USA, 1954
81m
35mm film, Technicolor
mono (Western Electric Recording), English
An American science fiction film directed by Byron Haskin and produced by George Pal.
Premise
A group of scientists and astronauts live and work on a huge wheel-like space station, readying for a trip to the moon. Word comes through that the mission is being changed – they’re now going to Mars. The team have to deal with not only the day-to-day dangers of life in space but with one of their top men suddenly being gripped by a religious fervour that threatens to derail the mission.
Credits
* = uncredited
Crew
Directed by: Byron Haskin
Copyright MCMLIV [1954] by Paramount Pictures Corporation
A Paramount picture
Produced by: George Pal
Associate Producer: Frank Freeman Jr
Screenplay by: James O’Hanlon
Adaptation by: Philip Yordan, Barré Lyndon and George Worthing Yates
Based on the book by Chesley Bonestell and Willy Ley
Book: The Mars Project by Wernher von Braun *
Director of Photography: Lionel Lindon
Edited by: Everett Douglas
Music Score by: Van Cleave
Sound Recording by: Harold Lewis and Gene Garvin
Makeup Supervision: Wally Westmore
Special Photographic Effects: John P. Fulton and Irwin Roberts, Paul Lerpae, Ivyl Burks, Jan Domela
Art Direction: Hal Pereira and Joseph MacMillan Johnson
Cast
Walter Brooke (General Samuel T. Merritt)
Eric Fleming (Captain Barney Merritt)
Mickey Shaughnessy (Sergeant Mahoney)
Phil Foster (Jackie Siegle)
William Redfield (Roy Cooper)
William Hopper (Dr George Fenton)
Benson Fong (Imoto)
Ross Martin (Andre Fodor)
Vito Scotti (Sanella)
John Dennis (Donkersgoed)
Michael Fox (Elsbach)
Joan Shawlee (Rosie)
Iphigenie Castiglioni (Mrs Fodor)
Alternative Titles
La conquista dello spazio – Italy
Die Eroberung des Weltalls – Germany
Mars Project – early title
Links
Extracts included in
Destination Space (1958)
References
Periodicals
- Castle of Frankenstein no.8 p.40
- Monthly Film Bulletin April 1955 p.50 – credits, synopsis, review
- Nebula Science Fiction vol.1 no.2 (Spring 1953) p.95 – note (Scientifilm previews by Forrest J. Ackerman)
- Variety 7 April 1955 – credits, review
Books
- The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Science Fiction by Phil Hardy (ed) pp.151-152
- Escape Velocity by Bradley Schauer pp.62, 67, 90
- Hoffman’s Guide to SF, Horror and Fantasy Movies 1991-1992 p.77 – credits, review
- Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.73 – credits
- Variety Science-Fiction Movies by Julian Brown (ed.) p.28 – illustrated credits, review
