Spaceways (1953)

A small group of closely-guarded British scientists test their first rocket amidst indications of matrimonial strife in the community. After the partial failure of the firing, a couple go ... See full summary »

Director:

Terence Fisher

Writers:

Richard H. Landau (screenplay), Charles Eric Maine (radio play),

Stars:

Howard Duff, Eva Bartok, Alan Wheatley

Cast

Cast overview:
Howard Duff	...	Dr. Stephen Mitchell
Eva Bartok	...	Dr. Lisa Frank
Alan Wheatley	...	Dr. Smith
Philip Leaver	...	Professor Koepler
Michael Medwin	...	Dr. Toby Andrews
Andrew Osborn	...	Dr. Philip Crenshaw
Cecile Chevreau	...	Vanessa Mitchell
Anthony Ireland	...	General Hayes
Hugh Moxey	...	Col. Alfred Daniels
David Horne	...	Minister

Storyline

A small group of closely-guarded British scientists test their first rocket amidst indications of matrimonial strife in the community. After the partial failure of the firing, a couple go missing - have they gone off together or are their murdered bodies circling the earth in the remains of the rocket?

---

Plot Keywords:

murder | scientist hero | infidelity | first man into space | missing corpse | 

---

Taglines:

Space is a cold place to die!

---

Genres:

Sci-Fi

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 August 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Viagem Espacial

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hammer Film Productions, Lippert Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

At the beginning of the movie, when Howard Duff exits the van inside the base, the whole filming crew is reflected against the side of the van.

---

Connections

Edited from Rocketship X-M (1950)

User Reviews

Great poster! (but the movie . . . well . . . )

The title and the poster tend to set the viewer up for a large disappointment with this one, a less-than-gripping film from director Terence Fisher, laudable mostly for the fact that it was made so early in the 1950s. The story is based on a radio play by Charles Eric Maine, with a plot that smacks just a little of an Alfred Hitchcock movie.

Howard Duff plays an American scientist involved with the British space program (they actually had one of those, once). His wife is having an affair with another scientist (Andrew Osborn) who is also a spy. When both wife and lover disappear, an investigator (Alan Wheatley) suspects Duff of murdering them and disposing of the bodies by placing them in a new satellite which is sent into orbit!

There's only one way Duff can clear himself: blast off in a rocket, retrieve the satellite, and bring it back for inspection. He takes Eva Bartok (heroine of 'The Crimson Pirate') with him.

I won't divulge the ending, but it is a twist. The film's slow pace lessens the tension, and the special effects consist largely of stock footage and a few scenes cribbed from 'Rocketship X-M'. Definitely a case of the poster being far better than the movie -- but what a poster!