The story begins on a small spaceship docking with a refueling station. On board are a group of four aliens, Bernard, Sandra, Desmond, and Julian. During a particularly tedious period of their stay at the station, the other three begin playing with the ship’s controls while Bernard is outside playing spaceball. They accidentally disconnect his part of the ship, leaving him stranded while they crash into a large blue planet close by...
Writing
Mike Hodges' deadpan satire of fame and stupidity
Acting
Mel Smith's permanently bewildered Bernard
Practical Effects
Charming low-budget spaceship effects
Director
Mike Hodges
Mel Smith
Bernard
Griff Rhys Jones
Graham Sweetley
Joanne Pearce
Sandra Brock
Jimmy Nail
Desmond Brock
Paul Bown
Julian Tope
James B. Sikking
Col. Raymond Laribee, CIA
Dinsdale Landen
Commander Grenville Matteson
André Maranne
Prof. Trousseau
George Innes
Stanley Benson
Tristram Jellinek
Simpson
Miriam Margolyes
Doctor Wallace
Mark Lewis Jones
Godfrey
Leonard Fenton
Commissionaire
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Director Mike Hodges also made Flash Gordon and Get Carter, making this his weirdest career pivot.
Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones were already famous from 'Alas Smith and Jones,' bringing established comic chemistry to alien stupidity.
GB
