The Reluctant Astronaut (1967): Cast & Plot
The Reluctant Astronaut is a 1967 sci-fi comedy directed by Edward Montagne, starring Arthur O'Connell as Arbuckle "Buck" Fleming, Jeanette Nolan and Don Knotts. It runs 1 hour 41 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 41m (101 min)
- Director
- Edward Montagne
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Universal Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Reluctant Astronaut About?
The premise of The Reluctant Astronaut without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Roy Fleming operates kiddie rides in a small town and fears heights. After his demanding father enrolls him in the space program, Roy goes to Houston, only to find his role is janitor, not astronaut. To impress his family, he masquerades as an astronaut, and finally faces his fear when NASA sends a civilian aboard a new automated spacecraft.
The Reluctant Astronaut Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- nasa
- space sci fi
- psychotronic film
- adult child lives with parents
- picture on front page of newspaper
- spacecraft museum
- reference to george raft
- saturn 1b launch
- janitor
- douglas dc 3
- man wears a space suit
- carnival
+38 more Show fewer
- reference to burt lancaster
- sliding a glass down a bar
- broom
- man wears a flight suit
- locker room
- scale model spaceship
- human centrifuge
- passionate kiss
- computer room
- upright piano
- parachuting
- sweeping
- speed air trunk lines
- fired from a job
- breaking a bottle
- pekinese
- plane ticket
- floor polishing machine
- space ship cake
- greyhound bus
- raggedy ann doll
- mercedes convertible
- original song
- group photograph
- tire swing
- yellow jeep
- lipstick on face
- space helmet
- jet pack
- girls' chorus
- rocket sled
- lockheed p 80 shooting star
- kennedy space center
- ejection seat
- copper scouring pad
- boilermaker the drink
- drinking beer from a bottle
- tree swing
The Reluctant Astronaut Cast & Characters
Arthur O'Connell leads the cast as Arbuckle "Buck" Fleming, with Jeanette Nolan as Mrs. Fleming and Don Knotts as Roy Fleming. Directed by Edward Montagne; 19 actors are credited in all.
- Director Edward Montagne
-
Arthur O'Connell as Arbuckle "Buck" Fleming -
Jeanette Nolan as Mrs. Fleming - Don Knotts as Roy Fleming
-
Marjorie Bennett as Sweetwater Citizen at Mailbox
Also Starring in The Reluctant Astronaut
· 15 more- Leslie Nielsen Major Fred Gifford
- Joan Freeman Ellie Jackson
- Jesse White Donelli
- Herb Vigran NASA Doctor
- Paul Bryar First Bus Driver (uncredited)
- Melissa Gilbert Niece
- Robert F. Simon Cervantes
- Nydia Westman Aunt Zana
- Burt Mustin Ned
- Joan Shawlee Blonde in Bar
- Bill Quinn Captain Ferguson
- Frank McGrath Plank
- Paul Hartman Rush
- Guy Raymond Bert
- Robert Pickering Moran
More from Edward Montagne
More films directed by Edward Montagne: They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way, McHale’s Navy Joins the Air Force, McHale’s Navy and The Man with My Face.
The Reluctant Astronaut Plot Summary
What happens in The Reluctant Astronaut from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Roy Fleming is a 35-year-old fairground operator who runs a kiddie-spaceship ride in Sweetwater, Missouri. He still lives with his parents and carries a crippling case of acrophobia, a fear that has shadowed him for years. His Buck Fleming, a World War I veteran and a steady if stern presence, wants something better for his son and goes so far as to send an application to NASA in the hope of opening doors Roy hasn’t managed to knock on himself. Roy later discovers from his mother that NASA has accepted him as a “WB-1074,” a designation that sounds grand but, unbeknownst to the Flemings, turns out to be a janitorial job rather than the astronaut’s role they expect.
Full summary
The whole story of The Reluctant Astronaut, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Reluctant Astronaut?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is Roy Fleming's age at the start of the film?
Cars in The Reluctant Astronaut
7 cars on screen, including the 1954 GMC PD 4501 and the 1963 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL W113.
-
1954 GMC PD 4501 Important role -
1963 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL W113 Important role -
1966 Volkswagen Sedan Typ 1 Important role -
1955 Willys Jeep CJ-5 Important role
The Reluctant Astronaut Also Known As
3 alternative titles, including “L'Astronaute réticent” and “Den skøre rumpilot”.
- Also known as
-
- L'Astronaute réticent
- Den skøre rumpilot
- Um Astronauta Fora de Órbita
Seen The Reluctant Astronaut?
Movies Like The Reluctant Astronaut
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Astronaut Farmer, Astronaut and The Astronaut.
The Reluctant Astronaut FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Reluctant Astronaut, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Reluctant Astronaut?
The Reluctant Astronaut runs 1 hour 41 minutes (101 minutes).
When was The Reluctant Astronaut released?
The Reluctant Astronaut was released on September 5, 1967.
Who directed The Reluctant Astronaut?
The Reluctant Astronaut was directed by Edward Montagne.
More films by Edward Montagne Who is in the cast of The Reluctant Astronaut?
The Reluctant Astronaut stars Arthur O'Connell as Arbuckle "Buck" Fleming, Jeanette Nolan as Mrs. Fleming and Don Knotts as Roy Fleming, among 19 credited actors.
Does The Reluctant Astronaut have a post-credit scene?
No. The Reluctant Astronaut has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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