The Wizard of Mars (1965)

User Rating:

2.8/10   

Director:

David L. Hewitt

Writers:

Armando Busick (story)
David L. Hewitt (screenplay)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Three EARTHMEN and a GIRL encounter the horrors of MARS!

Plot:

In 1974, four astronauts, silver shoe-clad Dorothy, overweight Doc, goofy Charlie, and wooden Steve...

Plot Keywords:

Martian | Mars | Wizard | Alien | Rocket Ship

Cast

John Carradine	...	The Wizard of Mars
Roger Gentry	...	Steve
Vic McGee	...	Doc
Jerry Rannow	...	Charlie
Eve Bernhardt	...	Dorothy

Also Known As:

Alien Massacre (USA) (video title)
Horrors of the Red Planet (USA) (video title)
Journey Into the Unknown

Runtime:

78 min | USA:85 min (as Horrors of the Red Planet)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Fallon, Nevada, USA

Company:

American General Pictures

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Space Monster (1965) (TV)

We're off to see the wizard...

By rating this film as "excellent", of course, I mean a perfect example of this classic sci-fi space genre. As a collector of these films (I have over 100), this is one that I use as an example of just how "so bad it's good" can get.

The dialog is so terribly limited, and the action is so utterly action-less, that it truly IS hypnotic.

The parallel with "The Wizard of Oz" is just too precious for words. Hey, they even "follow the yellow brick road". No mention of the famous (non-existent) Martian canals, but they do run into a "tin man" in the shape of an old space probe from Earth...probably the best scene in the movie.

John Carradine's role as the Wizard is more like a reprise of his role of The Preacher (Grapes of Wrath) with none of the good writing. He drones on for minutes on end, talking about how the Martians became so smart that they distanced themselves from the Fabric of Time; and suddenly you find that you have, in fact, lost all track of time too. Brilliant.

I'm sure that the film makers were trying to make a serious statement...what that might be, I have no clue. That's not even important. Films like this are not meant to be compared to the post-Star Wars reality of space movies; not meant to be analyzed in a contemporary light.

For me, in the world of sci-fi space films, this one takes at least a tie for first place. Personally, I like to watch this (and most of the other pre-Star Wars space films) in black & white. They seem to make more sense that way. The original color print seems to want me to take this more seriously than I am able to. But the b & w viewing takes me right back to a Saturday Movie Matinée, and I'm 10 years old again.

I find this film particularly delightful when viewed from this nostalgic POV. It's why I collect, and why I whole-heartedly recommend this film.