As part of the Garfield Park Arts Center’s Vintage Movie Nights series, film collector, historian and preservationist Eric Grayson will screen the 1950 science fiction film “Rocketship X-M” at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Starring Lloyd Bridges, Noah Beery Jr. and Osa Massen and created by George Pal, the film is described by Grayson as such:
“When George Pal raised the money to make his epic “Destination Moon” (also in 1950), poverty-row producer Robert Lippert cashed in on the publicity by shooting “Rocketship X-M,” a cheapie that was rushed into theaters before Pal could finish his expensive Technicolor production.
“Lippert made the first science fiction film of the 1950s, and he cementeda a lot of the cliches that we remember today: bad special effects, poor acting, sexist attitudes, cheesy monsters, dire warnings about atomic energy ... it's all here.”
“Rocketship X-M” tells the story of a moon expedition that, through a series of unforeseen events, winds up traveling instead to Mars.
But Mars isn't dead ... it’s inhabited by strange creatures that may keep our heroes from returning to Earth. Will there be enough fuel? Can they radio Earth? Will they burn up in the atmosphere?
Admission is $5; concessions are $1. Info: 327-7135.
For more information about the work of Grayson, who just received a second grant from the National Film Preservation Foundation to restore a chapter of the first sound film serial “King of Kongo,” visit www.drfilm.net.
Starring Lloyd Bridges, Noah Beery Jr. and Osa Massen and created by George Pal, the film is described by Grayson as such:
“When George Pal raised the money to make his epic “Destination Moon” (also in 1950), poverty-row producer Robert Lippert cashed in on the publicity by shooting “Rocketship X-M,” a cheapie that was rushed into theaters before Pal could finish his expensive Technicolor production.
“Lippert made the first science fiction film of the 1950s, and he cementeda a lot of the cliches that we remember today: bad special effects, poor acting, sexist attitudes, cheesy monsters, dire warnings about atomic energy ... it's all here.”
“Rocketship X-M” tells the story of a moon expedition that, through a series of unforeseen events, winds up traveling instead to Mars.
But Mars isn't dead ... it’s inhabited by strange creatures that may keep our heroes from returning to Earth. Will there be enough fuel? Can they radio Earth? Will they burn up in the atmosphere?
Admission is $5; concessions are $1. Info: 327-7135.
For more information about the work of Grayson, who just received a second grant from the National Film Preservation Foundation to restore a chapter of the first sound film serial “King of Kongo,” visit www.drfilm.net.
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