Destination Moon (1950)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Irving Pichel

Writers:

Robert A. Heinlein (novel)
Alford Van Ronkel (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

August 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING!

Plot:

One of the first science fiction films to attempt a high level of accurate technical detail tells the story of the first trip to the moon.

Plot Keywords:

Moon | Astronaut | Scientist | Industry | 1950s

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. July 20

1:00 PM

TCM

Cast

John Archer	...	Jim Barnes
Warner Anderson	...	Dr. Charles Cargraves
Tom Powers	...	General Thayer
Dick Wesson	...	Joe Sweeney
Erin O'Brien-Moore	...	Emily Cargraves
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Grace Stafford	...	Woody Woodpecker (voice)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:Not Rated (DVD) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (certificate #14432)

Filming Locations:

General Service Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

George Pal Productions

Trivia:

The cracked surface of the moon is reminiscent of a dried lake bed. Bonestell knew this was scientifically inaccurate, but used it to give a sense of perspective to the lunar panorama.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the early scenes in zero-gravity, some of the wires are visible.

Quotes:

[Why the government isn't involved if it's so important]
Jim Barnes: Here's the reason. The vast amount of brains, talents, special skills, and research facilities necessary for this project are not in the government, nor can they be mobilized by the government in peacetime without fatal delay. Only American industry can do this job. And American industry must get to work, now, just as we did in the last war!
Industrialist: Yes, but the government footed the bill!
Jim Barnes: And they'll foot this bill, too, if we're successful; you know that. If we fail, we'll take a colossal beating. So we can't fail! Not only is this the greatest adventure awaiting mankind, but it's the greatest challenge ever hurled at American industry. And General Thayer is going to tell you why.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Sky Is Falling: Making 'The War of the Worlds' (2005) (V)

A wonderment for a nine year old boy

I saw this film when it came out in 1950 along with my cousin - I was carried away with the absolute beauty of the graphics. I was too young to realize the hamming of the script and actors. I must have seen the film 3 or 4 times in 1950. I now have it on DVD - at my 63 years of age it still brings back wonderful feelings as it did in 1950. The scenes of the lunar landscape were incredible (painted by Chesney Bonestell). The actual way of getting there and back would not have been possible - Apollo program showed the way by a lander launched from an orbiter. Destination Moon also was in brilliant Technicolor which was a treat to see in 1950. It also used some real footage of what may have been USA captured German V2 rockets in flight.