Starman [Blu-ray]

Director: John Carpenter John Carpenter

Overview

Having crashed to Earth, an extraterrestrial space traveller must assume a human identity lest he be captured by the authorities. The alien (Jeff Bridges) chooses the likeness of the recently deceased husband of Jenny Hayden (Karen Allen). At first dumbstruck, Jenny becomes both hostile toward and frightened of her guest. He gradually wins her confidence, learning a few vital English-language phrases so that he can explain his presence. The "starman" has come to Earth with a message of peace, in response to the similar message sent out on Voyager One. He asks for Jenny's help in transporting him to the Nevada desert, where his fellow aliens are to pick him up and take him to his home planet. Soon he and Jenny form a united front against a mean-spirited National Security Council agent (Richard Jaeckel), who intends to seize the starman and turn him over for scientific scrutiny (and possible extermination). While en route to Nevada, Jenny grows closer to the gentle-natured Starman, eventually making love with him. By the time he is poised to leave, she is carrying his child, leaving the field wide open for a sequel--which was never produced, though a weekly TV version surfaced in 1986.

Product Details

Release Date:	12/18/2018
UPC:	0826663192568
Original Release:	1984
Rating:	PG
Source:	Shout Factory
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:55:00
Sales rank:	1,389

Special Features

NEW interviews with director John Carpenter, actor Jeff Bridges and script supervisor Sandy King Carpenter; Theatrical trailer; TV spots; Still gallery

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jeff Bridges	Starman
Karen Allen	Jenny Hayden
Charles Martin Smith	Mark Shermin
Richard Jaeckel	George Fox
Robert Phalen	Maj. Bell
Tony Edwards	Sgt. Lemon
John Walter Davis	Brad Heinmuller
Ted White	Deer Hunter
Dirk Blocker	Cop
M.C. Gainey	Cop
Sean Faro	Hot Rodder
George 'Buck' Flower	Cook,Actor
Russ Benning	Scientist
Ralph Cosham	Marine Lieutenant
David Wells	Fox's Assistant
Anthony Grumbach	NSA Officer
James Deeth	S-61 Pilot
Alex Daniels	Gas Station Attendant
Carol Rosenthal	Gas Customer
Mickey Jones	Trucker
Lu Leonard	Roadhouse Waitress
Charles Hughes	Bus Driver,Bus Driver
Byron Walls	Police Sergeant
Betty Bunch	Truck Stop Waitress
Victor McLemore	Roadblock Lieutenant
Steven Brennan	Roadblock Sergeant,Roadblock Sergeant
Pat Lee	Bracero Wife
Judith Kim	Girl Barker
Ronald Colby	Cafe Waiter,Cafe Waiter
Robert Stein	State Trooper
Kenny Call	Donnie Bob
Jeff Ramsey	Hunter
Jerry Gatlin	Hunter
Randy Tutton	Letterman
Sean Stanek	Actor
John Anderson	Actor
Jennifer Shull	Actor
John Carpenter	Man in Helicopter
Dennis Burkley	Man in Gas Station Restroom
Jack Nitzsche	Composer

Technical Credits

John Carpenter

Bruce A. Block

Bruce A. Evans

Raynold Gideon

Dean Riesner

John Carpenter	Director,Screenwriter
Roy Arbogast	Special Effects
Michael Douglas	Executive Producer,Producer
Larry Franco	Producer,Producer
Terry Leonard	Stunts
Michael McAlister	Special Effects
Bruce Nicholson	Special Effects
Bruce A. Block	Screenwriter
Barry Bernardi	Producer
Bruce A. Evans	Screenwriter,Producer
Raynold Gideon	Screenwriter,Producer,Screenwriter
Dean Riesner	Screenwriter
Barbara Affonso	Special Effects
Thomas Causey	Sound Effects
Steve Maslow	Sound Effects,Sound/Sound Designer
Marguerite Happy	Stunts
Terry J. Leonard	Stunts
Jennifer Shull	Casting
Thomas D. Causey	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Horror auteur John Carpenter set aside the casual thrills and copious bloodletting of his previous efforts to tell this well-observed tale of a peace-mongering alien who decides to inhabit the body of a woman's recently deceased true love. The result is akin to E.T. for grown-ups, with Karen Allen and Jeff Bridges chronicling the couple's hesitant friendship as they embark on a road trip to return the alien to his people. The reliable Bridges earned an Oscar nomination for his sedate, understated performance: he's like a mime with a photographic memory. But Starman ultimately belongs to Allen, who treats the character of Jenny Hayden as if she were lying on a therapist's couch, working through her ex-husband's death. She lends the film a depth and permanence that place it above the standard humanist sci-fi fare. The role dovetails well with her strong work in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Shoot the Moon (1982): all were parts that required her to be sexy, brooding, and tough all at once, even if she was relegated to one-dimensional supporting roles for much of her subsequent career.

All Movie Guide - Michael Hastings