Review of Star Pilot

Aliens from the planet Hydra crash land their spaceship on Earth. The ship's occupants kidnap a scientist and force him to fix their damaged craft. However, the scientist, his daughter, several technicians, and two untrustworthy Oriental spies who all have been taken hostage band together to mutiny against their captures. Writer/director Pietro Francisco relates the entertainingly asinine story at a snappy pace and treats the gloriously ludicrous premise with hilariously misguided seriousness. The game acting from the enthusiastic cast keeps everything humming, with especially commendable work from ravishing redhead Leonora Ruffo as formidable alien leader Kaena, Mario Novelli as the handsome and dashing Paolo, Roland Lesaffre as the no-nonsense Prof. Solmi, Kirk Morris as the stolid Belsy, and the luscious Leontine May as the spunky Luisa Solmi. Legendary muscleman Gordon Mitchell has a regrettably tiny part as gruff alien Murdu. The cruddy (far from) special effects, dodgy dubbing, clumsily staged action set pieces, a welcome appearance by a savage tribe of grunting'n'leaping primitive apemen extraterrestrials, and the totally unexpected from out in left field surprise bummer ending all add immensely to this picture's considerable campy charm. The garish cinematography by Giulio Albonico and Silvano Ippoliti gives the movie an eye-popping bright look. Nico Fidenco's neatly varied score alternates between groovy swinging lounge and more generic spacey stuff. A complete kitschy hoot.