Project Moon Base (1953)

Director:

Richard Talmadge

Writers:

Robert A. Heinlein (story) and
Jack Seaman (story) ...

Release Date:

4 September 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Thrills Come Rocketing to the Screen as Science Smashes a New Frontier!

Plot:

In the not-too-distant future of 1970, the United States is considering building bases on the Moon,...

Plot Keywords:

Moon | 1970s | Reverse Footage | Secret Agent | Space Station

Cast

Donna Martell	...	Col. Briteis
Hayden Rorke	...	Gen. 'Pappy' Greene
Ross Ford	...	Maj. Bill Moore
Larry Johns	...	Dr. Wernher
Herb Jacobs	...	Mr. Roundtree
Barbara Morrison	...	Polly Prattles
Ernestine Barrier	...	Madame President
James Craven	...	Commdr. Carlson
John Hedloe	...	Adjutant
Peter Adams	...	Capt. Carmody
Robert Karnes	...	Sam (enemy agent)
John Straub	...	Chaplain
Charles Keane	...	Spacom operator
John Tomecko	...	Blockhouse air controller
Robert Paltz	...	Bellboy

Also Known As:

Project Moonbase (USA) (alternative spelling)
Ring Around the Moon (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

63 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Galaxy Pictures Inc.

Trivia:

Shot in ten days.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Maj. Moore is talking from the moonbase to the space station using the large "Television Monitor". Right after the General says "Take off your rank son, this is man to man." the Major stands up and his shadow is now visible on the wall behind the General showing that the "Monitor" is just a hole in the wall and the space station set is on the other side.

Quotes:

Col. Briteis: [after panicking over their predicament] Sorry for going female on you, Major.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Cat-Women of the Moon (1953)

This film will be of interest to some, but others beware.

This minor little early fifties space picture was compiled of episodes of an unsold TV series titled "Ring Around The Moon." This explains the films awkward bifurcated structure. The producers claim they thought these episodes look so great, that they decided to release it as feature film instead. While this may be true, I think its more likely the producers couldn't find a sponsor or a network that was interested. Which is a bit odd. For an early fifties T.V. show, this really doesn't look all that bad when compared to other early fifties shows like "Rocky Jones: Space Ranger" or "Tom Corbett Space Cadett." PROJECT MOON BASE (or "Ring Around the Moon.") seems to have slightly higher production values and more ambitious special effects than other TV shows from the period. From watching this film, its seems there was an attempt to make something more adult than other shows on TV at the time. However, these sets and special effects must of looked inadequate when seen on the big screen even in 1953.

There are some surprises here. The fact that the space commander is women is unusual for a film from the early fifties, although back in the early seventies when I first saw this film I didn't think that was so odd. What did surprise me was at the end when the president is shown to be a woman. One enlightened soul in this forum called this film "sexist" and "paranoid." I wouldn't call a film that features a women as space station commander and a woman as president "sexist", and I don't see what is so paranoid about this film. Then again, maybe I'm clueless. Then again the term "paranoid" has been used by so many pedantic critics to describe just about every 1950's sci fi/monster flick almost as if by rote.

Perhaps the most unusual thing about PROJECT MOON BASE is some of the names in the credits. The name almost always mentioned is the famed science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlan, who is credited as co-writer. It's a shame that this minor little film is one of the few times Heinlan ever worked on a film. The other name is Richard Talmadge who directed. Talmadge's career goes back to the silent period where he was one the silent periods great stunt men. He also was a star back then in his own right. Over the years Talmadge, acted, directed, produced, wrote and worked as a unit director on all kinds of films.

Over all, PROJECT MOON BASE is a rather tedious film. I recently watched it on video and sat through it with only minor interest. Unless your a fifties sci fi buff, or a fan of Heinlan, or interested in the career of Richard Talmadge, PROJECT MOON BASE will probably be rough going. It's a minor curiosity, and a footnote in the career of Robert Heinlan.