| The Return of Captain Invincible | |
| Director: | Philippe Mora |
| Producer: | Andrew Gaty |
| Starring: | Alan Arkin Christopher Lee Kate Fitzpatrick Bill Hunter |
| Cinematography: | Mike Molloy |
| Editing: | John Scott |
| Music: | Richard Hartley William Motzing Richard O'Brien |
| Distributor: | Seven Keys |
| Runtime: | 101 minutes |
| Country: | Australia |
| Language: | English |
| Budget: | A$7 million[1] |
| Gross: | AU$55,110 (Australia) |
The Return of Captain Invincible is a 1983 Australian superhero musical comedy film directed by Philippe Mora, and starring Alan Arkin and Christopher Lee. It was a box office disappointment on release but has become a cult film since then.[2]
The plot involves the super-hero called "Captain Invincible" (also known as "Legend in Leotards", "The Caped Contender" and "Man of Magnet") who is active during Prohibition, The Depression, World War II, and the Early 1950s. Once a popular hero to all Americans, he is forced into retirement by McCarthy-style government persecution in 1953.
A congressional investigation accuses him of being a communist, citing his red cape and "premature anti-fascism". He is charged with violating U.S. airspace by flying without a proper license, impersonating a military officer, and wearing underwear in public. He disappears from the public eye, moving to Australia and becoming an alcoholic.
Thirty years later, his old nemesis, the super-villain "Mr. Midnight", re-emerges and steals a secret government super-weapon: the hypno-ray. The US government asks Captain Invincible to return, and the story follows his attempts to return to super-heroing and redeem his reputation.
The Return of Captain Invincible was directed by Philippe Mora, and produced by Seven Keys Production and Willara and distributed by Seven Keys in Australia. It was scheduled for release in the US by Jensen Farley Pictures, but the company went out of business days before the scheduled national opening; it was later offered on American VHS and laserdisc by Magnum Entertainment. A widescreen DVD later followed from Elite Entertainment Inc.
Lyricist Richard O'Brien and composer Richard Hartley, known for their prior collaboration on The Rocky Horror Show and its subsequent film adaptation, contributed three songs, including "Captain Invincible", "Evil Midnight" and "Name Your Poison".
After completion, producer Andrew Gaty, acting on the advice of his American distributor, recut. Mora objected and the matter wound up before the Minister of Home Affairs, Tom McVeigh, who declared that the film was not "Australian" and thus did not qualify for the 150% tax deduction available for investors. Gaty challenged this decision in court and won.[3] [4]
The Return of Captain Invincible grossed a mere $55,110 at the Australian box office against a budget of $7 million.[5]
British fantasy novelist Terry Pratchett called the film "a series of bad moments pasted together with great songs and a budget of fourpence," but said that he had watched it a number of times.[6] Colin Greenland reviewed The Return of Captain Invincible for Imagine magazine, and stated that "Featuring hilarious musical routines from the man who wrote The Rocky Horror Picture Show and tongue-in-cheek aerobatics by the effects team from Superman, this eccentric, extraordinary and utterly delightful Australian movie has been unforgiveably denied to British audiences until now. All credit to Entertainment in Video for discovering it."[7]
| Award | Category | Subject | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| AACTA Awards (1983 AFI Awards) | Best Production Design | David Copping | |
| Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival | Grand Prize | Philippe Mora | |
| Sitges Film Festival | Caixa de Catalunya for Best Special Effects | Bob McCarron | |