Starship (film)
Encyclopedia
Starship, also known as Lorca and the Outlaws, is a 1984 science fiction film
directed by Roger Christian
from a screenplay by Christian and Matthew Jacobs
. The music for the film, which stars John Tarrant
, Deep Roy
, Donogh Rees
and Cassandra Webb
, was written by Tony Banks
of Genesis
.
) and Abbie (Donogh Rees
) led the human underground resistance movement
until she was killed by a crazed android. Now, he and Suzi (Cassandra Webb
) battle Captain Jowitt (Ralph Cotterill) and the brutal bounty hunter
Danny (Hugh Keays-Byrne
), with the help of the friendly android "Kid" (Deep Roy
).
and Western Australia
in Australia
, and at Shepperton Studios
in the United Kingdom
. Its initial theatrical release was in Australia on December 14, 1984. It later premiered in West Germany
on 5 July 1985, and it was shown at the Fantasporto Film Festival
in Porto, Portugal in February 1987. Its American theatrical release was on April 4 of that year, and the VHS home video was released later that year.
film festival in 1987.
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
directed by Roger Christian
Roger Christian (filmmaker)
-External links:*...
from a screenplay by Christian and Matthew Jacobs
Matthew Jacobs
Matthew Jacobs is a British writer, director and producer. He is known best for his extensive career writing for television shows like Doctor Who and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles...
. The music for the film, which stars John Tarrant
John Tarrant
John Tarrant is a Western Zen teacher, currently director of the Pacific Zen Institute in Santa Rosa, California.-Biographical Portrait:...
, Deep Roy
Deep Roy
Gurdeep Roy , sometimes credited as Roy Deep, Gordeep Roy, or just Deep Roy, is a Kenyan-born English actor, stuntman and puppeteer of Indian descent.-Early life:...
, Donogh Rees
Donogh Rees
Donogh Rees is a New Zealand actress. She starred in the long-running soap opera Shortland Street as director of nursing Judy Brownlee from 2001-6....
and Cassandra Webb
Cassandra Webb
For the fictional character named Cassandra Webb, see Madame Web.Cassandra Webb is an Australian/American actress.She is the mother of the actress Jessica Wiseman. The Australian film producer, Patricia Lovell, is her godmother.-Filmography:...
, was written by Tony Banks
Tony Banks (musician)
This article is about the musician. For other people named Tony Banks, see Tony BanksAnthony George "Tony" Banks is a British composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who performs as a keyboardist and a guitarist...
of Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
.
Plot
On the remote mining planet Ordessa, the management uses killer military police androids to crack down on workers upset about the terrible conditions. Lorca (John TarrantJohn Tarrant
John Tarrant is a Western Zen teacher, currently director of the Pacific Zen Institute in Santa Rosa, California.-Biographical Portrait:...
) and Abbie (Donogh Rees
Donogh Rees
Donogh Rees is a New Zealand actress. She starred in the long-running soap opera Shortland Street as director of nursing Judy Brownlee from 2001-6....
) led the human underground resistance movement
Resistance movement
A resistance movement is a group or collection of individual groups, dedicated to opposing an invader in an occupied country or the government of a sovereign state. It may seek to achieve its objects through either the use of nonviolent resistance or the use of armed force...
until she was killed by a crazed android. Now, he and Suzi (Cassandra Webb
Cassandra Webb
For the fictional character named Cassandra Webb, see Madame Web.Cassandra Webb is an Australian/American actress.She is the mother of the actress Jessica Wiseman. The Australian film producer, Patricia Lovell, is her godmother.-Filmography:...
) battle Captain Jowitt (Ralph Cotterill) and the brutal bounty hunter
Bounty hunter
A bounty hunter captures fugitives for a monetary reward . Other names, mainly used in the United States, include bail enforcement agent and fugitive recovery agent.-Laws in the U.S.:...
Danny (Hugh Keays-Byrne
Hugh Keays-Byrne
Hugh Keays-Byrne is an English character actor who moved to Australia in 1973. He is well-known in Australia as a television and film actor...
), with the help of the friendly android "Kid" (Deep Roy
Deep Roy
Gurdeep Roy , sometimes credited as Roy Deep, Gordeep Roy, or just Deep Roy, is a Kenyan-born English actor, stuntman and puppeteer of Indian descent.-Early life:...
).
Cast
- John TarrantJohn TarrantJohn Tarrant is a Western Zen teacher, currently director of the Pacific Zen Institute in Santa Rosa, California.-Biographical Portrait:...
as Lorca - Deep RoyDeep RoyGurdeep Roy , sometimes credited as Roy Deep, Gordeep Roy, or just Deep Roy, is a Kenyan-born English actor, stuntman and puppeteer of Indian descent.-Early life:...
as Kid - Donogh ReesDonogh ReesDonogh Rees is a New Zealand actress. She starred in the long-running soap opera Shortland Street as director of nursing Judy Brownlee from 2001-6....
as Abbie - Cassandra WebbCassandra WebbFor the fictional character named Cassandra Webb, see Madame Web.Cassandra Webb is an Australian/American actress.She is the mother of the actress Jessica Wiseman. The Australian film producer, Patricia Lovell, is her godmother.-Filmography:...
as Suzi - Ralph Cotterill as Captain Jowitt
- Hugh Keays-ByrneHugh Keays-ByrneHugh Keays-Byrne is an English character actor who moved to Australia in 1973. He is well-known in Australia as a television and film actor...
as Danny - Joy SmithersJoy SmithersJoy Smithers is an Australian actress, best known for her acting performances on television, and her role as a television news presenter....
as Lena - Tyler CoppinTyler CoppinTyler Coppin is an Australian-American actor, playwright, and American dialect coach for actors in film, television and theatre.-Childhood and Education:...
as Detective Droid - James Steele as Mp Droid
- Arky MichaelArky MichaelArky Michael is an Australian actor and writer, who is best known for his role as Fulvio Frangellomini in the television drama series Rafferty's Rules....
as Dylan - John Rees as Priest
Production and release
Starship was originally released under the title Lorca and the Outlaws; it also had a working title of The Outlaws and the Starship Redwing. It was filmed in New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and at Shepperton Studios
Shepperton Studios
Shepperton Studios is a film studio in Shepperton, Surrey, England with a history dating back to 1931 since when many notable films have been made there...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Its initial theatrical release was in Australia on December 14, 1984. It later premiered in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
on 5 July 1985, and it was shown at the Fantasporto Film Festival
Fantasporto
Fantasporto, also known as Fantas, is an international film festival, annually organized since 1981 in Porto, Portugal. Giving screen space to commercial feature films, auteur films and experimental projects from all over the world, Fantasporto has created enthusiastic audiences, ranging from...
in Porto, Portugal in February 1987. Its American theatrical release was on April 4 of that year, and the VHS home video was released later that year.
Reception
M.J. Simpson, a British journalist who specializes in reviewing science fiction films, called Lorca and the Outlaws a "sub-sub-Star Wars piece of semi-juvenile rubbish which is nothing more than a scrappily assembled mishmash of clichés and lazy film-making." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution concurred, calling it "a low-rent, Anglo-Australian rip-off" of Star Wars.Awards and honours
Starship was nominated for an International Fantasy Film Award, in the "Best Film" category, at the FantasportoFantasporto
Fantasporto, also known as Fantas, is an international film festival, annually organized since 1981 in Porto, Portugal. Giving screen space to commercial feature films, auteur films and experimental projects from all over the world, Fantasporto has created enthusiastic audiences, ranging from...
film festival in 1987.
External links
- Lorca and the Outlaws at Badmovies.com