The Reluctant Astronaut

The story

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.

Cast

D Don KnottsRoy Fleming L Leslie NielsenMajor Fred Gifford J Joan FreemanEllie Jackson J Jesse WhiteDonelli J Jeanette NolanMrs. Fleming F Frank McGrathPlank A Arthur O'ConnellArbuckle "Buck" Fleming J Joan ShawleeBlonde in Bar G Guy RaymondBert N Nydia WestmanAunt Zana P Paul HartmanRush R Robert F. SimonCervantes

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R Robert PickeringMoran B Bill QuinnCaptain Ferguson M Melissa GilbertNiece B Burt MustinNed M Marjorie BennettSweetwater Citizen at Mailbox H Herb VigranNASA Doctor P Paul BryarFirst Bus Driver (uncredited) P Pamelyn FerdinMary - Little Girl (uncredited)