I saw this as a very young child. Thought it was great at the time. Even then I could see mistakes such as the gun...I thought a ray gun would have been used. But lasers were not invented then. I remember the success at growing plants in the Martian soil. This has been proved to be correct by soil samples tested on Mars. If I remember correctly, the idea of pointing the ship to earth seems odd now when we know direct courses to planets are not possible. Colour seemed good. I didn't know why the spaceman in question was edgy but knowing how such a trip could bring on a psychotic episode it is now understandable. That's why carefully picked and trained astronauts will have to be the ones to travel to Mars one day. Being made in 1952 and we still only have robots on Mars (60 years on) It is disappointing that is far as we have come. On the other hand, as a young child, I really didn't expect that science would be so close to reality after all.
8 Reviews
William Redfield goes Mad on Mars
wes-connors7 January 2011
Astronauts William Redford (as Bart), Leslie Nielsen (as Robbie), and Brian Keith (as Jack) celebrate landing on Mars with a party. Mr. Nielsen hands out the beer, Mr. Keith lights up a cigarette, and Mr. Redfield advises, "Less talk and more beer!" Neglecting his own advice, Redfield wonders how the planet can harbor plants but no animals. This is a good scientific observation. As the wind howls, the men search for minerals and discover Mars is rich in uranium.
Mr. Neilson, the pilot, thinks the three men will become millionaires. Keith gets a headache and starts to act edgy. "This place gives me the creeps," Redfield says, "I got the feeling I'm being watched!" He loses his lucky rabbit's foot and everyone gets very testy. However unlikely, this is a captivating story of space madness. The three actors do well with the assignment and the soundtrack music (Irving Robbin) is effective in helping to create the maddening mood.
***** Appointment on Mars (6/27/52) Don Medford ~ William Redfield, Leslie Nielsen, Brian Keith, Mark Allen
Mr. Neilson, the pilot, thinks the three men will become millionaires. Keith gets a headache and starts to act edgy. "This place gives me the creeps," Redfield says, "I got the feeling I'm being watched!" He loses his lucky rabbit's foot and everyone gets very testy. However unlikely, this is a captivating story of space madness. The three actors do well with the assignment and the soundtrack music (Irving Robbin) is effective in helping to create the maddening mood.
***** Appointment on Mars (6/27/52) Don Medford ~ William Redfield, Leslie Nielsen, Brian Keith, Mark Allen
Early Sci-fi
gordonl567 December 2006
Warning: Spoilers
A private mining company finances the first rocket-ship to the planet Mars. The three man crew discover vast deposits of uranium. They have a deal with the mining company that they will receive a 3rd of all mining profits. They are rich! They talk of what they will do with their new found wealth. But one member of the crew can't shake the feeling that they are being watched. Another member starts having massive headaches. Soon the two are in a fight and the third crewman is drawn in. The dust-up escalates and soon all three men are dead. We then hear two disembodied voices discussing how easy it was to invade these creature's minds. They decide to take the rocket-ship and head to Earth. Cheap sets, rushed acting and boom mikes do not detract in the least from these wonderful examples of early live TV.
Example of early American sci-fi television
jamesrupert201429 November 2021
Three astronauts prospecting for uranium on Mars strike it rich but avarice soon leads to strife, or is some other force at work? The story plays out a bit like 'The Treasure of Olympus Mons' but with a twist ending (which is very similar to one of the better known 'Twilight Zone' sci-fi stories). Even by 'Tales of Tomorrow' standards, this is a particularly cheap looking effort, with the astronauts' 'Mars base' being a tent with a distant rocket painted on a backdrop (the top of which is glimpsed at one point). The show, which stars a pre-'Forbidden Planet' Leslie Nielsen, was broadcast live and the actors occasionally stumble over their lines. Interesting primarily as a historical document as shows like this did much to stimulate interest in manned rocketry at the dawn of the cold war, when the space-race was just beginning. The version I watched online still has the original embedded advertising, which is incredibly dated but oddly interesting in its own way.
A Little Overacting--Ya Think!
Hitchcoc8 August 2013
In the old days, they used to talk about "space sickness" which was brought about by the close quarters and other factors having to do with the distance from terra firma. These three guys are on Mars. They have gotten there somehow with few plans and little to do. They seem to have little if any scientific knowledge (except for Nielsen) and seem content to sit around drinking beer and smoking cigarettes. At first I thought the atmosphere was playing tricks on them, making them edgy and hostile (like some Star Trek episodes), but apparently they have some incredibly human problems. The Redford character is hyped up from the get go. He starts to complain from the beginning. Brian Keith (who goes by a different first name) is a big lunk who kind of takes up space. Leslie Nielsen is the only one who can fly the rocket, so he should have a little more cred. Everything falls apart when they discover Uranium (the Cold War gold) and begin parceling up the planet. The results, however, are re-mindful of Serling's "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street."
Good but the crappy budget really shows on this one.
planktonrules16 October 2012
"Tales of Tomorrow" was a show much like the later show "Twilight Zone". However, it was different in one important way--the budget appeared to be about $2.49! The sets were usually crappy, the acting rough (mostly because the shows were performed live and they could rarely afford established actors) and the aliens unseen because they couldn't afford the costumes and makeup! In most cases, this wasn't all that bad, but with "Appointment on Mars" it really shows.
The show begins with three astronauts on Mars. No, they are NOT wearing space suits--instead they are in jump suits sitting around a fire--with tents and no oxygen for breathing! Even in 1952, folks knew you could not breathe on Mars and that it was VERY cold--but here they look rather stupid running about a cheap set that looked as un-Mars-like as possible.
It's really a shame, as the story itself is very good. The astronauts (one of which is Leslie Nielsen and another is Brian Keith) begin arguing after they discover a huge cache of uranium. What happens next? See it, as I don't want to spoil the good plot.
Good...but dumb.
The show begins with three astronauts on Mars. No, they are NOT wearing space suits--instead they are in jump suits sitting around a fire--with tents and no oxygen for breathing! Even in 1952, folks knew you could not breathe on Mars and that it was VERY cold--but here they look rather stupid running about a cheap set that looked as un-Mars-like as possible.
It's really a shame, as the story itself is very good. The astronauts (one of which is Leslie Nielsen and another is Brian Keith) begin arguing after they discover a huge cache of uranium. What happens next? See it, as I don't want to spoil the good plot.
Good...but dumb.
From the "Tales of Tomorrow" TV Series (1951-1953)
Bernie444412 February 2024
Season 1 Episode 39
Episode aired 27 June 1952
Directors Don Medford
Starring Leslie Nielsen, William Redfield, Robert Keith, Jr. (Brian Keith)
Resented by Masland Beautiblend Broadlooms
It is a copy of an old recording so do not expect remastered clarity.
We start with three astronauts already on Mars (looks like a Boy Scout camp on the Mojave.) They even brought a church key. I spent some time there at the NTC.
Bart (William Redfield) makes many Shakspearian type siliques.
The astronauts find a lot of uranium and we see how they react. But are their actions their own?
See Leslie Nelsen again in Forbidden Planet (1956).
See Brian Keith again in The Parent Trap (1961).
It is a copy of an old recording so do not expect remastered clarity.
We start with three astronauts already on Mars (looks like a Boy Scout camp on the Mojave.) They even brought a church key. I spent some time there at the NTC.
Bart (William Redfield) makes many Shakspearian type siliques.
The astronauts find a lot of uranium and we see how they react. But are their actions their own?
See Leslie Nelsen again in Forbidden Planet (1956).
See Brian Keith again in The Parent Trap (1961).
I AM NOT ON EDGE, I HAVE A HEADACHE
nogodnomasters7 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
It doesn't take you long to realize this is a 24 minute version of "The Martian Chronicles." Three men travel to Mars with the aid of private industry financing. They discover a vein of uranium that will make them rich, until paranoia sets in. Mars is a set with a backdrop. It has breathable oxygen and a nice temperate climate. The trees look like dead trees with Spanish Moss hanging from them.
The camera lens used to film this episode was dirty as spots, especially 2 black spots in the upper left corner are there for much of the film. The Robert Keith jr. who stars in this film is actually a young Brian Keith (Family Affair). It is hard to imagine Leslie Nielsen in a serious role, but this is it.
The feature reminded me of a pre-Twilight Zone type of episode. This one wasn't overly enjoyable, but I did find the retro aspect interesting.
The camera lens used to film this episode was dirty as spots, especially 2 black spots in the upper left corner are there for much of the film. The Robert Keith jr. who stars in this film is actually a young Brian Keith (Family Affair). It is hard to imagine Leslie Nielsen in a serious role, but this is it.
The feature reminded me of a pre-Twilight Zone type of episode. This one wasn't overly enjoyable, but I did find the retro aspect interesting.
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