Marooned (1969)

Three American astronauts are stranded in space when their retros won't fire. Can they be rescued before their oxygen runs out?

Director:

John Sturges

Writers:

Mayo Simon (screenplay), Martin Caidin (novel)

Stars:

Gregory Peck, Richard Crenna, David Janssen

Won 1 Oscar. Another 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gregory Peck	...	Charles Keith
Richard Crenna	...	Jim Pruett
David Janssen	...	Ted Dougherty
James Franciscus	...	Clayton Stone
Gene Hackman	...	Buzz Lloyd
Lee Grant	...	Celia Pruett
Nancy Kovack	...	Teresa Stone
Mariette Hartley	...	Betty Lloyd
Scott Brady	...	Public Affairs Officer
Frank Marth	...	Air Force Systems Director
Craig Huebing	...	Flight Director
John Carter	...	Flight Surgeon
Vincent Van Lynn	...	Aerospace Journalist
George Gaynes	...	Mission Director
Tom Stewart	...	Houston Cap Com

Storyline

After spending several months in an orbiting lab, three astronauts prepare to return to earth only to find their rockets wont fire. After initially thinking they might have to abandon them in orbit, NASA decides to launch a daring rescue. Their plans are complicated by a hurricane headed towards the launch site and a shrinking air supply in the astronauts capsule.

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Plot Keywords:

astronaut | rescue | outer space | marooned | cosmonaut | 

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Taglines:

Three marooned astronauts. Only 55 minutes left to rescue them. While the whole world watches and waits...

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 December 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

Space Travelers

Filming Locations:

Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Frankovich Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (35 mm prints) 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the film, the astronauts are seen using what appears to be the early concept of the Manned Maneuvering Unit - during the real-life Skylab missions, the Astronaut Maneuvering Unit (the AMU) was tested inside the space station and never tested in the vacuum of space. The first use of the MMU was during STS-41-B (the fourth flight of the Challenger) on February 7, 1984.

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Goofs

The actual Apollo capsules were not white, but unpainted metal. Many find this confusing, as it is white then on the pad. The white shell covering the capsule is removed as part of the jettison of the emergency escape rocket system.

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Quotes

[Keith is pulled over by the Highway Patrol for speeding]
Charles Keith: Look, I've got to get to a telephone!
Texas DPS officer: Will you shut off your engine please?
Charles Keith: Officer, I'm Charles Keith, head of Manned Space!
Texas DPS officer: I know who you are. You have no brake lights. Your license is expired. You may be able to get to the moon, but mister you're a menace on the highway!

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Alternate Versions

The version titled "Space Travelers" is the one spoofed by Mystery Science Theater 3000. In this version, the scene where Celia Pruett learns of her husband's death is accompanied by a truly AWFUL electronic score (it sounds literally like random keys played on a toy synthesizer, something MST3K made note of). The original version has no music during this scene (and almost no other music; a muted, very low-key score can be heard when Pruett leaves the ship to "fix" it).

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Connections

Referenced in Changes (1970)

User Reviews

Suspense in theory but lacking on the screen.

Another space flick that came out during the height of the space program. Only a tad better then 1968's Countdown and the tad refers to the props. The story it would seem would be filled with plenty of suspense but this ones orbit just decays and falls. Three astronauts played by Richard Crenna, James Franciscus and Gene Hackman who have been in a space station climb aboard their Apollo craft to come home and the engine says no.

Marooned in orbit the ground control crew led by Gregory Peck scratch their heads and try to figure out what to do before the trios air supply runs out. David Jansen wants to rescue them in an untried spacecraft but Peck is reluctant. To make matters worse a hurricane is brewing. The astronaut wives are brought into the picture to help boost the suspense. Will they make it? Who can help them? If you've never seen it it's worth a look. After seeing Apollo 13 however you may laugh at this one. The space travelers on MST3K do.