DARK STAR

US, 1975, 82 minutes, Colour.
Brian Narelle, Dan O'Bannon.
Directed by John Carpenter.

Dark Star has achieved cult status and is shown as specialist theatres. It has made its television appearance ~ perhaps with some puzzle for viewers.

It began as a study film for writer, director, composer John Carpenter in collaboration with Dan O’Bannon?. Enough money was found to develop it into a feature length film. John Carpenter continued to make experimental films outside the studio system and achieved international success and reputation with such a range of genre films as Assault on Precinct 13, Halloween. He then went on to make such features as The Fog and Escape From New York. In the meantime he made telemovies: Someone's Watching Me, Elvis.

Carpenter is a multi-talented writer-director. He has a great knowledge and admiration for genre films and incorporates these into all the films he has made. He also composes the music and songs. Dan 0"Bannen was to continue in science fiction film-writing - most especially with Alien which has its anticipations in Dark Star.

Dark Star was more influenced by 2001 and such television series as Star Trek -it anticipated the revival of interest in space with Star Wars and its successors in the late '70s. Dark Star is made very much with tongue in cheek - an imitation and tribute to the B-grade science fiction of the '50s and '60s but with acknowledgement to the influence of 2001. It has a cleveristic attitude of students in its screenplay - an ability to parody and mock as well as to incorporate the virtues of, for example, Kubrick's philosophical reflections on human nature and the exploration of space. The film is thus a blend of the serious and the deadpan - with excellent special effects. The film dates somewhat, especially in the light of the space trend of the '70s and '80s. However, as an example of small budget film-making with creative inventiveness it is well worth seeing. It is also very enjoyable.

1. The quality of the film, the work of John Carpenter as writer, producer, director? Musical composition? Its contribution to the development of science fiction features? Its entertainment value?

2. How evident is it that it is a student film: screenplay, ideas, the science fiction of the B-films of the '50s, the influence of 2001 and Star Trek, the philosophising about man's condition? Parody and humour? Technical expertise and inventiveness?

3. Colour photography, special effects: space, the Dark Star itself, asteroids and bombs, the technological hardware of spaceships, the mock humour of the alien as a beach ball with claws: small budget success? The devices of editing for moods and special effects? The score, music, the Muzak type music for life in the spaceship, dramatic and melodramatic music? The theme song of Benson Arizona - especially in the finale?

4. The makers' delight in small budget science fiction, space exploration, technology, human lifestyles in space, dramatic intergalactic crises, interpersonal crises?

5. The parody mentality: 2001, Star Trek - leading to Star Wars and Alien? The blend of the pulp and the serious? The look of the '70s and the trends of the '70s in behaviour, language? The anticipation of the future? The particularly U.S. style of the film and the characters? The indications of technological takeover? The humorous presentation of philosophy - especially in the Descartes philosophy discussions with the bomb?

6. The style of the prologue: the bland message from Earth to the astronauts, their situation, long time in space but not ageing quickly? American space programme and support - Congress and money, the curbing of programmes and cutbacks, the moral support? Commander Powell's death - and the later revelation of his preservation and hibernation? The four astronauts as the cross-section of America? The semi-serious and mock tone?

7. Dark Star as the space vehicle - the title of the film? The film's focus on it - visuals, exteriors and interiors? Its rushes through space and immediate capacity for dead-stopping? The smooth woman's voice for the computer? The talking bombs? Laser.~- and mistakes? Futuristic food, games, records, sun rays? Gun practice? The contemplation of the vast areas of space? The alien? Perils in the lift shaft? Explosions? The irony of the dark star being ultimately destroyed?

8. The parody of space missions - to blow up stars rather than explore? The presence of the bombs on board? The talking bombs? Asteroids and magnetic fields? Being lost in space?

9. The alien thing - its being introduced to the Dark Star, its being stored, fed? The beach ball look and its tapping its claws? Its aggressive attacks? The jokes about the alien - but its deadly menace especially for Pinback in the lift shaft?

10. Doolittle (his name) as commander? The death of Commander Powell before the film starts? His easygoing nature, relationship with the others, needing to speak? Enjoying blowing things up? His discussions with Talby in his contemplation tower? His arguing with the bomb after consulting Powell? The serious humour of his resurrecting Powell and talking with him? The use of phenomenology and philosophical discussion to argue with the bomb? The desperate countdown as regards the bomb's going off? His decision to rescue Talby? His discussion about surfing - and the final humour of his using the wreckage of Dark Star for surfing in space?

11. Talby and his alienation from the group, not coming to meals, his being affected by Powell's death, his contemplating the universe, his decision to fix the laser, his being lost in space, his joy in being absorbed by the Phoenix asteroids which he had longed to meet?

12. Boiler and his gruffness, the ordinary type, ignoring people, his shooting practice?

13. Commander Powell and his being preserved after death - his being resurrected, his comments on life after death and difficulty in concentrating, his instructing Doolittle in the art of dealing with bombs?

14. The bomb and its voice - its obeying commands, its irritation with mistaken commands, its arguing? The ironic humour of man arguing philosophically with the bomb? The bomb then using its reason to assume that it alone existed, was God-like, could set itself off - and thus destroy everyone?

15. Computers - the sweet hostess voice, her talking to the astronauts, her explaining failures?

16. Man and his achievement, his fallibility, his work in space, its effect on his ordinary human life style? Mistakes in space - Pinback not even being the real Pinback? Men wandering for twenty years? Dealing with bombs - which ultimately outwit them (even philosophically)?

17. Satisfying entertainment with point?