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Starman
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Starman (1984) -- Not Bowie - Bridges. Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski) falls to earth, then, falls in love with Karen Allen (Raiders of the Lost Ark) in John Carpenter’s space alien love story.
Starman (1984) -- An alien takes the form of a young widow's husband and asks her to drive him from Wisconsin to Arizona. The government tries to stop them.

Overview

User Rating:
6.9/10   12,989 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Bruce A. Evans (written by) &
Raynold Gideon (written by)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Starman on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 December 1984 (USA) more
Tagline:
In 1977 Voyager II was launched into space, inviting all lifeforms in the universe to visit our planet. Get ready. Company's coming. more
Plot:
An alien takes the form of a young widow's husband and asks her to drive him from Wisconsin to Arizona. The government tries to stop them. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 5 nominations more
User Reviews:
Bridges Brings "Starman" To Life more (92 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Jeff Bridges ... Starman

Karen Allen ... Jenny Hayden

Charles Martin Smith ... Mark Shermin
Richard Jaeckel ... George Fox
Robert Phalen ... Major Bell

Tony Edwards ... Sergeant Lemon
John Walter Davis ... Brad Heinmuller
Ted White ... Deer Hunter

Dirk Blocker ... Cop #1

M.C. Gainey ... Cop #2
Sean Stanek ... Hot Rodder (as Sean Faro)

George 'Buck' Flower ... Cook (as Buck Flower)
Russ Benning ... Scientist
Ralph Cosham ... Marine Lieutenant

David Wells ... Fox's Assistant
Anthony Grumbach ... NSA Officer
James Deeth ... S-61 Pilot (as Jim Deeth)

Alex Daniels ... Gas Station Attendant
Carol Rosenthal ... Gas Customer

Mickey Jones ... Trucker
Lu Leonard ... Roadhouse Waitress
Charlie Hughes ... Bus Driver
Byron Walls ... Police Sergeant
Betty Bunch ... Truck Stop Waitress
Victor McLemore ... Roadblock Lt.
Steven Brennan ... Roadblock Sergeant
Pat Lee ... Bracero Wife
Judith Kim ... Girl Barker
Ron Colby ... Cafe Waiter (as Ronald Colby)
Robert Stein ... State Trooper
Kenny Call ... Donnie Bob

Jeff Ramsey ... Hunter #1
Jerry Gatlin ... Hunter #2
David Daniell ... Letterman
Randy Tutton ... 2nd Letterman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

John Carpenter ... Man in Helicopter (uncredited)
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Directed by
John Carpenter 
 
Writing credits
Bruce A. Evans (written by) &
Raynold Gideon (written by)

Dean Riesner  uncredited

Produced by
Barry Bernardi .... co-producer
Michael Douglas .... executive producer
Bruce A. Evans .... associate producer
Larry J. Franco .... producer
Raynold Gideon .... associate producer
 
Original Music by
Jack Nitzsche 
 
Cinematography by
Donald M. Morgan (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Marion Rothman 
 
Casting by
Jennifer Shull 
 
Production Design by
Daniel A. Lomino  (as Daniel Lomino)
 
Set Decoration by
Robert R. Benton  (as Robert Benton)
 
Makeup Department
Pete Altobelli .... makeup artist (as Peter Altobelli)
Marina Pedraza .... hair stylist
John Rosengrant .... special makeup effects artist
Tony Gardner .... starman transformation crew: Rick Baker unit (uncredited)
Brian Wade .... special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Tom Joyner .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joe Alves .... second unit director
Jeffrey Chernov .... first assistant director: second unit
Jeffrey Chernov .... second assistant director
Larry J. Franco .... first assistant director (as Larry Franco)
Nilo Otero .... dga trainee
 
Art Department
Larry Clark Bird .... property master (as Larry Bird)
Tom Cranham .... production illustrator
William J. Durrell Jr. .... set designer (as William Joseph Durrell Jr.)
Bill Gay .... lead man
Walton D. Hadfield .... construction coordinator (as Walt Hadfield)
Bob Lawless .... stand-by painter
Ken Zimmerman .... assistant property master
Lloyd A. Buswell .... construction foreman (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Joseph F. Brennan .... boom operator (as Joe Brennan)
Thomas Causey .... sound mixer (as Tommy Causey)
Jay Engel .... adr editor (as Jay Engle)
Hank Garfield .... boom operator
Steve Maslow .... sound re-recording mixer
Tom McCarthy Jr. .... supervising sound editor (as Tom C. McCarthy Jr.)
Kevin O'Connell .... sound re-recording mixer
Michael P. Redbourn .... sound editor (as Michael Redbourn)
Bill Varney .... sound re-recording mixer
Don S. Walden .... sound editor
 
Special Effects by
Roy Arbogast .... special effects coordinator
Bill Lee .... special effects
Bruce Nicholson .... special effects supervisor
Kevin Quibell .... special effects
David Simmons .... special effects
Dick Wood .... special effects
Gary Zink .... special effects (uncredited)
 
Visual Effects by
Barbara Affonso .... model maker
Joe Alves .... visual consultant
Craig Barron .... matte camera supervisor
Lance Brackett .... stage technician
Barbara Brennan .... assistant animator
Wade Childress .... assistant matte cameraman
Peter Daulton .... assistant cameraman: visual effects
Dick Dova .... stage technician
Christopher Evans .... matte artist (as Chris Evans)
Scott Farrar .... visual effects cameraman
Robert Finley Jr. .... miniature pyrotechnician (as Finley Jr.)
Warren Franklin .... general manager: ILM
Joe Fulmer .... assistant cameraman: visual effects
Michael Gleason .... chief visual effects editor
Ralph Gordon .... optical line-up
Caroleen Green .... matte artist
Toby Heindel .... assistant cameraman: visual effects
Robert Hill .... assistant cameraman: visual effects (as Bob Hill)
Ed Jones .... optical line-up
Bill Kimberlin .... visual effects editor
James Lim .... optical camera operator
Jeff Mann .... model maker
Michael J. McAlister .... director of visual effects photography (as Michael McAlister)
Ted Moehnke .... miniature pyrotechnician (as Moehnke)
Michael Moore .... assistant editor: visual effects
Charlie Mullen .... animation supervisor
Frank Ordaz .... matte artist
Ease Owyeung .... supervising model maker
Michael Pangrazio .... matte painting supervisor
Thomas Rosseter .... optical line-up (as Tom Rosseter)
Kenneth Smith .... optical camera operator
Peter Stolz .... miniature pyrotechnician (as Stolz)
Pat Sweeney .... visual effects cameraman
Larry Tan .... model maker
Bruce Walters .... head effects animator
Chuck Wiley .... model maker
Joan Collins Carey .... CGI producer: laser animation (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Marguerite Happy .... stunts
Robert Jauregui .... stunts (as Bob Jauregui)
William T. Lane .... stunts (as Bill Lane)
Terry Leonard .... stunt coordinator
Kerry Rossall .... stunts
Ben Scott .... stunts
John-Clay Scott .... stunts (as John Scott)
Loyd Catlett .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Amorelli .... best boy
Sidney Ray Baldwin .... still photographer (as Sidney Baldwin)
Hugo Cortina .... gaffer
Richard Dow .... dolly grip
George Kohut .... camera operator: Tennessee
Peter Kuttner .... assistant camera: second unit
Marc Margulies .... second assistant camera
George Mooradian .... assistant camera: Tennessee
Kerry Nordquist .... still photographer
Steven Poster .... director of photography: second unit (as Steve Poster)
Tony Rivetti .... first assistant camera
Chris Schwiebert .... camera operator (as Chris Schweibert)
Eric Smith .... best boy
Calvin Sterry .... key grip (as Cal Sterry)
Joseph F. Valentine .... panaglide operator (as Joe Valentine)
Dean Williams .... still photographer: Tennessee
Clay H. Wilson .... second grip (as Clay Wilson)
Ray Gilberti .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Randy Jonsson .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Henry Minski .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Serge Poupis .... first assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Jeff Wolf .... assistant camera: Tennessee (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Pennie DuPont .... additional casting (as Pennie Du Pont)
Stacey Rhodes .... extras casting: Arizona and Tennessee
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robin Michel Bush .... costumer: women
Andy Hylton .... costumer: men
 
Editorial Department
Virginia Katz .... assistant editor
Brian Ralph .... negative cutter
Craig Ridenour .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
Brian Banks .... music performer: Synclavier Digital Music System
Brian Banks .... music programmer: Synclavier Digital Music System
Anthony Marinelli .... music performer: Synclavier Digital Music System
Anthony Marinelli .... music programmer: Synclavier Digital Music System
Curt Sobel .... supervising music editor
Brooks Arthur .... music producer (uncredited)
Anthony Marinelli .... music producer (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
David Turner .... transportation captain (as Dave Turner)
Eddie Lee Voelker .... transportation coordinator
Roger Wooge .... driver (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Rick Baker .... starman transformation
Patricia Blau .... production coordinator
Jack Bricker .... starman transformation crew: Stan Winston unit
Norman Bryn .... starman transformation crew: Dick Smith unit
Ellis Burman Jr. .... starman transformation crew: Stan Winston unit
Allen Coulter .... starman transformation crew: Rick Baker unit
Theresa Curtin .... assistant: Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Franco
James Deeth .... aerial coordinator (as Jim Deeth)
Doug Drexler .... starman transformation crew: Dick Smith unit (as Douglas Drexler)
George Engel .... starman transformation crew: Dick Smith unit
Bill Evans .... pilot
Harry Hauss .... pilot
Tom Hester .... starman transformation crew: Rick Baker unit
Michael Hill .... production accountant (as Mike Hill)
Sandy King .... script supervisor
Larry Kirsch .... pilot
Kevin LaRosa .... pilot
Ken Lavet .... location manager: second unit
Tim Lawrence .... starman transformation crew: Rick Baker unit
Patricia Ledford .... location manager: Tennessee
Mike MacKenzie .... equipment engineering supervisor (as Michael MacKenzie)
Scott Maher .... pilot
Carl Mazzocone .... researcher
Bridget Murphy .... assistant: Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Franco
Paul Pav .... location manager
Douglas A. Raine .... location assistant (as Doug Raine)
Robin Rogers .... pilot
Carol Rosenthal .... assistant: Mr. Bernardi
Peter J. Silbermann .... ad-pub coordinator
Steve Sirk .... pilot
Dick Smith .... starman transformation
Duane Williams .... pilot
Stan Winston .... starman transformation
Anna Zappia .... production coordinator
Ron Bledsoe .... head animal trainer (uncredited)
Mark Haskins .... production assistant (uncredited)
Anthony Marinelli .... synthesizer programmer (uncredited)
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
John Carpenter's Starman (USA) (complete title)
more
Runtime:
115 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Producer Michael Douglas considered several directors, including Mark Rydell, Adrian Lyne, John Badham and Tony Scott, before settling on John Carpenter. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: When Starman runs the yellow light, the loaded tractor trailer that he almost hits is approaching the intersection at highway speed, never slowing down for what would have been a red light. And considering the flat, open countryside in which the intersection is located, the truck driver, approaching a red light, would have clearly seen the orange Mustang speeding toward the intersection on the crossing road. more
Quotes:
Starman: Environment: hostile. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Fight Club (1999) more
Soundtrack:
What Would Your Memories Do more

FAQ

Scene of the Tanker Explosion
more
12 out of 13 people found the following review useful.
Bridges Brings "Starman" To Life, 12 September 2000
7/10
Author: jhclues from Salem, Oregon

In a joint venture by the governments of the world, a space probe is launched into the farthest reaches of the Galaxy bearing a message from the United Nations, as well as `Greetings' in fifty-four languages; it's purpose is to attempt to contact any extraterrestrial life and proffer an invitation to visit us here on Earth. In `Starman,' directed by John Carpenter, Jeff Bridges stars as the alien who responds, only to be met with a less than cordial greeting once he arrives. Encountering hosts with a militaristic, if-you-can't-identify-it-shoot-it-down attitude, Starman is forced to take refuge and elude the very ones he has traveled so far to see. The burning question of course is, why? And, unfortunately, nobody seems to know. For his striking portrayal of Starman, Bridges deservedly received a Best Actor nomination from the Academy, and it proves to be the highlight of the film. From the outset, even as he is transformed into the vessel he must occupy during his stay with us ( a terrific sequence), his presence on the screen is captivating. He truly creates a unique character, distinct in form and substance, from the physical gestures that define him, to the subtle emotional depth he so aptly demonstrates and uses so well to convey to us who this being really is. It is through him that we are drawn in to this story of the travails with which he is beset during his sojourn upon our world, and with him we can only try to understand the motivation of powerful men who seem to live their lives in fear of the unknown or diverse. As Jenny Hayden, the young woman who through circumstances beyond her control becomes involved with Starman, Karen Allen adds just the right touch of sympathy to underscore the emotional situation in which Jenny finds herself ensconced. And there's just enough chemistry between her and Bridges to make this special relationship between their characters work effectively. Ultimately, how they relate to one another, and the tenderness with which they pursue their objective, becomes the real thrust and focal point of the story. Carpenter, in fact, would have been well advised to have stayed more within the parameters of that relationship and explored the workings thereof, rather than divesting the story into other, less fruitful areas and surrounding the main characters with a plethora of stringent stereotypes. While an entertaining film, `Starman' is surprisingly lacking in originality and imagination, both in story and direction; not to say this isn't a worthwhile endeavor, because it is, and it's definitely worth seeing. But it just seems that Carpenter could have mined the emotional depths a little more, developed the connection between Starman and Jenny more fully. Had he taken that path, this could have been a truly exceptional movie. As it is, it's a good film, better than the average sci-fi offering (especially for it's time, 1984), but given that Bridges brought so much to this with his creation of such a memorable character, the movie as a whole could have been so much more. The supporting cast includes Charles Martin Smith (Mark), Richard Jaeckel (Fox), Robert Phalen (Major Bell), Dirk Blocker (Cop #1) and M.C. Gainey (Cop #2). Although it is not what you would call a `great' or `classic' movie, `Starman' does succeed in making us take pause to reconsider some of our possibly preconceived notions of the way things are or should be; in the end, it's a call for understanding and love between all people everywhere, and a proposition put forth for universal peace. And with a theme like that, combined with the terrific performance by Bridges, you could do a lot worse for an evenings entertainment. I rate this one 7/10.

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