Elliott Gould Movie:

Editorial Review:
Thanks to repeated showings on cable television and home video, this speculative thriller has built quite a loyal following since its release in 1978. The provocative "what if?" scenario still packs a punch, even if it is not always believable. James Brolin, Sam Waterston, and O.J. Simpson star as three astronauts who agree to spare the government embarrassment by faking their historic landing on Mars after their spacecraft is determined to be unsafe for blastoff. When a scheming mission controller (Hal Holbrook) plots to kill the astronauts in a staged capsule fire, the trio embarks on a dangerous mission to expose the truth. Elliott Gould costars as the journalist determined to crack the conspiracy, and director Peter Hyams turns up the tension with an exciting chase sequence involving Telly Savalas as an eccentric barnstormer who comes to Gould's aid. --Jeff Shannon

Saturn City [Region 2] Reviews:
So bad one hardly knows where to begin
2009-03-28 - First, the technological nonsense. The idea that a Mars mission can be carried out with Apollo-type spacecraft is sbsurd.
Second, the plan for the faked mission. I'm sure they would actually broadcast live from their fake Mars set, and hit a "slow-mo" button at just the right instant. Right. Not to mention that the slow-mo was way too slow for Mars gravity.
Third, I laughed out loud when Brubaker (James Brolin) told the man-in-a-suit "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what the hell's going on!"
At that point he had already been extracted from his spacecraft, walked to a van, driven to a helicopter, flown to a Lear jet, and flown to an undisclosed location. THEN he says "I'm not going anywhere".
Fourth, the dialogue scene between the three astronauts, supposedly on Mars, and their wives. What happened to the 20-minute time delay that had been established earlier in the movie?
Fifth -- oh, forget it. If I keep going, I'll end up with "Thirteenth", "Fourteenth", etc. This movie had so many holes in it it was impossible to keep count.



























Finally !!!
2008-11-30 - I finally have this one.... Can't wait for "The Gargoyles (1972 Cornel Wilde) or Dracula, Prince of Darkness"..That would complete me ! ! !

The worst hoax ever in this movie...
2008-10-24 - ... was made by the director who refused to listen to his characters who insisted that transmission signals are taking 21 minutes from Mars to Earth, but keep them talking to each other as if the point was not of any importance. I should have put only 2 stars, if it was not for the fact that anything dealing with paranoia ( which is the foundation of politics, especially in US) has my attention. Even if Andy Groove who was accused by his interviewer (about 10 years ago) of being paranoid, replied "you know, even paranoids have enemies".

Of course, it might be very damaging for ANY government to tell the truth about about ANYTHING (that might incite taxpayers to go on strike - Thoreau was one of the most gifted Americans in clairvoyance) I can't see any other reason why Bush was elected AND reelected, since he proved that perjury (by himself or his goons) was the best way to rule a country.

If you want a good transfer, get the DVD released on October 24, 2008 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DE29SI/ref=cm_cr_thx_view)


Not bad
2008-10-09 - This movie is OK. It stretches the bounds of plausability of course. If you subscribe to Netflix with on online viewing option, you can watch this for free. If you don't already subscribe to Netflix, sign up for a free trial and you watch it.

All Star Cast 70's Conspiracy Thriller
2008-09-26 - I remember watching this on tv some time back and have finally managed to get it on dvd.

The plot involves the proposed first manned landing on mars...however before the rocket is even launched the Nasa realises that the mission is doomed. In order to ensure that the 'space programme' funding is secure they convince the astronauts (played by James Brolin, Sam Waterson and yes...O.J Simpson) to participate in an elaborate hoax. So far so good...all goes to plan until months later on return to earth something goes wrong on re-entry... which means the 3 astronauts holed up in the desert are also doomed.

The film builds the suspense slowly and purposefully and although now it may seem somewhat dated...I'm sure at the time of release it played nicely into the hands of the 'conspiracy theorists'. Elliot Gould gives a good performance as the reporter who uncovers the hoax and persues the truth. Brenda Vaccarro gives a nicely modulated turn as one of the wives and there are cameo appearances by 70's stalwarts Telly Savalas and Karen Black.