Unconventional Sci-Fi Captivates With ’60s Flamboyance

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MOVIE REVIEW
Star Pilot (2+5: Missione Hydra)
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Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi
Year Released: 1966, 2023 Kino
Runtime: 1h 29m
Director(s): Pietro Francisci
Writer(s): Ian Danby, Pietro Francisci, Fernando Paolo Girolami
Cast: Leonora Ruffo, Mario Novelli, Roland Lesaffre, Kirk Morris, Alfio Caltabiano, Leontine Snell
Language: Italian with English subtitles
Where To Watch: available July 4, 2023; preorder now here www.kinolorber.com or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Imagine a galactic journey back to the 1960s with STAR PILOT, a uniquely fashioned science fiction narrative packed with terrestrial and extraterrestrial escapades. STAR PILOT catapults viewers on an unintended detour involving space visitors and the unsuspecting inhabitants of Sardinia. So if you like the original PLANET OF THE APES films from the late 60s and early 70s, this may be right up your alley. The film could be set in the same world as those films without question.

Our cosmic adventure commences as the alien voyagers pull in an unsuspecting group of earthlings to aid them in their urgent spaceship repairs. Initial resistance is soon replaced by an intergalactic trip that takes visitors and the audience into the endless cosmos, painting a memorable visual journey of delight and anticipation.

The storyline revolves around a spaceship concealed in rural seclusion. The unexpected UFO sighting in Molino, a rustic Italian province, ignites the curiosity of a scholarly physics professor, Solmi, his daughter, and their team. The resulting exploration evolves into a seamless blend of laughter-inducing situations and fun sci-fi elements, nestling STAR PILOT in its genre niche.

Even though STAR PILOTS’ promotions of the time hitch a ride on the wave of success enjoyed by other big space films of the era, the film cultivates its unique narrative and makes a place for itself in film history. The film's intriguing title and twist may stir familiar thoughts, but STAR PILOT sails its specific course.

Behind the camera, Pietro Francisci, the luminary known for historical epics, employs innovative finesse in this production. In a nod to his illustrious past, Francisci enlists the talents of Kirk Morris and Alfio Caltabiano, robust figures from his Hercules saga, and reimagines them as the unexpected alien arrivals in one of his last cinematic ventures.

STAR PILOT truly shines in its fusion of humor and sci-fi fun. The plotline weaves from exciting chase scenes and urban exploration to the grand unveiling of a hidden alien ship, discretely camouflaged in the countryside. Unforgettable is the gravity-defying, slow-motion departure from the spacecraft. Equally impressive are the wonderfully designed costumes.

Delving deeper, the film employs a familiar narrative thread about human scientists enlisted to salvage a forsaken alien world. Solmi (played by Roland Lesaffre), a cerebral pioneer musing on Einstein's theory of relativity and the tantalizing prospects of time travel, forms the crux of the plot. His intellectual ambition propels him, his daughter Luisa (Leontine Snell), and their team into an exploratory adventure that discloses a spaceship and its enigmatic crew led by Kaena (Leonora Ruffo).

At times STAR PILOT suffers from a disjointed script but also compensates by presenting an array of exciting ideas in a hasty, rough-around-the-edges fashion, enhancing its appeal. Leontina Mariotti's contribution to the film infuses an invigorating freshness, countering technical deficiencies.

STAR PILOT exemplifies Francisci's creative resilience and innovative spirit in the face of resource limitations. Its quirks are part of its charm, and the film continues to captivate viewers, particularly those who appreciate unconventional sci-fi. With its cocktail of humor, ambition, and a generous splash of '60s flamboyance, STAR PILOT offers a unique cinematic experience that is far from mundane. I was genuinely impressed with the restoration of this film; everything I had seen from stills made the film look like it had never received the love it deserved in a presentation until now!

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[photo courtesy of KINO LORBER]