FLIGHT TO MARS
US, 1951, 72 minutes, Colour.
Marguerite Chapman, Cameron Mitchell, Arthur Franz.
Directed by Lesley Selander.
One of the many brief, B budget science fiction films made about 1950. Though modest and far-fetched and with uneven special effects, they paved the way for the interest in science fiction in the late sixties with Kubrick's 2001 and into the seventies to Star Wars. They look weak by comparison but are interesting in their basic science fiction themes - space exploration (7 years before the first satellites), the naivety of the technology, the swift journey to Mars, the presuppositions about life on Mars. This film aims for some sophistication although it seems very unsophisticated now. Other films about Mars include Red Planet Mars, The Angry Red Planet which was a warning against exploration, Robinson Crusoe on Mars. The film is quite competent within its confined budget and scope.
1. Audience interest in science fiction? The early films of the forties and fifties in comparison with later bigger budget films? Interesting science, technology, space exploration, life on other planets?
2. The conventions of the science fiction space film - the journey and mission, the technology, the rocket, the confined living within the rocket, landing on the planet, confrontation with the Martians, the escape? The imaginative value of this film for its time, now?
3. Colour photography, special effects and sets - the limits of budget? The rousing score? An authentic feel for the time of space exploration? Pre-space interpretations and imagination - later comparisons?
4. How plausible was the plot? The political background and secrecy? The selection of people for the mission? Their seeming lack of preparation - even meeting one another? The swift journey, the swift moving away from the meteors, the comparatively easy landing? The story of the Martians and their knowledge of English, technology? dying planet and the need for escape? The repair of the ship, the brief skirmish and escape? Contrived, sufficiently realistic for the conventions of the plot?
5. Steve as hero - the reporter, his interviews, his sending back material from space, his collaboration, his attraction towards Carolyn? His contribution to the mission? Jim and his knowledge of the machine, guiding the rocket, the ignoring of Carolyn, the attraction towards the Martian girl? Repairing the vehicle, the final confrontation and escape? How much character development within the confines of the film?
6. Carolyn and her attitudes towards Jim before they left, during the flight, jealousy, attraction towards Steve? The Martian heroine and her collaboration, the narrow escape from Mars? Conventional heroines?
7. The Professor and his interview, going to Mars because it was there, the risk of not returning? His collaboration during the trip? The Professor and his doing the T.V. interview to leave money for his family, his pessimism, his collaboration?
8. The Martians - as alternate humans? The plausibility of their civilisation, minerals, the dying planet? The Governor and his plan to take over - council meetings and eventually being thwarted? His spies? The sympathetic Martians and their collaboration?
9. The special effects for space exploration, difficulties? Life on Mars, the Martian civilisation and its advanced technology and modern style?
10. Perennial interest in space exploration, science fiction and the interpretation of the future? The effect of the imagination being outdated within such a comparatively short time?
