ROCKET SHIP XM
US, 1950, 77 minutes, Black and white/Red tinting.
Lloyd Bridges, Osa Massen, John Emery, Noah Beery Jr, Hugh O’ Brian, Morris Ankram.
Directed by Kurt Neumann.
Rocket Ship XM was one of the earliest films about space exploration and travel to the moon, done in a serious and scientific manner. (However, the assumptions about science, about travel in space seem rather primitive after the actual events.) At the same time George Pal directed Destination Moon in colour which was a much more successful commercial hit.
With the moon walk finally happening in 1969, the film is a reminder that for decades prior to the moon walk, scientists like those portrayed in the film had to be preparing the space travel, the space stations, the landing on the moon.
For the first half of the film, the focus is very much on the science. We are introduced to the various members of the team led by Lloyd Bridges and by John Emery as the scientist. Osa Massen is interesting as a female astronaut decades before any women did go into space. While the film emphasises the role of women, the leading scientist does have some implicit derogatory remarks about women’s presence in intuition.
When something goes wrong with the spaceship and the mathematics, the crew is hurtled through space, eventually landing on Mars (hence the red tint). This part of the film is a mixture of science fiction and speculation, especially when some characters are discovered on Mars and the astronauts interact with them. The film, in a sense, goes downhill with this aspect although this was probably quite popular at the time with the speculation about Martians and such works as War of the Worlds and The Angry Red Planet.
The film was directed by Kurt Neumann who had direct B-budget films since the early 1930s. He directed a number of Tarzan films but is probably best known as the director of the 1957 The Fly with Vincent Price.
1.The impact of the film, the preparations for a landing on the moon, from the perspective of 1950s, from the perspective of post-1969?
2.The black and white photography, the red tint for Mars? The sets, the laboratories, the press conference room? The spaceship itself – scientifically interesting, primitive by later standards? The exteriors and the special effects and models? The photography of the moon, the Mars settings? The musical score?
3.Science and 1950, the beginnings of the Space Age? Doctor Eckstrom and his explanations, the briefing of the press? Their questions? The introduction to the various members of the crew, the countdown, the takeoff?
4.The characters: Floyd Graham and his offhand Hollywood hero manner, Doctor Van Horn and her science background, mathematics? Doctor Eckstrom and his scientific knowledge? Major Corrigan, his memories of flying jets, genial, his role on the spaceship, Harry Chamberlain and his expertise? Doctor Ralph Fleming on the ground, his contact with Doctor Eckstrom?
5.The spaceship, the interiors, lack of gravity? The astronauts not wearing any special suits? The mathematics? Going off course, hurtling through space, the arrival on Mars?
6.The concern on Earth, Doctor Fleming, the consultations, the press?
7.Mars, the surface, the explorers? Their enthusiasm? The discovery of the Martian people, the interactions, their civilisation?
8.The ending, the achievement, the enthusiasm for space exploration, hopes for the moon, hopes for Mars?
