From the Earth to the Moon (1958)

If it weren't for the busty blonde this film stock would have better served as toilet paper for death row inmates. This film has absolutely nothing to offer the viewer in terms of a watchable cohesive story. The science is so stupid you can't muster enough suspension of disbelief to elevate this drek to the realm of nonsense. The special effects are so dismal they become insulting. The one bright spot is that you should easily recognize the "electronic tonalities" produced for the film FORBIDDEN PLANET, at least you're reminded for a few minutes of a truly great sci fi classic and for that brief moment you can forget that you're actually watching the very worst sci fi movie ever produced. This makes PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE seem a contender for an academy award.If you ever have the chance to not watch this, take it. You'll thank me.

I feel tvholic's views are a bit harsh. It mustn't be forgotten that Verne wrote this in 1865 some thirty years before Wells wrote 'War of the Worlds". It must also be remembered that RKO was going broke at the time so special effects were not what they should have been. Stars Joseph Cotten and George Sanders did well with the script they had. Where this will not go down as a great sci fi movie, it is still an interesting one if for no other reason than the interplay between Cotten and Sanders.Stories like War of the Worlds, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea and Around the World in 80 Days have lent themselves to the use of special effects and unfortunately for this film, the film production company did not have the wherewithal to have effects in the same class as the aforementioned three.

This 1959 movie adaptation of Jules Verne's "From the Earth to the Moon" is the graveyard of declining actors. Joseph Cotton and George Sanders were at the end of fairly successful film careers and about to be relegated to guest appearances on a variety of television shows; the most notable being Sander's Mr. Freeze on "Batman". Debra Paget was in her late twenties; she had lost her glow and was used up by Hollywood standards. The change to an unflattering "strawberry" blonde look exacerbated the problem as few actresses have ever been less suited to a light hair color. On the plus side, the movie itself is a fairly accurate adaptation of Verne's story; at least the book's illustrations appear to have been used as models for the rocket and the cannon. Verne's 19th century take on space travel turned out to be more accurate than most of the speculation during the first half of the 20th century. The adaptation's biggest problem was altering Verne's story by inserting a topical theme about the post WWII arms race. In Verne's 1865 novel, the Baltimore Gun Club itself set about building a rocket to go to the Moon. In the adaptation a munitions manufacturer (think "Destination Moon") concocts the scheme to demonstrate his powerful new explosive. With a lot of discussion about science, weapons, and peace the movie dances around the subject extensively yet never makes a coherent point about its position (regarding the nuclear arms race), as if simply inserting the theme is somehow sufficient. The movie is a cross between "Destination Moon" and "Rocketship X-M", combining the former's good science and bad political message with the latter's dismal sets and comical special effects. The acting in all three films is equally sad. The premise has munitions manufacturer Victor Barbicane (Cotton) discovering an explosive (Power X) capable of firing a shell-like projectile to the moon. His plan is opposed for philosophical/religious reasons by Stuyvesant Nicholl (Sanders), another manufacturer. Although these philosophical differences play an important part in the story, they are never convincingly elaborated on, which undermines the basic storyline. President Grant orders Barbicane to abandon the project because it is considered an act of war by other nations. While this is unconvincing it does serve as Barbicane's inspiration to change the project to a manned space flight. Nicholl then agrees to manufacture the ceramic coating needed for re-entry and to accompany Barbicane on a flight to the moon. Paget plays Nicholl's daughter who hides inside the rocket just prior to take-off. "From the Earth to the Moon" is often confused with "First Men in the Moon" which was made five years later. Probably because both are set in the 19th century and both feature a female stowaway (played by Martha Hyer in the later film). "First Men in the Moon" (while not a great film) is superior in virtually every detail to "From the Earth to the Moon". Rather ironically it was adapted from a story by "H.G. Wells", an early science fiction writer often compared to Verne. Movie adaptations of Verne's books were a big thing in the 1950's and early 1960's. Among the good ones were "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" (1954), "Around the World in 80 Days" (1956), "Journey to the Center of the Earth"(1959), "Mysterious Island" (1961), and "Master of the World" (1961). Unfortunately "From the Earth to the Moon" is simply not in the same league as these examples. Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

This is not a bad film to view considering it was produced in 1958 and was advance in its theory about going to the Moon. However, we must consider the famous author who wrote this story and gets all the credit. Joseph Cotton,(Victor Barbicone),"The Survivor",'81, was the scientist in this story who creates this space ship and recruits wealthy business men to finance his ventures. Henry Daniell,(Morgana),"The Body Snatchers",'45 gives a great supporting role and manages to play a good role instead of a killer or Nazi like he did in the 1940's. George Sanders,(Stuyvesant Nicholl),"Doomwatch",'72 gives the performance of a person despised by everyone, including his daughter,(Debra Paget),Virginia Nicholl, "The Haunted Palace",'63. Virginia had a boyfriend she does not want to leave and there are some romantic scenes. If you like an ancient film about going to the moon, this is the film for YOU.