Name: Hangar 18
Genre: Action, Science Fiction, Thriller
Released: 1980-07-01
Duration: 97 min
Rating: 5.2
Cast: Darren McGavin, Gary Collins, Robert Vaughn, James Hampton, Philip Abbott

Hangar 18

It started with an accident in space . . . and led to the terrifying secret in . . . HANGAR 18

During a Space Shuttle mission a satellite rams a unidentified flying object. The UFO afterwards performs an emergency landing in the deserts of Arizona. However the White House denies its existence because of the near presidential elections. The UFO is brought to the secret Hangar 18 and the accident is blamed on the incompetence of the astronauts Bancroff and Price. But the two fight against this and try to hunt down the UFO.

ActionScience FictionThriller

DirectorJames L. Conway

WritersKen Pettus, Thomas C. Chapman, James L. Conway

StatusReleased

LanguageEnglish

Release DateJuly 1, 1980

Runtime1h 37m

Revenue$6,000,000

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

June 7, 20235/10

When a couple of astronauts are convinced that they have been in a fatal collision with an UFO whilst launching a top secret military satellite in space, they are shunned by their peers and their government. Thing is, they were right - and when White House Chief of Staff "Cain" (a shockingly wooden Robert Vaughn) is informed that the spaceship has landed in Arizona, he orders it all hushed up as there is an election looming. Not to be deterred, and somewhat irked by their treatment, our two intrepid explorers - "Price" (James Hampton) and "Bancroft" (Gary Collins) engage in lots of "Dukes of Hazard' style car chases before tracking down the missing ship. Meantime, a team of scientists led by "Forbes" (Darren McGavin) have discovered that the ship had occupants - if you have ever seen the head-bust of Mentuemhat in Cairo then you will know what I mean - and it appears that these folks had designs on Earth's defence and power supply facilities - could there be an invasion imminent? The production is basic - lots of cannibalised bakelite kitchen utensils, cylon-style sound effects and blinking lights, and the dialogue is all a bit naff - but at least it does try to illustrate the politics of the discovery being far more important than any scientific benefit. I didn't hate it, but I can't in all honesty recommend it.