Battle Beyond the Stars

New World. Director Jimmy T. Murakami; Producer Ed Carlin; Screenplay John Sayles; Camera Daniel Lacambre; Editor Allan Holzman, R.J. Kizer; Music James Horner; Art Director John Zabrucky

Richard Thomas
Robert Vaughn
George Peppard
John Saxon
Darlanne Fluegel
Sybil Danning

The fascination of watching how the defenseless cope with marauding barbarians is put to the test with New World's production of Battle beyond the Stars.

In unfolding its saga [by John Sayles, Anne Dyer] of how the peace-loving bunch on a small planet rebuffs a genetically deficient but vicious band of bad guys, Battle incorporates touches of an old-fashioned western, horror pics and even a touch of softcore.

Despite the expense involved, the pic appears not to take itself too seriously. Principal characterizations are skin deep. Dialog takes the form of relaxed banter with a minimum of homilies.

George Peppard has fun as a Scotch-tippling cowboy from earth who turns up as one of the mercenaries hired by the planet's earnest young soldier (Richard Thomas). John Saxon is hilarious as the chief bad guy.

(Color) Available on VHS, DVD. Extract of a review from 1980. Running time: 104 MIN.

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