Destination
Moon
Eagle-Lion, 1950, Technicolor, 91min.
This
early film, produced by George Pal, deals with the first manned
spaceflight to the Moon. Its approach is on a highly scentific
level, in accordance with teories of the period. Four astronauts
are onboard the atomic-powered spaceship Luna as it blast off
from the Mohave Desert. This 150-foot-long, silver dart soon
achives a velocity of 32000 feet per second, and reaches its
destination without mishap. After landing, it is discovered
that the remaining fuel is insufficient to carry so much weight
back to Earth. Fortunately, the resourceful crew members unload
enough excess weight to solve the problem. This vessel, designed
by art director Ernst Fegtè, is a single stage rocket, and
at times is animated on the screen. Artist Chesley Bonestell
was the responsable for all the film's astronomical art: views
of the Earth and Moon from space, and the breathtaking panoramas
of the lunar surface surrounding the spaceship Luna. The screenplay
was written by Alford (Rip) van Ronkel and Robert A. Heinlein
and was almost unrecognizably based upon the latter's novel
Rocketship Galileo. Heinlein also acts as film's technical supervisor.
Picture from the book "The Dream Machine" by Ron Miller
edited by Krieger Publishing Company
