About Spaceballs (1987)

Spaceballs is a 1987 American satirical comic science fiction film directed by Mel Brooks. Known for parodying a series of iconic sci-fi films such as Star Wars, Star Trek, and Alien, the movie leaves no stone unturned in offering rib-tickling humor. The story revolves around Lone Starr, who, along with his half-man, half-dog sidekick Barf, helps Princess Vespa of planet Druidia escape the evil Dark Helmet. They attempt to save the universe from the ruthless Spaceballs.

Making / Production

Mel Brooks, known for his comedic genius, directed, produced, and co-authored the screenplay for the movie. Thomas Meehan and Ronny Graham co-wrote the screenplay. Apart from directing and writing, Brooks also played two roles in the film.

Actors

• Bill Pullman: As Lone Starr, he delivered a fantastic performance balancing his character's heroism with light-hearted humor.
• John Candy: Playing the role of the iconic half-man, half-dog Barf, Candy's genuinely warm and humorous performance is memorable.
• Daphne Zuniga: She played the role of Princess Vespa, and successfully included a comedic tone to the character's royal demeanor.
• Rick Moranis: Moranis perfectly embodied the evil yet ridiculous Dark Helmet, generating laughs with his character's unique helmet and stature.
• Mel Brooks: Besides directing, Brooks made us laugh playing two roles in the film: President Skroob and Yogurt.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The sound effects in the lightsaber-style "Schwartz" battle sequence were directly taken from Star Wars.
• The film's title is a play on the word "Space Battles".
• Rick Moranis brought his own idea to the Dark Helmet's costume design, making it oversized and ridiculous.
• While George Lucas enjoyed the parody, his one stipulation was that no merchandise for the film be made.

Quotes

• "I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate." - Dark Helmet
• "May the Schwartz be with you!" - Yogurt
• "Why didn't anybody tell me my ass was so big?" - Dark Helmet
• "We’re not just doing this for money, we’re doing it for a shitload of money!" - Lone Starr

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's music was composed by John Morris, who frequently collaborated with Brooks.
• The title song, "Spaceballs", was performed by the spin-off band the Spinners.
• The soundtrack features a rap version of the title theme called "Spaceballs (Rap)" by The Spinners.
• "The Ballad of the Lonestar" is a significant song in the film, playing at key points in the protagonists' journey.