Science FictionRomanceDrama

Starman

- In 1977 Voyager II was launched into space, inviting all lifeforms in the universe to visit our planet. Get ready. Company's coming.

When 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.

Release Date : 1984-12-13

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Columbia PicturesMichael Douglas-Jarry J. Franco ProductionsDelphi II Productions

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : John Carpenter's Starman

Cast

Character Name : Starman / Scott Hayden

Original Name : Jeff Bridges

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jenny Hayden

Original Name : Karen Allen

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mark Shermin

Original Name : Charles Martin Smith

Gender : Male

Character Name : George Fox

Original Name : Richard Jaeckel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Major Bell

Original Name : Robert Phalen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sergeant Lemon

Original Name : Tony Edwards

Gender : Male

Character Name : Brad Heinmuller

Original Name : John Walter Davis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Deer Hunter

Original Name : Ted White

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cop #1

Original Name : Dirk Blocker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cop #2

Original Name : M.C. Gainey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hot Rodder

Original Name : Sean Stanek

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cook

Original Name : George Buck Flower

Gender : Male

Character Name : Scientist

Original Name : Russ Benning

Gender : Male

Character Name : Marine Lieutenant

Original Name : Ralph Cosham

Gender : Male

Character Name : Fox's Assistant

Original Name : David Wells

Gender : Male

Character Name : NSA Officer

Original Name : Anthony Grumbach

Gender : Male

Character Name : S-61 Pilot

Original Name : James Deeth

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gas Station Attendant

Original Name : Alex Daniels

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gas Customer

Original Name : Carol Rosenthal

Gender : Female

Character Name : Trucker

Original Name : Mickey Jones

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roadhouse Waitress

Original Name : Lu Leonard

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bus Driver

Original Name : Charlie Hughes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Police Sergeant

Original Name : Byron Walls

Gender : Male

Character Name : Truck Stop Waitress

Original Name : Betty Bunch

Gender : Female

Character Name : Roadblock Lt.

Original Name : Victor McLemore

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roadblock Sergeant

Original Name : Steven Brennan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bracero Wife

Original Name : Pat Lee

Gender : Male

Character Name : Girl Barker

Original Name : Judith Kim

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cafe Waiter

Original Name : Ronald Colby

Gender : Male

Character Name : State Trooper

Original Name : Robert Stein

Gender : Male

Character Name : Donnie Bob

Original Name : Kenny Call

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hunter #1

Original Name : Jeff Ramsey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hunter #2

Original Name : Jerry Gatlin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Letterman

Original Name : David Daniell

Gender : Male

Character Name : 2nd Letterman

Original Name : Randy Tutton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man in Helicopter (uncredited)

Original Name : John Carpenter

Gender : Male

Character Name : Extra (uncredited)

Original Name : Mark Jensen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cafe Waiter

Original Name : Ronald L. Colby

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Loving the Alien. Mixed notices then and now for John Carpenter's sci-fi love story - cum human warning parable, but the fact is is that if it touches you it's a touch that stays for ever. It's a lovely film headed up by Jeff Bridges' wonderful turn as the alien from outer space teaming up with Karen Allen for a road trip to a Nevada crater, where he will be picked up by his own species and taken home. Taking on human form, that of Allen's deceased husband, much of the humour is derived from how the alien tries to adapt to a human lifestyle. The language, food, customs and romance, but always there is a serious thread running through the narrative. He was invited here by the contents of Voyager One, but now the suits want him for less than honourable research, so the pair, coming together as one after she is obviously in a state of kidnap worry, have to stay one step ahead of the authorities. So there's suspense in the mix via the chase dynamics, as well as some beautiful sequences, one of which has animal lovers of the world punch the air with unbridled joy. The premise is of course flimsy, and cribbing bits from ET and Close Encounters did the film no favours under critical analysis, but the emotional whack is mightily strong, with the lead characters being so easy to root for. While Jack Nitzsche's synth based musical score is a sci-fi great, perfect. A vastly under valued picture on Carpenter's CV, Starman would like to come and see us, if only we would give it the time. 8.5/10

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-10-20

One of Jeff Bridges' better performances this one. He is an alien who arrives on Earth and assumes the physical shape of "Hayden". Thing is, he has recently died - so you can imagine how phased his recent widow "Jenny" (Karen Allen) is as he coerces her to drive him to Arizona where he can rendezvous with the others from his race. The crater left by his landing has attracted the attention of SETI - a government agency charged with looking for ET, and - of course - the more militaristic elements under the command of "Fox" (Richard Jaeckel). What now ensues is a road-movie with a difference as the two gradually start to bond whilst being pursued by the authorities. There is a gradually accumulating chemistry between Allen and Bridges, the latter offering a nuanced and gentle performance as if he were but a baby in a man's body lost in a strange and not particularly welcoming environment. It has some touching moments, a little humour and though the ending isn't really ever in doubt, the travels of this couple are demonstrated in a gently sentimental (but not sickly or melodramatic) fashion. It's a bit on the long side - we do take a little bit of time for the thing to get moving, but once it proves to be a well photographed, scored and entertaining character study from John Carpenter. Worth a watch, I'd say.

GenerationofSwine

@GenerationofSwine

2023-01-10

Look who directed it... and that raises a lot of questions doesn't it? I mean it's espically good and then you see it's john Carpenter doing a... a love story and a very moving and beautiful love story. I guess the draft Carpenter got was extremely political... and he took all the politics out and focused on the love story, that was a great call, it was a great call in the 80s and it is great advice for today. And it's good with Bridges doing a stellar job, and he really didn't learn how to act until the 90s. I totally forgot about it, and then my wife and I saw it, hadn't seen it since the 80s and forgot how amazing it was. It stands the test of time, it's moving, it's beautiful, and it entertains... you can't ask for more.