| The Starfighters | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Will Zens |
| Produced by | Will Zens |
| Written by | Will Zens |
| Starring | Robert Dornan Richard Jordahl Richard Masters |
| Music by | Stephen Paul |
| Cinematography | Leif Rise |
| Editing by | Michael David |
| Distributed by | Parade Releasing Organization |
| Release date(s) | March 25, 1964 (USA) |
| Running time | 78 min (84 original) |
| Country | U.S.A. |
| Language | English |
The Starfighters is an American film released in 1964. It was written and directed by Will Zens and stars future U.S. Congressman Bob Dornan. It is the subject of episode #612 of Comedy Central's Mystery Science Theater 3000. Public votes on the Internet Movie Database consistently place it amongst the Bottom 100.[1]
Contents |
Lt. John Witkowski (Dornan) and his buddy, Lt. York, arrive at George Air Force Base in Southern California to train to fly the F-104 Starfighter, with special emphasis on the complicated mid-air refueling maneuver. Witkowski's Congressman father frequently calls him, concerned about the safety of fighter aircraft, and wants his son to be in the Bomber wing like he was himself in World War II. Witkowski also finds romance in an Iowa girl he is set up with. Witkowski impresses his senior officers with his progressing skills and is among those selected to be transferred to a unit in Europe.
The cast and crew (and later fans) of Mystery Science Theater 3000 were the film's most prominent critics; they complained that "nothing happens in it."[2] However, despite their disdain for the film, it provided several running gags that were repeated throughout the series: humming the jazzy music whenever a plane is seen flying, mentions of the "poopie suit" (chaps intended to keep a pilot's blood from pooling in the legs during high-G maneuvering), and the use of the word "refueling" as a synonym for any long, dull scene.
The film is included in Collection Volume 12 from Rhino.