Flight to Mars

Starring:Marguerite Chapman, Cameron Mitchell, Arthur Franz, Virginia Huston, John Litel, Morris Ankrum, Richard Gaines, Lucille Barkley, Robert Barrat, William Forrest, Frank O'Connor, Stanley Blystone, Trevor Bardette, William Bailey, Russ Conway, Perc Launders, Tristram Coffin, Bill Neff, Edward Earle, Wilbur Back
Director: Lesley Selander
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
In the far-off year 2000, newspaperman Cameron Mitchell packs up with a group of scientists and heads to Mars in a rocket that resembles a hood ornament from a '56 Oldsmobile. After the rather wobbly miniature takes off, our heroes (clad in khaki uniforms and WWII leather bomber jackets) encounter a storm of asteroids, but soon enough land on Mars. No one seems too surprised to encounter a race of humans on the planet, so the astronauts make themselves at home. The Martians are technically far more advanced than puny Earthlings (you can tell by the abundance of Herman Miller furniture and sexy Mars-girl outfits), but their hospitality masks a hidden agenda: conquest of Earth in order to establish additional lebensraum for their own dying race. Interestingly, this was director Lesley Selander's sole foray into sci-fi, having spent most of his career working on low-budget Westerns. Though the plot is thin, the bankroll skimpy, and the characterizations narrow, Flight to Mars prefigures the '50s sci-fi boom and is interesting for its set design, costumes, and rather washed-out Technicolor. Its 71-minute running time keeps things rolling quickly enough to stave off boredom. For '50s space-opera aficionados, this is better than an hour and 11 minutes spent mowing the lawn. --Jerry Renshaw
Description
Four men and a girl crash-land on the red planet Mars after suffering severe damage in a meteor storm enroute. Finding an advanced and seemingly benevolent civilization living in underground cities, help is given in the repair of the rocketship--however, a sinister plot is discovered that could mean the annihilation of Earth by an invading Martian army. Tense, terrifying action on a planet of forbidden dangers. Produced by Academy Award-winning producer Walter Mirisch in other-worldly hues of two-color Cinecolor, "Flight to Mars" is '50s nostalgia at its imaginative best and is a must for science fiction and adventure lovers.

Average customer rating:

Better to Keep the Videotape Version

the print is flawed but the movie is great silly fun

Not a classic, but still interesting for 50's sci-fi fans

Marguerite Chapman!!!!

Bad Original Print

Flight to Mars
Starring: Marguerite Chapman , Cameron Mitchell , Arthur Franz , Virginia Huston , and John Litel
Director: Lesley Selander
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Ankrum, Morris | ( A ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Chapman, Marguerite | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Franz, Arthur | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Huston, Virginia | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Litel, John | ( L ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Mitchell, Cameron | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
O'Connor, Frank | ( O ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Selander, Lesley | ( S ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0000648YD
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Amazon.com

In the far-off year 2000, newspaperman Cameron Mitchell packs up with a group of scientists and heads to Mars in a rocket that resembles a hood ornament from a '56 Oldsmobile. After the rather wobbly miniature takes off, our heroes (clad in khaki uniforms and WWII leather bomber jackets) encounter a storm of asteroids, but soon enough land on Mars. No one seems too surprised to encounter a race of humans on the planet, so the astronauts make themselves at home. The Martians are technically far more advanced than puny Earthlings (you can tell by the abundance of Herman Miller furniture and sexy Mars-girl outfits), but their hospitality masks a hidden agenda: conquest of Earth in order to establish additional lebensraum for their own dying race. Interestingly, this was director Lesley Selander's sole foray into sci-fi, having spent most of his career working on low-budget Westerns. Though the plot is thin, the bankroll skimpy, and the characterizations narrow, Flight to Mars prefigures the '50s sci-fi boom and is interesting for its set design, costumes, and rather washed-out Technicolor. Its 71-minute running time keeps things rolling quickly enough to stave off boredom. For '50s space-opera aficionados, this is better than an hour and 11 minutes spent mowing the lawn. --Jerry Renshaw

Description

Four men and a girl crash-land on the red planet Mars after suffering severe damage in a meteor storm enroute. Finding an advanced and seemingly benevolent civilization living in underground cities, help is given in the repair of the rocketship--however, a sinister plot is discovered that could mean the annihilation of Earth by an invading Martian army. Tense, terrifying action on a planet of forbidden dangers. Produced by Academy Award-winning producer Walter Mirisch in other-worldly hues of two-color Cinecolor, "Flight to Mars" is '50s nostalgia at its imaginative best and is a must for science fiction and adventure lovers.

Customer Reviews:

Better to Keep the Videotape Version.......2007-05-21

The U.S. Air Force, in its space exploration program, finally puts together a manned (and womaned) mission to Mars. After the space travelers land, some leaders of the Martian people see an opportunity to seize the spaceship as a prototype and build a fleet of ships to invade Earth.

"Flight to Mars" is a superior sci fi movie about an advanced civilization on resource-depleted Mars trying to save its dying race, but poorly prepared on DVD. Several strange dropouts of dialog. Color quality of the DVD provides deeper and better colors over the videotape version, but many scratches. The videotape version contains copy protection and won't allow transfer to DVD on home equipment. I was disappointed with the purchase.

the print is flawed but the movie is great silly fun.......2006-06-27

first off the print looks kind of bad(maybe because of the age and the lack of care)so don't expect a great print.
now if 50's space cheese is your thing this silly but fun trip to mars is just what you want. set in the year 2000(but still very 50's)this flight finds life and air on mars. the life forms are human and of corse they want to invade earth. you don't find cheese much better than this. sit back and enjoy!!!

Not a classic, but still interesting for 50's sci-fi fans.......2005-08-21

Flight to Mars gets off to a decent start, by 50's sci-fi movie standards, as a group of guys and the token gal set off for an ambitious exploration of the Red Planet. But once they arrive, they are greeted by very human Martians (wearing space helmets...can they not breathe their OWN air??). While the Martians offer to help the earthlings repair their rocketship, they are actually plotting to use the ship to launch an attack on Earth.

If you're looking for low-budget but still effective interstellar thrills, you probably won't find much here (see Invaders From Mars, Forbidden Planet, etc.). Admittedly, not much was known about real space travel in 1951, but much of the dialogue hopelessly dates Flight to Mars (Favorite bit: The Earth gal, upon seeing how the Martians live, asks a Martian female to take her to the kitchen). Yes, there is a certain appeal to the Martian women's costumes, some of which are so short I'm surprised they got past the censors. And there are a couple of mildly impressive sets. But really, the overall story moves at a snail's pace and the acting is mostly just tolerable.

As someone has already stated, the print quality here leaves a bit to be desired. Some scratches and color changes are to be expected from a film that's over 50 years old, but there are also numerous missing frames that usually result a in jarring break in the dialogue. Most annoying is a red spot just off-center of the picture which appears to be a spot burned into the print itself.

If you're fan of these type of films, you'll probably want this in your collection, despite its many flaws.

Marguerite Chapman!!!!.......2005-08-06

Some astronauts in WWII outfits crash-land on Mars after being knocked off course by a meteor shower. They find a race of beings who seem nice, but are actually bent on our extinction. Then, .... Ah, who am I kidding?? The only reason I like this movie is Marguerite Chapman (The Amazing Transparent Man) and her ten-foot long legs! My goodness gracious! She gets to strut about Mars in her blue mini-dress, causing me to stare transfixed at her every move! Praise the Lord! Ms. Chapman is a true wonder of nature! Had I been one of the earthlings, I'd have fallen at her martian high-heels and...., well, you get the picture. Is it hot in here??...

Bad Original Print.......2003-12-11

I collect 1950s era Sci-Fi and I have been replacing my VHS versions with DVDs. Unfortunately, I need to keep my VHS version for this movie because the print that Image Entertainment made this from was in such poor shape. The VHS version by UAV Entertainment (The Wade Williams Collection) is MUCH better. Hopefully, UAV will come out with a DVD version soon.

Mission Mars Collection - Flight to Mars/Attack From Mars/Invaders From Mars

Average customer rating:

Mission Mars Collection - Flight to Mars/Attack From Mars/Invaders From Mars
Starring: Mission Mars Collection
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0007WFY0W
Release Date: 2005-05-24

Description

Prepare for the ultimate alien invasion with this fiery collection of three features filled with spaceship spectacle, Martian mayhem, and other alien antics. First, a young boy sees INVADERS FROM MARS landing in his backyard and tries to warn everyone around him - but soon finds himself among the few Earthlings left standing during a secret alien takeover! Then a ferocious vampire creature plots an ATTACK FROM MARS by invading a Burbank movie theater, leading to Atomic Age mayhem filled with rock 'n' roll, drag queens, and the walking dead. Finally, five astronauts crash onto the red planet during a FLIGHT TO MARS and discover they're the only ones who can stop a sinister plot brewing within the planet's superior civilization. It's the ultimate war of the worlds in this trio of petrifying sci-fi adventures!

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