The Black Hole (1979)
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A spacecraft crew discovers a mysterious null gravity field surrounding a long-lost ship near a black hole.
The story
In the year 2130, the spacecraft USS Palomino is nearing the end of its deep space mission when it discovers a black hole and the long-lost USS Cygnus nearby. The Palomino finds a mysterious null gravity field surrounding the Cygnus, allowing it to defy the black hole's pull. After being damaged by intense gravity, the Palomino is forced to emergency dock with the Cygnus. The crew encounters Dr. Hans Reinhardt, who has been alone on the ship for 20 years. Reinhardt intends to fly the Cygnus through the black hole, but the Palomino crew becomes increasingly suspicious of his motives and the strange drones he has built.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 2130, the spacecraft USS Palomino discovers the long-lost USS Cygnus near a black hole. The Cygnus is protected by a null gravity field, but the Palomino is damaged and forced to dock. They meet Dr. Hans Reinhardt, who has lived on the Cygnus for 20 years. Reinhardt has built drones and a bodyguard robot, Maximilian, to serve him. The Palomino crew discovers that the drones are actually lobotomized human crew members who mutinied against Reinhardt. After Dr. Alex Durant is killed by Maximilian, the remaining crew attempts to escape. A meteor storm causes the Cygnus's anti-gravity generator to fail, causing the ship to break apart. Reinhardt and the survivors plan to escape in a probe ship, but Reinhardt is pinned to the deck by a falling viewscreen. Maximilian pursues the Palomino crew, eventually battling and defeating the robot BO.B. before being defeated by V.I.N.CENT. and sent into the black hole. The survivors launch the probe, which takes them into the black hole. Inside, the Cygnus is destroyed, and Reinhardt merges with Maximilian in a hellish landscape. The survivors emerge from a white hole into a new world near a bright star.
- First release year
- 1979
- Runtime (minutes)
- 98
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Gary Nelson
- Writers
- Gerry Day · screenplay; Jeb Rosebrook · screenplay; Jeb Rosebrook · story; Bob Barbash · story; Richard Landau · story
- Cast and characters
- Maximilian Schell · Dr. Hans Reinhardt; Robert Forster · Captain Dan Holland; Joseph Bottoms · Lieutenant Charlie Pizer; Yvette Mimieux · Dr. Kate McCrae; Anthony Perkins · Dr. Alex Durant; Ernest Borgnine · Harry Booth; Tom McLoughlin · Captain S.T.A.R.; Roddy McDowall · the voice of V.I.N.CENT. LF-396 (uncredited); Slim Pickens · the voice of Old BO.B. LF-28 (uncredited)
- Themes
- metaphysical; religious; survival
- Tone and mood
- melodramatic; lavish; dark
- Setting
- Deep space in the year 2130, specifically aboard the spacecrafts USS Palomino and USS Cygnus near a black hole.
- Premise and plot tags
- space adventure; mad scientist; robot; black hole; telepathy
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its lavish visual effects and others criticizing its 'hokey' melodrama and 'dull' script. It has since become a minor cult classic among science fiction fans.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 44% · review count: 39; Metacritic · score: 52 · scale: 100 · review count: 12
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Cinematography · Nominated; Academy Award · Best Visual Effects · Nominated
- Production trivia
- It was the first film from Walt Disney Productions to receive a PG rating.; The film's score was the first film score ever to be recorded digitally.; Disney's effects department used novel computerized camera technology to create the visual effects.
Genres
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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