Battle Beyond the Stars: Difference between revisions

Battle Beyond the Stars
Battle Beyond the Stars
	Theatrical release poster by Gary Meyer
Directed by	Jimmy T. Murakami
Screenplay by	John Sayles (after Akira Kurosawa Shinobu Hashimoto Hideo Oguni)
Story by	John Sayles; Anne Dyer
Produced by	Ed Carlin; Roger Corman
Starring	Richard Thomas; Robert Vaughn; George Peppard; John Saxon; Sybil Danning; Darlanne Fluegel;
Cinematography	Daniel Lacambre
Edited by	Allan Holzman; Robert J. Kizer
Music by	James Horner
Distributed by	New World Pictures (United States); Orion Pictures (International; through Warner Bros.)
Release date	July 25, 1980;
Running time	105 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$2 million
Box office	$11 million or $3.6 million

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Battle Beyond the Stars is a 1980 American space opera film produced by Roger Corman, directed by Jimmy T. Murakami,^[5] and starring Richard Thomas, Robert Vaughn,^[6]^[7] George Peppard, John Saxon,^[8]^[9]^[10] Sybil Danning^[11] and Darlanne Fluegel.^[12] Intended as a futuristic "Magnificent Seven (itself a western version of Seven Samurai) in outer space",^[13] the screenplay was written by John Sayles with the score by James Horner and special effects designed by filmmaker James Cameron.^[5] The film was theatrically released by Corman's New World Pictures and was a moderate box office success, despite receiving mixed reviews from critics.

Plot

Farm world Akir is threatened by the tyrannical warlord Sador, ruler of the Malmori Empire, whose body parts are deteriorating and he is stealing organs from others. Sador demands that the peaceful Akira submit to him when he returns in "seven risings". Zed, last of the famous Akira Corsairs, suggests they hire mercenaries to protect them. Since Akir lacks valuable resources, its people can offer only food and shelter in payment. Unable to go in person, Zed offers his ship. Shad, a young man who has piloted the ship and is well known to its AI Nell, volunteers.

Shad goes to the space station of Doctor Hephaestus, an old friend of Zed. The station is populated mostly by androids, except for two humans: Hephaestus, whose numerous life support-systems have turned him into a cyborg, and his beautiful daughter Nanelia, who looks after him and the androids. The doctor wants Shad to mate with his daughter, by force if necessary. Shad persuades Nanelia to help him escape. She follows in her own ship; although it has no weapons, her highly advanced computer systems might be useful. The two split up to look for more mercenaries.

Shad encounters Cowboy, a freighter-pilot from Earth who is ambushed by Space Jackers while delivering a shipment of laser-handguns to the planet Umateal. Shad saves Cowboy from the Jackers. They arrive at Umateal too late to stop Sador's destruction of the planet with his Stellar Converter. Lacking the fuel to carry his weapons back home, Cowboy offers them to Akir instead. Shad talks Cowboy into sharing his gunslinging experience with the Akira.

Shad meets a set of five alien clones who share a group consciousness named Nestor. They admit their life is incredibly dull, since their whole race shares one mind. In order to be entertained, they have sent five members to join Shad's cause. Nestor does not require payment, saying they are completely self-sufficient. Next, Shad recruits Gelt, a wealthy assassin who cannot show himself on any civilized planet for fear of retribution. Gelt offers his services in return for being allowed to live peacefully among the Akira. On his way back to Akir, Shad is approached by Saint-Exmin of the Valkyrie. She is a headstrong woman looking to prove herself in battle. She pilots the Dart, a small but extremely fast ship with enhanced firepower. Shad finds her annoying and wishes she would go away, but she tags along.

While passing through the Lambda Zone, Nanelia's ship is attacked by a light creature called a "zyme" which is killed by the powerful Gator ship of Cayman of the Lazuli. Cayman and his eclectic crew of aliens are "zymers," who hunt zyme as whalers hunt whales. After Cayman implies he could cook her down for protein or sell her, Nanelia accuses Cayman of being as heartless as Sador. An enraged Cayman joins their cause in return for the head of Sador, as he destroyed Cayman's homeworld long ago.^[14] Back on Akir, Shad's sister Mol is captured by Malmori pilots Kalo and Tembo, with the intent to rape her. As Shad and Company return, their approach frightens the Malmori into attempting to escape. Mol, in retaliation, interferes with their controls, allowing Gelt the opportunity to destroy their ship, killing all three. On the planet's surface, the heroes are greeted with caution by the natives, who are wary of violent species. When Sador returns, his Malmori forces are intercepted by Shad's hired warriors. Gelt dogfights his way to Hammerhead, which shoots him down. Cowboy and the laser-toting Akira ward off an invasion backed by a Malmori Sonic Tank. Many of Sador's troops are killed, and their Sonic Tank is destroyed; however, many Akira die as well, including Zed.

After surviving an assassination attempt by Nestor, Sador launches the remainder of his fleet in a retaliatory strike against Akir. Saint-Exmin blows herself up to knock out Sador's Stellar Converter. Although Sador's aerospace forces are wiped out, Hammerhead picks off all the remaining mercenaries with laser battery-fire and nuclear missiles. Only Nell, piloted by Shad and Nanelia, survives the Malmori onslaught. Crippled and unable to fight, Nell is captured by Hammerhead's tractor beam. Nanelia and Shad activate Nell's self-destruct program, then flee their ship in an escape pod. Sador commands Nell to surrender. Instead she detonates, causing his Stellar Converter to backfire and disintegrate Hammerhead. As Shad and Nanelia return to Akir, Nanelia despairs over their friends' deaths. Shad shares with her the teachings of Akir's "Varda": nobody is truly dead when they have been loved and are celebrated by the living. The Akira will always remember the sacrifices made by the mercenaries, who will forever be honored in the legends of Akir.

Cast

Richard Thomas as Shad, a young Akira farmer who looks for mercenaries to save his people. Over the course of the story, he evolves into the next Akira Corsair, brother of the ill-fated Mol.
Robert Vaughn as Gelt, a notorious assassin with an intergalactic bounty on his head. Despite his vast riches, all he wants now is "a meal and a place to hide". Vaughn played Lee in The Magnificent Seven, essentially the same character as Gelt.
John Saxon as Sador, leader of the evil Malmori raiders, is very old and keeps himself alive using transplants to renew his body. His role is analogous to the character of Calvera from The Magnificent Seven.
George Peppard as Space Cowboy, the only character from Earth, who is defined by his many one-liners and who becomes Shad's good friend.
Darlanne Fluegel as Nanelia, Dr. Hephaestus' beautiful daughter and Shad's love interest.
Sybil Danning as Saint-Exmin, a Valkyrie warrior looking to prove herself in battle.
Sam Jaffe as Dr. Hephaestus, an old man on life support, who wants grandchildren to inhabit his space station.
Jeff Corey as Zed the Corsair, once a famed Akira warrior and now almost blind. He is the former pilot of Shad's starship, whose system computer he affectionately calls "Old Girl".
Morgan Woodward as Cayman of the Lambda Zone, a Lazuli who works as a Zymer and has a score to settle with Sador for destroying his species.
Marta Kristen as Lux, an Akira who works the early warning system and starts a relationship with Space Cowboy.
Earl Boen as Nestor 1 the voice, usually, for the five clones.
John Gowens as Nestor 2.
Lynn Carlin as the voice of Nell, the computer which controls Zed's (now Shad's) starship. "She" is highly protective of Shad, whom she calls "wet behind the ears". The computer does not like it when anybody other than Zed addresses her as "Old Girl".
Lawrence Steven Meyers as Thunin/Kelvin 1, one of Cayman's crew, communicates by radiating body heat.
Lara Cody as Urim/Kelvin 2.
Steve Davis as Quepeg, the tattooed, harpoon throwing member of Cayman's crew.
Julia Duffy as Mol, Shad's sister.

Production

Development

Battle Beyond the Stars was budgeted at an estimated $2,000,000. At the time of its release, it was the most expensive film produced by Roger Corman.^[15]^[2] Much of the budget allegedly went toward paying the salaries of George Peppard and Robert Vaughn, since both of screenwriter Sayles' previous films were low-budget productions.^[16]

To save on costs, the film was produced in Corman's own studio, his "renowned lumberyard facility" in Venice, California.^[17] Initially, the film came out of producer Roger Corman's desire to make a space opera-style film in the wake of the massive worldwide success of Star Wars. Up-and-coming screenwriter John Sayles had already written the Corman-produced The Lady in Red and Piranha, the latter of which was both a financial and critical success. At one point, Australian director Richard Franklin (Patrick, Psycho II) was attached to direct.^[18] However, he was replaced by Jimmy T. Murakami, a veteran animator who had previously been an uncredited co-director on Corman's Humanoids from the Deep.

The film was co-financed by Orion Pictures who distributed the film in Europe. (Corman had a relationship with those executives when they worked at United Artists and had done a similar thing with them on Piranha.)^[19]

The planet Akir and its inhabitants, the Akira, a peaceful alien race at the center of the conflict, were named in honor of director Akira Kurosawa,^[11] whose film Seven Samurai provided the framework for the plot.^[20]

Corman initially hired James Cameron as a model maker for his studio after being impressed with his short film Xenogenesis. When the original art director for the film was fired, Cameron became responsible for the majority of the film's special effects, or, as Cameron later put it, "production design and art direction".^[21] This was Cameron's first "big break" in the entertainment industry, and it helped to propel his career.^[22] He was recommended by long-time working partner and future wife Gale Anne Hurd, who was at the time working for Corman.^[23]

While Cameron initially worked on camera rigging, he soon started working on special effects and production design of interior sets. The low-budget led to Cameron's designing the spaceship's corridors out of spray-painted McDonald's containers.^[24] Cameron paid great attention to detail, and hardly slept for weeks while working on the film. His hard work paid off, as the special effects were one aspect of the film highly received by both fans and critics, opening the door for his later successes.^[25]

According to Hurd, actor Bill Paxton was employed on the set as a carpenter, which is where she first met him, before working with him and Cameron on Aliens: "So my first memory of Bill was him pounding nails and cracking everybody up. I mean, we’d be working at three or four in the morning and he would be the one who kept all our spirits up. He was that person on and off set".^[26]

Score

This was composer James Horner's third film score. He had previously worked on Roger Corman's Humanoids from the Deep and The Lady in Red, and the producer brought him back for Battle Beyond the Stars. The score features several elements that would become regular staples of Horner's many science fiction and adventure film scores. Several fans have noted similarities between these scores and those for later films, such as Krull and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Horner was to go on to become a regular collaborator with James Cameron, eventually winning an Academy Award for Best Original Score for Titanic.

Sound

The supervising sound editor, also responsible for special sound effects, such as Robert Vaughn's "laser shot" – based on Clint Eastwood's .44 Magnum from Dirty Harry^[27] – was David Yewdall, a regular contract-worker for Corman films.^[28] Yewdall later remarked on the "film's frugal sound editorial budget" in his Practical Art of Motion Picture Sound, and explained some of the movie's sounds: each of the seven spaceships had its own sound. The Nestor ship's sound was made from human voices generated by the community choir from his hometown college in Coalinga, California; Robert Vaughn's ship was based on the recording of a dragster.^[29]

Casting

Prior to production, a Hollywood trade paper announced that John Wayne would star in the film, under the direction of Ingmar Bergman. In all likelihood, this was a joke, either by the trade paper or the film's publicist.^{[citation needed]}

Reused material

The starship footage was reused in another Roger Corman science fiction film, Space Raiders, blasted by critics,^[30] as well as in the ultra-low budget Corman features Starquest II, Vampirella, The Fantastic Four, Dead Space, and Forbidden World. This same footage was also reused in later films and video games: a clip from the film (in 3-D) is shown during the movie theater fight scene at the end of Bachelor Party,^[31] and footage was also used for the LaserDisc game Astron Belt.^[32] The soundtrack was later recycled by Corman for Raptor and other films.^[33] Sections of Horner's score were reused in Space Raiders and other Corman films.

Release

Battle Beyond the Stars was released into 330 theaters on July 25, 1980, grossing $1.732m in its first three days. Corman recouped his costs upon selling the foreign distribution to Orion Pictures and Warner Bros. for $2.5 million. He also resold cable rights to HBO for $750,000.^[1]

The film was released on DVD on February 6, 2001, by New Concorde.^[34] The film was later picked up by Shout! Factory, who released it on DVD and Blu-ray in 2011 as part of the Roger Corman's Cult Classics series.

Reception

Battle Beyond the Stars received mixed reviews from critics due to its similar space opera styling, capitalizing upon the success of Star Wars. Cameron's special effects were praised as being impressive, considering the film's low budget, and helped to open the door for his future success.

In Creature Feature, John Stanley gave the movie three and a half stars, recommending the film for its fun script, special effects and its spirit of fun.^[35]

Christopher John reviewed Battle Beyond the Stars in Ares Magazine #5:

There is a lot to be pointed up in this picture. There is the fact that every different technology shows different lines of development. Every ship and the way it is operated is distinctly unique.^[36]

The film review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 50%, based on reviews from twelve critics.^[37]

Awards and nominations

Awards

Saturn Awards

Outstanding Achievement: Sybil Danning – 1981^[38]

Nominations

Saturn Awards^[39]

Best Science Fiction Film: 1981
Best Special Effects: Chuck Comisky – 1981
Best Costumes: Durinda Wood – 1981
Best Make-Up: Sue Dolph, Steve Neill, Rick Stratton – 1981

Battle Amongst the Stars comic book

A prequel comic book, set 30 years before the film, was launched by Bluewater Productions in March 2010.^[40] Battle Amongst the Stars is a four-part miniseries that tells the story of how Zed began his adventures from the planet Akir with Nell. It also has the characters of Dr. Hephaestus and Sador of the Malmori.

References

^ ^a ^b "Battle Beyond the Stars". American Film Institute. United States. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
^ ^a ^b Naha, Ed; Corman, Roger (1982). The films of Roger Corman: brilliance on a budget (1st ed.). New York City: Arco Publishing Company, Inc. p. 81. ISBN 978-0668053082.
^ Gray 2004, p. 148.
^ Donahue, Suzanne Mary (1987). American film distribution : the changing marketplace. UMI Research Press. p. 294. ISBN 9780835717762. Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada
^ ^a ^b "Battle Beyond the Stars". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved December 5, 2016.
^ Evans, Greg; Pedersen, Erik (November 11, 2016). "Robert Vaughn Dies: 'Man From U.N.C.L.E' Star Was 83". Deadline Hollywood. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
^ Verswijver, Leo (2003). Movies Were Always Magical: Interviews with 19 Actors, Directors and Producers from the Hollywood of the 1930s through the 1950s. New York City: McFarland & Company. p. 27. ISBN 978-0786411290.
^ Ryan 1998, p. 33.
^ Julius, Marshall (1997). Action! the Action Movie A--Z (1st ed.). Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-0253332448.
^ Sayles, John (1999). Diane Carson (ed.). John Sayles: Interviews (Conversations with Filmmakers). Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi. p. xxxii. ISBN 978-1578061372. John Saxon – Sador.
^ ^a ^b "Battle Beyond the Stars Movie Trivia – The 80s Movies Rewind". Fast-Rewind. Eberswalde, Germany. Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
^ Ryan 1998, p. 23.
^ Gray 2004, p. 147.
^ Sayles, John, "Battle Beyond the Stars" screenplay. Undated but final page has date of 1-21-1980.
^ Molyneaux, Gerry (2000). John Sayles: An Unauthorized Biography of the Pioneer Indy Filmmaker (Renaissance Film Biography). Milwaukee: Renaissance Books. p. 92. ISBN 978-1580631259.
^ "John Sayles Finishes Shooting a Low-Budget Sci-Fi Comedy". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia: Philadelphia Media Network. November 20, 1993. p. K.03.
^ Yewdall 2011, p. 412.
^ "Oz in LA", Cinema Papers, May–June 1979 p332
^ "He backs B movies". Fort Lauderdale News. August 24, 1980. p. 12G.
^ Beale, Lewis (September 23, 2016). "Why Akira Kurosawa's 'Seven Samurai' keeps inspiring new retellings like 'The Magnificent Seven'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
^ Emery, Robert J. (2002). The directors: take one, Volume 1. New York City: Allworth Press. p. 117. ISBN 978-1581152180.
^ Nathan Southern (2007). "James Cameron: Full Biography". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. New York City. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
^ Nashawaty, Chris (2013). Crab Monsters, Teenage Cavemen and Candy Stripe Nurses - Roger Corman: King of the B Movie. New York City: Abrams Books. p. 175. ISBN 978-1419706691.
^ Gray 2004, p. 150.
^ Gray 2004, p. 151.
^ Leon, Melissa (April 26, 2017). "Game Over, Man: 'Aliens' Cast Remembers the 'Irreplaceable' Bill Paxton on Alien Day". The Daily Beast. United States. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
^ Yewdall 2011, p. 257.
^ Yewdall 2011, p. 192.
^ Yewdall 2011, p. 256.
^ Moorhead, Jim; Beamon, William (November 24, 1983). "Uninspired Turkeys: Our Reviewers Gobble Up Year's Worst Flicks". Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida: Times Publishing Company. p. 17. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
^ "Movie connections for Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
^ "astron belt video game, sega enterprises, ltd. (1983)". arcade-history.com. April 24, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
^ Gray 2004, p. 222.
^ "Battle Beyond the Stars". New Concorde. Los Angeles: New Horizons Picture Corp. February 6, 2001. ASIN B000055ZF1. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
^ Stanley, J. (2000) Creature Feature 3rd Edition
^ John, Christopher (November 1980). "Books". Ares Magazine (5). Simulations Publications, Inc.: 34.
^ "Battle Beyond the Stars". Rotten Tomatoes. United States: Fandango. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
^ 1981 Saturn Awards
^ 1981 IMDb Saturn Awards
^ "Bluewater Productions March Releases Archived February 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine" bluewaterprod.com. Retrieved September 26, 2010.

Bibliography

Ryan, Jack (January 1, 1998). John Sayles, Filmmaker: A Critical Study of the Independent Writer-Director: With a Filmography and a Bibliography (2nd ed.). New York City: McFarland & Company. p. 271. ISBN 978-0786405299.
Gray, Beverly (2004). Roger Corman: Blood-sucking Vampires, Flesh-eating Cockroaches, and Driller Killers. New York City: Thunder's Mouth Press. p. 318. ISBN 978-1560255550.
Meyers, Richard (January 1, 2001). Great Martial Arts Movies: From Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan and More. New York City: Citadel Press. p. 276. ISBN 978-0806520261.
Yewdall, David Lewis (May 20, 2011). Practical Art of Motion Picture Sound (4th ed.). Waltham, Massachusetts: Taylor & Francis. p. 657. ISBN 978-0240808659.

External links

Battle Beyond the Stars at IMDb
Battle Beyond the Stars at AllMovie
Battle Beyond the Stars at the TCM Movie Database
Battle Beyond the Stars at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films

[afi-1] "Battle Beyond the Stars". American Film Institute. United States. Retrieved December 5, 2016.

[corman-2] Naha, Ed; Corman, Roger (1982). The films of Roger Corman: brilliance on a budget (1st ed.). New York City: Arco Publishing Company, Inc. p. 81. ISBN 978-0668053082.

[FOOTNOTEGray2004148-3] Gray 2004, p. 148.

[4] Donahue, Suzanne Mary (1987). American film distribution : the changing marketplace. UMI Research Press. p. 294. ISBN 9780835717762. Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada

[Battle_Beyond_the_Stars-5] "Battle Beyond the Stars". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved December 5, 2016.

[6] Evans, Greg; Pedersen, Erik (November 11, 2016). "Robert Vaughn Dies: 'Man From U.N.C.L.E' Star Was 83". Deadline Hollywood. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved December 6, 2016.

[7] Verswijver, Leo (2003). Movies Were Always Magical: Interviews with 19 Actors, Directors and Producers from the Hollywood of the 1930s through the 1950s. New York City: McFarland & Company. p. 27. ISBN 978-0786411290.

[FOOTNOTERyan199833-8] Ryan 1998, p. 33.

[9] Julius, Marshall (1997). Action! the Action Movie A--Z (1st ed.). Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-0253332448.

[10] Sayles, John (1999). Diane Carson (ed.). John Sayles: Interviews (Conversations with Filmmakers). Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi. p. xxxii. ISBN 978-1578061372. John Saxon – Sador.

[Fast-11] "Battle Beyond the Stars Movie Trivia – The 80s Movies Rewind". Fast-Rewind. Eberswalde, Germany. Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2010.

[FOOTNOTERyan199823-12] Ryan 1998, p. 23.

[FOOTNOTEGray2004147-13] Gray 2004, p. 147.

[14] Sayles, John, "Battle Beyond the Stars" screenplay. Undated but final page has date of 1-21-1980.

[15] Molyneaux, Gerry (2000). John Sayles: An Unauthorized Biography of the Pioneer Indy Filmmaker (Renaissance Film Biography). Milwaukee: Renaissance Books. p. 92. ISBN 978-1580631259.

[16] "John Sayles Finishes Shooting a Low-Budget Sci-Fi Comedy". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia: Philadelphia Media Network. November 20, 1993. p. K.03.

[FOOTNOTEYewdall2011412-17] Yewdall 2011, p. 412.

[18] "Oz in LA", Cinema Papers, May–June 1979 p332

[19] "He backs B movies". Fort Lauderdale News. August 24, 1980. p. 12G.

[20] Beale, Lewis (September 23, 2016). "Why Akira Kurosawa's 'Seven Samurai' keeps inspiring new retellings like 'The Magnificent Seven'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 28, 2018.

[21] Emery, Robert J. (2002). The directors: take one, Volume 1. New York City: Allworth Press. p. 117. ISBN 978-1581152180.

[22] Nathan Southern (2007). "James Cameron: Full Biography". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. New York City. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved November 13, 2009.

[23] Nashawaty, Chris (2013). Crab Monsters, Teenage Cavemen and Candy Stripe Nurses - Roger Corman: King of the B Movie. New York City: Abrams Books. p. 175. ISBN 978-1419706691.

[FOOTNOTEGray2004150-24] Gray 2004, p. 150.

[FOOTNOTEGray2004151-25] Gray 2004, p. 151.

[26] Leon, Melissa (April 26, 2017). "Game Over, Man: 'Aliens' Cast Remembers the 'Irreplaceable' Bill Paxton on Alien Day". The Daily Beast. United States. Retrieved June 12, 2018.

[FOOTNOTEYewdall2011257-27] Yewdall 2011, p. 257.

[FOOTNOTEYewdall2011192-28] Yewdall 2011, p. 192.

[FOOTNOTEYewdall2011256-29] Yewdall 2011, p. 256.

[30] Moorhead, Jim; Beamon, William (November 24, 1983). "Uninspired Turkeys: Our Reviewers Gobble Up Year's Worst Flicks". Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida: Times Publishing Company. p. 17. Retrieved November 13, 2009.

[31] "Movie connections for Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved November 13, 2009.

[32] "astron belt video game, sega enterprises, ltd. (1983)". arcade-history.com. April 24, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2010.

[FOOTNOTEGray2004222-33] Gray 2004, p. 222.

[34] "Battle Beyond the Stars". New Concorde. Los Angeles: New Horizons Picture Corp. February 6, 2001. ASIN B000055ZF1. Retrieved December 5, 2016.

[35] Stanley, J. (2000) Creature Feature 3rd Edition

[Ares-36] John, Christopher (November 1980). "Books". Ares Magazine (5). Simulations Publications, Inc.: 34.

[37] "Battle Beyond the Stars". Rotten Tomatoes. United States: Fandango. Retrieved December 5, 2016.

[38] 1981 Saturn Awards

[39] 1981 IMDb Saturn Awards

[40] "Bluewater Productions March Releases Archived February 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine" bluewaterprod.com. Retrieved September 26, 2010.

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@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2012}}
 {{Infobox film
-| name = Battle Beyond the Stars
+| name           = Battle Beyond the Stars
-| image = Battlebeyondthestars.jpg
+| image          = Battlebeyondthestars.jpg
-| caption = [[Film poster|Theatrical release poster]] by Gary Meyer
+| caption        = [[Film poster|Theatrical release poster]] by Gary Meyer
-| alt =
+| alt            =
-| director = [[Jimmy T. Murakami]]
+| director       = [[Jimmy T. Murakami]]
-| producer = Ed Carlin<br />[[Roger Corman]]
+| producer       =[[Ed Carlin]]<br />[[Roger Corman]]
-| screenplay = [[John Sayles]]
+| screenplay     = [[John Sayles]]
 (after Akira Kurosawa
 [[Shinobu Hashimoto]]
 [[Hideo Oguni]])
-| story = John Sayles<br />Anne Dyer
+| story          = John Sayles<br />Anne Dyer
-| starring = {{Plainlist |
+| starring       = {{Plainlist |
 * [[Richard Thomas (actor)|Richard Thomas]]
 * [[Robert Vaughn]]
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 * [[Darlanne Fluegel]]
 }}
-| music = [[James Horner]]
+| music          = [[James Horner]]
 | cinematography = [[Daniel Lacambre]]
-| editing = Allan Holzman<br />Robert J. Kizer
+| editing        = Allan Holzman<br />Robert J. Kizer
-| distributor = [[New World Pictures]] (United States)<br />[[Orion Pictures]]<ref name=afi /> (International; through [[Warner Bros.]])
+| distributor    = [[New World Pictures]] (United States)<br />[[Orion Pictures]]<ref name=afi /> (International; through [[Warner Bros.]])
-| released = {{Film date|1980|07|25}}
+| released       = {{Film date|1980|07|25}}
-| runtime = 105 minutes
+| runtime        = 105 minutes
-| country = United States
+| country        = United States
-| language = English
+| language       = English
-| budget = $2 million<ref name= "corman" />
+| budget         = $2 million<ref name= "corman" />
+| gross          = $11 million{{sfn|Gray|2004|page=148}} or $3.6 million<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/americanfilmdist0000dona/page/294/mode/1up|title= American film distribution : the changing marketplace|last=Donahue|first= Suzanne Mary|year=1987 |publisher=UMI Research Press |page=294|isbn= 9780835717762}} Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada</ref>
-| gross = $11 million{{sfn|Gray|2004|page=148}}
 }}
-'''''Battle Beyond the Stars''''' is a 1980 American [[space opera]] film produced by [[Roger Corman]], directed by [[Jimmy T. Murakami]],<ref name="Battle Beyond the Stars">{{cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/22737/Battle-Beyond-The-Stars/full-credits.html|title=Battle Beyond the Stars|website=[[Turner Classic Movies]]|publisher=[[Turner Broadcasting System]] ([[Time Warner]])|location=[[Atlanta]]|access-date=December 5, 2016}}</ref> and starring [[Richard Thomas (actor)|Richard Thomas]], [[Robert Vaughn]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/robert-vaughn-dead-man-from-u-n-c-l-e-1201852907/|title=Robert Vaughn Dies: 'Man From U.N.C.L.E' Star Was 83|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]]|first1=Greg|last1=Evans|first2=Erik|last2=Pedersen|location=United States|date=November 11, 2016|access-date=December 6, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pNQylJinyQsC&q=Robert+Vaughn+%E2%80%93+Gelt&pg=PA27|title=Movies Were Always Magical: Interviews with 19 Actors, Directors and Producers from the Hollywood of the 1930s through the 1950s|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|first=Leo|last=Verswijver|location=[[New York City]]|year=2003|isbn=978-0786411290|page=27}}</ref> [[George Peppard]], [[John Saxon]],{{sfn|Ryan|1998|page=33}}<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pO17mTyuA0IC&q=John+Saxon+%E2%80%93+Sador&pg=RA1-PA1|title=Action! the Action Movie A--Z|first=Marshall|last=Julius|edition=1st|publisher=[[Indiana University Press]]|location=[[Bloomington, Indiana]]|year=1997|isbn=978-0253332448|page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/johnsayles00john/page/|url-access=registration|quote=John Saxon – Sador.|title=John Sayles: Interviews (Conversations with Filmmakers)|first=John|last=Sayles|author-link=John Sayles|editor=Diane Carson|publisher=[[University Press of Mississippi]]|location=[[Jackson, Mississippi]]|year=1999|isbn=978-1578061372|page=[https://archive.org/details/johnsayles00john/page/ xxxii]}}</ref> [[Sybil Danning]]<ref name="Fast"/> and [[Darlanne Fluegel]].{{sfn|Ryan|1998|page=23}} Intended as a futuristic "[[The Magnificent Seven|''Magnificent Seven'']] (itself a western version of [[The Seven Samurai]]) in outer space",{{sfn|Gray|2004|page=147}} the screenplay was written by [[John Sayles]] with the score by [[James Horner]] and special effects designed by filmmaker [[James Cameron]].<ref name="Battle Beyond the Stars"/> The film was theatrically released by Corman's [[New World Pictures]] and was a moderate box office success, despite receiving mixed reviews from critics.
+'''''Battle Beyond the Stars''''' is a 1980 American [[space opera]] film produced by [[Roger Corman]], directed by [[Jimmy T. Murakami]],<ref name="Battle Beyond the Stars">{{cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/22737/Battle-Beyond-The-Stars/full-credits.html|title=Battle Beyond the Stars|website=[[Turner Classic Movies]]|publisher=[[Turner Broadcasting System]] ([[Time Warner]])|location=[[Atlanta]]|access-date=December 5, 2016}}</ref> and starring [[Richard Thomas (actor)|Richard Thomas]], [[Robert Vaughn]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/robert-vaughn-dead-man-from-u-n-c-l-e-1201852907/|title=Robert Vaughn Dies: 'Man From U.N.C.L.E' Star Was 83|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]]|first1=Greg|last1=Evans|first2=Erik|last2=Pedersen|location=United States|date=November 11, 2016|access-date=December 6, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pNQylJinyQsC&q=Robert+Vaughn+%E2%80%93+Gelt&pg=PA27|title=Movies Were Always Magical: Interviews with 19 Actors, Directors and Producers from the Hollywood of the 1930s through the 1950s|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|first=Leo|last=Verswijver|location=[[New York City]]|year=2003|isbn=978-0786411290|page=27}}</ref> [[George Peppard]], [[John Saxon]],{{sfn|Ryan|1998|page=33}}<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pO17mTyuA0IC&q=John+Saxon+%E2%80%93+Sador&pg=RA1-PA1|title=Action! the Action Movie A--Z|first=Marshall|last=Julius|edition=1st|publisher=[[Indiana University Press]]|location=[[Bloomington, Indiana]]|year=1997|isbn=978-0253332448|page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/johnsayles00john/page/|url-access=registration|quote=John Saxon – Sador.|title=John Sayles: Interviews (Conversations with Filmmakers)|first=John|last=Sayles|author-link=John Sayles|editor=Diane Carson|publisher=[[University Press of Mississippi]]|location=[[Jackson, Mississippi]]|year=1999|isbn=978-1578061372|page=[https://archive.org/details/johnsayles00john/page/ xxxii]}}</ref> [[Sybil Danning]]<ref name="Fast"/> and [[Darlanne Fluegel]].{{sfn|Ryan|1998|page=23}} Intended as a futuristic "[[The Magnificent Seven|''Magnificent Seven'']] (itself a western version of ''[[Seven Samurai]]'') in outer space",{{sfn|Gray|2004|page=147}} the screenplay was written by [[John Sayles]] with the score by [[James Horner]] and special effects designed by filmmaker [[James Cameron]].<ref name="Battle Beyond the Stars"/> The film was theatrically released by Corman's [[New World Pictures]] and was a moderate box office success, despite receiving mixed reviews from critics.
 ==Plot==
 {{Long plot|date=February 2021}}
-The farming world Akir is threatened by the tyrannical warlord Sador ([[John Saxon]]), who rules the sinister Malmori Empire and, his body parts deteriorating, is capturing and appropriating them from others. Sador's huge Hammerhead, mounts a "Stellar Converter", a weapon that turns planets into small stars. He demands that the peaceful Akira submit to him when he returns in "seven risings". Zed ([[Jeff Corey]]), last of the famous Akira Corsairs, is old. He suggests they hire mercenaries to protect them. Since Akir lacks valuable resources, its people can offer only food and shelter in payment. Unable to go in person, Zed offers his ship. The ship is fast and well-armed, but, despite its [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] navigation/tactical computer Nell, cannot defeat Sador alone. Shad ([[Richard Thomas (actor)|Richard Thomas]]), a young man who has piloted the ship and is well known to Nell, volunteers.
+Farm world Akir is threatened by the tyrannical warlord Sador, ruler of the Malmori Empire, whose body parts are deteriorating and he is stealing organs from others. Sador demands that the peaceful Akira submit to him when he returns in "seven risings". Zed, last of the famous Akira Corsairs, suggests they hire mercenaries to protect them. Since Akir lacks valuable resources, its people can offer only food and shelter in payment. Unable to go in person, Zed offers his ship. Shad, a young man who has piloted the ship and is well known to its AI Nell, volunteers.
-Seeking weapons, Shad goes to the space station of Doctor Hephaestus ([[Sam Jaffe]]), an old friend of Zed. The station is populated mostly by androids, except for two humans: Hephaestus, whose numerous life support-systems have turned him into a cyborg, and his beautiful daughter Nanelia ([[Darlanne Fluegel]]), who looks after him and the androids. The doctor wants Shad to mate with his daughter, by force if necessary. Shad cannot bring himself to abandon his people; he persuades Nanelia to help him escape. She follows in her own ship; although she has no weapons, her highly advanced computer systems might be useful. The two split up to look for more mercenaries.
+Shad goes to the space station of Doctor Hephaestus, an old friend of Zed. The station is populated mostly by androids, except for two humans: Hephaestus, whose numerous life support-systems have turned him into a cyborg, and his beautiful daughter Nanelia, who looks after him and the androids. The doctor wants Shad to mate with his daughter, by force if necessary. Shad persuades Nanelia to help him escape. She follows in her own ship; although it has no weapons, her highly advanced computer systems might be useful. The two split up to look for more mercenaries.
-Shad encounters Cowboy ([[George Peppard]]), a freighter-pilot from Earth who is ambushed by Space Jackers while delivering a shipment of laser-handguns to the planet Umateal. Shad fights off the Jackers, thus saving Cowboy's life twice over; they arrive at Umateal just in time to watch Sador destroy the planet with his Stellar Converter. Lacking the fuel to carry his weapons back home, Cowboy offers them to Akir instead. Shad talks Cowboy into sharing his gunslinging experience with the Akira.
+Shad encounters Cowboy, a freighter-pilot from Earth who is ambushed by Space Jackers while delivering a shipment of laser-handguns to the planet Umateal. Shad saves Cowboy from the Jackers.  They arrive at Umateal too late to stop Sador's destruction of the planet with his Stellar Converter. Lacking the fuel to carry his weapons back home, Cowboy offers them to Akir instead. Shad talks Cowboy into sharing his gunslinging experience with the Akira.
-Later, Shad meets a set of five alien [[Cloning|clones]] who share a group consciousness named Nestor. They admit their life is incredibly dull, since their whole race shares one mind. In order to be entertained, they have sent five members to join Shad's cause. Nestor does not require payment, saying they are completely self-sufficient. Next, Shad recruits Gelt ([[Robert Vaughn]]), a wealthy assassin who cannot show himself on any civilized planet for fear of retribution. Gelt offers his services in return for being allowed to live peacefully among the Akira. Gelt's ship is highly maneuverable and well-armed. On his way back to Akir, Shad is approached by Saint-Exmin ([[Sybil Danning]]) of the Valkyrie warriors. She is a headstrong woman looking to prove herself in battle. She pilots a small, but extremely fast ship with enhanced firepower. Shad finds her annoying and wishes she would go away, but she tags along.
+Shad meets a set of five alien [[Cloning|clones]] who share a group consciousness named Nestor. They admit their life is incredibly dull, since their whole race shares one mind. In order to be entertained, they have sent five members to join Shad's cause. Nestor does not require payment, saying they are completely self-sufficient. Next, Shad recruits Gelt, a wealthy assassin who cannot show himself on any civilized planet for fear of retribution. Gelt offers his services in return for being allowed to live peacefully among the Akira. On his way back to Akir, Shad is approached by Saint-Exmin of the Valkyrie. She is a headstrong woman looking to prove herself in battle. She pilots the ''Dart'', a small but extremely fast ship with enhanced firepower. Shad finds her annoying and wishes she would go away, but she tags along.
-While waiting for Shad's return, Nanelia is captured by a reptilian slaver named Cayman of the Lazuli ([[Morgan Woodward]]). Cayman possesses a powerful ship with an eclectic crew of aliens. She explains to Cayman that they are seeking mercenaries for a war against Sador. Cayman takes up their cause in return for the head of Sador, who destroyed Cayman's homeworld years ago. Back on Akir, Shad's sister Mol is captured by two Malmori warriors with the intent to rape her. As Shad and Company return, their approach frightens the Malmori into attempting to escape. Mol, in retaliation, interferes with their controls, allowing Gelt the opportunity to destroy their ship, killing all three. Upon reaching the planet's surface, the heroes are greeted with caution by the natives, who are wary of violent species. When Sador returns, his Malmori forces are intercepted by Shad's hired warriors. Gelt dogfights his way to Hammerhead, which shoots him down. Cowboy and the laser-toting Akira ward off an invasion backed by a Malmori Sonic Tank. Many of Sador's troops are killed, and their Sonic Tank is destroyed; however, many Akira die as well, including Zed.
+While passing through the Lambda Zone, Nanelia's ship is attacked by a light creature called a "zyme" which is killed by the powerful Gator ship of Cayman of the Lazuli. Cayman and his eclectic crew of aliens are "zymers," who hunt zyme as whalers hunt whales. After Cayman implies he could cook her down for protein or sell her, Nanelia accuses Cayman of being as heartless as Sador. An enraged Cayman joins their cause in return for the head of Sador, as he destroyed Cayman's homeworld long ago.<ref>Sayles, John, "Battle Beyond the Stars" screenplay. Undated but final page has date of 1-21-1980.</ref> Back on Akir, Shad's sister Mol is captured by Malmori pilots Kalo and Tembo, with the intent to rape her. As Shad and Company return, their approach frightens the Malmori into attempting to escape. Mol, in retaliation, interferes with their controls, allowing Gelt the opportunity to destroy their ship, killing all three. On the planet's surface, the heroes are greeted with caution by the natives, who are wary of violent species. When Sador returns, his Malmori forces are intercepted by Shad's hired warriors. Gelt dogfights his way to Hammerhead, which shoots him down. Cowboy and the laser-toting Akira ward off an invasion backed by a Malmori Sonic Tank. Many of Sador's troops are killed, and their Sonic Tank is destroyed; however, many Akira die as well, including Zed.
 After surviving an assassination attempt by Nestor, Sador launches the remainder of his fleet in a retaliatory strike against Akir. Saint-Exmin blows herself up to knock out Sador's Stellar Converter. Although Sador's aerospace forces are wiped out, Hammerhead picks off all the remaining mercenaries with laser battery-fire and nuclear missiles. Only Nell, piloted by Shad and Nanelia, survives the Malmori onslaught. Crippled and unable to fight, Nell is captured by Hammerhead's tractor beam. Nanelia and Shad activate Nell's self-destruct program, then flee their ship in an escape pod. Sador commands Nell to surrender. Instead she detonates, causing his Stellar Converter to backfire and disintegrate Hammerhead. As Shad and Nanelia return to Akir, Nanelia despairs over their friends' deaths. Shad shares with her the teachings of Akir's "Varda": nobody is truly dead when they have been loved and are celebrated by the living. The Akira will always remember the sacrifices made by the mercenaries, who will forever be honored in the legends of Akir.
@@ Line 53: / Line 53: @@
 * [[Richard Thomas (actor)|Richard Thomas]] as Shad, a young Akira farmer who looks for mercenaries to save his people. Over the course of the story, he evolves into the next Akira Corsair, brother of the ill-fated Mol.
 * [[Robert Vaughn]] as Gelt, a notorious assassin with an intergalactic bounty on his head. Despite his vast riches, all he wants now is "a meal and a place to hide". Vaughn played Lee in ''The Magnificent Seven'', essentially the same character as Gelt.
-* [[John Saxon]] as  Sador, leader of the evil Malmori raiders, is very old and keeps himself alive using transplants to renew his body. His character is similar to the character of [[Calvera (character)|Calvera]] from ''The Magnificent Seven''.
+* [[John Saxon]] as  Sador, leader of the evil Malmori raiders, is very old and keeps himself alive using transplants to renew his body. His role is analogous to the character of [[Calvera (character)|Calvera]] from ''The Magnificent Seven''.
 * [[George Peppard]] as Space Cowboy, the only character from Earth, who is defined by his many one-liners and who becomes Shad's good friend.
 * [[Darlanne Fluegel]] as Nanelia, Dr. Hephaestus' beautiful daughter and Shad's love interest.
@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 * [[Sam Jaffe]] as Dr. Hephaestus, an old man on life support, who wants grandchildren to inhabit his space station.
 * [[Jeff Corey]] as Zed the Corsair, once a famed Akira warrior and now almost blind. He is the former pilot of Shad's starship, whose system computer he affectionately calls "Old Girl".
-* [[Morgan Woodward]] as Cayman of the Lambda Zone, a Zymer and slaver who has a score to settle with Sador for destroying his species.
+* [[Morgan Woodward]] as Cayman of the Lambda Zone, a Lazuli who works as a Zymer and has a score to settle with Sador for destroying his species.
 * [[Marta Kristen]] as Lux, an Akira who works the [[early warning system]] and starts a relationship with Space Cowboy.
 * [[Earl Boen]] as  Nestor 1 the voice, usually, for the five clones.
 * John Gowens as Nestor 2.
-* [[Lynn Carlin]] as Nell's (voice), the computer which controls Zed's (now Shad's) starship. "She" is highly protective of Shad, whom she calls "wet behind the ears". The computer does not like it when anybody other than Zed addresses her as "Old Girl".
+* [[Lynn Carlin]] as the voice of Nell, the computer which controls Zed's (now Shad's) starship. "She" is highly protective of Shad, whom she calls "wet behind the ears". The computer does not like it when anybody other than Zed addresses her as "Old Girl".
-* Larry Meyers as Kelvin 1, one of Cayman's crew, communicates by radiating body heat.
+* [[Lawrence Steven Meyers]] as Thunin/Kelvin 1, one of Cayman's crew, communicates by radiating body heat.
-* [[Lara Cody]] as Kelvin 2.
+* Lara Cody as Urim/Kelvin 2.
-* Steve Davis as Quepeg, another member of Cayman's crew.
+* Steve Davis as Quepeg, the tattooed, harpoon throwing member of Cayman's crew.
 * [[Julia Duffy]] as Mol, Shad's sister.
 ==Production==
 ===Development===
-''Battle Beyond the Stars'' was budgeted at an estimated $2,000,000. At the time of its release, it was the most expensive film produced by Roger Corman.<ref>{{cite book|first=Gerry|last=Molyneaux|title=John Sayles: An Unauthorized Biography of the Pioneer Indy Filmmaker (Renaissance Film Biography)|url=https://archive.org/details/johnsaylesunauth0000moly/page/92|location=[[Milwaukee]]|isbn=978-1580631259|publisher=[[Renaissance Books]]|year=2000|page=[https://archive.org/details/johnsaylesunauth0000moly/page/92 92]}}</ref><ref name="corman">{{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/Films-Roger-Corman-Ed-Naha/dp/B0026PL4ZM/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=|last1=Naha|first1=Ed|first2=Roger|last2=Corman|author-link2=Roger Corman|title=The films of Roger Corman: brilliance on a budget|publisher=Arco Publishing Company, Inc.|year=1982|page=81|isbn=978-0668053082|edition=1st|location=[[New York City]]}}</ref> Much of the budget allegedly went toward paying the salaries of [[George Peppard]] and [[Robert Vaughn]], since both of screenwriter Sayles' previous films were low-budget productions.<ref>{{Cite news|title=John Sayles Finishes Shooting a Low-Budget Sci-Fi Comedy|work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|publisher=Philadelphia Media Network|location=[[Philadelphia]]|page=K.03|date=November 20, 1993}}</ref> To save on costs, the film was produced in Corman's own studio, his "renowned lumberyard facility" in [[Venice, California]].{{sfn|Yewdall|2011|page=412}} Initially, the film came out of producer [[Roger Corman]]'s desire to make a [[space opera]]-style film in the wake of the massive worldwide success of [[Star Wars (film)|''Star Wars'']]. Up-and-coming screenwriter [[John Sayles]] had already written the Corman-produced [[The Lady in Red (1979 film)|''The Lady in Red'']] and [[Piranha (1978 film)|''Piranha'']], the latter of which was both a financial and critical success. At one point, Australian director [[Richard Franklin (director)|Richard Franklin]] ''([[Patrick (1978 film)|Patrick]], [[Psycho II (film)|Psycho II]]'') was attached to direct.<ref>"Oz in LA", ''Cinema Papers'', May–June 1979 p332</ref> However, he was replaced by [[Jimmy T. Murakami]], a veteran animator who had previously been an uncredited co-director on Corman's ''[[Humanoids from the Deep]]''.
+''Battle Beyond the Stars'' was budgeted at an estimated $2,000,000. At the time of its release, it was the most expensive film produced by Roger Corman.<ref>{{cite book|first=Gerry|last=Molyneaux|title=John Sayles: An Unauthorized Biography of the Pioneer Indy Filmmaker (Renaissance Film Biography)|url=https://archive.org/details/johnsaylesunauth0000moly/page/92|location=[[Milwaukee]]|isbn=978-1580631259|publisher=[[Renaissance Books]]|year=2000|page=[https://archive.org/details/johnsaylesunauth0000moly/page/92 92]}}</ref><ref name="corman">{{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/Films-Roger-Corman-Ed-Naha/dp/B0026PL4ZM/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=|last1=Naha|first1=Ed|first2=Roger|last2=Corman|author-link2=Roger Corman|title=The films of Roger Corman: brilliance on a budget|publisher=Arco Publishing Company, Inc.|year=1982|page=81|isbn=978-0668053082|edition=1st|location=[[New York City]]}}</ref> Much of the budget allegedly went toward paying the salaries of [[George Peppard]] and [[Robert Vaughn]], since both of screenwriter Sayles' previous films were low-budget productions.<ref>{{Cite news|title=John Sayles Finishes Shooting a Low-Budget Sci-Fi Comedy|work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|publisher=Philadelphia Media Network|location=[[Philadelphia]]|page=K.03|date=November 20, 1993}}</ref>
+To save on costs, the film was produced in Corman's own studio, his "renowned lumberyard facility" in [[Venice, California]].{{sfn|Yewdall|2011|page=412}} Initially, the film came out of producer [[Roger Corman]]'s desire to make a [[space opera]]-style film in the wake of the massive worldwide success of [[Star Wars (film)|''Star Wars'']]. Up-and-coming screenwriter [[John Sayles]] had already written the Corman-produced [[The Lady in Red (1979 film)|''The Lady in Red'']] and [[Piranha (1978 film)|''Piranha'']], the latter of which was both a financial and critical success. At one point, Australian director [[Richard Franklin (director)|Richard Franklin]] ''([[Patrick (1978 film)|Patrick]], [[Psycho II (film)|Psycho II]]'') was attached to direct.<ref>"Oz in LA", ''Cinema Papers'', May–June 1979 p332</ref> However, he was replaced by [[Jimmy T. Murakami]], a veteran animator who had previously been an uncredited co-director on Corman's ''[[Humanoids from the Deep]]''.
+The film was co-financed by Orion Pictures who distributed the film in Europe. (Corman had a relationship with those executives when they worked at United Artists and had done a similar thing with them on ''Piranha''.)<ref>{{cite news|title=He backs B movies|newspaper=Fort Lauderdale News|date=24 August 1980|page=12G}}</ref>
 The planet Akir and its inhabitants, the Akira, a peaceful alien race at the center of the conflict, were named in honor of director [[Akira Kurosawa]],<ref name="Fast">{{cite web|url=http://www.fast-rewind.com/trivia_bbts.htm|title=Battle Beyond the Stars Movie Trivia – The 80s Movies Rewind|work=Fast-Rewind|location=[[Eberswalde]], [[Germany]]|access-date=January 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011054359/http://www.fast-rewind.com/trivia_bbts.htm|archive-date=October 11, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> whose film ''[[Seven Samurai]]'' provided the framework for the plot.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Beale|first1=Lewis|title=Why Akira Kurosawa's 'Seven Samurai' keeps inspiring new retellings like 'The Magnificent Seven'|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-ca-mn-seven-samurai-magnificent-seven-20160913-snap-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 23, 2016|access-date=28 March 2018}}</ref>
@@ Line 77: / Line 81: @@
 Corman initially hired [[James Cameron]] as a model maker for his studio after being impressed with his short film [[Xenogenesis (film)|''Xenogenesis'']]. When the original art director for the film was fired, Cameron became responsible for the majority of the film's special effects, or, as Cameron later put it, "production design and art direction".<ref>{{cite book|last=Emery|first=Robert J.|title=The directors: take one, Volume 1|publisher=Allworth Press|location=[[New York City]]|year=2002|page=117|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZrHW7ES11ysC&pg=PA116|isbn=978-1581152180}}</ref> This was Cameron's first "big break" in the entertainment industry, and it helped to propel his career.<ref>{{cite web|title=James Cameron: Full Biography|location=[[New York City]]|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/10397/James-Cameron/biography|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211022114/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/10397/James-Cameron/biography|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 11, 2007|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Nathan Southern|date=2007|access-date=November 13, 2009}}</ref> He was recommended by long-time working partner and future wife [[Gale Anne Hurd]], who was at the time working for Corman.<ref>{{cite book|first=Chris|last=Nashawaty|title=Crab Monsters, Teenage Cavemen and Candy Stripe Nurses - Roger Corman: King of the B Movie|publisher=[[Abrams Books]]|year=2013|page=175|isbn=978-1419706691|location=[[New York City]]}}</ref>
-While Cameron initially worked on camera rigging, he soon started working on special effects and production design of interior sets. The low-budget led to Cameron designing the spaceship's corridors out of spray-painted [[McDonald's]] containers.{{sfn|Gray|2004|page=150}} Cameron paid great attention to detail, and hardly slept for weeks while working on the film. His hard work paid off, as the special effects were one aspect of the film highly received by both fans and critics, opening the door for his later successes.{{sfn|Gray|2004|page=151}}
+While Cameron initially worked on camera rigging, he soon started working on special effects and production design of interior sets. The low-budget led to Cameron's designing the spaceship's corridors out of spray-painted [[McDonald's]] containers.{{sfn|Gray|2004|page=150}} Cameron paid great attention to detail, and hardly slept for weeks while working on the film. His hard work paid off, as the special effects were one aspect of the film highly received by both fans and critics, opening the door for his later successes.{{sfn|Gray|2004|page=151}}
 According to Hurd, actor [[Bill Paxton]] was employed on the set as a carpenter, which is where she first met him, before working with him and Cameron on ''[[Aliens (1986 film)|Aliens]]'': "So my first memory of Bill was him pounding nails and cracking everybody up. I mean, we’d be working at three or four in the morning and he would be the one who kept all our spirits up. He was that person on and off set".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/game-over-man-aliens-cast-remembers-the-irreplaceable-bill-paxton-on-alien-day |title=Game Over, Man: 'Aliens' Cast Remembers the 'Irreplaceable' Bill Paxton on Alien Day |work=[[The Daily Beast]] |location=[[United States]] |access-date=12 June 2018 |last=Leon |first=Melissa |date=26 April 2017}}</ref>
 ===Score===
-This was composer [[James Horner]]'s third film score. He had previously worked on Roger Corman's ''[[Humanoids from the Deep]]'' and ''[[The Lady in Red (1979 film)|The Lady in Red]]'', and the producer brought him back for ''Battle Beyond the Stars''. The score features several elements that would become regular staples of Horner's many [[Science fiction film|science fiction]] and [[Adventure film|adventure]] film scores. Several fans have noted similarities between these scores and those for later films, such as [[Krull (film)|''Krull'']] and ''[[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]''. Horner would go on to become a regular collaborator with James Cameron, eventually winning an [[Academy Award for Best Original Score]] for [[Titanic (1997 film)|''Titanic'']].
+This was composer [[James Horner]]'s third film score. He had previously worked on Roger Corman's ''[[Humanoids from the Deep]]'' and ''[[The Lady in Red (1979 film)|The Lady in Red]]'', and the producer brought him back for ''Battle Beyond the Stars''. The score features several elements that would become regular staples of Horner's many [[Science fiction film|science fiction]] and [[Adventure film|adventure]] film scores. Several fans have noted similarities between these scores and those for later films, such as [[Krull (film)|''Krull'']] and ''[[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]''. Horner was to go on to become a regular collaborator with James Cameron, eventually winning an [[Academy Award for Best Original Score]] for [[Titanic (1997 film)|''Titanic'']].
+===Sound===
 The [[supervising sound editor]], also responsible for special sound effects, such as Robert Vaughn's "laser shot"&nbsp;– based on [[Clint Eastwood]]'s [[.44 Magnum]] from ''[[Dirty Harry]]''{{sfn|Yewdall|2011|page=257}}&nbsp;– was [[David Yewdall]], a regular contract-worker for Corman films.{{sfn|Yewdall|2011|page=192}} Yewdall later remarked on the "film's frugal sound editorial budget" in his ''Practical Art of Motion Picture Sound'', and explained some of the movie's sounds: each of the seven spaceships had its own sound. The Nestor ship's sound was made from human voices generated by the community choir from his hometown college in [[Coalinga, California]]; Robert Vaughn's ship was based on the recording of a [[Drag racing|dragster]].{{sfn|Yewdall|2011|page=256}}
@@ Line 90: / Line 95: @@
 ===Reused material===
-The starship footage was reused in another Roger Corman science fiction film, ''[[Space Raiders (film)|Space Raiders]]'', blasted by critics,<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Moorhead|first1=Jim|first2=William|last2=Beamon|title=Uninspired Turkeys: Our Reviewers Gobble Up Year's Worst Flicks|work=[[Evening Independent]]|location=[[St. Petersburg, Florida]]|publisher=[[Times Publishing Company]]|page=17|date=November 24, 1983|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UOgLAAAAIBAJ&pg=5534,2485448&dq=battle-beyond-the-stars+gross&hl=en|access-date=November 13, 2009}}</ref> as well as in the ultra-low budget Corman features ''[[Starquest II]]'', ''[[Vampirella (film)|Vampirella]]'', ''[[The Fantastic Four (unreleased film)|The Fantastic Four]]'', ''[[Dead Space (film)|Dead Space]]'', and ''[[Forbidden World]]''. This same footage was also reused in later films and video games: a clip from the film (in [[3-D film|3-D]]) is shown during the movie theater fight scene at the end of ''[[Bachelor Party (1984 film)|Bachelor Party]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Movie connections for ''Battle Beyond the Stars'' (1980)|publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080421/movieconnections|access-date=November 13, 2009}}</ref> and footage was also used for the [[LaserDisc]] game ''[[Astron Belt]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=astron-belt&page=detail&id=133 |title=astron belt video game, sega enterprises, ltd. (1983) |date=April 24, 2009 |work=arcade-history.com |access-date=January 2, 2010}}</ref> The soundtrack was later recycled by Corman for ''[[Raptor (film)|Raptor]]'' and other films.{{sfn|Gray|2004|page=222}} Sections of Horner's score were reused in ''Space Raiders'' and other Corman films. The film was later picked up by [[Shout! Factory]], who released it on DVD and Blu-ray in 2011 as part of the ''Roger Corman's Cult Classics'' series.
+The starship footage was reused in another Roger Corman science fiction film, ''[[Space Raiders (film)|Space Raiders]]'', blasted by critics,<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Moorhead|first1=Jim|first2=William|last2=Beamon|title=Uninspired Turkeys: Our Reviewers Gobble Up Year's Worst Flicks|work=[[Evening Independent]]|location=[[St. Petersburg, Florida]]|publisher=[[Times Publishing Company]]|page=17|date=November 24, 1983|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UOgLAAAAIBAJ&pg=5534,2485448&dq=battle-beyond-the-stars+gross&hl=en|access-date=November 13, 2009}}</ref> as well as in the ultra-low budget Corman features ''[[Starquest II]]'', ''[[Vampirella (film)|Vampirella]]'', ''[[The Fantastic Four (unreleased film)|The Fantastic Four]]'', ''[[Dead Space (film)|Dead Space]]'', and ''[[Forbidden World]]''. This same footage was also reused in later films and video games: a clip from the film (in [[3-D film|3-D]]) is shown during the movie theater fight scene at the end of ''[[Bachelor Party (1984 film)|Bachelor Party]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Movie connections for ''Battle Beyond the Stars'' (1980)|publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080421/movieconnections|access-date=November 13, 2009}}</ref> and footage was also used for the [[LaserDisc]] game ''[[Astron Belt]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=astron-belt&page=detail&id=133 |title=astron belt video game, sega enterprises, ltd. (1983) |date=April 24, 2009 |work=arcade-history.com |access-date=January 2, 2010}}</ref> The soundtrack was later recycled by Corman for ''[[Raptor (film)|Raptor]]'' and other films.{{sfn|Gray|2004|page=222}} Sections of Horner's score were reused in ''Space Raiders'' and other Corman films.
 ==Release==
-''Battle Beyond the Stars'' was released into 330 theatres on July 25, 1980, grossing $1.732m in its first three days. The film was released on [[DVD]] on February 6, 2001, by [[New Concorde]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Beyond-Stars-George-Peppard/dp/B000055ZF1|title=Battle Beyond the Stars|work=[[New Concorde]]|date=February 6, 2001|publisher=New Horizons Picture Corp.|location=[[Los Angeles]]|access-date=December 5, 2016|asin=B000055ZF1}}</ref> Corman recouped his costs upon selling the foreign distribution to [[Orion Pictures]] and [[Warner Bros.]] for $2.5 million. He also resold cable rights to [[HBO]] for $750,000.<ref name=afi>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members//catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=56366|title=Battle Beyond the Stars|work=[[American Film Institute]]|location=United States|access-date=December 5, 2016}}</ref>
+''Battle Beyond the Stars'' was released into 330 theaters on July 25, 1980, grossing $1.732m in its first three days.  Corman recouped his costs upon selling the foreign distribution to [[Orion Pictures]] and [[Warner Bros.]] for $2.5 million. He also resold cable rights to [[HBO]] for $750,000.<ref name=afi>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members//catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=56366|title=Battle Beyond the Stars|work=[[American Film Institute]]|location=United States|access-date=December 5, 2016}}</ref>
+The film was released on [[DVD]] on February 6, 2001, by [[New Concorde]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Beyond-Stars-George-Peppard/dp/B000055ZF1|title=Battle Beyond the Stars|work=[[New Concorde]]|date=February 6, 2001|publisher=New Horizons Picture Corp.|location=[[Los Angeles]]|access-date=December 5, 2016|asin=B000055ZF1}}</ref>  The film was later picked up by [[Shout! Factory]], who released it on DVD and Blu-ray in 2011 as part of the ''Roger Corman's Cult Classics'' series.
 ==Reception==
@@ Line 102: / Line 109: @@
 Christopher John reviewed ''Battle Beyond the Stars'' in ''[[Ares (magazine)|Ares Magazine]]'' #5:{{cquote|There is a lot to be pointed up in this picture. There is the fact that every different technology shows different lines of development. Every ship and the way it is operated is distinctly unique.<ref name="Ares">{{cite journal | last=John | first=Christopher | title=Books | journal=[[Ares (magazine)|Ares Magazine]] | publisher=[[Simulations Publications, Inc.]] | date=November 1980 | issue=5 | page=34}}</ref>}}
-The film has since garnered a [[cult following]],{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}} in part due to its effects-heavy action set-pieces and creative production design. The film [[review aggregation]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] gives the film a score of 50%, based on reviews from twelve critics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/battle_beyond_the_stars|title=Battle Beyond the Stars|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|location=United States|access-date=December 5, 2016}}</ref>
+The film [[review aggregation]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] gives the film a score of 50%, based on reviews from twelve critics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/battle_beyond_the_stars|title=Battle Beyond the Stars|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|location=United States|access-date=December 5, 2016}}</ref>
 ==Awards and nominations==
@@ Line 116: / Line 123: @@
 * ''Best Make-Up'': Sue Dolph, Steve Neill, [[Rick Stratton]] – 1981
-==''Battle Amongst the Stars'' Comic ==
+==''Battle Amongst the Stars'' comic book ==
-A [[prequel]] comic book, set 30 years before the BBTS film, was launched by [[TidalWave Productions|Bluewater Productions]] in March 2010.<ref>"[http://www.bluewaterprod.com/news/2010_MARCH_releases.php Bluewater Productions March Releases] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210053634/http://www.bluewaterprod.com/news/2010_MARCH_releases.php |date=February 10, 2010 }}" bluewaterprod.com. Retrieved September 26, 2010.</ref> ''Battle Amongst the Stars'' is a four-part miniseries that tells the story of how Zed, the old man played by Jeff Corey in BBTS, began his adventures from the planet Akir with Nell. It also has the characters of Dr. Hephaestus and Sador of the Malmori.
+A [[prequel]] comic book, set 30 years before the film, was launched by [[TidalWave Productions|Bluewater Productions]] in March 2010.<ref>"[http://www.bluewaterprod.com/news/2010_MARCH_releases.php Bluewater Productions March Releases] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210053634/http://www.bluewaterprod.com/news/2010_MARCH_releases.php |date=February 10, 2010 }}" bluewaterprod.com. Retrieved September 26, 2010.</ref> ''Battle Amongst the Stars'' is a four-part miniseries that tells the story of how Zed began his adventures from the planet Akir with Nell. It also has the characters of Dr. Hephaestus and Sador of the Malmori.
 == See also ==
@@ Line 134: / Line 141: @@
 ==External links==
-* {{IMDb title|0080421|Battle Beyond the Stars}}
+* {{IMDb title|0080421}}
-* {{Amg title|4291|Battle Beyond the Stars}}
+* {{AllMovie title|4291}}
+* {{TCMDb title|22737}}
-* {{rotten-tomatoes|id=battle_beyond_the_stars|title=Battle Beyond the Stars}}
+* {{AFI film|56366}}
 {{The Magnificent Seven}}
@@ Line 144: / Line 152: @@
 [[Category:1980 films]]
 [[Category:1980 independent films]]
-[[Category:1980s science fiction films]]
+[[Category:1980 science fiction films]]
 [[Category:1980s Western (genre) science fiction films]]
 [[Category:American Western (genre) science fiction films]]
@@ Line 153: / Line 161: @@
 [[Category:American space opera films]]
 [[Category:1980s English-language films]]
+[[Category:Films adapted into comics]]
 [[Category:Films produced by Roger Corman]]
 [[Category:Films scored by James Horner]]
@@ Line 160: / Line 169: @@
 [[Category:New World Pictures films]]
 [[Category:Orion Pictures films]]
-[[Category:Seven Samurai]]
+[[Category:Works based on Seven Samurai]]
 [[Category:Space Western films]]
 [[Category:Films directed by Jimmy T. Murakami]]
 [[Category:1980s American films]]
 [[Category:1980s Japanese films]]
+[[Category:Films based on works by Akira Kurosawa]]
+[[Category:English-language Western (genre) films]]
+[[Category:English-language independent films]]
+[[Category:English-language science fiction films]]
+[[Category:Saturn Award–winning films]]

v t e The Magnificent Seven
Original series	The Magnificent Seven (1960) Return of the Seven (1966) Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969) The Magnificent Seven Ride! (1972)
Remake	The Magnificent Seven (2016)
Television	The Magnificent Seven (1998–2000)
Characters	Chris Adams
Related articles	Seven Samurai (1954) The Invincible Six (1970) Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) The Seven Magnificent Gladiators (1983)
Category

v t e Roger Corman
Filmography
Director	Five Guns West (1955) Apache Woman (1955) Day the World Ended (1955) The Beast with a Million Eyes (1955, uncredited) Swamp Women (1956) The Oklahoma Woman (1956) Gunslinger (1956) It Conquered the World (1956) Naked Paradise (1957) Carnival Rock (1957) Not of This Earth (1957) Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957) The Undead (1957) Rock All Night (1957) Teenage Doll (1957) Sorority Girl (1957) The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent (1957) I Mobster (1958) War of the Satellites (1958) Machine-Gun Kelly (1958) Teenage Caveman (1958) She Gods of Shark Reef (1958) A Bucket of Blood (1959) The Wasp Woman (1959) Ski Troop Attack (1960) House of Usher (1960) The Little Shop of Horrors (1960) Last Woman on Earth (1960) Atlas (1961) Creature from the Haunted Sea (1961) The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) The Premature Burial (1962) The Intruder (1962) Tales of Terror (1962) Tower of London (1962) The Young Racers (1963) The Raven (1963) The Terror (1963) The Haunted Palace (1963) X: The Man with the X-ray Eyes (1963) The Masque of the Red Death (1964) The Secret Invasion (1964) The Tomb of Ligeia (1964) The Wild Angels (1966) The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967) The Trip (1967) A Time for Killing (1967, uncredited) The Wild Racers (1968, uncredited) Target: Harry (1969) De Sade (1969, uncredited) Bloody Mama (1970) Gas-s-s-s (1970) Von Richthofen and Brown (1971) Frankenstein Unbound (1990)
Producer only	Monster from the Ocean Floor (1954) The Fast and the Furious (1954) Dementia 13 (1963) Devil's Angels (1967) Boxcar Bertha (1972) Unholy Rollers (1972) I Escaped from Devil's Island (1973) Cockfighter (1974) Big Bad Mama (1974) Capone (1975) Death Race 2000 (1975) Fighting Mad (1976) Eat My Dust! (1976) Thunder and Lightning (1977) Deathsport (1978) Avalanche (1978) Saint Jack (1979) Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider (1979) Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) Smokey Bites the Dust (1981) Galaxy of Terror (1981) Forbidden World (1982) Space Raiders (1983) Love Letters (1984) Cocaine Wars (1985) Big Bad Mama II (1987) Munchies (1987) The Terror Within (1989) Two to Tango (1989) Bloodfist (1989) Lords of the Deep (1989) Time Trackers (1989) Overexposed (1990) Watchers II (1990) Immortal Sins (1991) Kill Zone (1993) Dracula Rising (1993) Hellfire (1995) Scene of the Crime (1996) Black Scorpion II (1997) A Very Unlucky Leprechaun (1998) Running Woman (1998) The Haunting of Hell House (1999) White Pony (1999) Enemy Action (1999) The Suicide Club (2000) Stray Bullet II (2000) Moving Target (2000) Aladdin and the Adventure of All Time (2000) Nightfall (2000) Raptor (2001) When Eagles Strike (2003) The Hunt for Eagle One (2006) The Hunt for Eagle One: Crash Point (2006) Saurian (2006) Cyclops (2008) Splatter (2009) Dinoshark (2010) Sharktopus (2010) Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader (2012) Palace of the Damned (2013) Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda (2014) Fist of the Dragon (2014) Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf (2015) Death Race 2050 (2017)
Related	Julie Corman (wife) Gene Corman (brother) Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel Roger Corman Presents New World Pictures The Filmgroup New Concorde American International Pictures Millennium Concorde Anois New Hollywood