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Capricorn One

  • 1978
  • Tous publics
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
27K
YOUR RATING
James Brolin and Telly Savalas in Capricorn One (1978)
Home Video Trailer from Artisan
Play trailer3:08
1 Video
99+ Photos
Conspiracy ThrillerDark ComedyActionAdventureDramaThriller

When the first manned flight to Mars is deemed unsafe and scrubbed on the launch pad, anxious authorities must scramble to save face and retain their funding - and so an unthinkable plot to ... Read allWhen the first manned flight to Mars is deemed unsafe and scrubbed on the launch pad, anxious authorities must scramble to save face and retain their funding - and so an unthinkable plot to fake the mission is hatched.When the first manned flight to Mars is deemed unsafe and scrubbed on the launch pad, anxious authorities must scramble to save face and retain their funding - and so an unthinkable plot to fake the mission is hatched.

  • Director
    • Peter Hyams
  • Writer
    • Peter Hyams
  • Stars
    • Elliott Gould
    • James Brolin
    • Brenda Vaccaro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    27K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Peter Hyams
    • Writer
      • Peter Hyams
    • Stars
      • Elliott Gould
      • James Brolin
      • Brenda Vaccaro
    • 221User reviews
    • 73Critic reviews
    • 38Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Capricorn One
    Trailer 3:08
    Capricorn One

    Photos146

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    Top cast62

    Edit
    Elliott Gould
    Elliott Gould
    • Robert Caulfield
    James Brolin
    James Brolin
    • Charles Brubaker
    Brenda Vaccaro
    Brenda Vaccaro
    • Kay Brubaker
    Sam Waterston
    Sam Waterston
    • Peter Willis
    O.J. Simpson
    O.J. Simpson
    • John Walker
    Hal Holbrook
    Hal Holbrook
    • Dr. James Kelloway
    Karen Black
    Karen Black
    • Judy Drinkwater
    Telly Savalas
    Telly Savalas
    • Albain
    David Huddleston
    David Huddleston
    • Hollis Peaker
    David Doyle
    David Doyle
    • Walter Loughlin
    Lee Bryant
    Lee Bryant
    • Sharon Willis
    Denise Nicholas
    Denise Nicholas
    • Betty Walker
    Robert Walden
    Robert Walden
    • Elliot Whitter
    James Sikking
    James Sikking
    • Control Room Man
    • (as Jim Sikking)
    Alan Fudge
    Alan Fudge
    • Capsule Communicator
    James Karen
    James Karen
    • Vice President Price
    Virginia Kaiser
    • Mrs. Price
    Nancy Malone
    Nancy Malone
    • Mrs. Peaker
    • Director
      • Peter Hyams
    • Writer
      • Peter Hyams
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews221

    6.826.5K
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    Featured reviews

    bob the moo

    A great premise is rendered merely watchable by a script that produces a poor middle section

    America is excited by a new space launch; the mission to mars putting them past their 'space fatigue'. However, mere minutes before the launch, the astronauts are spirited away from the rocket while the mission goes ahead but unmanned – with the vast majority of NASA, the media, the politicians and the American people completely unaware that this has occurred. The astronauts are taken to a soundstage and informed that the mission would have failed, killing the space programme; however the plan is to fake the landing and keep the funding – a plan the astronauts begrudgingly agree to when they see their options are very limited. However when the rocket explodes on re-entry, the astronauts realize that the men in charge have only one way to keep their secret– killing them. Meanwhile journalist Robert Caulfield tries to follow a suspicious lead given to him by a man inside NASA only for the man to vanish and for Robert to be nearly killed when his brakes 'fail' – he investigates what he suspects but cannot believe.

    The film opens with a blacked out screen with a man introducing the mission launch to gathering (unseen) journalists. This is a solid start and it continues in an aborted launch that immediately sets up a premise that is so simple and so effective that it promises a great film to come. However from the moment the astronauts escape the film has already taken a real dip from the good start. What spoils it is the writing; the start gives it the foundation to build on but it doesn't manage to build very much at all. Things happen but there is no consistent tension or excitement to speak of – the astronauts are forced into one-off moments of danger but that's about it; this leaves Caulfield as the main thread which, while enjoyable, still doesn't manage to cut it. The film should have been tighter, with a deeper conspiracy, a tangible threat and a real sense of it being a race against time – but it doesn't manage it. It still remains interesting and watchable but the word 'thriller' is not one that I would pick.

    The film ends in a stronger final 20 minutes where we get a helicopter chase and some well shot scenes with a crop duster but even these are filled with the same lack of logic that the middle section of the film suffers from. Sadly even an exciting conclusion gives way to a rubbish final shot of slow-mo sentiment. The cast are part of the reason that the film is watchable as they are quite good even if the material lets many of them down. Gould is always watchable even though his section should have been much more dramatic. Of the astronauts, Brolin is OK, Waterson has an average character and Simpson is wisely given little opportunity to flex his acting muscles. Holbrook starts with a good sense of conspiratorial menace but the film practically forgets he is there and he just slips away. Black is wasted and she doesn't even look like she wants to be there, but the presence of Huddleston is always welcome. Savalas is good value even if he seems to have walked in from another film – but he is good fun and breathes quite a lot of life back into what was becoming a rather stale affair.

    Overall this is watchable and quite enjoyable but it is frustrating to see the potential of the premise wasted. The opening 30 minutes is great and sets up a tense film that is sadly never forthcoming. The majority of the film after the rocket is destroyed goes gradually downhill as logic fails and it totally fails to ratchet up the tension in the manner it really should have. Watchable but it should have been loads better – I'm not a remake fan per se, but surely somebody can remake this film and make good on the potential.
    8sedativchunk

    Great film that has stood the test of time!

    I randomly stumbled across the film "Capricorn One" (released before my time) and I had to check out. The premise of the film sounded very interesting and the movie looked like something that may be more about story and no so much theatrics like the films of 2014 and up. Watching this film I was not disappointed. The story is interesting and exciting, the acting is excellent, and overall this is a pretty good B grade sci fi film that has stood the test of time. I really enjoyed Capricorn One and I have to say this movie is a must-watch if you are a fan of classic and/or sci fi flicks.

    In a nutshell, Capricorn One is a film about a NASA hoax where astronauts perform a Mars landing on a soundstage fooling the country and families of the astronauts alike. The film revolves around the drama and conspiracies of what is going on within the confines of NASA and the struggles of the astronauts trying to maintain the secret. The rest is pretty self explanatory and you just have to watch the film to see all the events of the film unfold! This movie has a lot of pluses going for it. Great cast, great storyline, and overall it is just a great film. For a while I forgot I was watching a movie that is almost 40 years old now! The only bumps in this movie are in the scientific area. The Saturn V was no where powerful enough to travel to Mars. The ships were too small to carry enough oxygen and supplies for such a trip. The LEM from the Moon was the same design for Mars, and the LEM was completely incapable of ever landing on Mars. One of the main (and only) reasons I am docking a few points for the film is that they blatantly ignored scientific facts about landing on Mars. Even someone that doesn't know NASA science that well should know that a LEM cannot land on Mars and how ridiculous the entire concept of the Mars mission in this film was. Besides the scientific fact, I won't spoil the movie but I was hoping for a more "satisfying" ending...

    Overall, Capricorn One is a great movie.One of the reasons I think this movie has been "swept under the rug" (meaning you don't see it much on streaming services such as Netflix or hear about it much in modern times) is I think because of O.J. Simpson's notoriety. This film is a great movie with a diverse cast and you are missing out on a great film (as well as not admiring the performance from the rest of the cast) by avoiding this film simply because of O.J. Simpson. This film came out far before he ever committed any crimes or had any notoriety. If you get the chance, check out this film. It is very enjoyable and I hope some day it gets a proper remastering in blu ray!
    8gvf

    The Mars Hoax

    This movie is indeed a noteworthy sci-fi/conspiracy flick, even after all these years.

    Unmistakeably based on the real-life "moon hoax" pseudo-conspiracy, it takes the issue one step further and explores just how far your government might go to cover up its own incapacity and silence everyone who gets in its way (Ironically enough for that matter, the moon landings are portrayed in this movie as a non-hoax and really did take place).

    When three would-be Mars astronauts are secretly pulled out of their capsule just minutes before liftoff due to a malfunctioning life support system that would have meant certain death, they are quickly transferred to an abandoned air force base out in the desert. Upon arrival, they are told that they'll have to play make-believe using the facility's very own "Mars" sound stage. It's got everything in place to fool the public about an actual Mars landing. Things go somewhat well and although the astronauts really begin to resent the big swindle they were drawn into, nobody really notices. That is, until their real-life landing capsule disintegrates while re-entering the earth's atmosphere. They figure that now that they're all supposed to be dead, the government will have them killed for real....

    So much for the plot, the rest is yours to find out about. Definitely worth watching. One thing though, try to watch it in widescreen - somehow they showed the 4:3 full-frame version on TV here, which was a major drawback considering the movie's original 2.35:1 aspect ratio.

    8 out of 10!
    9jimjoejohnmoore

    First-rate, thought provoking and exciting thriller

    I just wish some of those technically minded, nit-picking nerds who submit boring, long winded indictments of really good films would just lighten up and take films for what they're meant to be.....entertainment. I revisited Capricorn One this evening and the 2 hours just flew by. Every film ever made (no matter how great) is flawed. They're not meant to be picked apart, anyone can pick holes in a film. Capricorn One is a very exciting, thought provoking thriller which still stands up today.

    Writer/director Peter Hyams deserves great credit in attempting in just 2 hours screen time to construct a film designed to entertain and at the same time get you thinking. To do full justice to the story line would require another 2 hours, but many people are reluctant to sit through a 4 hour film. Of course it has it's faults but it has very much to commend it such as the exciting action sequences, intelligent and at times very humorous script and convincing performances. One doesn't have to accept the film's premise (hoax Mars/Moon whatever landings) to enjoy this fine film. Judge for yourself. My verdict....9 out of 10.
    8Boba_Fett1138

    An '70's favorite.

    Even though this certainly isn't the best movie you'll ever see, it's still a movie that is a perfectly entertaining one. It makes this movie one of my favorite movies to watch from the '70's.

    The movie has a really great premise, that provides the movie with plenty of thriller elements and action. It has a lot of elements in it that always make '70's movies such great ones to watch. It's a movie with a conspiracy story but luckily the movie decides to be more entertaining with it than heavy or serious really.

    It's really mainly the concept and main story that makes this movie an interesting one as well as entertaining. It doesn't always make the movie the most believable one to watch out there but in this particular case that hardly matters at all. It's such a great and entertaining movie that you're basically willing to forgive everything that is less great about it. It's a movie that I have always enjoyed watching and always will.

    Some of the action is really memorable. The plane and helicopters chase in this movie is pretty insane and was obviously very dangerous for all of those involved with it. No way they'll ever do a sequences like that again now days, with all those heavy regulations for stunts and of course the availability of CGI this present time. But of course as you can expect from an '70's movie, there also is plenty of action involving cars and other great action stuff.

    What also really uplifts the movie and its action and entertainment value is the great musical score by Jerry Goldsmith.

    It's a really well made movie, that got directed with lots of pace by Peter Hyams, who has always been at his best directing action stuff, even though most of his movies aren't exactly among the greatest, this one not included. It also had some real nice camera-work by Bill Butler.

    The movie also has a pretty nice cast with Elliott Gould, Hal Holbrook, James Brolin, Sam Waterston and O.J. Simpson involved. Perhaps it's true though that the movie is lacking a clear main character and the movie isn't always clear with on which character it is going to focus with its main plot. Karen Black and Telly Savalas also make some small, almost cameo like appearances in this movie.

    One of the most entertaining '70's-flicks out there.

    8/10

    http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Despite being portrayed as a villain, NASA provided technical assistance, including mock-up spacecraft, sets, vehicles, front screen projection expertise.
    • Goofs
      During the runaway car sequence, the point of view shows the car doing a full 360° turn in the space of street crossing, while supposedly going over 60 miles per hour. This would be like going at freeway speed, and suddenly turning around in a couple of seconds, without spinning out of control . Not even a Formula 1 car has that kind of traction.
    • Quotes

      Robert Caulfield: Mr Albaine, how much do you charge to dust a field?

      Albain: Twenty five dollars.

      Robert Caulfield: I'd like to hire your plane.

      Albain: That'll be a hundred dollars.

      Robert Caulfield: You said you charged twenty five?

      Albain: Twenty five dollars to dust a field, but you ain't got no field because you ain't no farmer, which means you ain't poor and I think you're a pervert!

      Robert Caulfield: Okay, one hundred.

      Albain: One hundred and twenty five.

      Robert Caulfield: What?

      Albain: Because you said yes to a hundred too quick, which means you can afford a hundred and twenty five.

    • Alternate versions
      Originally released in Japan in a longer (129 min) version which featured alternate and extended scenes (including an additional scenes showing the docking of the spaceship during the Mars landing sequence). This version was unavailable for decades and considered lost, until a copy was discovered in the National Film Archive of Japan and was finally released on Blu-ray in Japan in 2019.
    • Connections
      Edited into Magnum: Two Birds of a Feather (1983)

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Capricorn One?Powered by Alexa
    • With current rocket technology the trip to mars would take over a month. How did they expect to get three astronauts to mars in a Apollo type capsule?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 26, 1978 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Operation Capricorn
    • Filming locations
      • Red Rock Canyon State Park - Highway 14, Cantil, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Associated General Films
      • ITC Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $402
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 3m(123 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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