for maximum impact of visual effects and lovable robots. The Black Hole has nothing very special to offer apart from John Barry’s music, the Western gunmen attitudes of the baddie robots, and the engaging personalities of Vincent and his buddy who are far more interesting than any of the humans. If it weren’t for the technological jargon and the space age hardware, it would be no more than an unimaginatively scripted adaptation of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. However, the Disney label still has its special drawing power for the family audience and the (mildly) gruesome bits take the mockers out of the “made for kiddiwinks” image so repellent to the over-10s, so there is no reason to fear that The Black Hole will not justify its costly existence as a box-office draw. – from a review by Marjorie Bilbow
References
Periodicals
- Screen International no.161 (21-27 October 1978) p.1 – illustrated note (‘Black Hole’ – Disney’s biggest)
- Screen International no.222 (5-12 January 80) pp.10-11; 21 – illustrated article (Europe gathers for Disney’s ‘Black Hole’); credits, review
- Screen International no.224 (19-26 January 1912) p.13 – illustrate interview with Peter Ellenshaw (The artist behind Disney’s dreamland by Iain F. McAsh)
- Screen International no.227 (9-16 February 1980) p.6 – note (US briefing)
- TV Times (Thames/LWT edition) 24 December 1982-7 January 1983 pp.4-5 – illustrated article (The Black Hole)
- Variety 11 April 1979 p.34 – credits (Film production)
- Variety vol.297 no.10 (9 January 1980) p.100 – note (Of 219 film openings in 1979, 170 preemed in West End sites)
Books
- The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Science Fiction by Phil Hardy (ed) pp.346; 347
- Escape Velocity by Bradley Schauer pp.135, 188, 198-99
- Film Review 1980-81 by F. Maurice Speed (ed.) p.123 – credits, review
- Hoffman’s Guide to SF, Horror and Fantasy Movies 1991-1992 p.44 – credits, review
- Horror and Science Fiction Films II by Donald C. Willis p.34
- Jules Verne on Film by Thomas C. Renzi pp.202-205
- The Science Fiction and Fantasy Film Handbook by Alan Frank p.24 – illustrated credits, review
- Science Fiction Films of the Seventies by Craig W. Anderson pp.241-245
- Variety Science-Fiction Movies by Julian Brown (ed.) p.20 – credits, review
- The World of Fantasy Films by Richard Myers p.123
