UK, USA, 1952
74m (USA – theatrical), 77m 33s (UK – theatrical), 6,879 feet
35mm, black and white
mono (RCA Sound System), English
A British/American science fiction film directed by Terence Fisher.
Plot Summary
Scientists Stephen and Vanessa Mitchell are part of a British team testing the nation’s first rocket, but their personal lives are ruined by their bickering and by Vanessa’s affair with fellow scientist Philip Crenshaw. The rocket is launched but malfunctions and is left stranded in orbit – and Vanessa and Crenshaw have gone missing. Has Mitchell murdered them and hidden their bodies aboard the ruined rocket?
Credits
* = uncredited
Crew
Directed by: Terence Fisher
Copyright 1952 by Exclusive Films Ltd
Robert L. Lippert presents a Lippert production. Hammer Film Productions *
Produced by: Michael Carreras
Production Manager: Victor Wark
Screenplay by: Paul Tabori, Richard Landau
Freely adapted by Paul Tabori from the radio play by Charles Eric Maine
Assistant Director: Jimmy Sangster
Dialogue Director: Nora Roberts
Continuity: Renee Glynne
Director of Photography: Reginald Wyer
Camera Operator: Len Harris
Clapper Loader: Tom Friswell *
Editor: Maurice Rootes
Musical Director: Ivor Stanley
[Music Performed by]: The New Symphony Orchestra
Sound Recordist: Bill Salter
Boom Operator: Percy Britten *
Make-Up: D. Bonnor-Moris [real name: Dick Bonnor-Morris]
Hairdresser: Polly Young
Special Effects: The Trading Post Ltd.
Process Shots: Bowie, Margutti & Co Ltd.
Art Director: J. Elder Wills
Studios: Exclusive Studios, Bray, Berkshire, England, UK *
Cast
Howard Duff (Stephen Mitchell)
Eva Bartok (Lisa Frank)
Alan Wheatley (Smith)
Philip Leaver (Professor Kelper)
Michael Medwin (Toby Andrews)
Andrew Osborn (Philip Crenshaw)
Cecile Chevreau (Vanessa Mitchell)
Anthony Ireland (General Hays)
Hugh Moxey
David Horne
Marianne Stone [Mrs Rogers] *
Alternative Titles
Viaggio nell’interspazio – Italy
Links
Includes extracts from
Rocketship X-M (1950)
Extracts included in
The World of Hammer: Sci-Fi (1994)
References
Periodicals
- Cine-Technician May 1953 – June 1953 p.65 – credits
- The Hollywood Reporter vol.124 no.48 (23 June 1953) p.3 – review
- Kine Weekly no.2400 (25 June 1953) p.21 – review
- Monthly Film Bulletin vol.20 no.234 (July 1953) p.110 – credits, synopsis, review
- Motion Picture Herald vol.192 no.1 (4 July 1953) p.1902 – review (by W.R.W.)
- Nebula Science Fiction vol.1 no.2 (Spring 1953) p.95 – note (Scientifilm previews by Forrest J. Ackerman)
- Science Fiction Film and Television vol.2 no.1 (Spring 2009) pp.77-90 – illustrated article (Terence Fisher and British Science Fiction Cinema by Robert Shail)
- Today’s Cinema Special (September 1952) p.6 – note
- Today’s Cinema vol.79 no.6619 (27 October 1952) p.6 – note (C.H.B. Williamson Talks… About British Films)
- Today’s Cinema vol.79 no.6629 (10 November 1952) p.6 – note (C.H.B. Williamson Talks… About British Films)
- Today’s Cinema vol.80 no.6786 (25 June 1953) p.6 – review (by C.A.W.)
- TV Times vol.10 no.114 (5-11 January 1958) p.29 (ATV Midlands region) – credits, listing
- Variety 8 July 1953 – credits, review (by Brog)
Books
- The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Science Fiction by Phil Hardy (ed) p.142
- British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928-1959 by David Quinlan p.378 – credits, synopsis
- The Charm of Evil: The Life and Films of Terence Fisher by Wheeler Winston Dixon pp.3, 132, 186-187; 495-496 – notes; credits
- English Gothic: A Century of Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby p.47
- The Espionage Filmography: United States Releases, 1898 through 1999 by Paul Mavis pp.294-295
- Hammer Complete: The Films, the Personnel, the Company by Howard Maxford pp.758-759 – illustrated credits, synopsis, review
- A History of Horrors: The Rise and Fall of the House of Hammer (Revised Edition) by Denis Meikle pp.17, 23 – notes, review
- The International Spy Guide 002 by Richard Rhys Davies p.864 – illustrated credits, note
- Island of Terror: A Book of 60 Great* British SF and Fantasy Movies from 1936-1984 *And not so Great by Keith Topping pp.79-86
- Nuclear Movies: A Filmography by Mick Broderick p.45
- Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee pp.454-455 – credits
- Terence Fisher by Peter Hutchings pp.9, 24, 57, 62, 63 – notes
- Uneasy Dreams: The Golden Age of British Horror Films, 1956-1976 by Gary A. Smith pp.200-201
