IMDb RATING
4.9/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
An astronaut crew on their way to the Moon are unexpectedly propelled by gravitational forces and end up on Mars instead.An astronaut crew on their way to the Moon are unexpectedly propelled by gravitational forces and end up on Mars instead.An astronaut crew on their way to the Moon are unexpectedly propelled by gravitational forces and end up on Mars instead.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
Patrick Aherne
- Reporter #1
- (as Patrick Ahern)
Kathy Marlowe
- Reporter
- (as Katherine Marlowe)
Tom Coleman
- Reporter
- (uncredited)
James Conaty
- Doctor Taking Lisa's Blood Pressure
- (uncredited)
Sam Harris
- Reporter at Press Briefing
- (uncredited)
Judd Holdren
- Reporter #3
- (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes
- Reporter
- (uncredited)
Barry Norton
- Reporter
- (uncredited)
Cosmo Sardo
- Reporter
- (uncredited)
Bert Stevens
- Reporter
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Orville H. Hampton
- Kurt Neumann
- Dalton Trumbo(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis movie contained a sequence showing the consequences of atomic war on Mars, and how it had destroyed the once advanced Martian civilization. This is one of the first times a movie showed the dangers of atomic war, and might have actually been the first.
- GoofsWeightlessness appears to affect some props (harmonica, jacket), but not others (sandwich, papers, long hair, ties).
- Quotes
Harry: From this distance it would only appear a mere speck.
Major Corrigan: A mere speck? *Texas* a mere speck?
- Alternate versionsIn the original theatrical version, the Mars scenes were tinted pink/red.
- ConnectionsEdited into Lost Continent (1951)
Featured review
Excellent, Memorable Little Film
This is one I've carried in my memory for years.
Without the Technicolor budget of George Pal and Robert Heinlein's "Destination Moon," "Rocketship X-M" succeeds in becoming a far more meaningful and memorable pre-"2001" science fiction film.
"Destination Moon" attempts a "scientific" preview of man's first lunar visit. Of course, this effort seriously dates the movie (I also smile at the rather whimsical, seat-of-the-pants, "outsider" endeavors of our heros as they manfully put forth, launching their rocket one-step ahead of the narrow-minded "authorities." Okay, so much for that!).
Rocketship X-M had to vie with "D.M." for entertainment bucks at the box office. X-M's b&w budget (with special effects courtesy of White Sands V-2 stock footage and model-making of the string and cardboard variety) didn't allow the producers to throw a lot of "science" at us, however. What they did have going for them, however, were a few excellent character actors doing star-turns for a change of career-pace, a script by Dalton Trumbo, music by Ferde Grofe, and excellent -- and evocative -- sound and camera work...etc.
Granted: The film's overall messages are a bit simplistic -- nuclear war is bad and should be avoided and the human spirit for exploration and discovery cannot be put down by failure and difficulty (I guess they never considered budget shortfalls as a "failure of spirit"). These ideas are, at least, given voice here during what was, after all, a dangerous era in American politics. Remember, Dalton Trumbo was blacklisted!
The science? Okay, it sucks. Who cares!? Science fiction, to my liking, is less about science and numbers than it is about people and life. This has all of that and carries it forward with distinction and class.
When I first saw this movie as a kid, I remember being truly frightened by the bleak view of a post-apocalyptic Mars and shivered in disbelief then terror at the onrushing tragedy of the about-to-crash rocket bearing the two doomed lovers and their sole-surviving crew-mate (a young Hugh O'Brien) to a fiery demise over the Ural Mountains. The producers did a terrific job with what they had and they deserve a great deal of credit.
Without the Technicolor budget of George Pal and Robert Heinlein's "Destination Moon," "Rocketship X-M" succeeds in becoming a far more meaningful and memorable pre-"2001" science fiction film.
"Destination Moon" attempts a "scientific" preview of man's first lunar visit. Of course, this effort seriously dates the movie (I also smile at the rather whimsical, seat-of-the-pants, "outsider" endeavors of our heros as they manfully put forth, launching their rocket one-step ahead of the narrow-minded "authorities." Okay, so much for that!).
Rocketship X-M had to vie with "D.M." for entertainment bucks at the box office. X-M's b&w budget (with special effects courtesy of White Sands V-2 stock footage and model-making of the string and cardboard variety) didn't allow the producers to throw a lot of "science" at us, however. What they did have going for them, however, were a few excellent character actors doing star-turns for a change of career-pace, a script by Dalton Trumbo, music by Ferde Grofe, and excellent -- and evocative -- sound and camera work...etc.
Granted: The film's overall messages are a bit simplistic -- nuclear war is bad and should be avoided and the human spirit for exploration and discovery cannot be put down by failure and difficulty (I guess they never considered budget shortfalls as a "failure of spirit"). These ideas are, at least, given voice here during what was, after all, a dangerous era in American politics. Remember, Dalton Trumbo was blacklisted!
The science? Okay, it sucks. Who cares!? Science fiction, to my liking, is less about science and numbers than it is about people and life. This has all of that and carries it forward with distinction and class.
When I first saw this movie as a kid, I remember being truly frightened by the bleak view of a post-apocalyptic Mars and shivered in disbelief then terror at the onrushing tragedy of the about-to-crash rocket bearing the two doomed lovers and their sole-surviving crew-mate (a young Hugh O'Brien) to a fiery demise over the Ural Mountains. The producers did a terrific job with what they had and they deserve a great deal of credit.
helpful•4114
- Larry-17
- Sep 12, 1999
- How long is Rocketship X-M?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Journey into the Unknown
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $94,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 17 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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