Superhero Films – The Return of Captain Invincible (1983)
A review of the superhero comedy/musical The Return of Captain Invincible starring Alan Arkin, Christopher Lee, Kate Fitzpatrick and Michael Pate
It’s a superhero film! It’s a comedy! It’s…..a musical???
During WWII the great Captain Invincible lends assistance with his super-heroic abilities in helping to stop the Nazis and becomes a symbol of hope, honor and freedom across the globe.
His do-gooding deeds don’t do much for his reputation in the 1950’s when the good Captain is accused of being a “red” and also faces charges of flying without a pilots license, plus a wearing underwear in public charge!
Anger and resentment sets in and the skies are vacant when Captain Invincible disappears. Once a beloved hero he is now an anonymous bum who drinks his days away in Australia.
However, in 1983 a sinister villain threatens the planet and there is only person who can possibly stop him. The Captain is asked to don his tights again and defeat his longtime nemesis Mr. Midnight who now has implemented his most evil plan yet! Can the Captain emerge sober long enough to save us? Will he be able to figure out how to fly again? Can he salvage some of his long lost patriotism? And how is he at carrying a tune?
Possibly the most bizarre entry in my superhero series so far. Starring Alan Arkin, Christopher Lee, Kate Fitzpatrick and Michael Pate, The Return of Captain Invincible features songs by Richard O’Brien and Richard Hartly, whose collaboration in 1975’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show made the film a cult classic. Yes, it has Arkin and Lee singing!
I take a look at this lesser known superhero film directed by Phillipe Mora and see if The Return of Captain Invincible deserves more attention than what it’s gotten since its first release or does it justify to be one of those films that most people say – “I have never heard of this!”
Superhero Films – Chap. 22: The Return of Captain Invincible from HaphazardStuff on Vimeo.
I’m one of the people that enjoyed this movie, but I’ve only seen it once way back in the late 80s when I was about 15. It was buried in the midnight movie slots on the BBC. If it wasn’t for the fact I was recovering from surgery and couldn’t sleep I probably would never have seen it as I’ve never seen it anywhere since.
I must be honest that I’d forgotten it even existed until I saw your video and now I’ve got all those songs buzzing around my head again it’s making me wanting to try and find the DVD/BD release or something, if one even exists.
At least in the 80s I could blame being on strong post op painkillers for loving the film, now I’ve just got pure old wacky nostalgia and Sir Christopher Lee’s love of “Booze” to blame it on. lol.
Thanks for making this video, it’s brought a lot of memories back.