ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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This may not be the greatest of the classic sci-fi movies, but it can truthfully boast that it contains elements which predated several of the acknowledged classics.

For example:

Twelve years before "Planet of the Apes", this nifty sci-fi entry presented the idea of a spacecraft which travels so fast it distorts time and brings its crew back to Earth hundreds of years after they left (2508 AD). As in the "Apes" series, they discover that human civilization has been destroyed by a world war.

Four years before "The Time Machine", this film proposed a post-holocaust world in which humanity is divided into two groups: the mutants and the utopian "normal" folks, with one group living above ground and the other living below. Unlike "The Time Machine", in this film the mutants live above the ground, and the normal people live below in a futuristic complex of tunnels.

World Without End even features Rod Taylor, star of the George Pal classic, as well as Hugh Marlowe from "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and "Earth versus the Flying Saucers".

And it's all in Technicolor and Cinemascope (the first sci-fi to claim this honor), with music by Leith Stevens ("When Worlds Collide", "War of the Worlds"). World Without End offers impressive makeup for the mutants. The exciting climax of the film features a hand-to-hand battle between Hugh Marlow and the chief of the mutant tribe.

The costumes worn by the beautiful ladies in the underground civilization were designed by Playboy's premiere pin-up artist, Alberto Vargas. The two principal ladies in the cast are Miss Nancy Gates and Miss Shawn Smith (aka Shirley Patterson). Miss Smith can also be seen in "The Land Unknown" (1957) and "It! The Terror from Beyond Space" (1958). Many fans of these films don't realize that Miss Smith is one of the main characters, because her appearance varies so dramatically in each of the three movies. She also holds the distinction of having been Miss California in the Miss America contest of 1940.

The fantastic rocketship seen at the beginning of the film was originally designed for "Destination Moon". The design was rejected because the producers felt that the wings would confuse the audience after "Destination Moon" had gone to so much trouble to explain the lack of air in space.



The rocket was, however, used in "Flight to Mars" (1951, "IT! The Terror from Beyond Space" (1958), and "Queen of Outer Space" (1958). This rocketship's appearance in four separate films gives it the distinction of being the most well-traveled space vehicle in sci-fi cinema history — second only to the Millennium Falcon in "Star Wars".

Model enthusiast Brent Gair create a very fine replica of this ship. The unfinished model is almost as beautiful as the finished one.







World Without End was directed by Edward Bernds ("Queen of Outer Space", "Return of the Fly", and several others). Bernds never made a truly great sci-fi film, but he certainly tried often enough, and this is one of his best effort.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

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I can't believe I didn't include any picture of the ladies in this movie. Let me correct that here, and add a trailer, too. Here's two nice shots of Miss Nancy Gates and Miss Shawn Smith (aka Shirley Patterson).





Enjoy this two minute clip from YouTube.

_____________________ World Without End


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Krel]

The rocket was also used in a Bowery Boys movie, as a model rocket. So you get to see how big the model is in real life.

David.

[Zackuth]

I had not heard of this movie until I first saw it on TCM 3 or 4 years ago. This is an excellent movie!! It has a fine cast and a well written script. I got a copy for my library as soon as I was able. I will definitely recommend this to anyone.

[Bud Brewster]

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According to several sources, Alberto Vargas designed the attractive outfits some of the ladies wear in this great movie!


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[MetroPolly]

I hope you don't mind if I stray from scifi here, but there's another movie where Hugh played a good guy, or at least average.

The 1950 classic film All About Eve. Considering he was up against George Sanders, among others, he held his own beautifully.

[Bud Brewster]

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I don't think I've ever seen All About Eve. I'll have to watch it soon.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[MetroPolly]

It's a very famous classic. Won a few Oscars. but it's as far from scifi as you can get. But Marilyn Monroe is in it, so you might like it.

[Maurice]

[Gord Green]

Well, I don't know about THAT!

But, Hugh Marlowe (1911—1982) Marlowe was born Hugh Hipple in Philadelphia, and began his stage career in the 1930s at the Pasadena Playhouse in California. He performed extensively on radio, stage, television and film with credits including off-Broadway productions of "The Deer Park" in 1967 and "All My Sons" in 1974.

[Bud Brewster]

[Sens8]

What — not even one shot of Lisa Montel??!!

[Bud Brewster]

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A grievous oversight! Consider it corrected, sir!





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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Sens8]

Ohhh, yeahhhhhhhh.

[Bud Brewster]

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I had trouble finding good photos, and I wish the two above were clearer (I actually had to work on them a while to make them look that good ), but Miss Montell's beauty still shines through.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)