Radar Men from the Moon (1952)

Director:

Fred C. Brannon

Writer:

Ronald Davidson (written by)

Release Date:

9 January 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

HILLS OF DEATH! SUPER-SCIENCE STRUGGLE!

Plot:

Strategic targets on Earth are being destroyed by an unknown weapon. Government security head Henderson...

Plot Keywords:

Moon | Rocket | Commando | Invasion Of Earth | Serial

Cast

George Wallace	...	Commando Cody
Aline Towne	...	Joan Gilbert
Roy Barcroft	...	Retik, Ruler of the Moon
William Bakewell	...	Ted Richards (Cody's lab assistant)
Clayton Moore	...	Graber - Henchman
Peter Brocco	...	Krog
Robert R. Stephenson	...	Daly (Graber's Henchman) (as Bob Stevenson)
Don Walters	...	Mr. Henderson
Tom Steele	...	Zerg
Dale Van Sickel	...	Alon
Wilson Wood	...	Hank (Cody's Pilot)
Noel Cravat	...	Robal
Baynes Barron	...	Nesor, Retik's Lab Aide [Ch.2]
Paul McGuire	...	Bream
Ted Thorpe	...	Al's Cafe Bartender [Ch. 6, 7, 12]
Dick Cogan	...	Dirt-road Motorist (Ch. 6)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joe Bailey	...	Policeman #1 - at landing field [Chs. 1, 3, 8] (uncredited)
Billy Dix	...	Duke (Warehouse Henchman) [Ch. 5] (uncredited)
Claude Dunkin	...	Kern, Ray-gun Agent[Ch. 12] (uncredited)
Stephen Gregory	...	Benson (Garage Owner) [Ch. 7] (uncredited)
Barry Hollins	...	Ray-gun Agent [Ch. 12] (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	...	Motorist transporting Pursuit Cop [Ch. 8] (uncredited)
William Marke	...	Lunarium Guard [Ch. 8] (uncredited)
John Marshall	...	Cafe Trucker [Ch. 7] (uncredited)
Walter Merrill	...	Henchman Sam [Ch. 5] (uncredited)
Paul Palmer	...	Henchman Bill, in Getaway Car [Ch. 4] (uncredited)
Dick Rich	...	Policeman No. 3 [Ch. 4] (uncredited)
Sam Sebby	...	Moon Scout #7 [Chs. 3, 8] (uncredited)
Jack Shea	...	Guard at Cody Labs [Ch. 11] (uncredited)
Guy Teague	...	Policeman No. 2 - at landing field [Chs. 1, 3, 8] (uncredited)
Ken Terrell	...	Stock Footage Henchman (uncredited)
Arthur Walsh	...	Motorcycle Cop [Ch. 11] (uncredited)

Directed by
Fred C. Brannon

Writing credits
Ronald Davidson		(written by)

Produced by
Franklin Adreon	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Stanley Wilson

Cinematography by
John MacBurnie		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Cliff Bell Sr.		(as Cliff Bell)

Art Direction by
Fred A. Ritter		(as Fred Ritter)

Set Decoration by
John McCarthy Jr.
James Redd

Makeup Department
Bob Mark	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Roy Wade	....	unit manager

Sound Department
Dick Tyler Sr.	....	sound (as Dick Tyler)

Special Effects by
Howard Lydecker	....	special effects
Theodore Lydecker	....	special effects

Stunts
Carey Loftin	....	stunts (uncredited)
David Sharpe	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tom Steele	....	stunt double: George Wallace (uncredited)
Guy Teague	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ken Terrell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	....	stunt double: William Bakewell (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Nels Mathias	....	grip (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Republic Pictures

Distributors

• Republic Pictures (1952) (USA) (theatrical)
• British Lion Film Corporation (1952) (UK) (theatrical)
• British Empire Films Canada (1952) (Canada) (theatrical)
• British Empire Films Australia (1952) (Australia) (theatrical)
• British Empire Films (N.Z.) (1952) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
• Minerva Film (1952) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Tropical Films de Cuba (1952) (Cuba) (theatrical)
• Compania Distribuidora Films (1952) (Colombia) (theatrical)
• Gefion Film (1952) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• Yksityistcatterien Filmvoukraamo (1952) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Athina Films (1952) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Dada-Dada & Company (1952) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• African Consolidated Films (1952) (South Africa) (theatrical)
• Perez and Company (1952) (Venezuela) (theatrical)
• Filmes Luís Machado (1952) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Republic Pictures (1957) (USA) (theatrical) (reissue)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• BijouFlix Releasing (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Roan Group, The (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Troma Team Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Whirlwind Media (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media) (non-theatrical)

Special Effects

• Consolidated Film Industries (CFI)

Other Companies

• Consolidated Film Industries (CFI)  optical effects

Also Known As:

Planet Men from Mars (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

167 min (12 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures

Trivia:

Copyright lapsed and was not renewed, so this film is now in the public domain.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Ordering the rocket ship to turn around the pilot is told to make a "quick 360" turn. In fact, a 360 turn would simply turn the ship completely around in a circle to resume it's present course.

Quotes:

[Commando Cody, Ted, and Joan are about to board ship for the moon]
Commando Cody: I still think this is no trip for a woman.
Joan Gilbert: Now don't start that again. You'll be very glad to have someone along who can cook your meals.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Firesign Theatre Presents 'Hot Shorts' (1983)

See "King of the Rocket Men" first

This first Commando Cody adventure ain't bad, but the rocket suit, and most of the flying footage, was straight from Republic's first rocket suit serial, King of the Rocket Men (1949), usually considered the last of the great classic serials. Everything good in Radar Men (and there's plenty that's good) is better in Rocket Men! Please see it! The hero and villain have more personality, the action is more hard-hitting and extreme, the plot is more focused, and - perhaps most importantly - there is much mystery and subterfuge. In Rocket Men, our hero must keep his identity secret - no one knows it's him in that suit. And the villain too has a secret identity - we see him only in silhouette. Here, in Radar Men, everybody knows who everybody else is. Enjoy Radar Men (I know I did), but first, enjoy Rocket Men!