Film of the Day: 51
Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964)
There are many films that have been lost or forgotten. Maybe they were of moderate success upon release or simply a failure. Here we have a Sci-Fi cult classic film which was forgotten, until 2007. Thanks to The Criterion Collection, it is now on DVD and Blue Ray.
It was released in 1964, a re-invention of the classic novel by Daniel Defoe was created. And was set on the red planet, Mars. In the film, two men 'Kit' Draper (Paul Mantee), McReady (Adam West) and their monkey Mona are the crew of Mars Gravity Probe 1. However to avoid a collision with a meteor, they use up all their fuel and are stranded on Mars. However McReady is killed in the collision and Kit is alone on the planet with Mona.
He is now alone and must find shelter and food whilst running out of air. Whilst trying to keep warm by burning some coal-like yellow rocks, he figures out that this gives off oxygen, and he can now refill his air tank. Later he notices Barney keeps disappearing now and again, so he follows him and Mona leads him to water and food. However he is still faced with the fear of being alone forever.
Later on in the film he discovers that they are mining on the planet and the miners are slaves and one of the slaves escapes. Inevitably, Kit runs into the slave and of course names him Friday. This film feature some laughable special effects for today's standards, however it is more than effects, it's a tale of adventure and survival and it is a terrific modern adaptation of a classic novel.
Only a year after the film's release, today, the Mars Mariner 4 spacecraft passed over Mars, bringing us the first close up images of the red planet.
It is also said that the spacecrafts in the film are very similar to that of The War of the Worlds from 1953. No one really knows if they just happened to be similar or if they were recycled as both films have the same director, Byron Haskin.
Click here for the trailer
It was released in 1964, a re-invention of the classic novel by Daniel Defoe was created. And was set on the red planet, Mars. In the film, two men 'Kit' Draper (Paul Mantee), McReady (Adam West) and their monkey Mona are the crew of Mars Gravity Probe 1. However to avoid a collision with a meteor, they use up all their fuel and are stranded on Mars. However McReady is killed in the collision and Kit is alone on the planet with Mona.
He is now alone and must find shelter and food whilst running out of air. Whilst trying to keep warm by burning some coal-like yellow rocks, he figures out that this gives off oxygen, and he can now refill his air tank. Later he notices Barney keeps disappearing now and again, so he follows him and Mona leads him to water and food. However he is still faced with the fear of being alone forever.
Later on in the film he discovers that they are mining on the planet and the miners are slaves and one of the slaves escapes. Inevitably, Kit runs into the slave and of course names him Friday. This film feature some laughable special effects for today's standards, however it is more than effects, it's a tale of adventure and survival and it is a terrific modern adaptation of a classic novel.
It is also said that the spacecrafts in the film are very similar to that of The War of the Worlds from 1953. No one really knows if they just happened to be similar or if they were recycled as both films have the same director, Byron Haskin.
Click here for the trailer
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