ALL SCI-FI

Bud Brewster · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 6:24 pm Post subject: Spaceways (1953 England)

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A great poster that promises lot's of special effects showing rockets and space stations. Sadly it's an outrageous lie.

A one-of-a-kind movie from director Terence Fisher, laudable both for its originality and for the fact that it was made so early in the 1950s. The story is based on a radio play by Charles Eric Maine, with a plot that resembles an Alfred Hitchcock movie, a kind of sci-fi version of "North by Northwest".

Howard Duff plays an American scientist involved with the British space program. His wife is having an affair with a scientist (Andrew Osborn) who is also a spy. When they both disappear, an investigator (Alan Wheatley) suspects Duff of murdering them both and disposing of the bodies by placing them in a new satellite which is sent into orbit!

There's only one way Duff can clear himself: blast off in a rocket, retrieve the satellite, and bring it back for inspection. He takes Eva Bartok ("The Crimson Pirate") with him. The bodies aren't in the satellite of course, but Duff does eventually find them -- alive and well and hiding out on Earth.

The film's slow pace lessens the tension, and the special effects consist largely of stock footage and a few scenes cribbed from "Rocketship X-M", but it still enjoyable.
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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 · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 8:27 pm Post subject:

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I've never seen this movie, but I can easily remedy that with the Youtube video below. Because of the research I did on this film to write the post above, I know not to expect anything remotely like what's on the poster.

But knowing what not to expect means I might be able to enjoy what the movie is, instead of being disappointed by what it isn't.

Would anybody like to watch this one during All Sci-Fi's Friday Live Chat? Might be fun! Very Happy

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

bulldogtrekker · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 8:39 pm Post subject:

Yes, very much I would like to see it on Friday's chat. And I can post it in the All Sci-fi Movie Room.

Custer · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 2:27 pm Post subject:

Or you could read the novel it was based on... Smile

Bud Brewster · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 4:10 pm Post subject:

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By gum, I might just do that! Thanks, Custer!
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Robert (Butch) Day · Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2016 5:57 am Post subject:

I still have my copy of the novel — which is the one pictured (except mine is a tad more beat-up).
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Common Sense ISN'T Common

Custer · Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2016 7:27 am Post subject:

I do have a few Charles Eric Maine novels, but not that one. Along with John Wyndham and John Christopher, he was one of the British authors who brought science fiction to a mainstream readership, with themes that were suitably close to home. Looking at Wikipedia, "Spaceways" began as a radio play for the BBC, before it became a novel and a movie.

Brent Gair · Mission Specialist Joined: 21 Nov 2014 Posts: 465

Bud Brewster · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2023 2:31 pm Post subject:

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Bulldogtrekker and I watched our downloads of this movie five years ago before he passed away, and we enjoyed it. It actually does have a few nice moments for space fans like us, and I made these screen shots.

And here's the trailer.

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