Project Moon Base

Even by the standards of classically cheesy 50s cold war sci-fi propaganda movies; this one totally takes the cake for being the worst of the bunch. The portrayal of the bad guys is both bland and hammy at the same time (which is a remarkable feat in itself). The models look like cheap constructor-kit toys. And don't let me get started on the MARRIAGE scene. I seriously wanted to hurl at that bit. And the final proof of badness? Hayden TRoarke looked more credible playing the psychiatrist in I DREAM OF JEANNIE (a sitcom) than he did playing this serious drama story! Nuff said.

*Spoiler/plot- Project Moon Base, 1953. Among a manned mission to the moon in 1972, a saboteur attempts to destroy the first mission and moon base. *Special Stars- Donna Martell, Hayden Rorke, Ross Ford. *Theme- Man and woman must explore the planets. *Trivia/location/goofs- B & W, pilot for TV series, titled 'Ring around the Moon'. shot in only 10 days. Watch for the space uniforms of sporty shorts, tight t-shirts and swim caps for both sexes. Listen for the exotic therimen 50's 'spacey' scene music. Sets and costume were also re-cycled for 'Cat Women on the moon' that was to be filmed only weeks later for it's production. Watch for the very trite 50's man/woman morals, cold war fears, and paternalistic manners of the commanding officers towards moon crew. Rocketship style is airplane-like with wings. *Emotion- Very fun and outdated. Best watched with liquor and no serious film cynical eyes or thoughts. Sorta charming of a bygone era. *Based On- Robert A. Heinlein story.

Failed TV show becomes a wildly uneven feature film about a space station and misdirected space shot becoming the first moonbase. Weird mix of comedy, drama and science fiction with more than a dash of (unnamed) anti-communist propaganda doesn't seem sure what it wants to be. Worse you don't know whether you're supposed to laugh at or with the film. The mere fact that this was an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 in its early days gives you an idea about how odd the film is. Its regrettably not very good and there's a good chance you'll end up turning the film off before the ending. Robert Heinlein was unhappy with the finished product because the TV show he worked on was changed against his wishes. Looking at the film and guessing what he actually had a hand in, I'm pretty sure that the evil "red" plot is his, I think that the film would still be quite silly- especially in retrospect. For bad film lovers or Heinlein completeists only.

The detractors of this movie have obviously taken it far too seriously. It's supposed to be just a bit of fun. And it's interesting for connoisseurs because it's one of the very few movies directed by the famed 2nd unit man, Richard Talmadge. I will admit that this otherwise very agreeable, dime store science fiction hokum, is a bit slow to get under way, but with the entrance of the delightful, bright-eyed Donna Martell – a fetching player, if ever there was one – and the attractive walking-on-the-walls sequence in the space station, it probes an unexpected, if minor delight. It was a mistake, however, to kill off the villains three quarters of the way through, in order to make room for a romantic cliché, but the Saturday matinée kids and I would have preferred an old-fashioned derring-do climax. Still, the special effects are quite well done, and that's something in the movie's favor as well.