Mill Creek Sci-Fi Invasion Set: Star Pilot (1966)

Star Pilot predates TV’s Star Trek, yet it features references to Star Fleet, warp speed and impulse drive. However, the costumes for its female crewmembers are perhaps a bit — well, a lot — sexier than anything the U.S.S. Enterprise would ever have on board.

Directed by Pietro Francisci, who was behind the Steve Reeves starring Hercules and Hercules Unchained, this film is about the adventures of Chaena, the commander of a spaceship from the constellation Hydra. She takes an Earth scientist and his friends to repair her ship and then back to her home planet for genetic research.

Originally titled 2+5: Missione Hydra, this movie was re-released in 1977 under its new title to cash in on Star Wars. It’s filled with footage taken from other movies, like The Doomsday Machine, Gorath and Invasion of Astro-Monster. As a result, it seems like a cut and paste mess, which is probably because it is.

If you were the kind of kid who devoured Starlog and watched every science fiction movie no matter what in the 1970’s, then you should watch this. All normal — or somewhat normal — folks should consider this a hard pass. You can watch it (several copies) on You Tube.