Journey to the Far Side of the Sun / Doppelgänger (1969)

A stylish and thought-provoking but quite dark sci-fi film with some great sequences and special effects. The film raises some interesting questions about the conflict between science and politics

Well, dear reader, it wasn’t all that long ago when we fare-welled our look at the sc-fi films of the 1950s. Now, a few years later with the following post we’ll be taking our leave of the sci-fi films of the 1960s and what a journey that has been. For this post I have decided to take a fair bit of license by constructing a ‘What if?’ scenario while maintaining the essential plot elements of the film. In fact, if you watch the film again after reading this post, it seems to acquire quite a sinister feel to it. Anyway, hope you enjoy it.


Directed by Robert Parrish
Screenplay by Gerry & Sylvia Anderson, Donald James
Story by Gerry & Sylvia Anderson
Produced by Gerry & Sylvia Anderson
Cinematography John Read
Edited by Len Walter
Music by Barry Gray
Production company: Century 21 Cinema Productions
Distributed by The Rank Organisation (UK), Universal Pictures (International)
Running time: 101 minutes

Cast

Roy Thinnes as Colonel Glenn Ross
Ian Hendry as Dr John Kane
Patrick Wymark as Jason Webb
Lynn Loring as Sharon Ross
Loni von Friedl as Lise Hartman
Franco De Rosa as Paulo Landi
George Sewell as Mark Neuman
Ed Bishop as David Poulson
Philip Madoc as Dr Pontini
Vladek Sheybal as Dr Beauville
George Mikell as Dr Bernhardt Brisson
Herbert Lom as Dr Kurt Hassler

Uncredited:

Keith Alexander as Launch Controller
Edward Cast as Security Vaults Sergeant
Peter Burton as Medical Technician
Anthony Chinn as Air-Sea Rescue Crew Member
Nicholas Courtney as Medical Technician
Arnold Diamond as Clavel (Paris delegate)
Cy Grant as Dr Gordon
Constantine Gregory as Launch Control Technician
Annette Kerr as Nurse
Martin King as Dove Service Technician
Basil Moss as Assistant Doctor
Norma Ronald as Pam Kirby
John Stone as London Delegate
Jeremy Wilkin as Launch Control Technician

Trailer

In The year 2069, one hundred years after mankind’s first manned moon landing, the European Space Exploration Council sends two astronauts on a joint European-NASA mission to investigate a mysterious planet located on the opposite side of the sun.

After only 3 weeks, followed by a disastrous crash-landing, one of the two-man crew awakes to to find himself immersed in a mysterious and unsettling set of circumstances.

Eventually he begins putting the pieces of a puzzle together only to discover that things are not as they seem……..

Read on for more.....

The Green Slime (1968)

A fun-filled, amateurish, juvenile but colourful sci-fi horror mixing astronauts, space monsters, laser guns and he-man rivalry.

Directed by Kinji Fukasaku
Screenplay by William Finger, Tom Rowe, Charles Sinclair
Story by Ivan Reiner
Produced by Walter Manley, Ivan Reineri
Cinematography: Yoshikazu Yamasawa
Edited by Osamu Tanaka
Music by Toshiaki Tsushima
Production companies: Toei Ram Films, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed by Toei Company (Japan), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (United States)
Running time: 90 minutes

Cast

Robert Horton as Commander Jack Rankin
Richard Jaeckel as Commander Vince Elliott
Luciana Paluzzi as Dr. Lisa Benson
Bud Widom as General Jonathan B. Thompson
Ted Gunther as Dr. Hans Halversen
Robert Dunham as Captain Martin
David Yorston as Lieutenant Curtis
William Ross as Ferguson
Gary Randolf as Cordier
Japanese dub
Gorō Naya as Jack Rankin
Ichirō Murakoshi as Vince Elliott
Haruko Kitahama as Lisa Benson
Kōsei Tomita as Johnathon B. Thompson

Trailer

A giant asteroid heads toward Earth.

A group of astronauts from a space station on a mission to blow it up.

The mission succeeds.

BUT!!!!

A strange slimy green substance is unknowingly brought back by the astronauts.

The alien substance mutates into one-eyed tentacled monsters that feed off electricity.

The station is soon infested with these alien life forms.

How will this new threat be dealt with?

Can these alien monsters be stopped before they kill all the humans on the station and go on to threaten humanity on earth itself?

Read on for more.....

The Day of the Triffids (1962)

A sci-fi film that relies on tension and imagination but is somewhat hampered by lack of budget and struggles to rise beyond the ordinary

Directed by Steve Sekely, Freddie Francis (additional scenes)
Written by Bernard Gordon, Philip Yordan
Inspired by the 1951 novel by John Wyndham
Produced by George Pitcher, Philip Yordan, Bernard Glasser
Cinematography: Ted Moore
Edited by Spencer Reeve
Music by Ron Goodwin, Johnny Douglas
Production company: Security Pictures Ltd
Distributed by Rank Organization
Running time: 93 minutes

Cast

Howard Keel as Bill Masen
Nicole Maurey as Christine Durant
Janina Faye as Susan
Janette Scott as Karen Goodwin
Kieron Moore as Tom Goodwin
Mervyn Johns as Mr Coker
Ewan Roberts as Dr Soames
Alison Leggatt as Miss Coker
Geoffrey Matthews as Luis de la Vega
Gilgi Hauser as Teresa de la Vega
John Tate as Captain — S.S. Midland
Carole Ann Ford as Bettina
Arthur Gross as Flight 356 radioman
Colette Wilde as Nurse Jamieson
Ian Wilson as greenhouse watchman
Victor Brooks as Poiret
Peter Dyneley as the narrator's voice

Introduction

On any day and even in such an idyllic setting as a pond or botanical garden in the middle of a modern city, “nature's scheme of things” can be seen to be at work if we choose to look carefully. For instance, “there are certain plants which are carnivorous or eating plants. The Venus fly trap is one of the best known of these plants. A fly drawn to the plant by a sweet syrup brushes against trigger bristles. Just how these plants digest their prey has yet to be explained. There is much still to learn about these fascinating eating plants.” Take this “newcomer” over here: “trifidus celestus.” Did you know that it was “brought to Earth on the meteorites” on the very day that initiated the events that almost spelled the end of civilization…..

Read on for more.....

Moon Zero Two (1969)

A sci-fi film that walks a fine line between being an unintentional spoof and a straightforward space adventure film.

Directed by Roy Ward Baker
Screenplay by Michael Carreras
Story by Martin Davison, Frank Hardman, Gavin Lyall
Produced by Michael Carreras
Cinematography: Paul Beeson
Edited by Spencer Reeve
Music by Don Ellis
Production company: Hammer Films
Distributed by Warner-Pathé Warner Bros.
Running time: 100 minutes
Country: United Kingdom
Budget: £500,000

Cast

James Olson as Bill Kemp
Catherina von Schell as Clementine Taplin
Warren Mitchell as J. J. Hubbard
Adrienne Corri as Elizabeth Murphy
Ori Levy as Korminski
Dudley Foster as Whitsun
Bernard Bresslaw as Harry
Neil McCallum as space captain
Joby Blanshard as Smith
Michael Ripper as 1st card player
Robert Tayman as 2nd card player
Sam Kydd as barman
Keith Bonnard as Junior customs officer
Leo Britt as Senior customs officer
Carol Cleveland as hostess
Roy Evans as workman
Tom Kempinski as 2nd officer
Lew Luton as immigration officer
Claire Shenstone as female hotel clerk
Chrissie Shrimpton as boutique attendant
Amber Dean Smith as Hubbard's girlfriend
Simone Silvera as Hubbard's girlfriend
The Go-jos as Hilton bar dancing girls

Earth’s Moon

May 2021

Bill Kemp, former astronaut pilot turned space salvager together with his Russian partner, Korminski become involved in a millionaire criminal space industrialist’s scheme to capture a sapphire asteroid and crash it into the far side of the moon for later recovery. Kemp and his partner are initially unaware of the fact that there is also a link between this job and the salvage team’s agreement to help Clementine Taplin locate her missing brother……..

Trailer

Read on for more......

Mission Mars (1968)

A rather plodding, dull and amateurish sci-fi film that eventually is redeemed by an unusual alien encounter

Directed by Nick Webster
Screenplay by Mike St. Clair
Story by Aubrey Wisberg
Produced by Everett Rosenthal
Cinematography: Cliff Poland
Edited by Paul Jordon
Music by Berge Kalajian, Gus Pardalis, The Forum Quorum
Poduction company: Red Ram Productions
Distributed by Allied Artists Pictures
Running time: 90 minutes

Cast

Darren McGavin: Col. Mike Blaiswick
Nick Adams: Nick Grant
George De Vries: Duncan
Michael DeBeausset: Cliff Lawson
Heather Hewitt: Edith Blaiswick
Shirley Parker: Alice Grant


In the last post, Night Caller From Outer Space (1965), I alluded to the fact that the British seemed to have the knack of constructing good quality films (including science fiction films) despite budgetary constraints and questionable plot lines. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for many sci-films that have come out of the US and the film, Mission Mars is just one example of a film that is on the whole rather dull, pedestrian and plainly amateurish.

When the film was made in the 1967- 68, Apollo 8 was set to herald humanity’s first breakaway from its earthly bonds on a journey to orbit another heavenly body. This mission provided the human race with a view of our beautiful but fragile planet suspended in the void of space and offered us a glimpse of our place in the scheme of things. From that mission, we then set our sights for mankind’s first physical presence on the surface of another world – our moon.

As a 12 year old at the time, I envisioned human beings establishing bases or colonies on the moon sometime in the 1970s. From this, I believed that human beings would probably set foot on Mars sometime during the 1980s. How wrong I was! Nearly 60 years later, we are possibly about to somewhat replicate Apollo 8s achievement and many in the space industry are (over?) confidently anticipating that we will have a human (American) presence on the moon’s surface by 2027. That is if the Chinese don’t get there first in the new ‘race’ to the moon. From this it is projected that we will use the moon as a springboard to having a human presence on Mars and of course – beyond. As to when? Well, pick a number, any number!

Let’s now go back to the late 60s to the film, Mission Mars as the United States prepares to launch three astronauts on a mission to land on the planet, Mars….

Traile

Read on for more.....

Night Caller from Outer Space (1965)

An intelligent well-acted science fiction thriller despite budgetary constraints and a rather ludicrous plot.

Directed by John Gilling
Written by Frank Crisp (1963 novel)
Screenplay: Jim O'Connolly
Produced by Ronald Liles
Cinematography: Stephen Dade
Edited by: Philip Barnikel
Music composed and directed by: John Gregory
Production company: Armitage Film Productions Ltd.
Distributed by: Butcher's Film Service (UK)
Running time: 85 minutes

Cast

John Saxon as Dr. Jack Costain
Maurice Denham as Dr. Morley
Patricia Haines as Ann Barlow
Alfred Burke as Detective Supintendent Hartley
John Carson as the Major
Warren Mitchell as Reg Lilburn
Marianne Stone as Madge Lilburn
Stanley Meadows as Detective Tom Grant
Aubrey Morris as Thorburn
Ballard Berkeley as Commander Savage
Geoffrey Lumsden as Colonel Davy
Tom Gill as Police Commissioner's secretary
Jack Watson as Sergeant Hawkins
Barbara French as Joyce Malone

Key Scene

From the cold void of Jupiter’s moon, Ganymede… comes a terrifying quest for Earth’s women!… SEE IT… if you dare!

A mysterious sphere crashes to Earth… unlocking a nightmare beyond imagination that will surely SHATTER YOUR SENSES!

Clawing its way out of the shadows… a hideous creature on a mission of interplanetary survival!… DON’T LOOK AWAY!

Science cannot stop it… the military cannot contain it… and young women everywhere… are its PREY!

The Night Caller from Outer Space will

CHILL you…

THRILL you…

and ...

HAUNT your dreams FOREVER!

Read on for more...

These Are The Damned (1962)

Quite a powerful sci-fi film with social commentary and philosophical / moral implications. Solid acting performances and good cinematography

Save the children

“We can't leave the children”

To face a future filled with dust

And ash, abandoned and forsaken

At the mercy of all that’s unjust.

“Help! Help! Help!”hear their cries,

Faint and muffled under the rubble

From death made smart in the skies,

Distanced, none held to be culpable. 

“Help! Help! Please help us!”

Louder now we hear their pleas,

But only choose to discuss

Cures for the disease of unease. 

“Someone help us! Someone help us!”

Anguished cries of many young souls 

Thrown under a speeding social media bus

Prey to algorithms, paedophiles and trolls.

“Please help! Help! Help! Help!”

Pay off a debt and find a home?

Feeling alone? Ask AI or try self-help!

Solution: live under a plastic dome.

“Please help us! Someone help us!”

Who takes heed as bombs and bullets fly

Resigned to it having always been thus 

All the while the children plead and cry.

“Help! Help us!” from kids who roam 

In futures drowning in deluges,

Frying in flames and chilled to the bone,

Hear them then and be their refuges.

©Chris Christopoulos 2025

**********

Directed by Joseph Losey
Screenplay by Evan Jones
Based on The Children of Light 1960 novel by H.L. Lawrence
Produced by Anthony Hinds
Cinematography: Arthur Grant
Edited by Reginald Mills
Music by James Bernard
Production company
Hammer Film Productions
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Running time 87 minutes (UK), 77 minutes (US)
Budget: £160 – 170,000 approx.

Cast

Macdonald Carey as Simon Wells
Shirley Anne Field as Joan
Viveca Lindfors as Freya Neilson
Alexander Knox as Bernard
Oliver Reed as King
Walter Gotell as Major Holland
James Villiers as Captain Gregory
Tom Kempinski as Ted
Kenneth Cope as Sid
Brian Oulton as Mr. Dingle
Barbara Everest as Miss Lamont
Alan McClelland as Mr. Stuart
James Maxwell as Mr. Talbot

The children:

Rachel Clay as Victoria
Caroline Sheldon as Elizabeth
Rebecca Dignam as Anne
Siobhan Taylor as Mary
Nicholas Clay as Richard
Kit Williams as Henry
Christopher Witty as William
David Palmer as George
John Thompson as Charles


What could the following possibly have in common?

The southern English resort of Weymouth

An American tourist

A youth gang leader

His troubled sister

A top secret government facility

A shocking experiment

A group of nine children

Trailer

“The age of senseless violence has caught up with us, too”

To find out, we’ll need to begin our journey with a bird's eye view of ocean waves crashing on the remote shore below a rocky cliff on the south coast of England. Atop the cliff and along its edge we spot a collection of bronze sculptures looking like fallen grotesque, disfigured and charred human remains: Something akin to Southern England’s version of Easter Island’s mysterious stone sentinels? What do they stand as testament to? A message to a future with no one left to decipher what they had borne witness to in the dim past?

Come now and let us descend to the land of the living at the resort of Weymouth to the accompaniment of the Black Leather Rock song:


Read on for more.....