Assignment: Outer Space (1960)
"Space Men" (original title)

In the 21st century Ray Peterson, reporter for the Interplanetary News, is assigned to write a story aboard a space station. Tension mounts between Peterson and the station commander, who ... See full summary »

Director:

Antonio Margheriti

Writers:

Ennio De Concini, Jack Wallace

Stars:

Rik Van Nutter, Gabriella Farinon, David Montresor

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Rik Van Nutter	...	Ray Peterson (IZ41) (as Rik Von Nutter)
Gabriella Farinon	...	Lucy (Y13) (as Gaby Farinon)
David Montresor	...	George the Commander
Archie Savage	...	Al (X15)
Alain Dijon	...	Archie (Y16)
Franco Fantasia	...	Sullivan (as Frank Fantasia)
Joe Pollini	...	King 116
David Maran	...	Davis
José Néstor	...	Venus Commander (as Jose Nestor)
Anita Todesco	...	Venus Control

Storyline

In the 21st century Ray Peterson, reporter for the Interplanetary News, is assigned to write a story aboard a space station. Tension mounts between Peterson and the station commander, who believes he is in the way, but has orders to leave him alone. Errant spaceship Alpha Two enters the solar system and its photon generators are radiating enough heat to destroy Earth as it approaches. It falls to Peterson to try to figure out a way to enter the spaceship, disarm the generators, and escape before suffocating.

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Plot Keywords:

spaceship | reporter | space station | asteroid | mars the planet | 

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Taglines:

1000 headlines into the future!

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Genres:

Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

13 December 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

Assignment Outer Space

Company Credits

Production Co:

Titanus, Ultra Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Released to theaters in the USA on a triple bill with the East German film First Spaceship on Venus and the Japanese film The Mysterians.

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Connections

Edited into Out of this World Super Shock Show (2007)

User Reviews

Silly low budget Italian sci fi adventure.

'Space Men', directed by Anthony Daisies (aka Anthony M. Dawson of 'Cannibal Apocalypse' infamy), is a low budget, and I mean LOW budget, 60s Italian sci fi adventure. Anyone expecting a stylish gem ala Mario Bava's 'Planet Of The Vampires' will be sorely disappointed, and anyone expecting an Ed Wood worst-movie-ever-made laughfest will also not get what they expect. This movie is neither of the two, but if you take it for what it is - basically a simple 40s style pulp plot with special effects a smart 12 year old could build in their own backyard - it is a fairly enjoyable slice of silliness.

The wonderfully named Rik Van Nutter ('Thunderball') plays an arrogant (but actually quite decent underneath) space reporter who is sent as an observer on a space mission. He clashes with the arrogant (but actually quite decent underneath) ship Commander (Alain Dijon - 'La Dolce Vita'). The two also vie for the affections of the lovely Lucy (Gabriella Farinon) in between trying to save Earth from possible destruction by an out of control space ship. Yes, it's that kind of movie. Entertaining enough but nothing special.