Les premiers passagers du satellite

This is a movie which stands amongst the other classics from the 1950's like Day The Earth Stood Still, War Of The Worlds and This Island Earth. But unlike the others it still hasn't seen the light of video yet. Is this because it is a British film ? The story is tense and the special effects are quite good for the time. I hope to see this released on DVD soon.

This is a moderately entertaining but rather dry and slow-moving British Cold War sci-fi adventure/parable in color and CinemaScope, released in the U. S. by Warner Bros. It's about an experimental new space project whose participants find out at the last minute was financed by military funds so a new super-bomb could be tested in space.

A woman reporter (a young Lois Maxwell) who doesn't think any space exploration is worth the money stows away on board. When the bomb is ready to be released there is a malfunction and it sticks to the rocket ship, so the ground crew and rocket crew have to decide what to do next. It's okay as a sci-fi drama but more interesting as a symptom of 1950s nuclear war paranoia.

When I was a child of about 4-5, the local Los Angeles station where we lived broadcast The Million Dollar Movie each weeknight. It was usually the same movie, night after night. On occasion, even though it was past my bedtime (much!), my mom would let me watch a movie if she felt it would hold my interest. THIS ONE DID, as I recall, and I specifically remember being able to talk her into letting me see it several times (a record, never again achieved!).

Other reviewers have given the plotline and it seems accurate, to the best of my recollection. However, regardless of how "talky" the film was, the dialog and visuals definitely made their impact, even on my fledgling brain. I have, more or less, remembered the story for 40 years. I'd like to write a script or make a film that someone else would find so memorable!

Maybe it was just that I was so young, but I remember loving this film and I would absolutely love to see it again. Maybe I'd be disappointed, maybe I'd smile at my young self, maybe I'd really like it. Who knows?

A team of British astronauts on the first manned satellite into space encounter several problems. First, they're informed the satellite will be carrying a new "tritonium" bomb that is to be tested in space. Then, once they've left the atmosphere, they discover they have a reckless reporter as a stowaway. Then the bomb becomes stuck to the side of the ship and they have to find a way to defuse the bomb before it explodes and kills them all.

A mostly dull but not entirely uninteresting British sci-fi film shot in CinemaScope. It starts off with a quote from Nostradamus, which I found kind of odd for a science fiction film. It's a talky movie without much action. There's a bit of an anti-nuke message but not enough to give this any depth. Lois Maxwell's unlikable character has a bizarre anti-science stance because her brother and father were killed...or something like that. Anyway she basically turns out to be a huge hypocrite, on top of her other character flaws like carelessly endangering the lives of others. She's good at fetching coffee and sandwiches, though. And yes, that's literally what they do with the only female character on the satellite -- have her bring the men coffee and sandwiches. Most of the other characters are bland and forgettable, save for Donald Wolfit's Professor Merrity. It takes awhile before the ship gets off the ground and only then do things get a little exciting. The real saving grace of the movie comes from the special effects work of Wally Veevers, who would go on to work on such classics as Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Superman.

This well-made British science fiction story concerns the crew of a test rocket on which a lady reporter (Lois Maxwell) stows away. Kieron Moore plays the pilot of the rocket sent into orbit in connection with the test of a new "Tritonium bomb". Donald Wolfit plays the bomb's inventor.

After releasing he bomb, it's internal propulsion system fails and it becomes attached to the hull of the spacecraft. All attempts to dislodge it are unsuccessful, so the bomb's inventor takes drastic action to deal with the situation.

Director Paul Dickson presents an exciting and intelligent story. The special effects are both competent and exciting -- which is no surprise in view of the fact that their creator, Wally Veevars, later worked on "2001".

The special effects include the space scenes, an underground space complex, and a rocket which is launched from a horizontal track, similar to "When Worlds Collide". Well-designed sets and props (especially the ship's interior and the spacesuits) enhance this wonderful British entry.

Currently this exceptional film is not available on either VHS or DVD. Hopefully, Mr. Wade Williams will eventually offer it as part of his wonderful, high-quality collection.