Title: The Black Hole

Year Released/Rating: 1979 PG

Starring: Maximillian Schell, Anthony Perkins, Robert Forster

Written By: Jeb Rosebrook, Bob Barbash, Richard H. Landau, Gerry Day

Directed By: Gary Nelson

Genre: Action Adventure

Star Rating: 5/5 stars

Where I Got It: We own it

Trivia:

• To film the special effects, Disney originally wanted to rent the Dykstraflex camera system that was created for Star Wars (the first computer-controlled camera) from Industrial Light & Magic. However, the price and rental terms were unacceptable so Disney created its own version instead. What resulted was Disney's A.C.E.S. (Automated Camera Effects System), which was radically superior to the Dykstraflex system; the Mattescan system, which enabled the camera to move on a matte painting (that was previously impossible); and a computer-controlled modeling stand.
• Dr. Reinhardt's ship was originally called the Centaurus. It was renamed Cygnus after the constellation where the first known black hole was discovered in 1964.
• At the time of its release, the movie featured the longest computer graphics sequence that had ever appeared in a film: the "green grid" sequence that appears under the opening titles.
• Almost all of the dialog in the film was re-recorded by the cast during post-production looping (ADR) - with the exception of only a couple of lines.
• This was regarded as the last big special effect production to be made under the "old studio system." All of the elaborate special effects were created within the Disney studio and not farmed out to outside special effects companies.

Summary: A research vessel finds a missing ship, commanded by a mysterious scientist, on the edge of a black hole.

Review: This is one of those movies that J was amazed that I haven't seen.  Of course, we had to rectify that tonight.  This is a treasure.  I loved the story, the design, the effects, the actors.  For 1979, this just looks amazing.  Dr. Reinhardt is a mix between a James Bond villain and Captain Nemo.  In fact, the entire Nemo is a lot like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, but in space.  The rest of the crew are fun and very logiacl in their behavior.  Plus the dialogue is a lot of fun.  And the sets look great for the year.  There is a great consistency to the universe.  I can't believe I've never seen this.

Best Bits: 

• Dr. Hans Reinhardt: Some cause must have created all this, but what caused that cause?
• Lieutenant Charles Pizer: Vincent, were you programmed to bug me?  V.I.N.CENT: No, sir, to educate you.
• Kate McCrae: If there's any justice at all, the black hole will be your grave!
• [after first seeing the black hole]  Lieutenant Charles Pizer: Every time I see one of those things I expect to spot some guy dressed in red with horns and a pitchfork. Dan Holland: It's a monster, all right. V.I.N.CENT: A rip in the very fabric of space and time.
• Lieutenant Charles Pizer: When I volunteered for this mission, I never thought I'd end up playing straight man to a tin can.
• Dan Holland: It's only dinner.  V.I.N.CENT: Said the spider to the fly.
• V.I.N.CENT: A wolf remains a wolf, even if it has not eaten your sheep.
• Dr. Hans Reinhardt: Maximilian, the time has come to liquidate our guests.