The Starlost: The Beginning

TV Movie
1980
1h 36m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Keir Dullea, Gay Rowan, and Robin Ward in The Starlost: The Beginning (1980)

Three farmers in Cypress Corners discover that farm life is not so simple. Discovering a hidden door in the earth, they break through it, discovering they are not on Earth, but in a giant No... Read allThree farmers in Cypress Corners discover that farm life is not so simple. Discovering a hidden door in the earth, they break through it, discovering they are not on Earth, but in a giant Noah's Ark-like spaceship. The spaceship is made up of giant "domes" holding the various cul... Read allThree farmers in Cypress Corners discover that farm life is not so simple. Discovering a hidden door in the earth, they break through it, discovering they are not on Earth, but in a giant Noah's Ark-like spaceship. The spaceship is made up of giant "domes" holding the various cultures of humanity. Eventually, they find the bridge, its crew dead and its computer compla... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.9/10

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Keir Dullea

Devon
(archive footage)

Robin Ward

Garth
(archive footage)

Gay Rowan

Rachel
(archive footage)

William Osler

Computer
(archive footage)
(voice)
…

James Barron

Garth's Father
(archive footage)
(as Jim Barron)

John Colicos

The Governor
(archive footage)

Gillie Fenwick

Old Abraham
(archive footage)

Scott Fisher

Small Boy
(archive footage)

Paul Geary

The Guard
(archive footage)

Kay Hawtrey

Garth's Mother
(archive footage)

Sterling Hayden

Jeremiah
(archive footage)

Dominic Hogan

The Priest
(archive footage)

Michael Kirby

The Captain
(archive footage)

Barry Morse

Shalith
(archive footage)

George Naklowyck

The Deputy
(archive footage)

Aileen Seaton

Rachel's Mother
(archive footage)

George Sperdakos

Jubal
(archive footage)

Sean Sullivan

Rachel's Father
(archive footage)

Director
- Harvey Hart
Writers
All cast & crew
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User reviews4

5.962

Featured reviews

1TheFearmakers

Shooting on Video Was Television Death

In the greatest science-fiction show ever made, the original Twilight Zone, there are six episodes shot on video and with all the computer magic they STILL can't make them look NOT crappy, blurry and awful... Six Zones basically down the drain, including one directed by Jacques Tourneur...

And so, this series, which had an intriguing plot and Keir Dullea from 2001 fame in the lead, was shot on an even lower-grade video and looks like a security camera filming a grainy soap opera in someone's badly-lit family room...

It's no wonder Gnome Ellison removed his name... The content is obviously what he protested, but the visuals are a turn-off before any plot even arises.

8jcpintner

Science Fiction On Stage

As I write this, I'm in the process of watching Starlost on DVD. In the 1970s, when I was in college, I knew of it but had not watched it.

But I remembered it, and that fact speaks for itself.

Other reviewers have criticized Starlost as looking low-budget, and poorly produced. I agree that everything looks like a stage play set, with limited set dressing and effects a step below the state of the art. There are lots of tight close-ups, and a bit too much musical underscoring.

But I think what's more important are the writing, acting, and storytelling. Done well, they can overcome limitations of execution. I'm still watching, and judging. The plot premise can give insights into problem-solving, as well as human nature. Starlost might well be ripe for a reimagining.

3wz-45538

This TV series is so bad, yet I can't look away.

This is like watching a terrible accident. 2001,Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica, if they were trains, and they all collided together at breakneck speed , leaving no survivors. Filmed on videotape before a dead studio audience. I will say though that the Earthship Ark was a fantastic model. It should have been mad available as a model kit.

3mavisroadbills

Good premise, but bad execution

I liked the entire concept of the Starlost and some episodes were hood, but it looked horribly low budget and camera/acting at times were very stale. Thats why Spielberg makes the big bucks. Seems like a cheap Canadian production ( yes I'm from Canada so i can say this). I hope someday someone can do a remake. Loved the ship model. They needed to speed up the temp of the show too. So so much potential. If done right, could have been on for years and done well. I googled some of the actors, and to no surprise, many never acted again. Please also make it a US production. Maybe JJ Abrams can help out. One nice thing us they are on YouTube for nostalgia.