Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Byron Haskin

Writers:

Daniel Defoe (novel)
John C. Higgins (writer)

Release Date:

June 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A Lone U.S. Astronaut Space-Ship Wrecked on Mars!

Plot:

Stranded on Mars with only a monkey as a companion, an astronaut must figure out how to find oxygen, water, and food on the lifeless planet.

Plot Keywords:

Monkey | Mars | Alien | Stranded | Astronaut

Cast

Paul Mantee	...	Cmdr. Christopher 'Kit' Draper
Victor Lundin	...	Friday
Adam West	...	Col. Dan McReady
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
The Wooley Monkey	...	Mona

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11

Filming Locations:

Death Valley National Park, California, USA

Company:

Aubrey Schenck Productions

Trivia:

While filming in Death Valley, the cast and crew were ordered not to touch any of the plant life due to the fact that they were filming in a national park area and most of the plant life was federally protected.

Quotes:

Draper: How Long have you had these things on?
Friday: Sixty-two years.
Draper: How old are you?
Friday: Seventy eight.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hell in the Pacific (1968)

Classic Science Fiction at its best

There's not much more I can add to all the other positive comments made on this film other than to say that I agree with just about all of them.

This movie is a classic example of how good science fiction can be created from classic story material. The premise of a man trying to survive in unfamiliar surroundings is set on the then unfamiliar planet of Mars. USAF astronaut Paul Mantee goes through the rigors of trying to survive on an alien landscape, and is befriended by an escaped slave from an advanced, and hostile, civilization. The story isn't about war, "beating the bad aliens" or other story tripe that's so pervasive in today's science fiction films. The film is about friendship, trust, self sacrifice, and the willingness to help one's fellow man (or human like alien) survive in an inhospitable world.

Compared to other science fiction of the time, and even compared to contemporary sci-fi offerings, the acting and overall production values are top notch. The film is dated, so the viewer is advised to give it some leeway if he or she has never seen it before, but a strong story and presentation will keep your attention.

It's been a long time since I've seen this film, so perhaps I'm remembering it from a biased memory, but using that same memory to call up other films I saw back then I can truly say this one ranks up there with other good cinematic offerings; science fiction and non alike. The effects are passing, the backgrounds artificial at times (as was typical of 50's and 60's Hollywood), and the props are passable, but the acting, particularly how the relationship develops between the two leads, is what I'll always remember. The story is far fetched, but the actors pull it off by presenting sympathetic characters.

I for one am glad this has never been remade. I can see some snot-nosed hot-shot, low-I.Q. producer marketing a remake with lots of action, a pumped up soundtrack, action figures and a host of other spinoffs. To boot he'd probably cast some rap star in both lead roles, show the aliens with a ton of prosthetic makeup, and otherwise squeeze every last ounce of marketable dollar out of the thing.

We don't need a remake. We need a DVD release. The good kind with lots of extra goodies :-)

If you like sci-fi, heck if you just like good movies period, do yourself a favor and catch "Robinson Crusoe on Mars."