Rocky Jones (Richard Crane) and Winky (Scotty Beckett) are trying to maneuver through an unusual area of space that acts similar to a thunder storm. On board the XV2 are Professor Newton (Maurice Cass), Vena Ray (Sally Mansfield) and Professor Newton’s ward Bobby (Robert Lyden). Rocky surmises that there is probably a planet nearby with an atmosphere. He proposes to Professor Newton that perhaps there were sister moons at one time with a single atmosphere and that the moons drifted apart but the atmosphere still tethers them to each other like an atmosphere chain. And the rocket ship appears to be passing through that chain. Professor Newton confirms Rocky’s suggestion as being possible.
While in the chain they encounter another space ship. The alien ship fires on the XV2 but misses. Rocky and Winky maneuver the ship out of the atmosphere chain. The other ship is unable to follow and it lands on one of the moons. Rocky and Winky also land on the moon to try to establish friendly relations with the inhabitants. Through a translating devise the occupants of the XV2 establish contact with the rulers of the moon, Bavarro (John Banner) and Clotonda (Renate Hoy). Rocky learns that the two moons are called Posita and Negato. Bavarro wants Rocky to destroy Negato as they are enemies of Posita.
Rocky refuses and the ship and crew are then prohibited from leaving the planet. Eventually Rocky convinces Bavarro to let him be a liaison between Posita and Negato. But while Rocky is playing peacemaker the evil Cleolanta (Patsy Parsons) from the planet Ophesia is planning to take advantage of Rocky’s absence to try to lure Secretary of Space Drake (Charles Meredith) into a trap.
“Rocky Jones Space Ranger: The Gypsy Moon” AKA “Rocky Jones Space Ranger: Rocky’s Odyssey” was part of an American science fiction television series originally broadcast in 1954. “Gypsy Moon” is the second or third story broadcast as part of the series depending on what source you are using for your information. It is a compilation of three of the series shows repackaged as a standalone film and released on VHS and DVD. The science fiction story is part of the space opera subgenre.
Rocky Jones is not nearly as insufferable as he was in “Beyond the Moon”. Now that he’s getting use to having a girl on board he’s at least giving her a little respect. She still gets to babysit Bobby and teach him his lessons but things are heading in the right direction. Today’s lesson is literature, specifically Homer.
The original story from the series was titled “Rocky’s Odyssey” in reference to Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey”. The poem tells the tales of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca and the events that happened to him while trying to get home after winning the Trojan War. Like in the poem Rocky and company use the events written by Homer as a how to manual to deal, not only with the two warring moons Posita and Negato but also in handling Cleolanta’s attempt to take advantage of Rocky’s absence from Earth.
The Space Rangers are space policeman that patrol the United Worlds of the Solar System. Professor Newton’s little ward Bobby is an odd choice to have as a crew member deep in space. But we are not talking about the crew of any of the Gemini missions or even any of the Apollo missions; we are talking Space Ranger missions. The best way to hook a kid into watching your half hour television program is to have a kid as important a crew member as Rocky Jones himself. And if nothing else, Space Rangers is all about kids.
The best was to get parents to climb on board this wholesome children’s entertainment is to throw in a little education. Since the producers of the program know nothing about outer space and the locations are made up, education must be Earth bound. Bobby, in this story, must read an epic poem that itself is full of wonderful adventures where the hero must prevail. Taking stories like this and putting them into space is a plot devise that has been used since humans first looked up and saw stars. Here it is done obviously but it still works and it is Bobby’s lessons that move the story forward. What better way to learn than to do it among the stars.
Alert and learn this.