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Just saw this film again on TCM; I saw it in its original theatrical release in 1978. The film’s premise is based on the real rumors circulating at the time suggesting the 1969 Apollo Moon landing was faked using a TV studio. Capricorn One builds on that premise as a scheduled manned Mars mission that has to be faked in its eleventh hour due to faulty life support systems, and how ‘the powers that be’ coerce the three innocent and unsuspecting astronauts into playing along. Jerry Goldsmith's score is outstanding and the film's action scenes involving aerial chases and stunts are quite riveting and very well done. The film offers a wonderful, eclectic all star cast, all in their prime and making every effort to give this film their best: Elliot Gould, James Brolin, Brenda Vaccaro, Sam Waterston, Hal Halbrook, Karen Black, Telly Savalas, with support from Robert Walden, David Doyle and David Huddleston. Unfortunately, the film's script is uneven and undermined by two serious flaws that prevent it from delivering as the top notch action/political thriller it might have been. It gives in to small comedy bits using off beat supporting characters that work against it, not for it. Its other big problem is that once it is clear to Elliot Gould's pragmatic reporter character that he has been targeted for death by the lurking powers that be, he still returns in broad daylight to his own home, to NASA, and even visits astronaut Brolin’s wife for an interview. This makes no sense as the 'powers that be' has already been successfully portrayed to the audience as a deadly serious foe who wouldn't allow Gould’s character to keep poking around. Even so, Goldsmith's tense and commanding score anchors the film with themes based on the film's strengths: the lurking and deadly powers that be, James Brolin's stoic and determined astronaut, dynamic action sequences, and a couple of touching and underplayed scenes featuring Brolin's grieving wife (Vaccaro) and their young family. And yes, O.J. Simpson is in the film. However, if for personal reasons you can get past that, his screen time as the third wheel astronaut is quite minimal and of little importance to the film.Read full review
This is the longest journey ever attempted. They have trained for years and every possible scenario has been explored. Mars is a long way to travel and this trip will take more than a year. James Brolin, O.J. Simpson, and Sam Waterston are strapped in their space craft and are going to blast off in minutes. All of a sudden the last thing imaginable happens. The head of the mission opens the door to the space capsule and says "Hurry up! Every body out"! Within minutes they are loaded upon a Lear Jet and are flying West. In the mean time, the space ship has blasted off and is on its way to Mars. Still dressed in their space gear, with no idea what is going on, they land at a remote, deserted base in west Texas. Quickly ushered into a meeting room they are now told what has happened. At the last minute they found out that the space suits were defective and wouldn't have lasted. They would have all died. But NASA is under fire and a screw up like this could mean the end of the space exploration program. They have an idea though. They will use the tapes of the voice communication from the simulations, and broadcast everything else from a sound stage that was identical to what would be seen from Mars, all from this remote building. The whole trip would be done without the astronauts. When the ship returned to Earth, they would be placed inside, and nobody would ever know. Reluctantly, they went along with the hoax. Everything went according to plan and the hoax was successful all the way to the end; but the space craft crashed on landing and was totally lost. Now there is a real problem, and there is only one way to solve it . . . Now the three are on their own and everybody is after them. . .to kill them, and cover up the hoax. Only a crusading reporter, Elliott Gould, has figured it out, and they are after him too. Now, a battle is raging to keep this conspiracy quiet.Read full review
Capricorn One is interesting and exciting, with a very well worked out plot and a fast-moving script, nicely enlivened by the all star cast. It is about a trio of astronauts about to embark on the first manned mission to Mars who are taken off their shuttle at the eleventh hour and whisked away to a secret building in the middle of nowhere. From there, they are forced into acting out the mission, thus taking part in one of the most audacious hoaxes of all-time against their will. However things get worse when they discover that they are going to be killed when their part in the ruse is over, under the believable cover story that their shuttle burned up during re-entry. Elliot Gould enters the story here, as a nosy reporter who gets wind of the deception and sets out to expose it. This is probably the best of all Peter Hyams' films, because it has the most ingenious script and feels fresh and lively throughout. Most of the performances are well judged, although the climax is spoilt somewhat by Telly Savalas's unnecessary comic relief cameo. James Brolin, OJ Simpson and Sam Waterson as the unfortunate astronauts turn in convincing performances as men forced to deceive the world - including their families - against their wishes. Gould, as the witty and quick thinking reporter, produces the most colourful characterisation of his entire career.Read full review
Love the idea of this movie and it keeps your attention, despite a few weak plot elements, particularly involving how the reporter so easily finds things. Good characters though and an entertaining watch - except for the ridiculous runaway car scene. This could be a great candidate for a re-make, with a more realistic execution of the very interesting idea of a faked landing.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Capricorn One has a very engaging plot. The most famous of the actors is OJ Simpson. This was one of the first movies he did as his NFL career was winding down. The movie also has its share of surprise events. A very entertaining movie.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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