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Outer  Space  Film  Festival

here on Page 1: short history selected books selected movies & TV silent • sound, to 1953 • 1954-1959 links top of Page 2: selected movies & TV 1960 • 1999 • NEW movies, coming soon documentary films

Captain Video! Electronic wizard! Master of time and space! Guardian of the safety of the world! Fighting for law and order, Captain Video operates from a mountain retreat with secret agents at all points of the globe. Possessing scientific secrets and scientific weapons, Captain Video asks no quarter and gives none to the forces of evil. Stand by for Captain Video and his Video Rangers !

h i s t o r y

New Mexico Museum of Space History [est. 1976] in Alamogordo, New Mexico
Museum of Space History's International Space Hall of Fame

Selected  Reading
browse the History of Aviation catalog at Amazon

	"The Spacesuit Film: A History, 1918-1969" [2012] by Gary Westfahl, Foreword by Michael Cassutt Kindle Edition from McFarland & Co. [3/2012] for $9.99 McFarland & Co. 10x7 pb [3/2012] for $50.00 {sic} McFarland & Co. 10x7 pb [3/2012] out of print/used
	"1950s 'Rocketman' TV Series and Their Fans: Cadets, Rangers, and Junior Space Men" [14 essays 2012] Edited by Cynthia J. Miller & A. Bowdoin Van Riper Kindle Edition from Palgrave Macmillan [8/2012] for $69.42 {sic} Palgrave Macmillan 9¼x6 pb [8/2012] for $95.00 Palgrave Macmillan 9¼x6 hardcover [8/2012] for $86.01
	"Spacesuit: A History Through Fact and Fiction" [2012] by Brett Gooden Kindle Edition from Tattered Flag [11/2013] for $14.99 Casemate Publrs 10x7 hardcover [12/2012] for $27.95 Casemate Publrs 10x7 hardcover [12/2012] out of print/used
	"Ad Astra: 20 Years of Newspaper Ads For Sci-Fi & Fantasy Films" [2019] by Michael Gingold, Foreword by Larry Karaszewski 1984 Publng hardcover [9/2019] for $34.95

Movies & TV  About  Spaceflight
http://ia800302.us.archive.org/26/items/starlog_magazine-026/026.pdf Starlog Magazine Sept 1979

	"TV Space Heroes, Volume 1: Space Patrol! Captain Video! Space Cadet!" DVD Box Set b&w DVD-R box set not available thru Amazon; available from producer website for $11.95 Over two hours of adventure from the Golden-Age of Television, mastered from original film prints; contains four b&w space adventures: "Space Patrol" with Ed Kemmer, Lyn Osborn, Virginia Hewitt: "Prisoners of The Giant Comet" 5/7/1954; "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet" starring Frankie Thomas, Jan Merlin, Al Markim - two episodes: "Seek and Destroy" 11/10/1950 and "Emergency Repairs To Polaris" 11/13/1950; and "Captain Video and His Video Rangers" 1951 theatrical release serial starring Judd Holdren & Larry Stewart: "Chapter 1 - Journey Into Space"
	"TV Space Heroes, Volume 2: Space Patrol! Captain Video! Space Cadet!" DVD Box Set b&w DVD-R box set not available thru Amazon; available from producer website for $11.95 Over two hours of adventure from the Golden-Age of Television, mastered from original film prints; contains four b&w space adventures: "Space Patrol" with Ed Kemmer, Lyn Osborn, Virginia Hewitt: "The Demon Planet" 5/14/1954; "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet" starring Frankie Thomas, Jan Merlin, Al Markim - two episodes: "Stop The Asteroid" 11/15/1950 & "Kidnapped On The Moon" 12/27/50; and "Captain Video and His Video Rangers" 1951 theatrical release serial starring Judd Holdren & Larry Stewart: "Chapter 2 - Menace of Atoma"
	"TV Space Heroes, Volume 3: Commando Cody! Space Cadet! Space Patrol! Captain Video!" b&w DVD-R box set not available thru Amazon; available from producer website for $11.95 Over two hours of adventure from the Golden-Age of Television, mastered from original film prints; contains four b&w space adventures: "Space Patrol" with Ed Kemmer, Lyn Osborn, Virginia Hewitt: "Lost In Galactic Space" 5/21/1954; "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet" starring Frankie Thomas, Jan Merlin, Al Markim - "Space Pirates of Ganymede" 1950; "Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of The Universe" starring Judd Holdren, Aline Towne: "Enemies of The Universe" 7/16/55; and "Captain Video and His Video Rangers" 1951 theatrical release serial starring Judd Holdren & Larry Stewart: "Chapter 3 - Captain Video's Peril"

·                         ·

"The Astronomer's Dream" silent short [France 1898]

3-minute silent short film; USA release falsely re-titled "A Trip To The Moon"; the original title was "La Lune à Un Mètre", which translates as "The Moon At One Meter" or freely as "The Moon At Arm's Length"; static camera watches a bearded astronomer interact with the moon, a devil, and a good fairy • Produced, written, directed & edited by and starring cinema pioneer Georges Méliès; co-starring Jehanne d'Alcy • credits at IMDb watch full movie with piano music [5/2013 upload; 3:30] online at YouTube

"A Trip To The Moon" [1899]
not listed at IMDb • Produced by Siegmund Lubin of Philadelphia

  "A Trip To The Moon (Le Voyage dans La Lune)"
14-minute silent short [France Sept 1902]

	French scientists construct a gigantic gun and shoot a manned capsule to the moon . . .; a major box-office success in France, Thomas Edison stole prints and distributed the movie in the U.S.A, essentially stealing that revenue from Méliès • Produced & directed by cinema pioneer Georges Méliès [1861-1938]; adapted by Méliès from stories by Jules Verne & H.G. Wells Flicker Alley Blu-ray/DVD combo [2/2018] 2 disks for $30.49 full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia view version 1 [11:18 at 20fps] for free at Internet Archive view version 2 [music & accented English narration; 11:48] for free at Internet Archive
	"Fantastic Voyages of The Cinematic Imagination: Georges Méliès's Trip To The Moon" [2011] Edited by Matthew Solomon hardcover edition includes DVD with several versions of the 1902 silent film Kindle Edition from SUNY Press [5/2011] for $17.25 SUNY Press 9x6 pb [5/2011] for $23.25 SUNY Press 9x6 hardcover + DVD [5/2011] for $56.01
	"Le Voyage Extraordinaire (The Extraordinary Voyage)" documentary [FR3-TV/Lobster Films Dec 2011] Chronicles the innovative production of the iconic 1902 film "A Trip To The Moon" • Produced by Marianne Lère; co-written & directed by Serge Bromberg; co-written & co-directed by Eric Lange; co-written by Frédérique Moreau; featuring Costa-Gavras, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Michel Gondry, Michel Hazanavicius, Nicolas Ricordel, Eric Lange, Tom Burton, Serge Bromberg, with archive footage of Charles Chaplin, Tom Hanks & Georges Méliès Flicker Alley Blu-ray/DVD combo [6/2012] 2 disks for $99.95 {sic} Flicker Alley Blu-ray [4/2012] 2 disks - out of prodn/used full credits at IMDb •

"A Trip To The Moon" silent short [Pathé 1903] • not listed at IMDb

"Moon Man" silent short [U.K. 1905] • empty credits at IMDb

"Voyage To The Center of The Moon" silent short [Italy 1905] • not listed at IMDb

"A Trip To The Moon (Excursion dans La Lune)"
7-minute silent short [Pathé Frères Feb 1908]

Segundo de Chomón of Spain made movies in France which were often remakes of films by others, including Georges Méliès; this 7-minute tinted film is often confused with the 1902 Méliès film • Written & directed by Segundo de Chomón bare credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia watch tinted version with piano music [9/2010 upload; 11:18 at 20fps] at Internet Archive

"Moon In His Apron" animated silent short [France 1909] • not listed at IMDb

"Le Clair de Lune Espagnol (The Spanish Moonlight)" hand-tinted silent short [Pathé March 1909]
aka Moonstruck" or "The Moon-Struck Matador"; co-directed by Étienne Arnaud & animator Émile Cohl • bare credits at IMDb

"New Trip To The Moon" animated silent short [Pathé 1909] • not listed at IMDb

Edison's "A Trip To Mars" [Feb 1910]

A chemist discovers anti-gravity and sends himself flying to Mars, where he meets giants, then sends himself back to Earth 5-minute silent short directed by Ashley Miller • bare credits at IMDb watch complete short [3/2011 upload; 5:06] online at YouTube

"A Trip To The Moon" [General Film Co. March 1914]

Very complicated plot • {this film is considered lost} Produced by Siegmund Lubin; written, directed & animated by Vincent Whitman • bare credits at IMDb

"A Trip To The Moon" animated silent short [Peter Pan/Toyland Films 1917]
series character Happy Hooligan dreams that he goes by rocket to the moon and is made king
Directed by Walter Lantz • empty credits at IMDb
watch complete short with piano music [9/2011 upload; 3:20] online at YouTube

"Himmelskibet" [Nordisk/Fotorama Denmark Feb 1918]
aka "Das Himmelschiff" [U.F.A. Film Germany 1918] aka "A Trip To Mars" [Tower Film USA 1920]

A group of scientists travel on the spaceship Excelsior to Mars, where they discover a peaceful vegetarian society; film was restored & re-released on DVD in 2006 by the Danish Film Institute; original length 97 minutes, restoration 80 minutes. • Directed by Holger-Madsen; co-written by Sophus Michaëlis from his novel; produced & co-written by Ole Olsen; starring Gunnar Tolnæs, Zanny Petersen, Nicolai Neiiendam, Alf Blütecher, Svend Kornbeck, Philip Bech, Lilly Jacobson, Frederik Jacobsen, Birger von Cotta-Schønberg Region 1 Blu-ray/DVD not available • credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia watch full movie online at YouTube, both with Danish/English intertitles, Russian subtitles:         12/2013 version with nice piano track [1:20:35] • 1/2015 silent version [1:20:35]

"First Men In The Moon" silent feature [Gaumont U.K. 1919]

author H.G. Wells worked as advisor during filming at the Lime Grove Studio in London, and approved the changes made to the story; only promotional materials and a complete script and some still photos exist today Produced by Léon Gaumont; co-directed by and starring Bruce Gordon; co-directed by J.L.V. Leigh; adapted by Byron Webber from the H.G. Wells novel; also starring Heather Thatcher, Hector Abbas, Lionel d'Aragon, Cecil Morton York, William Freshman • {this film is considered lost} • credits at IMDb watch fanmade tribute video with piano music [10/2018 upload; 14:17] online at YouTube tribute booklet plus tribute video on small DVD [2013] by Robert Godwin Apogee Prime U.K. 7½x6 pb with DVD [2014] for $12.34

"All Aboard For The Moon" animated silent short [Bray/Fleischer Feb 1920]

Produced by John Randolph Bray; directed by Max Fleischer VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available • bare credits at IMDb

"A Trip To The Moon" animated silent short [Service Film Co. 1920?]
Early animated/stop motion short film; the moonship is a globe with three legs
watch silent version [1/2014 upload; 9:10] for free at Internet Archive

"If We Lived On The Moon" animated silent short [Bray/Fleischer Sept 1920]

Short subject educational film produced by John Randolph Bray & Max Fleischer; 'Edited by Popular Science Monthly' VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available • bare credits at IMDb watch short film [9/2018 upload; 3:29] online at YouTube

"First Man To The Moon" animated silent short [Bray/Fleischer 1921]
directed by Dave Fleischer
VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available • bare credits at IMDb

"Woman In The Moon (Frau im Mond)" silent feature [U.F.A. Germany Oct 1929]
USA title "By Rocket To The Moon" [U.F.A. Film USA Feb 1931]

Film runs almost 3 hours; thirty years after Prof. Manfeldt proposed a mission to the Moon to exploit its gold deposits, Herr Helius is ready to launch the rocket Friede, but the bankers financing the mission insist on having a representative on board, and after takeoff they discover a boy stowaway . . .; excellent science and excellent SFX for the time. • Produced, adapted & directed by Fritz Lang, based on a novel by {his wife} Thea von Harbou; technical advisor Hermann Oberth; SFX by Oskar Fischinger & Konstantin Irmen-Tschet; starring Klaus Pohl, Willy Fritsch, Gustav von Wangenheim, Gerda Maurus, Gustl Gstettenbaur, Fritz Rasp, Tilla Durieux, Hermann Vallentin, Max Zilzer, Mahmud Terja Bey, Borwin Walth, Karl Platen, Margarete Kupfer, Alexa von Porembsky, Gerhard Dammann, Heinrich Gotho, Alfred Loretto, Max Maximilian, Edgar Pauly & Josephine the Mouse Kino Lorber German w/English subtitles b&w Blu-ray [2/2016] for $19.99 Kino Lorber German w/English subtitles b&w DVD [2/2016] for $16.61 Kino Lorber German w/English subtitles b&w DVD [11/2004] for $19.99 full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia watch original trailer, with modern music by IOCOI [2:20] online at YouTube watch full movie [11/2016 upload; 2:49:48] online at YouTube

"The Rocket To The Moon" [1930 novel] by Thea von Harbou Literary Licensing 9x6 pb [10/2011] for $27.95 Literary Licensing 9x6 hardcover [7/2011] for $42.95 World Wide Publng Co. hardcover [1930] long out of print/scarce

"Flash Gordon" [est. 1934]
The "Flash Gordon" daily comic strip was filmed as very successful movie serials in 1936 and 1938 and 1940; each serial was also edited down to feature length
for release in foreign markets. A feature film attempted to re-boot the franchise in 1980, an animated TV series was broadcast in 2007-2008, and most recently,
there is a "Flash Gordon" feature film 'in development'.

"The Complete Adventures of Flash Gordon" on DVD [2013] contains 13-chapter "Flash Gordon" serial [1936]; 15-chapter "Flash Gordon’s Trip To Mars" serial [1938]; 12-chapter "Flash Gordon Conquers The Universe" serial [1940]; and a gorgeously-illustrated booklet covering Flash’s multimedia odyssey with original Alex Raymond cartoons Madacy Records b&w DVD set [4/2013] 4 disks - out of prodn/used

more details (synopses, sequels, radio, stageplay, books & ebooks, links, merchandise) on
"Flash Gordon" Comics & Movies & TV Page at Magic Lantern

"Cosmic Voyage" [Mosfilm Jan 1936]
also known as "Kosmicheskii Reis", "Space Voyage", and "Cosmic Journey"

Silent film with Russian/Cyrillic text & intertitles, English subtitles; a scientist becomes impatient with the bureaucrats at the Russian Space Institute, so he builds his own rocket spacecraft and takes a woman scientist and a boy with him to the Moon . . . • Directed by Vasily Zhuravlyov; written by Aleksandr Filimonov, based on a novel by scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (who is credited as 'technical advisor/consultant'); starring Sergey Komarov, K. Moskalenko, Vassili Gaponenko, Nikolay Feoktistov, Vasili Kovrigin, Andrey Karasyov, Sergei Stolyarov Video Dimensions b&w DVD [9/2011] for $15.95 full credits at IMDb • watch full movie [1/2016 upload; 1:05:14] online at YouTube

"The Adventures of Baron Münchhausen" [U.F.A. Filmkunft March 1943]

Lavish color production ordered by Josef Goebbels to celebrate the 25th anniversary of U.F.A. Studios; a descendent of the baron tells dinner guests of 18th-century adventures moving from Braunschweig to St. Petersburg, Constantinople, Venice, and then by balloon to the moon • 2 hour color movie filmed in Germany & Venice, Italy; produced by Eber-hard Schmidt; directed by Josef von Báky; written by Erich Kästner based on works by Rudolph Erich Raspe & Gottfried August Bürger; starring Hans Albers, Hermann Speelmans, Walter Lieck, Käthe Haack, Brigitte Horney, Marianne Simson, Wilhelm Bendow, Michael Bohnen, Hans Brausewetter, Marina von Ditmar, Andrews Engelmann, Waldemar Leitgeb, Ferdinand Marian, Hubert von Meyerinck, Jaspar von Oertzen, Werner Scharf, Armin Schweizer, Leo Slezak, Hilde von Stolz, Gustav Waldau, Franz Weber, Ilse Werner, Eduard von Winterstein, Ilse Fürstenberg Kino Lorber color DVD w/English subtitles [7/2004] for $22.99 full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia watch full movie with English subtitles [1/2019 upload; 2:11:54] online at YouTube - ends at 1:50:00 then partial repeat

"Brick Bradford: Amazing Soldier of Fortune" 15-chapter serial
[Columbia Pictures Dec 1947]

The Brick Bradford character began as a daily & Sunday comic strip [1933-87] by William Ritt & Clarence Gray, later taken over by Paul Norris; stories were also published among the Big Little Book series (circa 1934) and as comic books (circa 1938-1948); this is the only Brick Bradford movie made, and it has Brick and girlfriend June travel to the backside of the Moon to prevent the villain from activating a death ray that could obliterate life on Earth. Chapter Titles: 1. Atomic Defense, 2. Flight To The Moon, 3. Prisoners of The Moon, 4. Into The Volcano, 5. Bradford At Bay, 6. Back To Earth, 7. Into Another Century, 8. Buried Treasure, 9. Trapped In The Time Top, 10. The Unseen Hand, 11. Poison Gas, 12. Door of Disaster, 13. Sinister Rendezvous, 14. River of Revenge, and 15. For The Peace of The World • Produced by Sam Katzman; directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet & Thomas Carr; screenplay George H. Plympton, Arthur Hoerl & Lewis Clay; starring Kane Richmond, Rick Vallin, Linda Leighton/Linda Johnson, Pierre Watkin, Charles Quigley, Jack Ingram, Fred Graham, John Merton, Leonard Penn, Wheeler Oakman, Carol Forman, Charles King, John Hart, Helene Stanley, Robert Barron, Stanley Blystone, George DeNormand, Frank Ellis, Nelson Leigh, Al Ferguson, Noel Neill, Stanley Price, Marshall Reed, Gene Roth VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available • full credits at IMDb • serial entry at Wikipedia watch all 15 chapters [5/2015 uploads] online at YouTube

"Captain Video and His Video Rangers" TV series [1949-55]

Broadcast on the DuMont Television Network on Mondays thru Fridays; private citizen-scientist Captain Video, 'Guardian of the Safety of the World', was assisted by his teenage helper The Ranger and an army of Video Rangers. There was also a spinoff Saturday morning half-hour show in 1953-54 "The Secret Files of Captain Video" and a theatrical serial release in 1951, "Captain Video, Master of The Strato-sphere". Merchandise included six issues of a Captain Video comic book Feb-Dec 1951. • The main series was created by Lawrence Menkin & James Caddigan, and starred Richard Coogan or Al Hodge as Captain Video, Don Hastings {as Video Ranger}, Ben Lackland, Hal Conklin, Fred Scott, Ed Condit Alpha Home Ent. b&w DVD [11/2008] 4 episodes (with commercials) for $5.98 series credits at IMDb • series entry at Wikipedia

Drew's "Captain Video" fansite

"Atom Man vs. Superman" 15-chapter sci-fi serial [Columbia Pictures July 1950]

Atom Man is not a robot, but is instead Lex Luthor wearing a costume borrowed from a movie robot; the story does have flying saucers; Chapter Titles: 1) Superman Flies Again; 2) Atom Man Appears; 3) Ablaze In The Sky; 4) Superman Meets Atom Man; 5) Atom Man Tricks Superman; 6) Atom Man's Challenge; 7) At The Mercy of Atom Man; 8) Into The Empty Doom; 9) Superman Crashes Through; 10) Atom Man's Heat Ray; 11) Luthor's Strategy; 12) Atom Man Strikes; 13) Atom Man's Flying Saucers; 14) Rocket of Vengeance; and 15) Superman Saves The Universe • Produced by Sam Katzman; directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet; written by George H. Plympton, Joseph F. Poland & David Mathews; narrated by Knox Manning; starring Kirk Alyn {dual role}, Noel Neill, Lyle Talbot, Tommy Bond, Pierre Watkin, Jack Ingram, Don C. Harvey, Rusty Wescoatt, Terry Frost, Wally West, Paul Stader, George Robotham, Stanley Blystone, Marshall Bradford, Jack Chefe, Frank Ellis, Tommy Farrell, William Fawcett, Eddie Fetherston, Eddie Foster, Kit Guard, Frank Hagney, Creighton Hale, John Hart, Edward Hearn, Fred Kelsey, Charles King, Pierce Lyden, George Morrell, Frank O'Connor, Eddie Parker, Hugh Prosser, Chuck Roberson, Guy Teague, Rick Vallin, and archive footage of actors Ernie Adams, John Elliott & Michael Vallon Volume 1 Chapters 1-7: Warner Home Video b&w VHS [1988] out of prodn/used Volume 2 Chapters 8-15: Warner Home Video b&w VHS [1988] out of prodn/used all 15 chapters: Warner Home Video b&w VHS [6/95] 2 tapes - out of prodn/used available on DVD as part of the "Complete 1948 & 1950 Superman Serials" Box Set [2008] Warner Home Video DVD set [10/2018] 4 disks for $29.95 full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

"Tom Corbett, Space Cadet" TV series [1950–1955]
15min | Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure | https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042156/ tom-corbett-space-cadet.jpg

"Tom Corbett: Space Cadet" /tt8194418/
Announced 6/2012: Bluewater Productions is partnering with indie production company Pleroma Entertainment to develop
a big-screen adaptation of "Tom Corbett: Space Cadet" (still in development 6/2019)

"Tom Corbett, Space Cadet" placeholder website [est. 9/2016]

"Tom Corbett" YA books series published by Grosset & Dunlap between 1952 and 1956
under the house pseudonym Carey Rockwell, with Willy Ley as technical advisor:
"Stand By For Mars" [1952]
"Danger In Deep Space" [1953]
"On The Trail of The Space Pirates" [1953]
"The Space Pioneers" [1953]
"The Revolt On Venus" [1954]
"Treachery In Outer Space" [1954]
"Sabotage In Space" [1955]
"The Robot Rocket" [1956] - not included in the Kindle Megapack™ below due to rights issues

"The Tom Corbett Space Cadet Megapack™: 10 Young Adult Sci-Fi Novels By Masters!" [2012] contains ten young adult science fiction novels: seven (out of 8) novels in the "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet" series, plus "Rip Foster Rides The Gray Planet" [1952] by Blake Savage (Harold L. Goodwin); "Star Born" [1957] by Andre Norton; and "The Secret of The Ninth Planet" [1965] by Donald A. Wollheim Kindle Edition from Wildside Press [8/2012] for 99¢

"Captain Ultra" TV series [1951-56]

Seems to be a children's TV show in color, with Captain Ultra (red space suit), two teenage sidekicks (blue space suits), a robot, other humans, and humans in creature suits; no relation to the Marvel Comics Captain Ultra, which appeared ten years later; merchandise included manga (comic books), creature toys, and music albums • 24 half-hour color episodes produced by Tôru Hirayama, narrated by Iemasa Kayumi, and starring Hirohisa Nakata as Captain Ultra VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available • bare credits at IMDb • no mention on Wikipedia "Captain Ultra Music File" soundtrack album [2009] by Isao Tomita imported soundtrack CD [6/2009] out of prodn/used

"Flight To Mars" [Monogram Pictures Nov 1951]

'Fifty years into the future!" • Filmed in CineColor; a five-man expedition by rocket to the planet Mars discovers a seem-ingly-human underground civilization; the Martians are dying out, so the government plots to imprison the Earthians and use their rocketship to conquer Earth; but sympathetic Martians rescue the Earthians and join them on the trip back to Earth • Directed by Lesley Selander; screenplay by Arthur Strawn; starring Cameron Mitchell, Marguerite Chapman, Arthur Franz, Virginia Huston, John Litel, Morris Ankrum, Richard Gaines, Lucille Barkley, Robert Barrat, Wilbur Back, Trevor Bardette, David Bond, Raymond Bond, Tristram Coffin, Russ Conway, Edward Earle, William Forrest, Everett Glass Image Ent. color DVD [5/2002] for $34.93 full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia • watch official trailer [10/2013 upload; 2:12] online at YouTube

"Captain Video, Master of The Stratosphere" 15-chapter serial
[Columbia Pictures Dec 1951]

Theatrical serial spun off from the 1949-55 TV series with a different cast; space hero Captain Video and his Rangers battle the evil interplanetary menace Vultura from the planet Atoma, who is helped by the traitorous Earth scientist Dr. Tobor • Chapter Titles: 1. Journey Into Space; 2. Menace To Atoma; 3. Captain Video's Peril; 4. Entombed In Ice; 5. Flames of Atoma; 6. Astray In The Atmosphere; 7. Blasted By The Atomic Eye; 8. Invisible Menace; 9. Video Springs A Trap; 10. Menace of The Mystery Metal; 11. Weapons of Destruction; 12. Robot Rocket; 13. Mystery of Station X; 14. Vengeance of Vultara; and 15. Video vs. Vultara • Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet & Wallace Grissell; starring Judd Holdren, Larry Stewart, George Eldredge, Don C. Harvey & Gene Roth V.C.I. Ent. Cliffhanger Collection 'digitally mastered & restored' b&w DVD [8/2005] 2 disks for $10.99 full credits from IMDb • serial entry at Wikipedia

"Commando Cody"serial & TV series [Republic Pictures Feb 1953, NBC-TV July 1955]
name of the TV series was "Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of The Universe"

One of the last Republic Pictures movie serials, planned as a direct sequel to "Radar Men From The Moon"; the twelve chapters were planned as half-hour TV episodes (without cliffhanger endings), released as a weekly serial in 1953, and later sold to National Broad-casting Company for broadcast over 13 weeks (one repeat) in Summer 1955; Chapter Titles: 1). Enemies of The Universe; 2). Atomic Peril; 3). Cosmic Vengeance; 4). Nightmare Typhoon; 5). War of The Space Giants; 6). Destroyers of The Sun; 7). Robot Monster From Mars; 8). The Hydrogen Hurricane; 9). Solar Sky Raiders; 10). S.O.S. Ice Age; 11). Lost In Outer Space; and 12). Captives of The Zero Hour • Co-produced by Franklin Adreon; directed by Harry Keller, Franklin Adreon, Fred C. Brannon; written by Ronald Davidson & Barry Shipman; starring Judd Holdren, Aline Towne, Gregory Gaye, Craig Kelly, Dale Van Sickel, Richard Crane, Gloria Pall, Lyle Talbot, John Crawford, Eddie Foster, William Schallert, William Henry, Kenneth MacDonald, Sydney Mason, Rick Vallin, Peter Brocco, Mauritz Hugo, Zon Murray, Paul Livermore, Keith Richards, Lee Roberts, Denver Pyle, Lane Bradford, Fred Graham, I. Stanford Jolley, Stanley Waxman, Joanne Jordan, William Fawcett, Peter Ortiz, Sandy Sanders, Riley Hill, Roy Barcroft, Coleman Francis • series credits at IMDb • series entry at Wikipedia Olive Films b&w Blu-ray [9/2016] for $16.99 U.K. all-region import b&w DVD [9/2010] 3 disks for $28.68 Olive Films b&w DVD [9/2016] out of prodn/used watch all 12 chapters [12/2017 upload] online at YouTube

"Cat-Women of The Moon" [Sept 1953] /tt0045609/
'Love-starved moon maidens on the prowl!'

"Riders To The Stars" feature film [United Artists Jan 1954]

Filmed in color; a dozen men are tested by the government for suitability for a secret project; after the test, four candidates remain; once the project's purpose is revealed, one candidate quits and the other three begin training to visit outer space in a rocket ship, to gather meteorites to discover how they are insulated from solar rays. • Co-produced & story by Ivan Tors; directed by & starring Richard Carlson; co- produced & co-directed by Herbert L. Strock; screenplay by Curt Siodmak; also starring William Lundigan, Herbert Marshall, Martha Hyer, Dawn Addams, Robert Karnes, Lawrence Dobkin, George Eldredge, Dan Riss, Michael Fox, King Donovan, Kem Dibbs, James Best VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available • credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia watch full movie [7/2016 upload; 1:17:14] online at YouTube the novelization by Robert Smith is based on the screenplay by Curt Siodmak Kindle Edition from Pickle Partners Publng [11/2016] for $2.28 {sic} Ballantine #58 mass pb [1953] out of print/used

"The Lost Planet" TV series [BBC-TV Jan 1954]

Six half-hour episodes based on the popular juvenile sci-fi novel by Angus MacVicar (first of a series of books, see Spirit of America Bookstore's Science Fiction Pages); a teenage orphan is sent to Scotland to live with his scientist uncle, whose team is building a rocket ship to visit the planet Hesikos, in competition with a team from Eastern Europe Directed by Bill Hitchcock; starring Peter Kerr, Mary Law, John Stuart, Joan Allen, Geoffrey Lumsden, John Springett, Joan Allen, Van Boolen, Wolfe Morris {best guess: no kinescopes or film exist} • credits at IMDb

"Return To The Lost Planet" TV series [BBC-TV Jan-March 1955]
Six half-hour episodes; after rescue by the Eastern European team, Jeremy Grant and his uncle's colleagues must build another rocketship
to retrieve the scientists still marooned on Planet Hesikos • {this TV series is considered lost} • credits at IMDb

"Rocky Jones, Space Ranger" TV series [syndication Feb-Nov 1954]
series credits at IMDb • series entry at Wikipedia

The pilot aired in September 1952; cast changes were made and 26 half-hour b&w episodes were ordered. The series was produced on film, largely so that special effects could be added and because the series was syndicated rather than broadcast by a network. In February 1954, actor Scotty Beckett got in trouble with police and fled to Mexico, spending four months in jail there – so his character of Winky was replaced. In June 1954, Maurice Cass died, and his Professor Newton character was replaced by Professor Mayberry. Thirteen new half-hour episodes were ordered and filmed between August and October 1954. The series ended in November 1954, but the twelve edited features were released from March 1954 thru some time in 1955. The Space Rangers were Earth-based space policemen who patrolled the United Worlds of the Solar System in the not-too-distant future; clean-cut, square-jawed Rocky Jones and his crew would routinely blast-off in a chemically-fueled, upright rocketship, the Orbit Jet XV-2 - which was later replaced by the nearly identical Silver Moon XV-3 - and tackle situations on far planets and moons and satellites. Stories were grouped into three episodes, each of which stood alone but also were edited together for release as TV movies/feature films (there were 12 groups of three plus three stand-alone episodes) • Directed by Hollingsworth Morse; starring Richard Crane, Sally Mansfield, Scotty Beckett, Robert Lyden, Charles Meredith, Maurice Cass, Patsy Parsons, William Hudson, Harry Lauter, Cliff Ferre, Leonard Penn, Jimmy Lydon, Ted Hecht, Mickey Simpson, John Banner, Reginald Sheffield, Dayton Lummis, Lane Bradford, Ann Robinson, Walter Coy, Guy Prescott, Richard Avonde, Rand Brooks, Thomas Browne Henry, James Griffith, Charles Horvath, Patsy Iannone, Tor Johnson, Sheb Wooley • individual episodes are not available on VHS/DVD/Blu-ray but half of the 3-part TV movies are (see just below); also, all 39 episodes are available FREE on YouTube (also just below) • series credits at IMDb

watch all 39 half-hour episodes FREE at YouTube
watch playlist [last update 4/2016] online at YouTube

"Beyond The Moon" aka "Beyond The Curtain of Space" TV movie [Feb 1954] /tt0045553/  
https://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Jones-Space-Ranger-Fleischer-Animated/dp/B00022LJ4M/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz21a52J60g

"The Gypsy Moon" aka "Rocky's Odyssey" TV movie [March 1954] /tt3776510/    
https://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Jones-Space-Ranger-Gypsy/dp/B00022LJ42/
https://www.amazon.com/Gypsy-Moon-Sinister-Cinema/dp/B003XF1VNE/

"Menace From Outer Space" aka "Bobby's Comet" TV movie [April 1954] /tt0046065/    
https://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Jones-Space-Ranger-Menace/dp/B000REQTL8/
https://www.amazon.com/Menace-Outer-Space-Classic-Science/dp/B07DD74RCY/
available for free download at the Internet Archive

"Escape Into Space" stand-alone episode [April 1954]  
Crook Tuck Harmon steals a rocket ship and blasts off bound for a protective hideaway . . . • Directed by Hollingsworth Morse; written by Warren Wilson;
starring Richard Crane, Scotty Beckett, Sally Mansfield, Robert Lyden, Charles Meredith, Frank Wilcox, Walter Coy, Patsy Iannone, Cliff Ferre
found on 4-episode DVD below • full credits at IMDb • watch full episode [1/2014 upload; 26:06] online at YouTube

"Manhunt In Space" aka "The Pirates of Prah" TV movie [May 1954] /tt0047211/  
https://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Jones-Space-Ranger-Manhunt/dp/B0006IUE8O/
https://www.amazon.com/Manhunt-Space-Sinister-Cinema/dp/B003XF1V34/

"Silver Needle In The Sky" aka "Duel In Space" TV movie [May 1954] /tt0046316/    
https://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Jones-Space-Ranger-Fleischer-Animated/dp/B0006IUE8Y/
https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Needle-Sky-Sinister-Cinema/dp/B003XF1VUM/

"Forbidden Moon" TV movie [June 1954] /tt0045781/    
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeMvX8WK1NU

"Crash of The Moons" TV movie [July 1954] /tt0045655/    
https://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Jones-Space-Ranger-Crash/dp/B00006SFJ9/
https://www.amazon.com/Crash-Moons-Classic-Science-Fiction/dp/B01DYZ6DJO/
available for free download at the Internet Archive
"Kip's Private War" stand-alone episode [July 1954]   

"Blast Off" TV movie [Aug 1954] /tt0132886/ not avail?

"The Cold Sun" TV movie [Aug 1954] /tt0132901/ not avail?

"The Magnetic Moon" aka "Inferno In Space" TV movie [Sept 1954] /tt0133078/ not avail?
"Vena and The Darnamo" stand-alone episode [October 1954]

"The Robot of Regalio" aka "Out of This World" TV movie [Oct 1954] /tt0133184/ not avail?

"Renegade Satellite" aka "The Trial of Rocky Jones" TV movie [Nov 1954] /tt0133175/ not avail?

"Rocky Jones, Space Ranger Collection" 6-DVD Box Set [2006] Alpha Home Ent. b&w DVD box set [1/2006] out of prodn/used contains six feature-length b&w movies, 1954-1955: "Beyond The Moon" aka "Beyond The Curtain of Space", "Crash of The Moons", "The Gypsy Moon" aka "Rocky's Odyssey", "Manhunt In Space" aka "The Pirates of Prah", "Menace From Outer Space" aka "Bobby's Comet", and "Silver Needle In The Sky" aka "Duel In Space"

"Rocky Jones Space Ranger" 5-DVD Box Set [2006] 9-hour Passport DVD set [4/2006] out of prodn/used DISC 1 contains: † "Silver Needle In The Sky" (3 episodes) and † "Bobby's Comet" (3 episodes) aka "Menace From Outer Space"; DISC 2 contains: "The Forbidden Moon" (3 episodes); DISC 3 contains: "Kip's Private War" single episode [July 1954] and † "Crash of The Moons" (3 episodes) - misprinted on case as "Blast Off!"; DISC 4 contains: † "Rocky's Odyssey" (3 episodes) aka "The Gypsy Moon"; DISC 5 has no Rocky Jones material, but does contain: generic sci-fi media, "Missile To The Moon" [1958 movie], "A Century of Sci-Fi: Sci-Fi Heroes" TV episode, and "Flash Gordon: The Subworld Revenge" TV episode [1955] — NOTE: the blue † symbol here indicates duplication on the 6-disk box set above

"Rocky Jones, Space Ranger, Volume 1"
4 episodes: "Forbidden Moon, Parts 1 & 2 & 3" and standalone episode "Escape Into Space"
https://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Jones-Space-Ranger-1/dp/B0031XYLQW/

"Rocky Jones Space Ranger" 2-DVD Set [2008] contains four 3-episode stories {each group later released as a feature-length TV movie, as above}: "Beyond The Curtain of Space" aka "Beyond The Moon", "Silver Needle In The Sky" aka "Duel In Space", "The Forbidden Moon", and "Bobby's Comet" aka "Menace From Outer Space" Timeless Media Group b&w DVD [10/2008] out of prodn/used

"World Beyond the Moon" TV movie [ABC-TV Oct 1954]

obscure TV movie culled from three October 1954 episodes of "Space Patrol" [1950-55]: 'The Giants of Pluto III', 'The Fiery Pit of Pluto III', and 'The Man-Hunt On Pluto III'; may also have been intended for release as feature film only in foreign markets; Commander Buzz Corry and Cadet Happy must defeat mad scientist Doctor Kurt who is changing people into obedient giants in his sanitarium on Pluto III Produced & directed by Dick Darley; written by Norman Jolley; starring Ed Kemmer, Lyn Osborn, Ken Mayer, Nina Bara, Hannes Lutz VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available • not listed at IMDb

"Conquest of Space" [Paramount Pictures April 1955]

Taglines: "How far is too far?" and "The biggest true story of our century - before it actually happens!" • A special crew assigned to a space station have assembled a rocket ship, per orders; Earth announces that the mission to Mars is ready to proceed, members of the crew are chosen, and they rocket away on a six-month voyage to the Red Planet. By the time they land on Mars, the General has gone mad, accidents happen, and the fixing of various matters is finished barely in time to take off back to the space station - and to Earth. • Produced by Frank Freeman Jr. & George Pal; directed by Byron Haskin; based on the 1949 book by Chesley Bonestell & Willy Ley; adapted by Philip Yordan, Barré Lyndon, George Worthing Yates & James O'Hanlon: starring Walter Brooke, Eric Fleming, Mickey Shaughnessy, William Redfield, William Hopper, Phil Foster, Benson Fong, Ross Martin, Vito Scotti, John Dennis, Michael Fox, Joan Shawlee, Iphigenie Castiglioni, Dan Barton, Kei Thin Chung, Don Dunning, Fred Essler, Rand Harper, Maurice Hart, Jack Iversen, Mike Mahoney, John Mansfield, George Marshall Jr., Neyle Morrow, Harvey Parry, Tom Selden, Richard Shannon, Bob Templeton, David Vaile, Jamieson Ward Paramount widescreen color DVD [10/2004] for $38.97 L'Atelier 13 widescreen color DVD in English w/Spanish & French subtitles [6/2011] for $34.99 full credits at IMDb • watch official trailer [2/2007 upload; 2:51] online at YouTube

"Forbidden Planet" [M.G.M. March 1956]

Filmed in CinemaScope; a distant space colony goes silent and a starship crew is sent to investigate; they find only two survivors and a deadly secret . . . Directed by Fred M. Wilcox; screenplay by Cyril Hume, based on adaptation by Irving Block & Allen Adler of Wm. Shakespeare's 1611 stageplay "The Tempest"; narrated by Les Tremayne; with Frankie Darro uncredited as Robby the Robot & Marvin Miller uncredited as Robby's voice; starring Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, Leslie Nielsen, Warren Stevens, Jack Kelly, Richard Anderson, Earl Holliman, James Drury & James Best; Oscar nom for Best Special Effects (won by "Ten Commandments"} Warner Home Video digitally- restored widescreen color Blu-ray [9/2010] for $9.29 Warner Home Video digitally- restored widescreen color DVD [12/2010] for $8.76 Warner Home Video color DVD [4/2000] for $14.99 Warner Home Video color VHS [8/94] for $7.00 full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

"The Invisible Boy" sequel [M.G.M. Oct 1957] /tt0050546/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invisible_Boy

"Missile To The Moon" [1958] /tt0053072/

"Journey To The Moon (Rehla Ilal Kamar)" [Egypt 1959]

A hapless photographer attempts to take unauthorized photos inside a rocket ship and accidentally launches the craft to the moon with a German scientist and a metorologist on board; they meet a Moon Man and his skimpily-attired Space Babes and a drunken robot • Directed by Hamada Abdel Wahab; starring Ismail Yassin, Rushdi Abazah, Souad Tharwat, Edmond Tuima, Ibrahim Younis Rotana b&w DVD [undated] out of prodn / SOLD OUT ! full credits at IMDb

"The Angry Red Planet" [1959] /tt0052564/

"Men Into Space" TV series [CBS-TV 1959-60 & syndication]

38 b&w half-hour episodes produced by ZIV Television and broadcast on the C.B.S. Network • Starring William Lundigan {as Col. Edward McCauley}, Joyce Taylor, Charles Herbert, Tyler McVey, Russ Conway, John Sutton, Jeremy Slate, H.M. Wynant, Paul Langton, Harry Ellerbe, Rand Brooks; guest actors include Angie Dickinson, Arthur Franz, Bill Williams, James Coburn, James Drury, Werner Klemperer, Harry Lauter, Gerald Mohr, Paul Picerni, Robert Vaughn, Simon Oakland, Denver Pyle, Murray Hamilton, John Lupton, Whit Bissell, James Best, Harry Carey Jr., William Schallert, Gavin MacLeod, Guy Stockwell, Ray Teal, John Vivyan, Ann Doran VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available • series credits at IMDb • series entry at Wikipedia watch 21-episode playlist [1/2014 upload] free online at YouTube "Men Into Space" non-fiction book [2012] by John C. Fredriksen Kindle Edition from BearManor Media [3/2013] for $9.95 BearManor Media 9x6 pb [12/2012] for $21.95 BearManor Media 9x6 hardcover [12/2012] for $31.95

jump to year 1960 on Page 2

L i n k s
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here on the Outer Space Film Festival Pages at Magic Lantern Video & Book Store

on Page 1: top of page • short history • selected books • movies & TV, to 1959 • links

on Page 2: top of page • movies & TV, from 1960 • documentary films & TV

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