O Primeiro Homem no Espaço

A first rate little sci-fi story, told on a modest budget. Air Force office Marshall Thompson (star of 'It! The Terror from Beyond Space', and 'Fiend Without a Face') is the Earth-bound brother of an undisciplined test pilot who yearns to be be the 'first man into space'.

While testing a new rocket plane, the pilot kicks in all his reserve power and takes his ship right out of the atmosphere. Please note that this not a far-fetched idea in view of the fact that the X-15 had special attitude rockets along the fuselage to allow it to maneuver in the near vacuum of the upper atmosphere!

In space the pilot encounters a strange cloud of meteoric particles that smashes through his canopy and envelopes both his ship and his spacesuit-clad body in a flexible, asbestos-like coating. The material alters his physiology, changing him into creature that can survive in the low pressure of the upper atmosphere but NOT in the killing pressure at sea level.

He returns to Earth as a hideous monster (good makeup), gasping as his lungs struggled with the pressure that he's now unsuited for. In his dazed and desperate mental condition, the monster commits acts of violence, using the razor-sharp edges of his rough coating to slash his victims flesh.

While trying to track down the monster, Thomas and a scientist discuss the possibility of using the strange substance on the wreckage of the rocket plane as a heat shield for future space craft. Nice thinking, there.

All in all, a film with more to think about than to laugh at, unlike so many other low budget 1950s films.

1958's "First Man Into Space" was an early Richard Gordon British production starring Hollywood import Marshall Thompson, though not as well regarded as "Fiend Without a Face." The most intriguing name associated with this entry is that of actor/writer Wyott Ordung, whose original story was titled "Satellite of Blood," a more promising moniker than anything that ended up on screen (he previously scripted "Robot Monster" and "Target Earth," and directed Roger Corman's "Monster from the Ocean Floor"). Director Robert Day was retained from Gordon's two Boris Karloff vehicles, "The Haunted Strangler" and "Corridors of Blood," and Italian actress Marla Landi went on to a pair of Hammer films with Christopher Lee, "The Hound of the Baskervilles" and "The Pirates of Blood River." Thompson is once again a no nonsense military type, here working with his younger brother (Bill Edwards) on launching man into orbit, only his sibling is the daring reckless type who craves the glory of becoming the first man into space. To this end he disobeys orders to turn back at the proper time and continues skyward, over 300 miles above the earth's atmosphere, where a shower of cosmic dust envelops the ship and sends it back down to a landing near the New Mexico air base. A series of murders follow the discovery of the wrecked vessel, yet no sign of its missing occupant, and the film plays as a mystery for the on screen characters when the audience knows damn well who's responsible. This was a virtual blueprint for the 1977 Rick Baker effort "The Incredible Melting Man," jettisoning all exposition with the affected astronaut immediately going on a killing spree (the much better known "Alien" was essentially a remake of the earlier Thompson feature "It! The Terror from Beyond Space," depicting a deadly creature on the loose inside a cramped spaceship). Viewers could be forgiven for believing that they'd be treated to a George Pal-type special effects extravaganza on early space travel, the lifeless first half lacking even real conflict between the brothers, the final result proving a disappointment to both them and the patrons who prefer a monster (tiny moon craters embedded in the makeup). The climax attempts to humanize the menace, forced to devour human blood to replace the lack of oxygen, but the thrills just aren't there.

First Man Into Space has its low budget limitations, but it's story is a corker. It's one of the few 50s science fiction stories that question non-atomic technology: how far sure man go? What are the consequences of his thirst for knowledge and experience? This time there are no invading aliens, no throbbing radioactive brains from another planet, and no marauding killer tree stumps. We are simply confronted with a man who crosses a line and tries to come back. It helps that he looks like The Incredible Melting Man, but this is a movie that does more than simply shock the audience.

Rivalry between brothers leads to main story line. Navy Commander Chuck Prescott(Marshall Thompson)has developed the Y12 aircraft to test how far man can go up in the atmosphere. His brother, Lt. Dan Prescott(Bill Edwards), seems to be the best test pilot around and is chosen to go up in the Y12. Dan of course has a problem with taking orders and is also an over confident dare devil.

On Dan's second flight, he hits over the 300 miles up comfort zone and his craft passes through a meteor dust storm. Returning to earth, Dan becomes a monster that resembles 200 pounds of bad asphalt. He also has a demanding craving for blood, whether it be from farm animals or fellow human beings.

Short runtime of an hour and seventeen minutes; black & white with near stoic acting...typical of low budget sci-fi.

Rounding out the cast is Marla Landi, Robert Ayers and Carl Jaffe. Noteworthy trivia: about two months after this film was released; the Russians put the real first man in space.

Cocky astronaut goes into space and disobeys direct orders from his brother, turns into a one-eyed standing pile of glop, and tears the necks of cows and humans for their blood. Premise of film is totally ridiculous, but everyone involved seems so earnest. That doesn't necessarily(and particularly in this case) mean they are good. The film is very cheaply made with some of the most improbable space flight footage ever shot. Marshall Thompson(from It! The Terror Beyond Space) plays the monster's overbearing, hard-working, tougher than nails brother who frequently throws out one cliche after another. Listening to him call his superior 'Skipper' had me laughing from the get go(okay, thought I would use some well-worn cliches). Thompson is the best the film has to offer in terms of acting. He is stoically adequate at best. Marla Landi is the monster's Italian love interest and looks at least effective in some Capri slacks. The scientific mumbo jumbo churned out is spectacularly immense, with scientific sounding names and theories bombarding the viewer repeatedly. Certainly not a good film(nor anywhere near it), the film does have a unique charm(albeit not over-powering)and does manage to keep the viewer awake throughout the 78 minutes of running time. And some of the scientific premises put forth have some interesting possibilities as well. Do watch out, though, for the pervasive corny dialogue. It gets pretty thick folks!