Mutiny in Outer Space (1965)

Scientists researching ice caves on the moon pick up a creeping flesh-eating fungus. On their return voyage to Earth, they inadvertently take the extraterrestrial fungus to Space Station X-7 where it multiplies, consuming the station and all onboard.

Major Towers (William Leslie) wants to quarantine the station and prevent any exposure to Earthbound vessels or personnel, but the station’s commander Colonel Cromwell (Richard Garland), orders the news of the fungus to be kept secret, partly because he is on his last mission and can’t risk a bad reputation, and partly because the Colonel is suffering from “space raptures” – a sort of cabin fever – and is gradually losing his mind.

The remaining crew plans to take command away from the captain (the “mutiny” of the title) while racing against the clock to find a pesticide to kill the voracious fungus.

Shot in black & white,  Mutiny in Outer Space was filmed in six days at Producers Studio in Hollywood with a budget of just $90,000. The film has a ridiculous plot, atrocious dialogue and quite awful spaceship models, but somehow it has a freshness and naivety that places it among the really enjoyable bad films.

This was Harold Lloyd Jr.’s final film before a stroke ended his career.

Maj. Gordon Towers
William Leslie
Faith Montaine
Dolores Faith
Lt. Connie Engstrom
Pamela Curran
Col. Frank Cromwell
Richard Garland
Sgt. Andrews
Harold Lloyd Jr.
Dr Hoffman
James Dobson
Sgt. Sloan
Ron Stokes
Maj. Olsen
Boyd Holister (as Robert Palmer)
Dr Stoddard
Gabriel Curtiz
Gen. Knowland
Glenn Langan
Sgt. Engstrom
H. Kay Stephens
Capt. Stevens
Francine York
Capt. Dan Webber
Carl Crow

Director
Hugo Grimaldi