“A Mission to Mars”, what would Tolstoy think?
Starring Marguerite Chapman, Cameron Mitchell, Arthur Franz, Virginia Huston, John Litel, Richard Gaines, and Morris Ankrum. “Flight to Mars” was released in 1951.
It is the first expedition to Mars. The expedition is being led by physicist Dr. Lane (John Litel). Included in the expedition are Professor Jackson (Richard Gaines), engineer Jim Barker (Arthur Franz), and his assistant Carol Stafford (Virginia Huston). A journalist, Steve Abbott (Cameron Mitchell) is also on board to record and commemorate the historic mission. A final interview before the team lifts off makes Abbott realize the risks involved in the mission.
In flight, a meteor shower disables their landing gear and their communications. The team must decide whether to crash land on Mars or return to Earth. Knowing that they may never return the team decides to go ahead with the mission. They are intent on sending back data to Earth.
After they crash land the team is met by five Martians. The Martians look like humans and speak English. (Like I’ve said before it’s a good thing the French didn’t land first.) The leader of the Martians is Ikron (Morris Ankrum). He is the president of the planetary council. They have been receiving transmissions from Earth and have learned English from the broadcasts. Professor Jackson states that the team is there to collect data and send it back to Earth.
The Martians live in a vast underground city. The Earth expedition is taken there. The Earthlings are amazed at the Martian technology. The Martians reveal that they are in short supply of a needed mineral called Corium that they use as a fuel for their life support systems. The Martians agree to help the Earth men fix their ship but there is something sinister going on and although they don’t know it, the Earth people are captives and the Martians have something else in mind other than altruism.
“Flight to Mars” was released in 1951 and was directed by Jack Curtis. It is a fanciful space movie. There is not much of it that is actual science but that’s OK. It’s colorful and just plain fun. Done a year after “Destination Moon” it is the opposite in accuracy. The plot is a little more soap opera than space movie. Some people may find parts of it a little slow. It’s all around a little silly with space girls in mini skirts. The fashions on Mars are couture.
The spacesuits the Martians wear are the same ones used in Destination Moon. The interior of the spaceship is from Rocketship X-M. Portions of the film were used as stock footage for other movies. Hollywood is very good at recycling. Unfortunately finding a quality transfer of the movie is going to be difficult.
I’ve heard a lot people refer “Flight to Mars” as an American version of Tolstoy’s “Aelita”. I myself couldn’t see it but if you do, OK then. If it’s subversive it’s well hidden.