Destination Moon backdrop
Destination Moon

Destination Moon

Two years in the making!

5.9 / 1019501h 31m

Synopsis

A team composed of an aerospace scientist, an ex-Air Force general, and an industrialist conceives an ambitious plan to land Americans on the moon. From their base in the Mojave Desert, they construct and successfully launch a spacecraft named "Luna" that contains a cargo of four astronauts. But a critical miscalculation of needed power to escape the moon's gravitational pull may put the astronauts' lives in danger.

Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Drama

Status: Released

Director: Irving Pichel

Website:

Main Cast

John Archer

John Archer

Jim Barnes

Warner Anderson

Warner Anderson

Dr. Charles Cargraves

Tom Powers

Tom Powers

General Thayer

Dick Wesson

Dick Wesson

Joe Sweeney

Erin O'Brien-Moore

Erin O'Brien-Moore

Emily Cargraves

Steve Carruthers

Steve Carruthers

Businessman at Meeting (uncredited)

Franklyn Farnum

Franklyn Farnum

Factory Worker (uncredited)

Jack Gargan

Jack Gargan

Businessman at Meeting (uncredited)

Everett Glass

Everett Glass

Mr. La Porte (uncredited)

Kenner G. Kemp

Kenner G. Kemp

Businessman at Meeting (uncredited)

Trailer

User Reviews

Sierbahnn

Post-war science fiction like this is oddly optimistic. In this case, it is also foolhardingly patriotical, capitalistic, and extremely cynical. It's almost as if you're watching the film version of Jules Verne's work about traveling to the moon, considering how little time is spent actually working out how to get to the moon and instead delving into how to rip a set apart in order to strip weight from a rocket. The characters are weird and feel very much at home in a story like this, whereas in reality, they would never have gotten into this situation. It's a strangely comforting movie because of its optimism, but infuriating because of everything else. The production value is fantastic given the time and the effects with stop motion astronauts whenever there is a wide shot is great. Note that some of the shots of space helmets have glass in them and some do not. I'm guessing they weren't very comfortable for the actors to wear on set.