Missile to the Moon (Colorized / Black & White)

I saw this YEARS ago in black & white. The colorized version is just stunning. One of the Moon girls is a YOUNG Leslie Parrish as Zima(ST-TOS Who Mourns For Adonis as Carolyn Palamas).

From the Wade Williams Collection and Image Entertainment, we get the definitive science fiction space extravaganza of 1959 (can you sense the sarcasm? I'm laying it on pretty thick here) directed by Richard E. Cunha, the man responsible for such cinematic schlock as She Demons (1958), Frankenstein's Daughter (1958), and Giant from the Unknown (1958). This film is actually a remake of 1953's Cat-Women of the Moon, which wasn't done by Cuhna. This movie has nearly everything, from lovely international beauty contestant winners cast as moon maidens, a spiffy rocket ship, less than exciting space travel, meteors, rock monsters, lunar caves fraught with danger (and breathable atmosphere, go figure), diamonds as big as your fist, a giant, hairy spider with big, pointy teeth, and even a catfight...what it doesn't have; a coherent plot, decent special effects, a lucid script, good characterizations, realistic sets, or passable acting, but, in the world of B movies, this one certainly stands out.Okay, here's the deal. Seems a scientist has built a missile he intends to fly to the moon. The government, seeing the value and advanced state of his work, decides to take over the project, much to the scientists' dismay. He pouts a lot and makes a lot of statements you'd expect from a petulant child who doesn't get his way. Meanwhile, two criminals have escaped from prison, and have taken refuge within the moon missile. The scientist discovers them, and decides to convince them, at gunpoint, to help him fly his missile to the moon before the government takes away his cardboard spacecraft...er, I mean futuristic, atomic powered spacecraft. The scientists' assistant and his fiancé get caught on the ship, and all five blast off into the great unknown of space. After some danger involving meteors and such, this unlikely group reaches the moon. There they encounter some rock monsters that seem not to like people as they begin to attack our unlikely, yet plucky, cosmic travelers. It's funny watching the scenes with the rock monsters as all involved try to create tension and a sense of danger as one actor shouts out, "Look out! They're trying to surround us!" but the rock monster suits provide very little mobility causing the horrific creatures to move at a snails pace, allowing for even the most feeble to escape easily, that is unless someone trips...they take refuge in a cave, and soon find themselves transported to a lunar city, which we never really get to see, filled with a bevy of beautiful moon maidens. I can see why the scientist wanted to get here so badly, as there are no men, only bunches of lunar babes, ripe for the picking. Stuff happens, words are said, and soon we learn of the imminent danger the lunar women, and a catfight happens somewhere around here. Oh yeah, there's a wonderful scene where the scrappy space travelers are in a cave, and the order is given to release 'the Dark Ones'. As a really fake looking grate rises to a section of the cave, the suspense builds, and finally....nothing..oh wait! A big, hairy spider! And a particularly frisky one at that, based on what he's doing to that moon maiden... What happens next? Well, I don't want to give away too much, but it's all pretty predictable.There's plenty of fun to be had here for lovers of campy movies. The disc contains a very decent print of the film, which does have minor, expected flaws, but the black and white looks crisp, and the audio is very clear. The only special feature is a photo gallery of mostly the beauty contestant winners in their moon maiden garb. I thoroughly enjoyed this better than average presentation of a late 50's sci-fi camp fest, but I was also glad that its' run time was only 77 minutes as Hollywood cheese is good, if taken in moderation.Cookieman108

Crazy adventure in a most unbelievable fashion. One scientist decides to go to the moon in a rocket designed by he and his partner but the government wants his life's work to be classified; it intends to take over his operation. He blasts off for the moon without complying but not alone. Two escaped convicts, his partner with fiancee happen to be on board at liftoff. The scientist dies in space; so, the partner takes command, lands on the moon, and meets a small band of blue/green women who live like Amazons. The return to Earth comes after further sacrifices and an escape from mind controlling beauties and hideous monsters. The pace is good for an old movie and the quarky plot entertains with its obvious flaws.

Missile to the Moon is basically a remake of Cat Women of the Moon (even reusing that giant spider) and just as much el cheapo fun as that film. I love the school-play-quality sets and props, amateurish acting, laughable dialogue, etc., (in short, everything you want in a Bad Film). For some reason the Moon Queen has ancient Mayan art hanging on her wall! (Attention Graham Hancock.) And those clumsy rock creatures are some of the most underrated 50s "monsters" (for originality if nothing else). Let's be honest here though: this is not a lunatic mess like Plan 9 or The Creeping Terror. It suffers from a bit too much technical competence to really achieve "warp" factor, yet remains a solid 70 minutes for crummy movie enthusiasts.The DVD presentation is quite a bit above average for this type of movie. First, despite some minor speckling and a few damaged frames here and there, the print used is spectacular: good tonal scale, nice and sharp, clear sound. Overall, much better than one would expect. (In some scenes you can even see the creases on the backdrops.) There is no trailer included (unusual for Image), although you do get chapter stops and a special bonus "photo gallery" of dozens of someone's behind-the-scenes shots taken on and around the set, including many stills (some in color) of the "Moon Maidens" posing alluringly. Not exactly "the special edition," but a nice, atypical bonus for a set like this. C-movie nerds, grab this, you won't be disappointed. One star less than perfect 'cause no trailer and the (very minor) speckling and print damage.

Its a fun movie is the acting the best No is it chauvinistic Yes! But with this kind of movie its what you look for just an escape. The rock creatures are funny and the spider is a halloween prop but that's what I wanted to see I gave it 4 stars because I love it but don't like to see women in movies who are portrayed as weak like June Saxton (Cathy Downs) was thats my only issue she needs a man to give her direction just sit there and look pretty Jane...lol But hey it was the 50's its a classic and you should watch it..... Also show you how men dont care what color your skin is as long as you have a hot bod lol

A colourized version of the old black and white film. If you like the film I recommend the colourized version. The colourization process has been done well. This is a Region 1 DVD that also includes the original B&W film. 4 stars out of 5 is warranted.

Quite enjoyed this considering what the budget was to make it considering the cost todayto make scifi films .nice see old black and white films colourized well worth it hope they do more

Much has been said about the content of the film ,the bad script and poor acting but compaired to the original Catwomen of the Moon this seems like Shakespeare....Now resplendent with lurid coloured moon maidens and the wonderful lurching rock monsters this Legend Films release is 70 odd minutes of fantasmagoric nostalgic cheese ,yes the sets are cardboard,the effects rubbish, the science all wrong but that is what makes it so good...

A rather silly but fun movie.The colourizing version looks like the old 1980s colourizing; not the more recent excellent colourizing.The old TV ads for Sci-Fi toys are interesting to watch.

Ce film n'est vraiment pas terrible!! les effets spéciaux ne sont pas à la hauteur, aucun effort n'a été fait concernant la conception des monstres, c'est du va vite!