![]() Both make their points, even if Hollis is made to seem more just somehow. In fact, newer estimates have proven that a manned Mars mission would cost more than any one nation, even a nation as wealthy as the US, could easily absorb. Hollis comes off as a typical pork-barrel project politician, while Price makes a fair point about the cost of a manned Mars mission in light of current US issues. ![]() Hollis and VP Price don’t come off particularly well today. ![]() The blatantly cynical Hollis ( who earlier bullies a young usher into giving him a second pair of commemorative VIP binoculars for his wife) takes a few guarded political potshots at the VP, whom he catches staring at a reporter’s shapely posterior instead of the rocket… Price isn’t entirely convinced of the need and cost of manned spaceflight, as he relays the best wishes of the president, who was more focused on reelection than humanity’s first manned mission to Mars. US Congressman Hollis (David Huddleston), who has a vested interested in the space program for his district, finds himself seated next to Vice President Price (James Karen) and his wife. An Apollo-era Saturn V stands on the launchpad, as VIPs are seated outdoors to observe the launch. The movie opens on a January morning space launch at Cape Canaveral, Florida, circa late 1970s. “Capricorn One” (1977) US Congressman Hollis (David Huddleston) antagonizes Vice-President Price (James Karen) and his wife (Virginia Price) by debating space program funding at the ‘launch’ of Capricorn One. While I only remember seeing the movie on TV growing up ( missed it in theatrical release), I screened it on a 7 ft/2 meter screen via my HD digital projector in a darkened room for this review, to give it as close to a theatrical presentation as possible. I intend to review “Capricorn One” as a movie, not a docudrama. Writer/director Peter Hyams ( “Outland,” “2010: The Year We Make Contact”) has crafted a cynical, suspenseful, well-acted thriller with just enough action, humor and adventure to make the inherently ridiculous premise go down that much easier. With that out of the way, the primary focus of this column is sci-fi/fantasy entertainment, and in that regard, “Capricorn One”-despite its inherently ridiculous premise ( which I’ll get into later)-is a very entertaining movie with a solid cast, and some of the best ( practical) aerial stunt footage prior to “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022). A mission to Mars is faked in “Capricorn One” the movie that added fuel to the fire of many conspiracy theorists… I’m a firm believer in the manifold accomplishments of global space programs, so I don’t subscribe to nutty conspiracy theories. As longtime readers of this site might’ve gleaned over the past six or so years, I’m a longtime, passionate fan of real-life space exploration, having been a member of The Planetary Society for nearly 30 years. I am not, nor have I ever been someone who doubts the validity of the Apollo manned lunar landings. I feel the need to preface this review/analysis of 1977’s “Capricorn One” with a bit of personal opinion, since we live in an age where easily verifiable and demonstrable facts are currently called into question ( i.e, the rise of Flat Earth and anti-vaccination movements).
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