Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
Coming Out at 17 September 2004 in theaters.
Action, Adventure, Mystery
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is science fiction action-adventure film written and directed by Kerry Conran in his directorial debut, and produced by Jon Avnet, Sadie Frost, Jude Law and Marsha Oglesby. The film stars Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Angelina Jolie. It is an example of “Ottensian” (pre-WWII) dieselpunk.
Conran spent four years making a black and white teaser with a bluescreen set up in his living room and using a Macintosh IIci. He was able to show it to Avnet, who was so impressed that Avnet spent two years working with him on his screenplay. No major studio was interested, but Avnet convinced Aurelio De Laurentiis to finance Sky Captain without a distribution deal (a worldwide distribution deal would later happen with Paramount Pictures).
In a technologically-advanced 1939, the zeppelin Hindenburg III moors itself atop the Empire State Building. Aboard the airship is Dr. Jorge Vargas, a scientist who arranges for a package containing two vials to be delivered to Dr. Walter Jennings. The courier looks back while leaving with the vials, to see that Dr. Vargas has vanished.
Polly Perkins, a reporter for The Chronicle, is looking into the disappearances of Vargas and five other renowned scientists. A cryptic message leads her to Radio City Music Hall, against the warnings of her editor, Mr. Paley, where she meets Dr. Jennings during a showing of The Wizard of Oz. He tells her that a Dr. Totenkopf is coming for him next. Suddenly, seemingly indestructible robots attack the city. Clearly outmatched, the authorities call for “Sky Captain” Joe Sullivan, the city’s hero and Perkins’ ex-lover and the commander of the private air force the Flying Legion.
Director: Kerry Conran
Writer: Kerry Conran
Stars: Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Angelina Jolie, Giovanni Ribisi, Michael Gambon, Bai Ling
Cast:
Gwyneth Paltrow | … | Polly Perkins |
Jude Law | … | Sky Captain |
Giovanni Ribisi | … | Dex |
Michael Gambon | … | Editor Paley |
Bai Ling | … | Mysterious Woman |
Omid Djalili | … | Kaji |
Laurence Olivier | … | Dr. Totenkopf (archive footage) |
Angelina Jolie | … | Franky |
Trevor Baxter | … | Dr. Jennings |
Julian Curry | … | Dr. Vargas |
Peter Law | … | Dr. Kessler |
Jon Rumney | … | German Scientist |
Khan Bonfils | … | Creepy |
Samta Gyatso | … | Scary |
Louis Hilyer | … | Executive Officer |
Mark Wells | … | Communications Engineer |
James Cash | … | Uniformed Officer |
Tenzin Bhagen | … | Kalacakra Priest |
Thupten Tsondru | … | Dying Old Man |
Matthew Grant | … | Crewman #1 |
Steve Morphew | … | Crewman #2 |
Nancy Crane | … | Receptionist |
Stuart Milligan | … | Police Sergeant |
Paul Canter | … | Police Officer |
Demetri Goritsas | … | Radio Operator |
William Hope | … | American Broadcaster |
Jonathan Keeble | … | British Broadcaster |
Stephane Cornicard | … | French Broadcaster |
Stephen Ballantyne | … | German Broadcaster |
Victor Sobchak | … | Russian Broadcaster |
Mido Hamada | … | Soldier |
Gerard Monaco | … | Technician |
Chris Robson | … | Hindenburg Porter |
Matthew Coulter | … | Hindenburg Boy |
Merritt Yohnka | … | Construction Worker |
James Bannon | … | Voice Actor |
Karl Champley | … | Pilot |
David Decio | … | Pilot |
Matthew Feitshans | … | Officer |
Charlotte Kyle | … | Hindenberg Passenger |
Sky Soleil | … | Officer |
Chuen Tsou | … | Buddhist Monk |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia