Lost Planet Airmen

This old stinker makes the Flash Gordon movies look sophisticated. It's so terrible I love it, and I wish I could find a tape, but none of the catalogs I've checked list it. The rock band leader who calls himself Commander Cody must have loved it too, because he named his band after it.

Lost Planet Airmen was the first (yes, there was another in 1966 for a television package) feature version of Republic's 1949 12-chapter serial, King of the Rocket Men, one of no less than six (of of a total of 66 serials made by Republic between 1936 and 1956) titles involving "King of the...." The "King" was always the surname of the leading man, not a title, however.

Whoever came up with this great title I have no idea, but it is interesting to note that film has nothing to do with planets, lost or otherwise, and even the inclusion of the word "airmen" is somewhat dubious.

The title is a misnomer; the story has almost no scientific value, and the AI in the film is idiotic. Other than that, this film is better than Space Odessey 2001. Beter to have been named Aliens and Cowboys.......wait, that's already been taken. Scientists and PHDs running around with 45s and getting in deadly car chases. Sure, that will happen when governments begin to take care of food shelter and clothing before national defense. Interesting as a historical joke.

It's right up there with Plan 9 on the all-time list of 'bad' movies.

Yes this movie did lend its name to the great rock/swing band. I asked Commander Cody about the connection to the movie, noting that it was absolutely so bad it was great. A DJ with us cringed, expecting CC to be shocked that I'd dissed a movie he revered. Cody burst out laughing that the night he saw the movie in some dump hotel his band was so bad that he named it after the equally 'bad' movie then & there. "This was before I had Buffalo Bruce and Andy Stein and Bill Kirchen...we were TERRIBLE!"

And true, there is no lost planet.

I first saw this movie in 1970 while living in Seattle Washington.

During the Mid 50s and early sixties I watched all the Commando Cody Serials on TV i.e. Radar Men from the moon, Zombies of the Stratosphere, Sky Marshall of the Universe. This movie was the Condensed version of the Republic Serial King of the RocketMen and Provides a unique and shortened version of the original Republic Serial. All in all it is a nice movie and to this very day I can still Remember vividly the control panel on the Rocket Suit, On, Up and Fast. What I liked most about this movie was the fast plot and the never-ending action. As in the original Republic Picture serial version King of the RocketMen, Tris Coffic the lead man wearing the rocket suit goes from one dangerous situation to another as he attempts to stop the sinister Dr. Vulcan from deploying the Sonic Decimator which will destroy the city of New York. Along with Mae Clark the evil Dr. Vulcan is defeated and the Sonic Decimator is destroyed and all the bad guys go to jail and Tristram Coffic and Mae Clark live happily ever after. This is an enjoyable movie for those who grew up watching the Saturday morning matinée at the local theaters.

Michael.