ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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Three movies that promise great movie adventures . . . but fail to deliver.

~ Around the World in 80 Days (1956) is just a cameo-laden travelogue with nice scenery and lovely music. Admittedly it's pleasant to watch . . . but 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is more to my liking. This one is the "chick flick" of Verne stories.

~ The Atomic Man (1955 England) has a fine cast, a weird premise, and limp presentation that leaves the audience scratching there heads.

~ Assignment: Outer Space (1960) proves that Italy makes far better pasta than sci-fi movies — and this one isn't even one of their better ones!

Personally, I'll take a good old hamburger and french fries from a drive-in snack bar, and a double feature that includes this scene!



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Around the World in 80 Days (1956)



1956 was a remarkable year for wide-screen spectacles. Movie audiences went back to Biblical times in "The Ten Commandments", journeyed to the planet Altair IV in "Forbidden Planet", and circled the globe in "Around the World in 80 Days". David Niven and Shirley MacLaine head the cast in this star-studded, big-budget travelogue, with a fine score by Victor Young.

The film's producers took home an Oscar. But today opinions on the film vary greatly. Some viewers describe is as amusing and pleasant because of the exotic locales, fine cinematography by Lionel Lindon, and the all-star cast. Less-enthusiastic viewers point out that "Around the World in 80 Days" is both a limp comedy and lackluster adventure, providing little in the way of plot, suspense, or excitement.

Director Michael Anderson was obviously not trying to turn Phineas Fogg into a turn-of-the-century Indiana Jones. He just wanted to make a bouncy, brightly colored tour of the world's more scenic ports-of-call. If you don't expect a Great Adventure, you can derive harmless pleasure from this highly regarded movie.

One added bonus for sci-fi fans: the film begins with Georges Mellies' 1902 film "A Trip to the Moon". A must-see for sci-fi movie completest.
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Assignment: Outer Space (1960 Italy)




Several nice special effects enhance this somewhat lackluster tale about a space crew's desperate efforts to stop an out-of-control spacecraft which is being (mis)guided by a malfunctioning computer.





The craft is on a collision course with Earth. An on-board love triangle complicates the plot.

Starring Rik Van Nutter, Archie Savage, and Gabriella Farinon. Directed by Anthony Margheriti (listed in the credits as Antony Dawson) who also directed "Battle of the Worlds".
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The Atomic Man (1955 England)

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Extremely interesting concept: an atomic scientist is exposed to radiation which causes his brain to be seven seconds ahead of reality.

He has trouble speaking coherently, but he can answer questions before they are asked (!). Gangsters try to make use of his ability. Despite the interesting concept, most reviewers describe this one as slow paced.

Based on Charles Eric Maine's "The Isotope Man". Directed by Ken Hughes.

Originally co-billed with Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)