The Reluctant Astronaut Totally Explained

Everything about The Reluctant Astronaut totally explained

The Reluctant Astronaut is a 1967 film starring comedian Don Knotts. It is the second film Knotts did for Universal following his big hit The Ghost and Mr. Chicken. The film also stars Leslie Nielsen, Arthur O'Connell, Jeanette Nolan, and Jesse White. Future Andy Griffith Show star Paul Hartman also appears in a small part, and writers Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum return to help write this story

Plot

Roy Fleming (Knotts) works at a fairground as the captain of a spaceship ride in the small Missouri town of Sweetwater. His father Arbuckle Fleming (O'Connell) a former World War I corporal wants better things for his son, so he writes an application to NASA for Roy to be an astronaut, and when Roy comes home from work that day, his mother tells that they've accepted him as a "WB-1074", giving everyone the belief that NASA has accepted Roy as an astronaut, but there's one problem, Roy is afraid of heights (when he's done with the ride, he's to get help down from the ladder on the rocket). Unfortunately, his father never listens to him, and doesn't give him the chance to explain. To make matters worse for Roy, a date he'd planned for himself and the concession stand girl Ellie Jackson was cancelled when her uncle comes down with the flu, and unfortunately, she too doesn't listen to him when he tries to explain that he's going to be an astronaut.
   The next day, he's led to the airfield by his family and his father's two friends Plank, and Rush. There he desperately tries one last time to escape leaving, by pretending to lose his ticket which his mother eventually finds in her purse. Before he leaves, Ellie arrives to tell Roy that she found out the news, and she apologizes. After Roy says his goodbyes, the family and friends see the plane take off and assume that Roy is on the plane. What they don't know is that Roy didn't get on. After the plane takes off. We see Roy hiding in the field and heading for the bus station.
   Eventually, Roy arrives at the Manned Space Center in Houston, and is placed in a program headed by Donelli (Jesse White). Donelli informs Roy the shocking news – his training program is to become a janitor. With his father and townsfolk so proud of him, Roy continues the charade and lets everyone think he's training to become an astronaut. At the base, Roy befriends veteran astronaut Major Fred Gifford (Leslie Nielsen).
   One day, Roy sees his father, Buck Fleming along with Plank and Rush on the closed-circuit TV monitor and realizes they're paying him a surprise visit. Roy quickly dons a space suit, pretends to be a real astronaut in training, and gives them a grand tour. When Roy accidentally takes a ride on a rocket sled, he's caught by Donelli, who informs Buck Fleming the sad truth – Roy is no astronaut in training, but a janitor.
   With Roy drowning his humiliation at a bar, a staff meeting at NASA declares the Russians are planning on sending a dentist to space, to prove how safe their space program is. NASA counters they want to send a mission right away with the man least likely to fly to space. Major Gifford recommends Roy, and they find him in the bar.
   Roy is sent into space with his father watching on TV, convinced the janitor story must have been for security reasons. Roy accidentally gets peanut butter in the guidance system, and is in danger of being lost in space. Suddenly, Roy remembers the retro rockets from the amusement ride and launches them, remarkably sending the rocket safely home.
   Roy is hailed as a hero, and on his plane to his honeymoon, stays off the flight. He is still scared of heights.

Legacy

"The Reluctant Astronaut" was a popular children's film during the Apollo space programme, and was frequently shown on weekend afternoons. One minor achievement of the film is teaching the meaning of the word "reluctant" to millions of school-age children.. Tragically, according to Knotts' 1998 autobiography, not long after shooting the scenes and the Kennedy Space Center, the infamous Apollo 1 fire occurred and killed three astronauts. Universal Pictures was skeptical about releasing a comedy on space travel so soon after that tragedy.

Soundtrack

Track listing

Main Title 2:42
Jeepers :45
Age of Descent / Buck Up :54
The Send Off / Flight Shrubbed 2:05
N.A.S.A. 1:08
On the Double :53
Doneli's Man Fleming :52
Long Distance / Short Change / Say Cheese 1:49
Wishful Thinking 1:18
Homecoming :34
Stars & Stripes Forever* 1:02
A Real Swinger 2:14
The Imposter :56
Flight Fright / Rear, March 1:51
A Couple of Losers 2:24
Depth Charge 1:33
Jettisoned 1:50
Over the Top / Atta boy, Roy 3:38
Fly Guy / Getting Settled 2:26
Crackers Away 1:18
All Fouled Up 3:31
Aloha Oi 1:41
End Title :51
End Cast :31

Bonus Tracks

Kiddleland Rocket Ride 2:02

Roy & Ellie at Kiddieland 2:12

Kiddieland - back to Work 1:58

The Space Song :36

1967 Special Featurette & Interview Promo

Hosted by Dick Strout, Hollywood Commentator 12:00Further Information

Get more info on 'The Reluctant Astronaut'.

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