NEW EBOOK!!

Sci-Fri Film Fiesta:

“The Swingin’ 60s”

The COMPLETE Ebook

Completely FREE!

The 1950s were the golden age of cinematic science fiction. It was a decade forged in atomic fire and Cold War anxiety — an era of flying saucers, giant irradiated insects, body-snatching invaders and stern, square-jawed scientists warning of dangers man was never meant to unleash. The films of the time reflected a world gripped by nuclear dread, ideological paranoia, and rapid technological change. The monsters were often metaphors; the aliens, stand-ins for unseen enemies; the laboratories, temples of both hope and hubris.

But as the 1960s dawned, something shifted……..

The world itself was changing — culturally, politically, philosophically. The old certainties were dissolving. The space race moved from speculation to tangible achievement. Colour television began transforming visual storytelling. Youth culture erupted in full force. Psychedelia, protest movements, civil rights struggles, and a deepening distrust of authority seeped into the cultural bloodstream. Science fiction cinema evolved with it.

Where the 1950s often externalized fear — projecting it onto alien invaders or monstrous mutations — the 1960s increasingly turned inward. The questions grew more existential. What does it mean to be human? Can technology save us — or will it surpass us? Are we alone in the universe? And perhaps most unsettling of all: are we alone within ourselves?

Enter this new dimension of science fiction film making the new FREE and complete eBook, Sci-Fi Film Fiesta, “The Swingin’ 60s.” All eight volumes in one eBook ready for you to download in various formats. Just head off to the…..

Sci-Fri Film Fiesta: “The Swingin’ 60s” dedicated page in this blog by clicking the following link;

SCI-FI FILM FIESTA: “THE SWINGIN’ 60s" PAGE

Sci-Fi Film Fiesta: The Swingin' 60s – Volume 8: "Way Out Worlds" (FREE EBOOK)

 

Sci-Fi Film Fiesta:

The Swingin' 60s –

Volume 8:

"Way Out Worlds"

The journey comes to an end—

but what a journey it is!

The eighth and FINAL volume of Sci-Fi Film Fiesta: The Swingin' 60s takes readers beyond the boundaries of Earth and into the vast, mysterious reaches of space, where confidence, courage and technology are repeatedly tested against the unknown.

In "Way Out Worlds," daring astronauts, explorers and adventurers set course for distant destinations believing themselves prepared for whatever awaits them. Yet time and again they discover that the universe is far stranger—and far more dangerous—than they ever imagined.

Travel to Venus in the international science-fiction adventure First Spaceship on Venus (1960). Encounter bizarre alien mysteries in The Phantom Planet (1961), and join a solitary castaway struggling for survival in the classic Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964). 

Venture into the haunting and atmospheric nightmare of Planet of the Vampires (1965) and experience the realistic tensions of the space race in Countdown (1968). Finally, conclude with the rugged frontier spirit of lunar adventure in Moon Zero Two (1969).

Together, these six films chart a fascinating course through one of science fiction cinema's most imaginative decades. They explore humanity's enduring desire to push outward into the cosmos while reminding us that every new horizon may conceal unexpected wonders, hidden dangers, and discoveries beyond our comprehension.

As always, this FREE eBook contains detailed film reviews, imaginative plot presentations, production histories, behind-the-scenes information, trivia, poster artwork, and commentary celebrating these remarkable examples of 1960s science-fiction filmmaking.

So strap in, set your coordinates for the farthest reaches of the imagination, and prepare for a final voyage into worlds where the unknown waits just beyond the next horizon.

Sci-Fi Film Fiesta: The Swingin' 60s – Volume 8: "Way Out Worlds" is the concluding chapter in a series that has explored one of the most inventive and exciting decades in science-fiction cinema. If you've enjoyed the journey so far, this is one last mission you won't want to miss!!

Destination…..Anywhere!

Outcome…..Uncertain!

Adventure….. Guaranteed!

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Sci-Fi Film Fiesta: The Swingin’ 60s Volume 7 - “They’re Damned, Man….DAMNED!” (Free Ebook)

Sci-Fi Film Fiesta:

The Swingin’ 60s

Volume 7 -

“They’re Damned, Man….

DAMNED!”

What happens when the future arrives wearing the face of a child? When humanity itself becomes infected, corrupted, replaced…or simply rendered obsolete?

Prepare yourself for a chilling journey into the darker corners of 1960s science fiction cinema with Sci-Fi Film Fiesta: The Swingin’ 60s – Volume 7: “They’re Damned, Man….DAMNED!”*— a brand-new FREE eBook exploring four unforgettable films in which mankind confronts terrifying forces beyond its understanding… and often beyond its control.

This latest volume in the Sci-Fi Film Fiesta series ventures into a decade where Cold War paranoia, fears of nuclear annihilation, social unrest and anxieties about the future all found expression through eerie children, doomed survivors, apocalyptic landscapes and sinister scientific conspiracies.

Inside this volume you’ll encounter:

• Village of the Damned (1962) – The unnerving British classic in which the glowing-eyed children of Midwich quietly and coldly threaten the survival of humanity itself. The film explore fears surrounding evolution, intelligence and loss of human control.

• These Are the Damned (1962)– Joseph Losey’s haunting and deeply unusual science fiction drama blending juvenile delinquents, government secrecy and radioactive doom into one unforgettable nightmare. What is presented is a bleak British New Wave atmosphere together with nuclear-age anxiety.

• Children of the Damned (1964) – This chilling follow-up that expands the terrifying concept of superhuman children into an international crisis with apocalyptic implications.

• Last Man on Earth (1964)– Vincent Price delivers one of his finest performances in this bleak and atmospheric adaptation of Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend, a landmark work that helped shape the modern zombie and post-apocalyptic genres presenting the scenario of full-scale human extinction and existential despair.

As with previous volumes in the series, this eBook combines entertaining commentary, film history, behind-the-scenes insights and cultural context with an affectionate appreciation for the strange, imaginative and often unsettling worlds created by 1960s science fiction cinema.

Expect eerie atmospheres.

Expect Cold War dread.

Expect doomed humanity and moral ambiguity.

Expect endings that refuse to offer easy comfort.

Whether you’re a longtime devotee of classic sci-fi, a lover of vintage horror, or simply curious about the darker side of the Swingin’ Sixties, “They’re Damned, Man….DAMNED!” offers a fascinating cinematic excursion into a decade where the monsters were not always aliens from outer space… but sometimes humanity’s own children, governments, or even humanity itself.

Best of all — the eBook is completely FREE to download.

So dim the lights, listen for the Geiger counter clicks, keep an eye on any disturbingly intelligent children close by… and prepare for another wild ride through the unforgettable worlds of classic 1960s science fiction cinema.

Sci-Fi Film Fiesta:

The Swingin’ 60s –

Volume 7:

“They’re Damned, Man….

DAMNED!”

Available now — 

FREE!

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Sci-Fi Film Fiesta: The Swingin’ 60s, Volume 6 — “Spaced Out Magic Carpet Rides.” (FREE eBook!)

Sci-Fi Film Fiesta: 

The Swingin’ 60s,

 Volume 6 —

“Spaced Out Magic Carpet Rides.”

Blast off into the stranger reaches of the 1960s with my FREE eBook,

Sci-Fi Film Fiesta: The Swingin’ 60s, Volume 6 — “Spaced Out Magic Carpet Rides.”

This latest volume journeys through seven memorable science-fiction films: 12 to the Moon (1960); Ikarie XB1 (1963); Fantastic Voyage (1966); Queen of Blood (1966); Marooned (1969); 2001: A Space Odyssey (1969) and Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969).

These are voyages into the unknown—toward the Moon, distant stars, the hidden interior of the human body, alien worlds, the cold immensities of space, and realities that lie beyond ordinary perception. Yet the greatest unknown in these films is often the human being at the center of the journey.

Again and again, these stories place men and women in situations where survival hangs by a thread. They face isolation, terror, sacrifice, and forces far beyond their control. But as they push outward toward unexplored frontiers, they are also driven inward—forced to confront fear, ambition, frailty, obsession, and the darker corners of their own nature.

“Spaced Out Magic Carpet Rides” explores how the science-fiction cinema of the 1960s turned adventure into something richer: a voyage not only across strange new worlds, but toward that undiscovered country within.

If you enjoy classic sci-fi, cosmic mystery, retro-futurist imagination, and the dream-haunted spirit of the Swingin’ Sixties, this FREE volume is ready for launch.......

(Note: All images within the body text of each film entry have been generated by Chatgpt based on parameters provided by the author)

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Sci-Fi Film Fiesta: The Swingin’ 60’s - Volume 4 “Purple People Eaters and Trippy Critters” FRFEE EBOOK!

 

Sci-Fi Film Fiesta continues to celebrate the bold, the bizarre, and the unforgettable. This latest volume may just be the strangest ride yet…

🚀

FREE eBook for Sci-Fi Fans:

Enter the Weird, Wild World of 1960s Creature Features with….

Sci-Fi Film Fiesta:

The Swingin’ 60’s -

Volume 4

“Purple People Eaters and Trippy Critters”

👁️‍

If you’ve ever been fascinated by the strange, surreal, and sometimes downright bizarre corners of vintage science fiction cinema, then Sci-Fi Film Fiesta: The Swingin’ 60s – Volume 4: “Purple People Eaters and Trippy Critters” is a journey you won’t want to miss.

This latest volume dives headfirst into a collection of unforgettable films where the monsters aren’t just threats—they’re reflections of a decade bursting with anxiety, experimentation, and cultural change.

🌿

From killer plants to cosmic horrors…Revisit the eerie invasion of The Day of the Triffids (1962), where nature itself turns predator in a chilling eco-nightmare that still resonates today.

🍄

From spores to paranoia…In Matango: Attack of the Mushroom People (1965), a group of castaways confront a hallucinogenic horror that blurs the line between survival and surrender—an unsettling allegory for addiction, isolation, and the loss of identity.

👽

From space to suburbia…Night Caller from Outer Space (1965) delivers classic alien-abduction intrigue, reflecting Cold War fears of infiltration and the unknown.

🧬

From science to catastrophe…Island of Terror (1966) unleashes grotesque creatures born of scientific ambition gone wrong—echoing the era’s uneasy relationship with rapid technological progress.

🔥

From heat to hysteria…In Night of the Big Heat (1968), an isolated island becomes a pressure cooker of fear as unseen extraterrestrial forces push human endurance—and sanity—to the brink.

From camp to cult classic…And finally, The Green Slime (1968) explodes onto the screen with all the color, chaos, and infectious energy of late-60s sci-fi excess—a glorious collision of pop art aesthetics and space-age thrills.

A truly standout collection!

The 1960s was a decade of transformation—social upheaval, scientific breakthroughs, and a growing fascination with the psychedelic and the unknown. These films capture that spirit in wildly imaginative ways. Beneath their creature-feature exteriors lie deeper themes:

• Fear of environmental collapse and nature’s revenge
• Anxiety over scientific overreach
• Cold War paranoia and the loss of control
• The influence of counterculture and altered states of consciousness

At the same time, they remain enormously entertaining—rich in atmosphere, inventive creature design, and that unmistakable charm that only vintage sci-fi can deliver.

A must-read for fans of:

• Classic 1950s–60s science fiction cinema
• Cult and B-movie enthusiasts
• Retro horror with a psychedelic twist
• Film history and cultural commentary

Download your FREE copy now and immerse yourself in a world where the strange isn’t just possible—it’s inevitable.

Because in the Swingin’ 60s… the critters weren’t just out there—they were everywhere, man - ya' dig?

Volumes so far in the series:


Sci-Fi Film Fiesta: The Swingin’ 60’s - Volume 1
“Eve od Destruction”


Sci-Fi Film Fiesta: The Swingin’ 60’s - Volume 2
“Far Out Battles Without and Within”

Sci-Fi Film Fiesta: The Swingin’ 60’s - Volume 3
“Freaky Future Shocks”

And.....

Sci-Fi Film Fiesta: The Swingin’ 60’s - Volume 4
“Purple People Eaters and Trippy Creatures”

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Sci-Fi Film Fiesta: The Swingin’ 60s –Volume 2: “Far Out Battles Without and Within” (FREE eBook)

 🚀 Sci-Fi Film Fiesta Returns!

With……

The Swingin’ 60s –

Volume 2:

“Far Out Battles Without and Within”

A FREE Journey into the Wild Frontiers of 1960s Science Fiction…...

What happens when Cold War paranoia, the Space Race, and wildly imaginative film-making collide?

You get SCI-FI FILM FIESTA – The Swingin’ 60s, Volume 2: “Far Out Battles Without and Within” — the second instalment in my ongoing exploration of classic science fiction cinema.

And best of all…

It’s completely FREE to read and download!!

This new volume takes readers on a thrilling trip back to the turbulent and imaginative world of 1960s science fiction film, an era when filmmakers boldly imagined humanity confronting threats from beneath the oceans, deep under the Earth, and far out in space. It was a time when rockets were leaving the launch pad for the Moon, while Cold War tensions filled the air with anxiety about invasion, espionage and annihilation. Science fiction cinema reflected these fears and hopes with stories that were sometimes serious, sometimes outrageous—but always fascinating. 

The Films Featured in This Volume

In Far Out Battles Without and Within, we dive into five memorable and entertaining science fiction films from the decade.

1. Atragon (1963)

A lost undersea civilization rises to challenge the surface world. Only a futuristic super-submarine and its reluctant commander stand in the way of global conquest. A colorful Japanese sci-fi spectacle filled with imaginative technology and monster-movie flair.

2. Mutiny in Outer Space (1965)

A mission returning from the Moon brings back something far more dangerous than lunar rock samples—a deadly alien fungus. Soon an orbiting space station becomes a floating nightmare as paranoia, infection and sabotage threaten the survival of Earth itself.

3. Battle Beneath the Earth (1967)

The Cold War goes subterranean in this unusual thriller about enemy forces secretly tunnelling beneath the United States in preparation for nuclear devastation. A quirky but entertaining example of 1960s paranoia taken to spectacular extremes.

 🛸

4. The Bamboo Saucer (1968)

American and Soviet teams compete to secure a mysterious alien 

space craft discovered in China. What follows is a fascinating mix of UFO intrigue, espionage and Cold War politics.

🔴

 5. Mission Mars (1968)

A modest but intriguing tale of a human mission to the Red Planet, complete with alien encounters and the spirit of the Space Age that captured imaginations around the world.

 More Than Just Movie Reviews

Like the first volume in the Sci-Fi Film Fiesta series, this ebook goes beyond simply summarizing the films.

Inside you’ll find:

• Engaging plot overviews
• Behind-the-scenes production information
• “Points of Interest” exploring the films’ contexts and themes
• Cold War cultural insights
• Space Race science and speculation
• Thought-provoking reflections on how these films mirror the fears and hopes of their era

These films may differ greatly in budget and ambition, but together they capture something electrifying about the Swingin’ 60s—a time when humanity imagined conflict not only between nations, but between civilization and the unknown.

 A Treasure Trove for Sci-Fi Fans

To help readers explore further, the ebook also includes a curated list of recommended books and online resources covering science fiction cinema, Cold War culture, and the fascinating world of classic genre film-making.

Whether you’re a long-time science fiction enthusiast, a film buff, or simply curious about the cinematic imagination of the 1960s, this volume offers a fun and thought-provoking journey into a remarkable era of film-making.

🆓

 And Yes —

 It’s Completely Free!

If you enjoy it, feel free to share it with fellow sci-fi fans and anyone who appreciates the wonderfully imaginative films of the past.

🚀

So strap in…

power up the retro rockets…

and prepare for another wild ride

through the cinematic universe of

classic science fiction……

Volumes in “The Swingin’ 60s” series so far:

    • Volume 1: Eve of Destruction

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Also, don't forget....

Big Fat Book of Sci-Fi Films of the 1950s

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.....

Children of the Damned (1964)

 

A Cold War sequel of sorts with an anti-war message that doesn’t quite attain the kind of eerie atmosphere of its predecessor.

Directed by Anton M. Leader
Written by John Briley
Produced by Ben Arbeid
Cinematography: David Boulton
Edited by Ernest Walter
Music by Ron Goodwin
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Running time: 90 minutes
Box office: $1,000,000 (US/ Canada)

Cast

Ian Hendry as Col. Tom Lewellyn
Alan Badel as Dr. David Neville
Barbara Ferris as Susan Eliot
Alfred Burke as Colin Webster
Sheila Allen as Diana Looran
Ralph Michael as Defence Minister
Patrick Wymark as Commander
Martin Miller as Professor Gruber
Harold Goldblatt as Harib
Patrick White as Mr. Davidson
André Mikhelson as Russian official
Bessie Love as Mrs. Robbins, Mark's grandmother
Alan MacNaughtan as British Army officer (uncredited)
Clive Powell as Paul
Roberta Rex as Nina
Mahdu Mathen as Rashid
Yoke-Moon Lee as Mi Ling
Gerald Delsol as Ago
Frank Summerscale as Mark

Trailer

History Hearsay podcast (transcript)

Daniel: Hi there and welcome once again to the History Hearsay podcast. The podcast that deals with historical fact, rumor along with a touch of myth and conspiracy theory. I’m your host, Daniel Farnsworth and joining me as usual is my erstwhile history hound and co-host, Dilbert Dunlevy.

Dilbert: Hi folks. So Dan old buddy, tell the folks what we’ll be delving into for this episode.

Daniel: Dill, no doubt you and the listeners out there will remember a previous episode we did about three years ago on the BBC’s History's Mysteries – Fact & Fiction TV program hosted by Denis Vaughan which investigated the so-called “Midwich Time-out Incident” that supposedly occurred in 1960.

Dilbert: Oh man! I do remember. That really freaked me out. Hey, didn’t the folks of that English village of …….aaahhh...Midwich keel over unconscious one day for several hours for what seemed to be no reason?

Daniel: Yes Dill. In fact, anyone who entered the village also apparently succumbed in the same manner. Just as mysteriously, after a few hours the villagers suddenly regained consciousness, and appeared to be unaffected. Not only that, but the military established a cordon around Midwich along with the establishment of a five-mile exclusion zone around the village for all aircraft.

Dilbert: Dude, I still have nightmares about the reports of those creepy kids with the blonde hair, weird eyes and strange powers, not to mention links to….aliens, man!

Daniel: For those who are interested in that event, please revisit episode 64 or go to the link on our History Hearsay blog which has a post on the BBC program’s coverage of the 1960 “Midwich Time-out Incident.”

This leads us to today’s historical anomaly which we have managed to piece together from testimony from sources within the Ministry of Defense who wish to remain anonymous, documents secretly obtained from MI6 / Special Intelligence Service and files from government-affiliated scientific agencies, along with the findings of a closed-door unofficial inquiry held 60 years ago formed to investigate the matter. The information derived from these sources which will be available on our blog shortly, will help to form our expose of the 1964 historical sequel to the “Midwich Time-out Incident” which we call the “Southwark Church Siege Incident.”

Dilbert: So, Dan, how’s we gonna' approach this?

Daniel: Well, Dill, We’ll take our listeners through the following main elements of this incredible incident:

1. In England, a child possessing an astonishing level of intelligence is discovered.
2. The investigation as to how this young boy came to possess such extraordinary intelligence and mental abilities.
3. The discovery of several more children around the world who also possessed the same abilities as the English boy and together shared a collective consciousness along with dangerous psychic powers.
4. The military’s attempt to study and experiment on the children.
5. The children’s escape from their embassies and take over of a small church.
6. The army’s besieging of the church and its intent on eradicating the perceived menace.
7. The manner in which the stand off was resolved.
8. Implications.

Dill, why don’t you start us off with what you managed to dig up concerning the unusual young boy and the investigation surrounding him and his strange abilities?

Read on for more....

Night of the Big Heat (1968)

ISLAND OF THE BURNING DAMNED

ISLAND OF THE BURNING DOOMED

A low budget but eerie, tense, gripping and effective sci-fi / horror film that let its characters tell the story

Directed by Terence Fisher
Written by Jane Baker, Pip Baker, Ronald Liles
Based on “Night of the Big Heat” 1959 novel by John Lymington
Produced by Tom Blakeley, Ronald Liles
Cinematography: Reginald H. Wyer

Edited by Rod Nelson-Keys
Music by Malcolm Lockyer
Production company: Planet Film Productions
Distributed by Planet Film Distributors
Running time: 94 minutes

Cast

Christopher Lee as Professor Godfrey Hanson
Patrick Allen as Jeff Callum
Peter Cushing as Dr. Vernon Stone
Sarah Lawson as Frankie Callum
Jane Merrow as Angela Roberts
William Lucas as Ken Stanley
Percy Herbert as Gerald Foster
Kenneth Cope as Tinker Mason
Thomas Heathcote as Bob Hayward
Anna Turner as Stella Hayward
Jack Bligh as Ben Siddle
Sydney Bromley as Old Tramp

Trailer

In the middle of winter the island of Fara off the English coast is experiencing an oppressive, stifling and inexplicable heat wave, as if this little isolated heavily cloud-shrouded speck of terrestrial real estate was being deliberately subjected to the burning focused beam of a celestial magnifying glass.

Jeff and Frankie Callum run an inn called, The Swan. Jeff is a professional novelist who has supposedly hired a secretary, Angela Roberts who is in fact a younger woman with whom he had an affair. Angela has come to the island with the intention of re-kindling the affair, perhaps ending Jeff’s marriage with his wife and having him all to herself.

Also from the mainland is a strange and mysterious scientist, Godfrey Hanson who has rented a room at The Swan. This intense-looking, stern-faced individual with an abrupt, pompous and rude manner spends his time setting up motion-sensitive cameras and taking soil samples. For what purpose? Who knows?

As the temperature rises along with the mounting tension pervading the little island community, let’s see how the mystery unfolds…..

Read on for more.....

Countdown (1968)

A rather dry, less than exciting but well-acted snapshot of the space race during the Cold war period of the late 1960s. The film deals with complex emotions and human behavior instead of technology but suffers from a lack of tension and suspense.

The Soviets are about to launch a manned mission to the moon.

A desperate bid by the US to land a man on the moon before the Soviets do.

An Apollo moon program that isn’t ready to launch yet. 

A rushed preparation to send a single astronaut in a modified Gemini capsule to land on the moon.

He is to remain alone on the moon in a lunar shelter for a year until an Apollo mission can rescue him.

BUT.....

Who will be selected for this hastily prepared and perilous mission and can it succeed?

Directed by Robert Altman
Produced by William Conrad
Screenplay by Loring Mandel
Based on “The Pilgrim Project” by Hank Searls
Music by Leonard Rosenman
Cinematography: William W. Spencer
Edited by Gene Milford
Production company: A William Conrad Production
Distributed by Warner Bros.-Seven Arts
Running time: 101 minutes

Cast

James Caan as Lee Stegler
Joanna Moore as Mickey Stegler
Robert Duvall as Chiz Stewart
Barbara Baxley as Jean
Charles Aidman as Gus
Steve Ihnat as Ross Duellan
Michael Murphy as Rick
Ted Knight as Walter Larson
Stephen Coit as Ehrman
John Rayner as Dunc
Charles Irving as Seidel
Bobby Riha as Stevie Stegler

Trailer

(Spoilers follow below....)

We are transported back to the late 1960s, a time we recall being one of change, the rise of counter-culture and impending social and political turmoil. Shielded from all of the ructions of the times within the bubble of the Gemini and Apollo moon programs, we find three astronauts training in an Apollo 3 simulator with their main concern consisting of having their session being aborted abruptly with the “third orbit coming up.”

The astronauts inhabit a world of buzz and crew-cutted, skinny-tied, narrow-trousered and short shirt-sleeved mission focused dedication to the achievement of a history-making goal: sending a man to the moon.  

♪♪ Johnny we gotta make a moon shot

Or the Russians will leave us behind

So get ready soon and we'll drop you on the moon.. ♪♪

Read on for more