Rating: 
Summary: Good start to cinematic space travel
Review: "Destination Moon" was an ambitious effort on an ordinary studio budget to present a realistic portrayal of lunar flight -- at least from the point of view of the very late 1940s, when the film was begun.
The plot starts out well enough, but by the end becomes almost cartoon-like, complete with the requisite ordinary Joe from Brooklyn named, well, Joe. The technical look of the spacecraft is the usual collection of analog dials and switches, the pressure suits are in a range of pastels with clunky helmets and, well you know. On the one hand I want to allow leeway in my assessment, considering the half-century old vintage of the film. On the other hand, though, consider "The Day the Earth Stood Still," in production at roughly the same time. That film displayed a far more imaginative view of technical evolution and a more thought provoking plot.
Still, as a piece of history "Destination Moon" is worthwhile. Robert Heinlein was involved in the screenplay. Well known space artist Chesley Bonestall painted the astronomical and lunar backdrops. Woody Woodpecker is used to explain space travel concepts to a group of industrialists. (NASA itself would employ the services of Mr. Woodpecker as PR spokes-, um, bird about a dozen years later and would refer to "Destination Moon" in its timeline of events leading to Apollo 11.) The film received a great amount of press at the time and evidently was a true seminal moment for those involved with it and much of the culture. It won an Academy Award in 1950 for best special effects.
Rating: 
Summary: The first important American science fiction film
Review: "Destination Moon" was the first major science fiction film produced in the United States and is credited with providing the genre with a realism that it had previously lacked. Based on Robert Heinlein's novel "Rocketship Galileo," this 1950 film does a pretty good job of working out the science for a trip for the moon, 19 years before it actually happened. Compare "Destination Moon" to the low budget "Rocketship X-M," which ws rushed into production by Robert L. Lippert to beat George Pal's movie to the theaters by three weeks, and you can see why it is this movie that is the most important American science fiction film before "2001: A Space Odyssey." Granted, with "Destination Moon" the historical impact greatly outweighs the artistic merits of the film, but that is really the only way this film gets a fifth star.
Heinlein's original 1947 novel was about a group of boys who build a rocket and travel to the moon, helped by a mentor who was an engineer (just like the author). Producer Pal optioned the story and insisted on a script that would be as scientifically accurate as possible. Heinlein worked with writers Rip Van Ronkel ("Destination Space," "The Bamboo Saucer") and James O'Hanlon ("The Harvey Girls," "Conquest of Space") and they put together a script that represented up to the moment thinking as to how to get a man on the Moon.
Charles Cargraves (Warner Anderson) is a rocket engineer whose final test launch of an experimental rocket ends with the ship crashing. Convinced his rocket ship was sabotaged, Cargraves seeks private funding for a new rocket that will use a nuclear reactor for propulsion. Investors are shown a cartoon where Woody Woodpecker provides the basics of rocketeering, and it is pointed out that whoever controls the moon will be able to launch missiles against whoever they want. General Thayer (Tom Powers) and Jim Barnes (John Archer) becomes Cargraves' key partners, but as the date for the launch approaches the bureaucratic red tape increases substantially. So the group decides to launch at the next opportunity, which happens to be in 17 hours (fortunately they have this giant computer to help them with their last minute calculations). Along as radio operator is Joe Sweeney (Dick Wesson), who provides a modicum of comic relief as the guy from Brooklyn who does not believe the rocket will ever get off the ground let alone to the moon.
The part of the film where they rocket ship is constructed is interesting enough, and the whole idea of sabotage, red tape, and wives left behind are minor distractions. The main part of "Destination Moon" is the trip to the moon where such things as a space launch, a space walk, and walking on the moon are all presented with an impressive scientific accuracy via some nice old-fashioned wire-work. From the time the space ship takes off the movie becomes rather fascinating, so it is clear the second half is a lot stronger than the first and you just have to make yourself sit through it to get to the good stuff.
The film won the 1951 Oscar for Lee Zavtiz's Special Effects, while the Art Direction-Set Decoration (Color) of Ernst Fegté and George Sawley received a nomination. The panoramic view of the lunar scenery was a massive painting by astronomy artist Chesley Bonestell. Again, this is not an argument that "Destination Moon" is the best science fiction film of the 1950s, an honor that probably goes to "The Day the Earth Stood Still" or "Forbidden Planet" (although it is well known I have a warm spot in my heart for "The Thing From Another World"), but this is a film that is as historically important as Georges Méliès' 1902 "Le Voyage dans la lune," and a lot more accurate from a scientific standpoint. Of course, producer George Pal would go on to make other landmark films in the science fiction genre, including "When Worlds Collide," "The Time Machine," and "War of the Worlds," but it is "Destination Moon" that stands out as the grandfather of American science fiction films.
Rating:
Summary: Milestone for SFX and Space Popularization
Review: Destination Moon was the first major technicolor motion picture produced in the United States dealing with a trip to the moon, and the first serious, big budget science fiction film. Robert A. Heinlein (author of Starship Troopers, The Puppet Masters, Stranger in A Strange Land, and Space Cadet) co-wrote the screenplay very loosely from his 1947 novel Rocketship Galileo, although about all that remains unchanged in the film is the name Dr. Cargraves. In the book there is a veiled threat from unknown enemies that turn out to be Nazis (this was the first thing Heinlein wrote after the war) - in the film there's just a veiled reference to a communist threat. I suspect the film also draws from Heinlein's more sophisticated treatment from the same period, The Man Who Sold The Moon. The film's suspenseful and scientifically accurate plot depicts man's first voyage to and landing on the Moon, and the dangers of outer space travel. A Woody Woodpecker cartoon is included to demonstrate the principles of rocketry.
George Pal's first science fiction film (earlier he had done Puppetoons and The Great Rupert), Destination Moon earned an Academy Award for Special Effects. Later Mr. Pal would produce more science fiction classics including When World's Collide, War Of The Worlds, and The Time Machine. Photographed in Technicolor with an original musical score by Leith Stevens and stunning artwork by Chesley Bonestell, Destination Moon is a milestone in special effects and a classic in the science fiction genre.
It is said that this film was shown to President Eisenhower to persuade him to support the pre-NASA space programs. On 6 October 1988, after the Robert Heinlein's death, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awarded him the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal:
"In recognition of his meritorious service to the Nation and mankind in advocating and promoting the exploration of space. Through dozens of superbly written novels and essays and his epoch-making movie Destination Moon, he helped inspire the Nation to take its first step into space and onto the Moon. Even after his death, his books live on as testimony to a man of purpose and vision, a man dedicated to encouraging others to dream, explore and achieve." -- James C. Fletcher, Administrator, NASA
Rating: 
Summary: Great Film - Lousy Print
Review: George Pal's "Destination Moon" is a CLASSIC Science Fiction Movie of the 1950's. I recommend it to everyone. HOWEVER be aware that the DVD edition is made from an EXTREMELY POOR QUALITY print. Its scratchy, its noisy in places and scenes are shortened by a few seconds where broken film has been joined etc. etc. etc. (Its painful to watch sometimes). Come on the guys at IMAGE Entertainment; if your going to put out a DVD of a movie like this; (especially for its 50th Anniversary); at least get a GOOD QUALITY print!!!! Perhaps even get a NEW one made from the original negatives IF possible. I pulled my 15 year old BETAMAX video; (yes it still works!); from the archives and it looks 100% BETTER then the DVD version you have supplied!!!!! So be warned fans of this George Pal Movie; its a GREAT film, but Image Entertainment have decided to supply you, the customer, with an inferior quality product. This DVD version is extremely disapointing to people like me who who loved the film and who where looking forward to something BETTER. If you can't find a better QUALITY version on VHS, buy this DVD, otherwise FORGET IT. The film gets 4 stars; for the quality of the print it gets -1. The sleeve notes are good however at the end of the day I feel like I have wasted my money. Jay R. Eneberg.
Rating:
Summary: Great Film - Lousy Print
Review: George Pal's "Destination Moon" is a CLASSIC Science Fiction Movie of the 1950's. I recommend it to everyone. HOWEVER be aware that the DVD edition is made from an EXTREMELY POOR QUALITY print. Its scratchy, its noisy in places and scenes are shortened by a few seconds where broken film has been joined etc. etc. etc. (Its painful to watch sometimes). Come on the guys at IMAGE Entertainment; if your going to put out a DVD of a movie like this; (especially for its 50th Anniversary); at least get a GOOD QUALITY print!!!! Perhaps even get a NEW one made from the original negatives IF possible. I pulled my 15 year old BETAMAX video; (yes it still works!); from the archives and it looks 100% BETTER then the DVD version you have supplied!!!!! So be warned fans of this George Pal Movie; its a GREAT film, but Image Entertainment have decided to supply you, the customer, with an inferior quality product. This DVD version is extremely disapointing to people like me who who loved the film and who where looking forward to something BETTER. If you can't find a better QUALITY version on VHS, buy this DVD, otherwise FORGET IT. The film gets 4 stars; for the quality of the print it gets -1. The sleeve notes are good however at the end of the day I feel like I have wasted my money. Jay R. Eneberg.
Rating:
Summary: This film made the Space Program possible.
Review: I ditto all the above, and want to add this: This film was made at a time when the average person did not believe going to the Moon was possible. Bob Heinlein's work in getting this film made (afterwards, he swore he'd never make another) was absolutely critical to the Space Program in that it showed Mr & Mrs America that going to the Moon wasn't quite so far-fetched as they might have thought. Right there on the big screen, we saw a technically accurate portrayal of the Lunar Expedition, twenty years before Neil Armstrong set foot on the surface of the Moon. This isn't just a sci-fi movie; it's a piece of history. Thanks for everything you taught us, Bob. ~Rick
Rating:
Summary: A decent movie, but a poor DVD
Review: I enjoyed the movie, and am glad that I bought it. However, the quality of this as a DVD is pretty poor. I realize this movie is 53 years old, but no effort was made to clean up the print for the supposed "50th Anniversary Edition", as it says on the box. This was apparently transfered from a VHS copy, or even an old set of reels. Every time there is a reel change, you get those obnoxious reel change dots in the upper right corner. There is static, a lot of pops, a few jumps in scenes, the funniest being a scene where the captain says "let's get into our bunks", they get half-way there, and BOOM they're in their bunks, finishing off a sentence. Also, after each reel change, the film is scratched for the next few seconds. The only "special feature" is the theatrical trailer at the very end of the movie. Since demand for this movie will probably not force a better version, this will probably be your only chance to get this classic movie on DVD. I do recommend the movie, but be aware of the quality before you buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Worth every penny!
Review: I originally caught this movie on cable and was intrigued. After finding out it was based on the novellette by the late Robert Anson Heinlein, I simply had to get a copy for myself. It is even better without the commercials. It is technically accurate and the direction of George Pal (The Time Machine) makes it a classinc with slick (for the time) special effects. It doesn't have a lot of eye popping effects as modern day movies, but the sets and characters are very memorable along with the excellent backgrounds painted by the late Chesley Bonestell (his art before the days of actual pictures of the moon surface and other locales are classical and surprisingly accurate). The rocket set and special effects of the space flight are believeable to anyone that followed the Apollo missions of the 1970's (and this was over 20 years before Apollo). It is technically accurate and visually brilliant, a must for any Sci-Fi collection, and a necessity for the Heinlein fan's collection.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but only for some
Review: I was impressed with the scientific accuracy of this film- no little green men here! The makers of "Destination Moon" obviously worked with rocket scientists in making this film, and the result is a movie that actually provides some realism- though the idea that industry rather than government would fund such a project was rather far-fetched. That having been said, the movie is quite slow and dry. I would recommend it only to those with an interest in movie history, rocketry or sci-fi.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Movie but Wait for the DVD
Review: I wish to "ditto" everything that has already been said about this movie, but with one caveat. It *is* an excellent movie for all the resons already noted but on todays stereo,high-fidelity systems (mine), I notice a lot of tape hiss and high end noise that is quite distracting and at times almost intolerable. If you play this tape on speakers with good reproduction in the high ranges you might find the high frequency whine a bit hard to take.
|
