Four men travel to the Moon but then discover their rocket does not have enough fuel for the return trip.
Intended to be the first realistic film about space exploration, producer George Pal’s fun effort was beaten into cinemas by the exploitation quickie Rocketship X-M. But that didn’t have an animated lecture on the principles of space travel hosted by Woody Woodpecker!
Co-scripted by science fiction great Robert A Heinlein, the pedestrian tale of man’s first lunar landing has dated badly, and the corny dialogue uttered by the barely adequate cast doesn’t help.
Yet the enthralling look, taken straight from the pulp fiction illustrations of the day, is enchanting and colourful and the special effects (which won an Oscar) are impressive for the era.
Dr Charles Cargraves
Warner Anderson Jim Barnes
John Archer Gen Thayer
Tom Powers Joe Sweeney
Dick Wesson Emily Cargraves
Erin O’Brien-Moore Brown
Ted Warde
Director
Irving Pichel
Related Posts
It Came from Outer Space (1953) Based on Ray Bradbury's story The Meteor, this early 3-D classic was the first of many brilliant sci-fi films from…
This Island Earth (1955) Scientist, playboy and pilot Dr Cal Meacham (Rex Reason) returns to the Ryberg Lab in California from Washington DC to…
Battle in Outer Space (1959) In 1965 bizarre phenomena cause disasters all over the world. The United Nations traces the destructive acts to alien forces…
When Worlds Collide (1951) Before there was Deep Impact (1998) and Armageddon (1998), world destruction was done up in 1950s sci-fi style. The rights to Philip Wylie and Edwin…
Conquest of Space (1955) Conquest of Space is a good science fiction adventure, dazzlingly photographed in Technicolor. An American-led International team of astronauts leave their space…
Rocket Man, The (1954) In the days before zero-tolerance policies and school shootings, kids were allowed to bring truth-telling alien rayguns to school anytime…
Around The World In 80 Days (1956) A splendid, charming film version of Jules Verne's magnificent travelogue with spectacular sketches from various parts of the world and…
Man Accused (1959) Bob Jenson (Ronald Howard) is in the middle of celebrating his engagement to wealthy young baronet Katherine Riddle (Carol Marsh…
