Spy in the Sky!

1958's "Spy in the Sky!" was clearly inspired by the launching of Sputnik, but was beaten to the screen by Roger Corman's "War of the Satellites." A little seen and rather ordinary spy thriller with no sci fi elements, starring American import Steve Brodie, who must contend with multiple bad guys (led by George Coulouris) in tracking down a German scientist who knows all the Spunik secrets. Director W. Lee Wilder, younger brother of Billy Wilder, had by now relocated to England, winding down his undistinguished career with yet more scripts cranked out by his son Myles. Bill 'Chilly Billy' Cardille's Chiller Theater remained a Pittsburgh staple for 20 years, and this feature was among the titles that aired during its first season, paired with Roger Corman's "Atlas" on March 14-15 1964 (not surprisingly, neither film ever appeared again).

Despite the title and an opening sequence that shows a Sputnik launching, this is a rather glum spy thriller that uses the then new-and-exciting topic of satellites merely as a "McGuffin" on which to hang a very ordinary plot - be warned this is NOT a space film! Steve Brodie is an unexciting hero, and this set-in-Vienna thriller is no THIRD MAN. Camera work is competent, but that just means the occasionally pleasing piece of filming just reminds us how dull the dialogue and the under-rehearsed cast are the rest of the time. No wonder Australian television showed it at 3 a.m.