The Astronaut (1972)

Government officials, not wanting to have the space program canceled, substitute a lookalike for an astronaut who died on a Mars mission.

Director:

Robert Michael Lewis

Writers:

Gerald Di Pego (teleplay), Charles Kuenstle (teleplay)

Stars:

Jackie Cooper, Monte Markham, Richard Anderson

Cast

Credited cast:
Jackie Cooper	...	Kurt Anderson
Monte Markham	...	Eddie Reese / Col. Brice Randolph
Richard Anderson	...	Dr. Wylie
Robert Lansing	...	John Phillips
Susan Clark	...	Gail Randolph
John Lupton	...	Don Masters
Walter Brooke	...	Tom Everett
James Sikking	...	Astronaut Higgins
Paul Kent	...	Carl Samuels
Loretta Leversee	...	Toni Scott
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ray Dimas	...	Freddie
Patsy Garrett	...	Boy's Mother
Tom Hallick	...	Agent Wilson
Paul Micale	...	Beachgoer
John S. Ragin	...	Walters

Storyline

In the not too distant future the first American astronaut prepares to set foot on the planet Mars. The world is watching this event live on television. Everything is a success, or so the world thinks, and he is treated as a hero upon his return. Later, it is discovered that the mission was a failure and as the astronaut was on Mars he died of an undetermined condition either due to toxic poisoning due to conditions on Mars or some unknown bacteria native to Mars. Mission controllers on Earth saw this happening and fed a false image into the "live" broadcast so as not to panic the public. The "astronaut" who returned to Earth was actually a double who had undergone surgery so as to look like the real astronaut. Only the wife of the astronaut began to suspect the man who returned, although looking identical to her husband, was somehow different. Unfortunately for those who created the hoax, the Russians announced that due to the American success they had launched their own mission ...

---

Plot Keywords:

mars the planet | astronaut | double | kia | american astronaut | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Did You Know?

Quotes

Kurt Anderson: [final line] Mr. President, I have some very unpleasant news - for both of us.

---

Soundtracks

I'll Remember April
Music by Don Raye
Lyrics by Gene de Paul
Played at the nightclub where Eddie and Gail dance

User Reviews

Great Story & Great Performances

This was probably the first Susan Clark movie that I saw and I became a lifelong fan of hers. I saw it when I just a young kid. I have thought about it often and told friends what a good movie it was. I've always been more of plot fan of movies than of the actors in the movie. This movie was really good and the performance of Susan Clark and Monte Markham was well above average for a television movie. It's unfortunate that I entice my friends to see the movie and it's not available for viewing that I know of. Too bad Nick at Night doesn't show old television movies also.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 January 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

El astronauta

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1