A little like the "Godi" in "Island at the Top of the World" I vividly recall the first time that I set eyes on "Maximilian" the menacing robot in this far darker Disney film from 1979. The "Palomino" discovers the long lost "Cygnus" on the precipice of a black hole and they board her. Once there, they discover that the captain - an excellently eerie Maximilian Schell ("Reinhardt") and our aforementioned robot are determined to take their ship through the spatial anomaly. Soon, though, our visitors discover there is something far more sinister going on and it becomes a test of wits as they and their own - rather more friendly - robots try to escape in one piece. It is not a film seen too often nowadays which is a shame; it shows that back then, Disney could on occasion do more "adult" films with good SFX, a decent, intelligent, script and a cast - including Anthony Perkins, Joseph Bottoms, Ernest Borgnine with something to get their teeth into and Roddy McDowell has good fun as the wise-cracking, laser-toting hover-bot "V. I. N. cent"
The Black Hole
“A journey that begins where everything ends.”
The explorer craft USS Palomino is returning to Earth after a fruitless 18-month search for extra-terrestrial life when the crew comes upon a supposedly lost ship, the USS Cygnus, hovering near a black hole. The ship is controlled by Dr. Hans Reinhardt and his monstrous robot companion, but the initial wonderment and awe the Palomino crew feel for the ship and its resistance to the power of the black hole turn to horror as they uncover Reinhardt's plans.
Quick Stats
5.8
TMDB Rating
568
Votes
1h 38m
Runtime
$20.0M
Budget
$35.8M
Box Office
179%
Return
Key Crew
DirectorGary Nelson
WriterGerry Day
CinematographyFrank V. Phillips
ComposerJohn Barry
EditorG. Gregg McLaughlin
Production DesignWilbur L. Russell
Produced by
Walt Disney Productions
Where to Watch
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Critics & Reviews
1 featuredCast
Maximilian Schell
Dr. Hans Reinhardt
Anthony Perkins
Dr. Alex Durant
Robert Forster
Captain Dan Holland
Joseph Bottoms
Lieutenant Charles Pizer
Yvette Mimieux
Dr. Kate McCrae
Ernest Borgnine
Harry Booth
Tom McLoughlin
Captain S.T.A.R.
Roddy McDowall
V.I.N.CENT. (voice) (uncredited)
Slim Pickens
B.O.B. (voice) (uncredited)
Gary Nelson
Drone with Mask Removed (uncredited)
Steven Banks
Sentry Robot (uncredited)
D
Don Lewis
Sentry Robot (uncredited)
