Project Moon Base (1953)

User Rating:

2.1/10   

Director:

Richard Talmadge

Writers:

Robert A. Heinlein (story) and
Jack Seaman (story) ...

Release Date:

4 September 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Thrills Come Rocketing to the Screen as Science Smashes a New Frontier!

Plot:

In the not-too-distant future of 1970, the United States is considering building bases on the Moon,...

Plot Keywords:

Moon | 1970s | Reverse Footage | Secret Agent | Space Station

Cast

Donna Martell	...	Col. Briteis
Hayden Rorke	...	Gen. 'Pappy' Greene
Ross Ford	...	Maj. Bill Moore
Larry Johns	...	Dr. Wernher
Herb Jacobs	...	Mr. Roundtree
Barbara Morrison	...	Polly Prattles
Ernestine Barrier	...	Madame President
James Craven	...	Commdr. Carlson
John Hedloe	...	Adjutant
Peter Adams	...	Capt. Carmody
Robert Karnes	...	Sam (enemy agent)
John Straub	...	Chaplain
Charles Keane	...	Spacom operator
John Tomecko	...	Blockhouse air controller
Robert Paltz	...	Bellboy

Also Known As:

Project Moonbase (USA) (alternative spelling)
Ring Around the Moon (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

63 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Galaxy Pictures Inc.

Trivia:

This movie and Cat-Women of the Moon (1953) were made using the some of the same sets and costumes. The two films were then released within one day of each other.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Maj. Moore is talking from the moonbase to the space station using the large "Television Monitor". Right after the General says "Take off your rank son, this is man to man." the Major stands up and his shadow is now visible on the wall behind the General showing that the "Monitor" is just a hole in the wall and the space station set is on the other side.

Quotes:

Col. Briteis: [after panicking over their predicament] Sorry for going female on you, Major.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Canned Film Festival: Project Moonbase (#1.11)" (1986)

Expanded TV show doesn't know what it really is. Are we laughing with it or at it?

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.