Satellite in the Sky (1956)

The British launch the world's first orbital vehicle. Their military sends a super-bomb along, which goes wrong and threatens the crew and a stowaway.

Director:

Paul Dickson

Writers:

John Mather (screenplay), J.T. McIntosh (screenplay)

Stars:

Kieron Moore, Lois Maxwell, Donald Wolfit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kieron Moore	...	Commander Michael Hayden
Lois Maxwell	...	Kim Hamilton
Donald Wolfit	...	Professor Merrity
Bryan Forbes	...	Jimmy Wheeler
Jimmy Hanley	...	Larry Noble
Barry Keegan	...	Lefty Blake
Donald Gray	...	Captain Ross
Thea Gregory	...	Barbara Noble
Shirley Lawrence	...	Ellen
Alan Gifford	...	Colonel Galloway
Walter Hudd	...	Professor Blandford
Peter Neil	...	Tony
Ryck Rydon	...	Reporter (as Rick Rydon)
Ronan O'Casey	...	Reporter
Robert O'Neil	...	Reporter

Storyline

A crew of astronauts, including a scientist and a reporter, launch from England into outer space on a rocket which can serve as a satellite. Their mission is to test a new tritonium bomb, but after the bomb fails to repel itself from the ship, the crew has only a matter of hours to defuse or destroy the weapon before it explodes.

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Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | low budget sci fi movie | bomb | outer space | rocket | 

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Taglines:

THE FIRST BIG PICTURE OF MAN'S MYSTERY OF SPACE! (Australian)

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The delta wing aircraft in the opening minutes of this movie was the long-range British heavy bomber the Vulcan. The Vulcan was in use from 1952-1984 and saw service in the Falkland war.

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Goofs

The Rocket/Plane could not be powered by jets. Jets breathe air. That's why rockets are used in "real" space travel.

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Quotes

Kim Hamilton: Well, what if the STARDUST blows up, as she probably will?
Cmdr. Michael Haydon: Well, then we'll know... at least the designers will know... that the fuel or the design wasn't perfect.
Kim Hamilton: Some people find it impossible to be quite so impersonal, Commander. If I may be personal, I'm glad I'm not your wife.
Cmdr. Michael Haydon: And if I may be personal, so am I.

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Connections

Featured in Aweful Movies with Deadly Earnest: Satellite in the Sky (1971)

User Reviews

Greatly interested me as a child

When I was a child of about 4-5, the local Los Angeles station where we lived broadcast The Million Dollar Movie each weeknight. It was usually the same movie, night after night. On occasion, even though it was past my bedtime (much!), my mom would let me watch a movie if she felt it would hold my interest. THIS ONE DID, as I recall, and I specifically remember being able to talk her into letting me see it several times (a record, never again achieved!).

Other reviewers have given the plotline and it seems accurate, to the best of my recollection. However, regardless of how "talky" the film was, the dialog and visuals definitely made their impact, even on my fledgling brain. I have, more or less, remembered the story for 40 years. I'd like to write a script or make a film that someone else would find so memorable!

Maybe it was just that I was so young, but I remember loving this film and I would absolutely love to see it again. Maybe I'd be disappointed, maybe I'd smile at my young self, maybe I'd really like it. Who knows?

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

21 July 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

Aya seyahat

Company Credits

Production Co:

Danziger Productions Ltd.

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (magnetic prints) Mono (optical prints)

Color:

Color (WarnerColor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1