The Phantom Planet (1961)

After an invisible asteroid draws an astronaut and his ship to its surface, he is miniaturized by the phantom planet's exotic atmosphere.

Director:

William Marshall

Writers:

William Telaak (screenplay), Fred De Gorter (screenplay)

Stars:

Dean Fredericks, Coleen Gray, Anthony Dexter

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dean Fredericks	...	Capt. Frank Chapman
Coleen Gray	...	Liara
Anthony Dexter	...	Herron (as Tony Dexter)
Francis X. Bushman	...	Sessom
Richard Weber	...	Lt. Ray Makonnen
Al Jarvis	...	Judge Eden
Dick Haynes	...	Col. Lansfield
Earl McDaniel	...	Capt. Leonard
Mike Marshall	...	Lt. White (as Michael Marshall)
John Herrin	...	Capt. Beecher
Mel Curtis	...	Lt. Cutler
Jimmy Weldon	...	Lt. Webb
Akemi Tani	...	Communications Officer
Lori Lyons	...	Radar Officer
Richard Kiel	...	The Solarite

Storyline

After an invisible asteroid draws an astronaut and his ship to its surface, he is miniaturized by the phantom planet's exotic atmosphere.

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Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | space battle | atom bomb explosion | outer space | lord's prayer | 

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Taglines:

Science Shocker of the Space Age.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dolores Faith receives an "introducing" credit.

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Goofs

After arriving on the asteroid, Captain Chapman shrinks in size, while his clothes did not. The Captain fights with the other small people. You can briefly see his shorts in the fight scene inside the space suit.

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Quotes

Lt. Ray Makonnen: You know, Captain, every year of my life I grow more and more convinced that the wisest and best is to fix our attention on the good and the beautiful. If you just take the time to look at it.

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Crazy Credits

Instead of "The End," the end title reads "The Beginning."

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Alternate Versions

Also available in a colorized version.

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Connections

Featured in Ghosts in the Machine (2016)

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Soundtracks

Caliban and Ariel
(uncredited)
Music by Desmond Leslie
[Plays repeatedly in the score.]

User Reviews

Seen as History it's a great way to spend some time

Judged by viewers post 2001, post Star Wars, post War of the Worlds, even post Star Trek, of course this movie will get bad reviews, for unscientific plot holes, for poor special effects, for bad acting, for dumb costumes, for simplistic sets, even for Black and White filming.

But this was made in 1961! Seen as a moment in the history and evolution of Sci Fi on film, it's a great way to spend some time. It's available as a free legal download too. Go to www.archive.org and check under Feature Films to find the movie available as part 1 and part 2.

The captain's tape recorders anticipate Kirk's "Captain's log". The cheap special effects had to be inspirational to the makers of Dr. Who. And it's a pleasure to have to use your imagination instead of having to be spoon fed with spectacular special effects.

To hate this movie is to hate a jazz 1940s jazz piece because they used acoustic instruments instead of synths and cut to vinyl instead of digital to CD. Look beyond the limitations of the error to the art, and you'll find a 5 out of 10, not a 1. As the co-pilot said....

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 December 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Phantom Planet

Filming Locations:

Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Four Crown Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1