Search - Missile to the Moon on DVD

Adventure Into The Unknown

cookieman108 | Inside the jar... | 01/30/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"From the Wade Williams Collection and Image Entertainment, we get the definitive science fiction space extravaganza of 1959 (can you sense the sarcasm? I'm laying it on pretty thick here) directed by Richard E. Cunha, the man responsible for such cinematic schlock as She Demons (1958), Frankenstein's Daughter (1958), and Giant from the Unknown (1958). This film is actually a remake of 1953's Cat-Women of the Moon, which wasn't done by Cuhna. This movie has nearly everything, from lovely international beauty contestant winners cast as moon maidens, a spiffy rocket ship, less than exciting space travel, meteors, rock monsters, lunar caves fraught with danger (and breathable atmosphere, go figure), diamonds as big as your fist, a giant, hairy spider with big, pointy teeth, and even a catfight...what it doesn't have; a coherent plot, decent special effects, a lucid script, good characterizations, realistic sets, or passable acting, but, in the world of B movies, this one certainly stands out.

Okay, here's the deal. Seems a scientist has built a missile he intends to fly to the moon. The government, seeing the value and advanced state of his work, decides to take over the project, much to the scientists' dismay. He pouts a lot and makes a lot of statements you'd expect from a petulant child who doesn't get his way. Meanwhile, two criminals have escaped from prison, and have taken refuge within the moon missile. The scientist discovers them, and decides to convince them, at gunpoint, to help him fly his missile to the moon before the government takes away his cardboard spacecraft...er, I mean futuristic, atomic powered spacecraft. The scientists' assistant and his fiancé get caught on the ship, and all five blast off into the great unknown of space. After some danger involving meteors and such, this unlikely group reaches the moon. There they encounter some rock monsters that seem not to like people as they begin to attack our unlikely, yet plucky, cosmic travelers. It's funny watching the scenes with the rock monsters as all involved try to create tension and a sense of danger as one actor shouts out, "Look out! They're trying to surround us!" but the rock monster suits provide very little mobility causing the horrific creatures to move at a snails pace, allowing for even the most feeble to escape easily, that is unless someone trips...they take refuge in a cave, and soon find themselves transported to a lunar city, which we never really get to see, filled with a bevy of beautiful moon maidens. I can see why the scientist wanted to get here so badly, as there are no men, only bunches of lunar babes, ripe for the picking. Stuff happens, words are said, and soon we learn of the imminent danger the lunar women, and a catfight happens somewhere around here. Oh yeah, there's a wonderful scene where the scrappy space travelers are in a cave, and the order is given to release 'the Dark Ones'. As a really fake looking grate rises to a section of the cave, the suspense builds, and finally....nothing..oh wait! A big, hairy spider! And a particularly frisky one at that, based on what he's doing to that moon maiden... What happens next? Well, I don't want to give away too much, but it's all pretty predictable.

There's plenty of fun to be had here for lovers of campy movies. The disc contains a very decent print of the film, which does have minor, expected flaws, but the black and white looks crisp, and the audio is very clear. The only special feature is a photo gallery of mostly the beauty contestant winners in their moon maiden garb. I thoroughly enjoyed this better than average presentation of a late 50's sci-fi camp fest, but I was also glad that its' run time was only 77 minutes as Hollywood cheese is good, if taken in moderation.

Cookieman108"

Campy 50s Classic truly stands out in Color

Fred Lamperzi | Springfield, VA | 07/25/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great DVD release of an oft-overlooked space "epic." Imagine Plan 9 From Outer Space crossed with The Right Stuff...no, make that Apollo 13...Or maybe that episode of the Simpsons where Homer goes into space, and you have Missile to the Moon.

Boasting Ed Wood level production values, this is the shocking story of two escaped convicts, who, when discovered by a rocket scientist, are not turned in to the authorities, but instead used as crew members on a rocket ships inaugural voyage to the moon. That kind of logic and suspension of reality abounds in this kitschy trip, where moon dwelling women search out mates, send giant spider puppets to do their bidding, and enormous rock monsters resemble a sofa bed come to life.

Released a solid decade before man actually set foot on the moon, Missile to the Moon is a hilariously campy trip back in time. This version, and this version alone, features a great restoration of the original Black and White print, as well as the first ever version of the movie in color. The restored black and white print translates well into color, and the designers clearly had a blast updating 50s SciFi sets and costumes. The moon women (played by former Beauty pageant winners) are revealed to be of a blue skin tone reminiscent of the Diva in The Fifth Element, while the moonscapes look far more exciting than what actually turned out to be there when man finally arrived. The colorization job, like the job Legend did with Plan 9 and Little Shop of Horrors, adds to the campy fun, and therefore this is the version of Missile to the Moon that I would recommend over all others."

Gorgeous print of a beloved clinker

Surfink | Racine, WI | 09/01/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Missile to the Moon is basically a remake of Cat Women of the Moon (even reusing that giant spider) and just as much el cheapo fun as that film. I love the school-play-quality sets and props, amateurish acting, laughable dialogue, etc., (in short, everything you want in a Bad Film). For some reason the Moon Queen has ancient Mayan art hanging on her wall! (Attention Graham Hancock.) And those clumsy rock creatures are some of the most underrated 50s "monsters" (for originality if nothing else). Let's be honest here though: this is not a lunatic mess like Plan 9 or The Creeping Terror. It suffers from a bit too much technical competence to really achieve "warp" factor, yet remains a solid 70 minutes for crummy movie enthusiasts.
The DVD presentation is quite a bit above average for this type of movie. First, despite some minor speckling and a few damaged frames here and there, the print used is spectacular: good tonal scale, nice and sharp, clear sound. Overall, much better than one would expect. (In some scenes you can even see the creases on the backdrops.) There is no trailer included (unusual for Image), although you do get chapter stops and a special bonus "photo gallery" of dozens of someone's behind-the-scenes shots taken on and around the set, including many stills (some in color) of the "Moon Maidens" posing alluringly. Not exactly "the special edition," but a nice, atypical bonus for a set like this. C-movie nerds, grab this, you won't be disappointed. One star less than perfect 'cause no trailer and the (very minor) speckling and print damage."

Fly Me To The Moon...........

Brian E. Erland | Brea, CA - USA | 05/03/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"'Missile To The Moon' was released in '59, I was seven at the time. The first time I watched this film was on television, it was one of those "Movies of the Week" where it ran every night, Monday thru Friday at 8 o'clock, Saturday afternoon and twice on Sunday. I didn't miss a single showing.

Hey what did you expect, what little kid could resist a flight to the Moon, frightening rock monsters, a giant cave spider on strings and some very lovely Moon Maidens in form fitting tops and stretch pants. It was like heaven. I didn't particularily like the fact that these lovely lunar ladies where able to control humans through mind control, but I guess that was something I would learn to accept when I grew older (THAT'S A JOKE!).

Bad special effects, low budget, silly script, but lots of fun! However after all these years I still hate that stupid spider for eating Pat Mowry, my favorite Moon Maiden."