Project Moonbase
Encyclopedia
Project Moonbase is a black-and-white
1953 science fiction
film directed by Richard Talmadge
. The film is also known as Project Moon Base and is based on a story by Robert A. Heinlein
, who shares screenwriting credit. Mystery Science Theater 3000
featured it as an episode in its first Comedy Channel
season in January 1990 and it was also broadcast in a syndicated television episode of the Canned Film Festival
in 1986.
The film is unusual for its time in both attempting to portray space-travel in a "realistic" manner, and for depicting a future in which women hold positions of authority and responsibility equal to men; in the script the president of the United States
is a woman.
The interior set of the spaceship was later used in the film Cat-Women of the Moon
.
is considering building bases on the Moon
. Colonel Briteis (Donna Martell), Major Bill Moore (Ross Ford
), and Doctor Wernher (Larry Johns) are sent to orbit the Moon to survey landing sites for future lunar missions. However, Dr. Wernher is an impostor whose mission is to destroy the US's Earth-orbiting space station, which he plans to do by colliding the rocket with the station on the way back from the Moon.
While on the way out, however, Wernher inadvertently gives his identity away. In the ensuing struggle for the control of the rocket, Col. Briteis has to make an emergency landing on the Moon. With them all marooned, Dr. Wernher redeems himself by helping establish communications with Earth, although an accident results in his untimely death. In response to the unexpected turn of events, the US authorities decide to make the immobilized spaceship the core of a new moon base. To avoid a scandal, their commander, General Greene (Hayden Rorke
), cajoles Major Moore into proposing to Colonel Briteis (so as not to have an unmarried male and female astronaut alone in close quarters for weeks). Briteis accepts, but requests that Major Moore be promoted to Brigadier General
after they are married so that he will outrank her.
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
1953 science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
film directed by Richard Talmadge
Richard Talmadge
Richard Talmadge was a Swiss-born American actor, stuntman and film director....
. The film is also known as Project Moon Base and is based on a story by Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
, who shares screenwriting credit. Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
featured it as an episode in its first Comedy Channel
The Comedy Channel (United States)
The Comedy Channel was an all-comedy cable television network owned by Home Box Office, a division of Time Warner. It premiered on November 15, 1989 at 6 p.m. ET, and merged with Viacom's HA! to become CTV: The Comedy Network on April 1, 1991...
season in January 1990 and it was also broadcast in a syndicated television episode of the Canned Film Festival
Canned Film Festival
The Canned Film Festival was a nationally syndicated late night television comedy series that aired in the United States for a single season in the summer of 1986. With only a one-letter difference in the spelling, the name is an intentional play on the name for the Cannes Film Festival, the...
in 1986.
The film is unusual for its time in both attempting to portray space-travel in a "realistic" manner, and for depicting a future in which women hold positions of authority and responsibility equal to men; in the script the president of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
is a woman.
The interior set of the spaceship was later used in the film Cat-Women of the Moon
Cat-Women of the Moon
Cat-Women of the Moon is a 1953 Science fiction 3-D film directed by Arthur Hilton. It stars Sonny Tufts, Victor Jory and Marie Windsor. The musical score was composed by Elmer Bernstein....
.
Plot
Set in a future 1970, the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
is considering building bases on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
. Colonel Briteis (Donna Martell), Major Bill Moore (Ross Ford
Ross Ford
Ross William Ford is a professional rugby union player who plays as hooker for both Edinburgh and Scotland. He signed for Edinburgh after starting his professional career with the Border Reivers, but after the Reivers disbandment in the summer of 2007, Ford was left without a club...
), and Doctor Wernher (Larry Johns) are sent to orbit the Moon to survey landing sites for future lunar missions. However, Dr. Wernher is an impostor whose mission is to destroy the US's Earth-orbiting space station, which he plans to do by colliding the rocket with the station on the way back from the Moon.
While on the way out, however, Wernher inadvertently gives his identity away. In the ensuing struggle for the control of the rocket, Col. Briteis has to make an emergency landing on the Moon. With them all marooned, Dr. Wernher redeems himself by helping establish communications with Earth, although an accident results in his untimely death. In response to the unexpected turn of events, the US authorities decide to make the immobilized spaceship the core of a new moon base. To avoid a scandal, their commander, General Greene (Hayden Rorke
Hayden Rorke
William Henry Rorke was an American actor best known for playing Col. Dr. Alfred E. Bellows on the hit 1960s American sitcom I Dream of Jeannie.-Career:...
), cajoles Major Moore into proposing to Colonel Briteis (so as not to have an unmarried male and female astronaut alone in close quarters for weeks). Briteis accepts, but requests that Major Moore be promoted to Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
after they are married so that he will outrank her.
Cast
- Donna Martell as Colonel Briteis
- Hayden RorkeHayden RorkeWilliam Henry Rorke was an American actor best known for playing Col. Dr. Alfred E. Bellows on the hit 1960s American sitcom I Dream of Jeannie.-Career:...
as Gen. 'Pappy' Greene - Ross Ford as Maj. Bill Moore
- Larry Johns as Doctor Wernher
- Herb Jacobs as Mr. Roundtree
- Barbara Morrison as Polly Prattles
- Ernestine Barrier as Madame President
- James Craven as Commodore Carlson
- John Hedloe as Adjutant
- Peter Adams as Captain Carmody
External links
- Project Moon Base film trailer at You Tube
- Original soundtrack released by Monstrous Movie Music