Menace from Outer Space (TV 1956)

A two-part episode of the sci-fi TV series Rocky Jones, Space Ranger, released as a feature.

Director:

Hollingsworth Morse

Writer:

Warren Wilson

Stars:

Richard Crane, Scotty Beckett, Sally Mansfield

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Richard Crane	...	Rocky Jones (archive footage)
Scotty Beckett	...	Winky (archive footage)
Sally Mansfield	...	Vena Ray (archive footage)
Robert Lyden	...	Bobby (archive footage)
Maurice Cass	...	Professor Newton (archive footage)
Leonard Penn	...	Ranger Griff (archive footage)
Charles Meredith	...	Secretary of Space Drake (archive footage) (as Chas. Meredith)
Patsy Parsons	...	Queen Cleolanta (archive footage)
Guy Prescott	...	Darganto (archive footage) (as Frank Pulaski)
Cliff Ferre	...	Ranger Marshall (archive footage)
Walter Coy	...	Zoravac (archive footage)
Nestor Paiva	...	Professor Cardos (archive footage)
Patsy Iannone	...	Volaca (archive footage)
Joanne Jordan	...	The Vonsoom, Zoravac's Wife (archive footage)
Charles Horvath	...	Symitar, Cardos Henchman (archive footage)

Storyline

A two-part episode of the sci-fi TV series Rocky Jones, Space Ranger, released as a feature.

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Plot Keywords:

space | edited from tv series | observatory | moon | comet | 

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Genres:

Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Also Known As:

Rocky Jones, Space Ranger: Menace from Outer Space

Company Credits

Production Co:

Official Films, Roland Reed Productions, Space Ranger Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Edited from the fourth, fifth, and sixth episodes of 'Rocky Jones Space Ranger'.

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Connections

Edited from Rocky Jones, Space Ranger (1954)

User Reviews

A fascinating insight into early television programming

Not a film for those seeking gripping, Hollywood style entertainment, in fact, not a film at all. Menace from Outer Space is an agglomeration of the first three episodes of the Rocky Jones, Space Ranger series starring "B" movie veteran Richard Crane.

"Menace" appears to have been created for re-packaging and re-licensing of film length features and is quite similar to its companion feature, "Crash of Moons."

"Rocky Jones," and the feature length films assembled from the serial shows, is a wonderful example of early television coming to grips with its role as an entertainer of children. Unfortunately, many of these early efforts come across as childish, and "Menace" is no exception.

While it's fascinating to see movie serial themes and dramatic situations reformatted for the small screen, the dialogue and acting is excruciating. Perhaps most difficult to bear is the director's obvious fascination with posing all of the actors for good TV images. Rather than a film, this piece comes across as a series of poses, interspersed with contrived dialogue. True believers only!