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Space-Men

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Space Men
Italian film poster for Space-Men
Directed byAntonio Margheriti[2] [Note 1]
Written by
  • Ennio De Concini
  • Jack Wallace
Screenplay by
Story by
  • Ennio De Concini
  • Jack Wallace
Produced by
  • Fred Gebhardt (US release)
  • Samuel Z. Arkoff (Executive producer, US release)
  • Hugo Grimaldi (Executive producer, US release)
Starring
  • Alain Dijon
Narrated byJack Wallace (narration written)
CinematographyMarcello Masciocchi[1]
Music by
  • Lelio Luttazzi (credited as J. K. Broady)
  • Carlo Savina...(uncredited)
  • Gordon Stahler (Music supervisor, US release)
  • Ted Roberts (Music editor, US release)
Distributed by
  • Titanus
  • Four Crown Productions
Release dates
  • 25 August 1960 (1960-08-25)
  • Italy (Italy)
Running time
73 minutes
CountryItaly[1]
LanguageItalian

Space-Men (aka Assignment: Outer Space [Note 2]) is a 1960 Italian science fiction film directed by Antonio Margheriti and starring Rik Van Nutter with co-stars: Gabriella Farinon, David Montresor, Archie Savage and Alain Dijon. The film recounts a mission in the 22nd century aboard a space station that involves a risky effort to redirect a malfunctioning spaceship that threatens to destroy the Earth.

Plot

In 2116, Interplanetary Chronicle of New York reporter Ray Peterson (Rik Van Nutter), launched in Bravo Zulu 88, joins the crew of an orbiting space station. Peterson is assigned to write a story about the infra-radiation flux in Galaxy M12. While on the space station, tension mounts between Peterson and the station commander (David Montresor). The commander believes the reporter is in the way, calling him a "leech", but has orders to leave him alone. A complication arises when Lucy (Gabriella Farinon), the station botanist and navigator, is attracted to both the commanding officer and Peterson.

When errant spaceship Spaceship Alpha Two enters the solar system, as it approaches closer to the Earth, its photon generators radiate enough heat to destroy the planet. In efforts to intercept Alpha Two, Sullivan (Franco Fantasia), a crew member, sacrifices himself in a futile attempt, and space station pilot Al (Archie Savage) also fails in an aborted attempt to shoot the spaceship with a missile.

With the two crew members dying in their attempt to destroy Alpha Two, Peterson decides to use Space Taxi B91 to fly to the spaceship. His goal is to enter the spaceship and disarm the generators. When inside, he is directed to disable the computers that run the spaceship and shut down all power sources, but finds that he is trapped inside when the emergency hatch is also disabled. [Note 3]

Despite orders from the "High Command", not to intervene, The commander and his assistant undertake a dangerous mission to intercept the out-of-control spaceship and rescue Peterson. Reaching the reporter as he is slumps to the floor, the rescuers bring back him back to the space station. With the stricken spaceship redirected away from the Earth, Peterson wins Lucy's affection and the commander's respect.

Cast

  • Rik Van Nutter as Ray Peterson (IZ41)
  • Gabriella Farinon as Lucy (Y13) (credited as Gaby Farinon in Assignment: Outer Space)
  • David Montresor as George the Commander
  • Archie Savage as Al (X15)
  • Alain Dijon as Archie (Y16)
  • Franco Fantasia as Sullivan
  • Joe Pollini as King 116
  • David Maran as Davis
  • José Néstor as Venus Commander
  • Anita Todesco as Venus Control
  • Aldo Pini as Jacson

Production

Director Antonio Margheriti had read science fiction comic books since a young age, and when he was offered to direct a science fiction film, he immediately seized the opportunity.[4] Space-Men was his first full directoral effort, with Margheriti going on to direct 55 films.[5] [Note 4]

Space-Men was made from a script written by Margheriti and Ennio De Concini.[4] The film was shot at the same time director Mario Bava was filming Black Sunday on a sound stage the next door.[7] Margheriti took over the studio work with miniatures that were featured in the outer space segments.[5] [Note 5]

Release

Space-Men opened in Rome in August 1960 where it was distributed by Titanus.[2][1] Its United States premiere was under the title of Assignment: Outer Space, in San Diego on December 13, 1961. The film was dubbed in English by Samuel Z. Arkoff with some screen credits also "anglicised".[1] [Note 6] The film was first released to theatres in the US on a triple bill along with the East German film First Spaceship on Venus and the Japanese film, The Mysterians. [9] It later had a US theatrical re-release on the bottom half of a double-feature with The Phantom Planet (1961).

Reception

Relegated to "B-Movie" fare, reviewer Duane L. Martin described Space-Men in its US equivalent, Assignment: Outer Space, as "cheesy", despite trying to use special effects, and ultimately, "... long and boring".[9] David Sindelar in Fantastic Movie Musings & Ramblings, noted "... bargain basement special effects (that) had a certain charm to them." [10]

In Phil Hardy's book Science Fiction: Complete Film Source Book (1984), Space-Men was described as "... not one of Margheriti's best, the narrative line is unclear and jerky" while also noting that "its visual splendours are ample compensation." [3]

Assignment: Outer Space was parodied in the New Condensed Classics television series in a abbreviated 20-minute version.[11]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ The director is "Anthony Daisies" on Italian promotional material and "Anthony Dawson" on the US release.
  2. ^ The film title is often erroneously written as Space Men.
  3. ^ The film describes automatic functions on the spaceships being controlled by an "electric brain" or "electronic brain", using both terms interchangeably.
  4. ^ Margheriti was the writer and co-director on Legs of Gold (1958).[6]
  5. ^ Spaceship BZ88 looks suspiciously like the Von Braun Cargo Rocket.[8]
  6. ^ In Assignment: Outer Space, Antonio Margheriti became Anthony Dawson.

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d "Assignment: Outer Space." American Film Institute. Retrieved: 4 August 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Space Men" (Italian). Archivo del cinema Italiano. Retrieved: 4 August 2015.
  3. ^ a b Hardy 1984, p. 203.
  4. ^ a b Fischer 2011, p. 423.
  5. ^ a b Paul 2004, p. 159.
  6. ^ Blake, Matt. "1958 Italian films." The Wild Eye, 30 March 2009. Retrieved: 27 April 2016.
  7. ^ Lucas, Tim. " Commentary by Tim Lucas (time: 4:38)." Blu-ray: 'Assignment: Outer Space' FCD756, Arrow Films, 2013.
  8. ^ Decker, Nathan. "Review: 'Assignment Outer Space' (1960)." Million Monkey Theater, May 2005. Retrieved: 27 April 2016.
  9. ^ a b Martin, Duane l. "Review: 'Assignment Outer Space'." B-movie Central. Retrieved: 27 April 2016.
  10. ^ Sindelar, David. "Review: 'Assignment Outer Space'." Fantastic Movie Musings & Ramblings, 2013. Retrieved: 27 April 2016.
  11. ^ "Condensed Classics: 'Assignment: Outer Space'." Condensed Classics, 2004.

Bibliography

  • Fischer, Dennis. Science Fiction Film Directors, 1895-1998. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2011. ISBN 978-0-7864-6091-5.
  • Hardy, Phil, ed. Science Fiction: Complete Film Source Book. New York: Morrow. 1984. ISBN 978-0-6880-0842-0.
  • Paul, Louis. Italian Horror Film Directors. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2004. ISBN 978-0-7864-6113-4.
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