Space Rage

Space Rage: Breakout on Prison Planet is a 1985 American space Western film directed by Conrad E. Palmisano and starring Richard Farnsworth, Michael Paré, John Laughlin, Lee Purcell and William Windom. Some promotional materials have used the abridged title Space Rage.^[5] The original version of the film, Trackers, only received a test release and was not widely seen.^[1]

Space Rage: Breakout on Prison Planet
Poster for the film's original version
Directed by	Conrad E. Palmisano
Screenplay by	Jim Lenahan
Story by	Morton Reed
Produced by	Morton Reed
Starring	Richard Farnsworth Michael Paré John Laughlin Lee Purcell William Windom
Cinematography	Tom Richmond Tim Suhrstedt
Edited by	Arthur J. Bressan Jr. W. Peter Miller
Music by	Billy Ferrick Zander Schloss
Production companies	Vestron Entertainment Morton Reed Productions[1]
Distributed by	Vestron Pictures
Release date	November 21, 1986 (1986-11-21)[2] (Space Rage version)
Running time	77 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$3.2–3.5 million (before reshoots)[3][4]

Plot

Two centuries in the future, a dangerous lunatic named Grange is sentenced to a penal colony, Botany Bay, on the planet Proxima Centauri 3. There, a bounty hunter and an ex-policeman team up to prevent him from escaping.^[6]

Cast

• Richard Farnsworth as Colonel
• Michael Paré as Grange
• John Laughlin as Walker
• Lee Purcell as Maggie
• William Windom as Gov. Tovah
• Lewis Van Bergen as Drago
• Frank Doubleday as Brain Surgeon
• Dennis Redfield as Quinn
• Harold Sylvester as Max Bryson
• Wolfe Perry as Billy Boy
• Ricky Supiran as Kirk
• Nick Palmisano as Carny
• Rick Weber as Nose
• Eddie Pansullo as Mean guard
• Paul Linke as Duffy
• Gene Hartline as Bubba
• Allan Graf as Tiny
• Paul Keith as Dr. Wehiberg
• R.J. Ganzert as Tallahassee
• Jim Bentley as Bob Smith
• Susan Madigan as Mary Smith
• William Cowley as Charlie

Production

The film was the brainchild of Beverly Hills psychologist Morton Reed. During a luncheon with film industry friends Roger Corman and Elliott Slutzky, he heard them complain about how hard it was to find fresh concepts. Reed, who had moonlighted as a writer, told them on a dare that he could easily come up with an exciting movie.^[7] He formed his own company Morton Reed Productions^[8] and found a partner in Vestron, a distributor of genre films looking to branch out into production.^[1][9] His project was the most expensive of Vestron's initial three-picture slate, which also comprised two chillers from Friday the 13th producer Steve Minasian, Don't Scream: It's Only a Movie! and April Fool's Day (later renamed Slaughter High).^[3] The film's budget was initially estimated between $3.2 million and $3.5 million.^[3][4] It was helmed by stunt coordinator Conrad Palmisano, in his main unit directorial debut.

Principal photography began on January 26, 1985.^[10] During a personal appearance in early March, Farnsworth confirmed that he had just wrapped up work on the film.^[11] The movie was shot under the title A Dollar a Day.^[11] Shortly after however, it had been re-titled to Trackers: 2180 or just Trackers.^[3][7] Some sources mention another considered title, The Last Frontier.^[1][8] Farnsworth, who was disappointed with his previous performance and contemplating retirement, expressed satisfaction with the picture.^[11] Reed conceded that he had been surprised by the demands of filmmaking, saying: "It's incredible, such hard hours, that I don't think there can be a really, totally bad filmmaker in the world. If you finish, you're a hero. No matter how you did it, it's incredible."^[7] Following test screenings however, Reed's efforts fell short of expectations and the movie was ordered to undergo reshoots, which were directed by production executive Peter McCarthy.^[10]

Release

Theatrical

The film received a theatrical premiere in Stamford, Connecticut, the hometown of production company Vestron, on Christmas 1985.^[1][9][10] By early 1986, it was still being promoted as Trackers: 2180.^[12] It was then shelved and retooled before its actual release as Space Rage in Ohio, starting on November 21, 1986.^[2] However, there is no indication that it ever expanded to other markets.

Home media

The film was released on Betamax and VHS cassettes via Vestron subsidiary Lightning Video on July 21, 1987.^[13]

Reception

The Variety reviewer identified as Lor. was negative, opining: "Special effects are meager and there is almost no futurism to the picture's design, an instant disappointment for sci-fi fans. A good cast is wasted, particularly Lee Purcell." He summed up the film as a "clunker."^[1] Leonard Maltin wrote that Farnsworth "should've turned [his laser-beam six-shooter] on the negative of this bomb."^[14] Sister publications The Motion Picture Annual and TV Guide called it "an uneasy blend of science fiction and western," although they praised the unconventional casting of Paré as a villain.^[9][15] Bantam Books' Movies on TV and Videocassette felt that "futuristic trappings fail to enliven this tired shoot-'em-up."^[16]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack includes song by alternative rock bands The Spikes, The Screaming Believers, Exploding White Mice, Dream Syndicate and Blood Money.