Riders to the Stars (1954)

In an attempt to discover the composition of meteors, three astronauts are sent out into space in three specially designed rockets. Their mission is to capture a meteor and bring it to ... See full summary »

Director:

Richard Carlson

Writer:

Curt Siodmak (screenplay)

Stars:

William Lundigan, Herbert Marshall, Richard Carlson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
William Lundigan	...	Dr. Richard Donald Stanton
Herbert Marshall	...	Dr. Donald L. Stanton / Narrator
Richard Carlson	...	Dr. Jerry Lockwood
Martha Hyer	...	Dr. Jane Flynn
Dawn Addams	...	Susan Manners
Robert Karnes	...	Walter J. Gordon
Lawrence Dobkin	...	Dr. Delmar
George Eldredge	...	Dr. Paul Drayden
Dan Riss	...	Dr. Frank Warner
Michael Fox	...	Dr. Klinger
King Donovan	...	James F. O'Herli
Kem Dibbs	...	David Wells
James Best	...	Sidney K. Fuller (as James K. Best)

Storyline

In an attempt to discover the composition of meteors, three astronauts are sent out into space in three specially designed rockets. Their mission is to capture a meteor and bring it to Earth.

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Plot Keywords:

meteor | astronaut | rocket | space flight | centrifuge | 

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Taglines:

Hurtle toward the far reaches of the universe with the space vikings of the future!

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 January 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Caminho das Estrelas

Filming Locations:

Hal Roach Studios - 8822 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ivan Tors Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Supercinecolor) (as Color Corp. of America)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the Office of Scientific Investigation (from producer Ivan Tors' previous science fiction films) does not reappear in this film, the O.S.I initials still appear on a chalkboard during a lecture by Stanton.

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Goofs

The basic "scientific" premise of the film is that cosmic rays crystallize and pulverize metal and other materials in space, but that meteors are unaffected by cosmic rays - hence the movie's plot, to go into space to capture a meteor and find out what substance protects it from such rays. But in fact cosmic rays do not crystallize or in any way affect any substance - in space, on Earth or anywhere else - as the film claims. Thus the entire premise of the film is erroneous, a fact that was well known at the time of the movie's release in 1954.

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Soundtracks

"Riders to the Stars"
Music by Harry Sukman
Lyrics by Leon Pober
Vocalist: Kitty White

User Reviews

Captures wonder and awe of the space age. Good movie.

The film manages to capture the wonder and awe of the space age you may have felt as a teenager in the 1950s. It comes through clearly with the superb cast in the movie (Richard Carlson is one of my favorites in this genre). And even though some people don't like the stock footage used, I enjoyed it. With the interaction of characters, and even love interest in the film, the movie takes you to another time and place. About the only the missing from this movie that usually draws me to these films was the usual flying saucer/UFO kind of connection. But even without that, I really enjoyed this movie. I would have loved to have grown up in that era. See it if you get the chance.