Captain America (1979 film)
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| Captain America | |
|---|---|
DVD cover
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| Genre | Superhero film |
| Directed by | Rod Holcomb |
| Starring | Reb Brown |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Running time | 97 minutes |
| Distributor | CBS |
| Release | |
| Original release | January 19, 1979 |
| Chronology | |
| Followed by | Captain America II: Death Too Soon |
Captain America is an 1979 television film loosely based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, directed by Rod Holcomb and starring Reb Brown. The film was followed by the sequel Captain America II: Death Too Soon, also released in the same year.[1]
Contents
Plot
Steve Rogers (Reb Brown) is a contemporary man whose father was a 1940s government agent. The very patriotic attitude of Steve's father (patriotism that did not consist of "corny flag-waving" but was, instead, oriented towards a better America) earned him the nickname "Captain America." His father was later murdered. Rogers, a former Marine now making a living as an artist and traveling the countryside in a conversion van, is inspired by his father's story to sketch a super-hero. After receiving potentially fatal injuries in an attempt on his life intended to seem like an accident, he is administered an experimental chemical called the FLAG formula; FLAG is an acronym for "Full Latent Ability Gain," a kind of "super-steroid." (Rogers's father had developed the FLAG serum from his own glands.) The formula not only saves his life but enhances his strength and reflexes. These new abilities inspire Dr. Simon Mills (Len Birman), the research biochemist and intelligence official behind FLAG who was once a friend of Steve's father, to recruit Steve and give him a costume based on his drawing. As Captain America, Steve's conversion van is so re-configured that it can launch a high-tech motorcycle. The bike features rocket thrust, a jet booster for rapid acceleration, a stealth setting that reduces engine and road noise, and (as shown only in Captain America II: Death Too Soon) a detachable wing resembling a hang glider that allows limited gravity-powered flight. In the last scene of the film, Rogers decides to become the same Captain America as his father had been in every way--this means wearing an identical uniform to that which his father had worn, the "classic" Captain America uniform, which Brown, as the Captain, is shown wearing in the final scene. (Brown again wore the classic uniform when he reprised his roles as Rogers and as the Captain in Captain America II: Death Too Soon.)
Cast
- Reb Brown as Steve Rogers / Captain America
- Len Birman as Dr. Simon Mills
- Heather Menzies as Dr. Wendy Day
- Robin Mattson as Tina Hayden
- Joseph Ruskin as Rudy Sandrini
- Lance LeGault as Harley
- Frank Marth as Charles Barber
- Steve Forrest as Lou Brackett
- Chip Johnson as Jerry
- James Ingersoll as Lester Wiant
- Jim B. Smith as F.B.I. Assistant
- Jason Wingreen as Surgeon
- June Dayton as Secretary
- Diana Webster as Nurse
- Dan Barton as Jeff Haden
Reception
The movie received a mixed reception from critics.[2][3]
