- For the MST3K episode, see MST3K K19 - Hangar 18.
Hangar 18 is a 1980 conspiracy thriller directed by James L. Conway. It attempted to capitalize on the UFO interest of the era. Although it reportedly earned a gross profit of only $6 million, it tantalized those who were intrigued by stories of government cover-ups of UFOs (such as the Roswell incident).
Plot[]
Shortly after the launch of a satellite from a space shuttle, the satellite collides with an UFO in front of the crew's eyes. Because of an upcoming election, some politicians try to hide the crashed UFO inside Hangar 18.
Cast[]
- Darren McGavin as Harry Forbes
- Robert Vaughn as Gordon Cain
- Gary Collins as Steve Bancroft
- William Schallert as Professor Mills
- Steven Keats as Paul Bannister
- James Hampton as Lew Price
- Stuart Pankin as Sam Tate
Notes[]
- Sunn Classic Pictures specialized in documentaries. Some promotional material implied that this film was based on actual events.
- When the film was shown on NBC-TV in 1983 under the title Invasion Force, it had a different ending.
- A novelization was released in 1980. Authorship was credited to Charles E. Sellier Jr. (the film's producer) and Robert Weverka.
- Heavy-metal band Megadeth performed a song named "Hangar 18" based on this movie.
Riffed Versions[]
- Mystery Science Theater 3000 - Episode #K19
- RiffTrax Presents (with Matthew J. Elliott and Ian Potter) - 2017
MST3K Connections[]
- Gary Collins also portrayed Tom in Killer Fish.
- Robert Vaughn also portrayed the Symbol Maker's Teenage Son in Teenage Cave Man.
- William Schallert also portrayed Marshall Scott Hood in Gunslinger and the third newscaster in Invasion USA.
- H.M. Wynant (flight director) also portrayed Eric Stoner in Stranded in Space.
- Eddie Carroll (MiB #3) also portrayed a doctor in Parts: The Clonus Horror.
- Composer John Cacavas was also composer for SST- Death Flight and Superdome.
- Second unit director Henning Schellerup was also second unit cinematographer for The Incredible Melting Man.
- Sound mixer Rod Sutton was also sound mixer for The Slime People and Catalina Caper, as well as sound supervisor for King Dinosaur and sound technician for It Lives by Night.
- Special effects technician Harry Woolman also did special effects for The Slime People, The Incredible Melting Man, Laserblast, and Agent for H.A.R.M..
- Stunt consultant Alan Gibbs was also a stuntman and portrayed a Mustang hood in Mitchell.
Critical Response[]
- Leonard Maltin wrote: "One-and-a-half stars ... Slickly made, but about as credible as The Three Stooges in Orbit."[1]
- On the February 5, 1981 episode of the TV show Sneak Previews, film reviewers Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert both voted No on recommending Hangar 18. They placed special emphasis on the bait-and-switch tactics used in the TV ad campaign.
- Good Bad Flicks: "Hangar 18 is a ridiculous conspiracy melodrama. It doesn't quite scratch that alien conspiracy itch, but it's entertaining enough. It's too silly to be taken seriously, even though sometimes the movie seems to be taking itself way too seriously."
References[]
- ↑ Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide, 2015 Edition