The Reluctant Astronaut

Roy Fleming is a small-town kiddie-ride operator who is deathly afraid of heights. After learning that his father has signed him up for the space program, Roy reluctantly heads for Houston, only to find out upon arriving that his job is as a janitor, not an astronaut. Anxious to live up to the expectations of his domineering father, Roy manages to keep up a facade of being an astronaut to his family and friends. When NASA decides to launch a layperson into space to prove the worthiness of a new automated spacecraft, Roy gets the chance to confront his fears.

5.9

101 min

Cast

Don Knotts

as Roy Fleming

Leslie Nielsen

as Major Fred Gifford

Joan Freeman

as Ellie Jackson

Jesse White

as Donelli

Jeanette Nolan

as Mrs. Fleming

Frank McGrath

as Plank

Arthur O'Connell

as Arbuckle "Buck" Fleming

Joan Shawlee

as Blonde in Bar

Guy Raymond

as Bert

Nydia Westman

as Aunt Zana

Paul Hartman

as Rush

Robert F. Simon

as Cervantes

Robert Pickering

as Moran

Bill Quinn

as Captain Ferguson

Melissa Gilbert

as Niece

Burt Mustin

as Ned

Marjorie Bennett

as Sweetwater Citizen at Mailbox

Herb Vigran

as NASA Doctor

Paul Bryar

as First Bus Driver (uncredited)

Director

Edward Montagne