Destination Moon (1950)

Director:

Irving Pichel

Writers:

Robert A. Heinlein (novel)
Alford Van Ronkel (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

August 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING!

Plot:

One of the first science fiction films to attempt a high level of accurate technical detail tells the story of the first trip to the moon.

Plot Keywords:

Moon | Astronaut | Scientist | General | Doctor

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

John Archer	...	Jim Barnes
Warner Anderson	...	Dr. Charles Cargraves
Tom Powers	...	General Thayer
Dick Wesson	...	Joe Sweeney
Erin O'Brien-Moore	...	Emily Cargraves
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Grace Stafford	...	Woody Woodpecker (voice)
Franklyn Farnum	...	Factory Worker (uncredited)
Everett Glass	...	Mr. La Porte (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp	...	Businessman at Meeting (uncredited)
Knox Manning	...	Knox Manning (uncredited)
Mike Miller	...	Man (uncredited)
Irving Pichel	...	Off Screen Narrator of Woody Woodpecker Cartoon (uncredited)
Bert Stevens	...	Businessman at Meeting (uncredited)
Ted Warde	...	Brown (uncredited)

Directed by
Irving Pichel

Writing credits
Robert A. Heinlein		(novel "Rocketship Galileo") (as R.A. Heinlein)
Alford Van Ronkel		(screenplay) (as Rip Van Ronkel) and
Robert A. Heinlein		(screenplay) (as R.A. Heinlein) and
James O'Hanlon		(screenplay)

Produced by
George Pal	....	producer

Original Music by
Leith Stevens

Cinematography by
Lionel Lindon

Film Editing by
Duke Goldstone

Production Design by
Ernst Fegté

Set Decoration by
George Sawley

Makeup Department
Webster Philips	....	makeup artist (as Webster Phillips)

Production Management
Martin Eisenberg	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Harold Godsoe	....	assistant director

Sound Department
William H. Lynch	....	sound (as William Lynch)

Special Effects by
Lee Zavitz	....	special effects

Animation Department
Walter Lantz	....	animation producer

Music Department
Dave Torbett	....	orchestrator (as David Torbett)
Clarence Wheeler	....	composer: animation sequence (uncredited)

Other crew
John S. Abbott	....	technical supervisor
Chesley Bonestell	....	technical advisor of astronomical art
Robert Brower	....	technicolor color consultant
Robert A. Heinlein	....	technical advisor (as R.A. Heinlein)
Miles E. Pike	....	technician
Dale Tholen	....	technician

Production Companies

• George Pal Productions

Distributors

• Eagle-Lion Films (1950) (USA) (theatrical)
• Budd Rogers Releasing Corporation (1956) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Wade Williams Productions (1982) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Cinema Classics (video)
• Englewood Entertainment (video)
• Image Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (laserdisc)
• Mass Production
• Media Home Entertainment (198?) (USA) (VHS) (as Nostalgia Merchant)
• Punto Zero (2007) (Italy) (DVD)
• Punto Zero (2008) (non-USA) (all media)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (video)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:Not Rated (DVD) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (certificate #14432)

Filming Locations:

General Service Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

George Pal Productions

Trivia:

In order to make the space suits appear to be in a vacuum they were padded to make them seem inflated. The padding and the studio lights made the suits so hot the actors could wear them for only a few minutes at a time.

Goofs:

Continuity: When one astronaut is taking a picture of another on the moon and asks him to hold his hand up with Earth in the background as though he is holding Earth in his hand, the frame shows both men with the subject raising his right hand, and then it cuts to the scene showing the subject with Earth in the background only the subject is holding his left hand up to 'support' the Earth, then the scene cuts back to both men and the subject is holding up his right hand again.

Quotes:

Jim Barnes: Say, Doc, the ship's about ready to take off, isn't she?
Dr. Charles Cargraves: Except for tests and minor adjustments.
Jim Barnes: Well, what's the next favorable time?
Dr. Charles Cargraves: About a month from now.
Jim Barnes: No, I don't mean that. What's the next favorable time this month?
Dr. Charles Cargraves: [checking the calendar] The only favorable time this month is about 17 hours from now.
Jim Barnes: All right, that's it then. We take off in 17 hours.
General Thayer: Are you out of your mind?
Jim Barnes: I will be, if we run into any more red tape! Now look, there's no law against taking off a spaceship: it's never been done, so they haven't got around to prohibiting it. If we ask for permission, they'll find a way to block us. So we go now, as soon as we can!
General Thayer: In an untested ship?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Amazon Women on the Moon (1987)

Exciting and realistic sci-fi adventure.

I was very surprised with how fresh and well made this film was. I grew up seeing the landings on the moon on TV. While these were exciting, they became too commonplace after a while(except for Apollo 13). The film captures the excitement of the trip and the landing and exploration of the moon very well. The best thing they did was to keep it realistic and avoid them meeting mutant monsters along the way. I especially loved the scene when they claim the moon on behalf of and for mankind. What a great moment full of awe and wonder. Throughout, I kept realizing that my reactions to many of the situations they faced would be exactly the same. The end is very tense and although I knew how it would turn out, I was on the edge of my seat. Not to be missed.