Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-10-2009 02:24 PM
The 1950 science fiction film Destination Moon, produced by George Pál ("When Worlds Collide", "The War of the Worlds", "The Time Machine") and directed by Irving Pichel, told the story of four American astronauts who blast off from the New Mexico desert and fly to the Moon.
In addition to being the first U.S. feature film that dealt seriously with the prospect, problems and technology of space travel, "Destination Moon" was notable for the involvement of Robert A. Heinlein, who contributed to the script, and artist Chelsey Bonestell, who provided the matte and scene paintings.
The April 24, 1950 issue of LIFE Magazine carried a "Destination Moon" feature, which included images from the set by photographer Allan Grant. The magazine only included four photos, but as Bill Higgins and Bill Leininger discovered exploring Google's LIFE Magazine archive, there are now online more than 200 never before published photos.
Writing on LiveJournal, the two noticed that even few gag shots crept in.
"Destination Moon" was also notable for an animated segment that included Woody Woodpecker learning the basics of space flight.
Destination Moon was released on DVD by Image Entertainment in February 2000.
Posts: 353 From: Chattanooga, TN Registered: Dec 2007
posted 02-11-2009 08:40 AM
Some great low-tech forced perspective trickery being employed there. You have to respect an era where most special effects were in-camera and on set.
I rented the DVD for this movie a few months ago. Like many films of this genre and period, the acting is wooden; but the story is somewhat plausible. Certainly, much moreso than its contemporary, Rocketship X-M. In fact, it's a pretty good movie. A little ridiculous, but watchable.
And, unlike Rocketship X-M, it never got the MST3K treatment. Not that I didn't crack a few jokes, of course.
dss65 Member
Posts: 1156 From: Sandpoint, ID, USA Registered: Mar 2003
posted 02-12-2009 10:12 PM
I was lucky enough to find this DVD at a local video store that was closing a few years ago. I'm sure I saw it as a kid, but didn't remember it very well, as it's been a long, long time since then. I LOVE this movie. If you are a child of the 50's and want to relive some of the excitement that the prospect of space travel had for us in those days, you'll know what I'm talking about. Sure, there's a lot that's laughable now in this movie, but it's the kind of stuff that energized a nation enough to make it all become a very risky and expensive reality within our lifetimes. Oh, but for a similar excitement today.
posted 02-10-2009 02:24 PM
was released on DVD by Image Entertainment in February 2000.
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