Search - Assignment: Outer Space on DVD

Interesting film, horrible transfer

A. Gammill | West Point, MS United States | 05/18/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I'm always amused by a friend who claims to have found great deals on old movies on DVD, only to be repeatedly burned by another cheap hack job by companies like Goodtimes or (in this case) Alpha Video. So it was with some trepidation I approached this one...

I was already familiar with the film, having long ago purchased a VHS copy from a slightly-more reputable company than those mentioned above. But after seeing this washed-out mess, with its numerous missing frames and audio dropouts, I might as well have used my DVD recorder to copy my VHS. The ONLY thing to recommend this disc over my tape is the inclusion of a trailer, which is in itself an oddity for Alpha. It's nice to have, but it's actually, unbelievably, in worse condition than the film.

ASSIGNMENT: OUTER SPACE itself is a pretty good little Italian space opera. As a kid watching these kinds of films on late-nite television, I always thrilled at seeing outer space scenes, spaceships, astronauts floating around, etc. And the film certainly delivers on those. And there is a real plot in there, too. Much has been said about how irritating Rik Von Nutter's reporter character is. But truthfully, these sorts of films are rarely a showcase for great acting. I found most of the characters acceptable, if unremarkable. And the reporter in space idea was probably pretty fresh in 1961.

Until a better transfer pops up, I'd recommend this disc only for sci-fi completists."

Alpha Two does not answer

bernie | Arlington, Texas | 10/10/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"A reporter on a routine mission in the 21st century. Finds he is wrapped up in a mystery that will take him from nervous intruder to a heroic mission. On the way reporter Ray Peterson (IZ41) and botanist, co-pilot and all around cutie Lucy (Y13) find time to fall in love.

In the process George the Commander (David Montresor) learns to be human and give a few rousing speeches about how man carries his nature to space with himself. Al (X15) (Archie Savage) find an opportunity to sacrifice for man kind and be remembered "Alas poor Al"

Turns out that humanity itself is being threatened. Will this crew be able to get along and deter the threat or is destiny too strong?

The mechanics to tell the story are the use of models, old pilot helpmates and Italian 1961 concept of space fatuous. The analog interments add that space feel.

Flight to Mars"

Italians In Space

Gary F. Taylor | Biloxi, MS USA | 04/16/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Now and then you encounter a film so tiresome that the thought reviewing it is every bit as tiresome as the film itself. Such is the case with ASSIGNMENT: OUTER SPACE, also known as SPACE MEN, a 1960 Italian flick.

The story is unimpressive. A reporter (Rik Van Nutter) is assigned to cover the goings-on aboard a space station--and happens to arrive just in time for a nuclear space ship to go out of control and threaten the earth and everyone on it. So they all blast off for Mars, and then they blast off for Venus, and then they blast off for the runaway space ship. There is a romantic subplot and more uninspired cliffhangers than a Pearl White serial.

The special effects aren't, the actors are stiff, and there are numerous insults to audience intelligence along the way. The absolute best thing I can say for this movie is that I've seen worse dubbing jobs--and now and then it does have an idea that seems interesting, although in truth nothing much comes of it. Unless you are a die-hard fan of lousy 1960s sci-fi, give this one a miss.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer"

Awful

Roger Gay | Haninge, Sweden | 12/21/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I hate to complain and love the old B&W sci-fi movies. We can always find something good, some way to explain the movie has something - and lovingly acknowledge they did it on a low budget.

This is an awful movie.
"