8pm Thursday SPACEBALLS (1987) Sci-Fi Comedy - PG
Princess Vespa’s in trouble. Planet Druidia’s doomed and only a star-pilot and his trusty half-man, half-dog sidekick can save the day from the evil henchman Dark Helmet.
In a distant galaxy, planet Spaceball has depleted its air supply, leaving its citizens reliant on a product called "Perri-Air." In desperation, Spaceball's leader President Skroob (Mel Brooks) orders the evil Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) to kidnap Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) of oxygen-rich Druidia and hold her hostage in exchange for air. But help arrives for the Princess in the form of renegade space pilot Lone Starr (Bill Pullman) and his half-man, half-dog partner, Barf (John Candy).
TRIVIA
- In a 2013 TV interview, Mel Brooks said George Lucas let him parody anything from Star Wars on one condition: no merchandise from the movie could be made. That’s why Yogurt and the Dinks only deal in merchandising in the film and why none of those products were ever actually sold.
- According to Mel Brooks, George Lucas loved the movie, and wrote him a letter after its premiere, saying he thought he was going to bust something from laughing so hard.
- Lucas also told Brooks had he not chosen to parody Star Wars, this movie would have succeeded as a great adventure movie. Brooks said he was extremely flattered by Lucas's compliments and support.
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