Ikarie XB 1 (1963)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Jindrich Polák

Writers:

Pavel Jurácek (screenplay)
Jindrich Polák (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 November 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Plot:

The year is 2163. Starship Ikaria XB 1 embarks on a long journey across the Universe, to search for life on the planets of Alpha Centauri.

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Digit In Title | Spacecraft | Beautiful Woman | Number In Title

Cast

Zdenek Stepánek	...	Captain Vladimir Abajev
Radovan Lukavský	...	Commander MacDonald
Dana Medrická	...	Nina Kirova - sociologist
Miroslav Machácek	...	Marcel Bernard
Frantisek Smolík	...	Anthony Hopkins - mathematician
Jirí Vrstála	...	Erik Svenson - pilot
Svatava Hubenaková	...	Rena, MacDonald's wife
Otto Lackovic	...	Michal - coordinator
Jaroslav Mares	...	Milek Wertbowsky
Marcela Martínková	...	Steffa - Wertbowsky's wife
Martin Tapák	...	Petr Kubes - biologist
Rudolf Deyl	...	Ervin Herold - pilot (as Rudolf Deyl ml.)
Irena Kacírková	...	Brigitta
Jozef Adamovic	...	Zdenek Lorenc - coordinator
Ruzena Urbanova	...	Eva - historian

Also Known As:

Voyage to the End of the Universe (USA)

Runtime:

USA:81 min

Country:

Czechoslovakia

Language:

Czech

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Filmové Studio Barrandov

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Alien (1979)

Underrated science fiction gem from Eastern Europe

This is an intriguing Czech science fiction film from the early 60's. It's pretty much unknown in the U.S (American - International Pictures dubbed it into English and released it as "Voyage to the End of the Universe" in 1964; it's been seen here only rarely since then).

The movie depicts a group of space travelers on a seemingly endless journey to a new planet. They encounter many traps and dangers along the way (including a derelict spacecraft and a mysterious nebula) but the greatest conflict seems to be psychological: namely, the titanic ambition of a 15-year, trans-galactic voyage pitted against the fragility of the human mind and the relative insignificance of human lives.

The interior sets are lavish -- certainly on a par with "Forbidden Planet" and perhaps even "2001". The level of detail in the spaceship interiors is admirable, and the same can be said for the smartly designed spacesuits.

"Ikarie XB 1" stumbles badly, though, when it comes to the exterior effects work. The spacecraft models are too small to provide much detail, and seem to be propelled through space by dark-colored string. As a result the transitions between interior and exterior shots are somewhat jarring.

All the same, this movie is a very interesting example of mid-century science fiction. It deserves a much wider audience, and it is to be hoped that a restored, subtitled print will one day make the rounds in American art houses. Cross your fingers.