Filmed in techniscope, robinson crusoe on mars avoids the disadvantages of anamorphic lenses always problematic for special effects films with lots of opticals at the expense of added grain. Robinson crusoe on mars 1964 getty robinson crusoe on mars takes the classic daniel defoe book to mars, with u. Astronauts kit draper paul mantee and dan mcready batmantobe adam west are on their way to mars with their science experimentmascot mona the spider monkey, going through the prelanding checks. Defoes name did not appear on the title page of the books first edition, which was presented as being an autobiography of crusoe. With paul mantee, victor lundin, adam west, the woolly monkey. Admittedly, if every film merely dwelled on those issues, wed quickly grow tired of it, but it works extremely well here.
The film manages to avoid the heavy literalness of less. Robinson crusoe on mars is a 1964 science fiction film that adapted the classic novel robinson crusoe to an in space. A science fiction retelling of robinson crusoe by daniel defoe directed by byron haskin. Set sometime in the future, its a surprisingly modern and compelling imagining of space travel between the earth and mars. Oct 17, 2007 clearly, the main problem with robinson crusoe on mars is that the makers of this film tried too hard to maintain the look, rather than the spirit, of defoe character. Robinson crusoe on mars is a 1964 independently made american science fiction film in technicolor and techniscope, produced by aubrey schenck, directed by by. While robinson crusoe on mars is more a kitsch curio than a classic movie, there is much entertainment to be had comparing this 1964 story of a lone astronaut pitted against all odds beyond this. This premiere release of the complete score to robinson crusoe on mars is newly remixed from the original 35mm threetrack scoring masters preserved in recent years on 2 analog tape by paramount pictures.
Few would disagree that robinson crusoe on mars is one of the most. With the safe landing of nasas curiosity rover on mars today, our thoughts have rocketed back to 1964s robinson crusoe on mars. Even more remarkable, for the majority of the film, robinson crusoe on mars is a oneman show. The set design is gorgeous and colorful but its almost entirely scenes of an. Draper lands on the surface of the red planet and survives. This film is an adaption of daniel defoes classic tale of a sailor stranded on a deserted island. Robinson crusoe on mars presents the adventures of astronaut commander kit draper paul mantee and his faithful capuchin monkey.
In this version, crusoe is an astronaut who crashlands on the seeminglyabandoned planet of mars. It is a parody of the daniel defoes novel robinson crusoe. Robinson crusoe on mars and law of the lawless open. This is not a film that will challenge our intellect or astonish us with eye popping.
Sep 27, 2007 the trailer for robinson crusoe on mars. Robinson crusoe on mars is a 1964 independently made american science fiction film in technicolor and techniscope, produced by aubrey schenck, directed by byron haskin, that stars paul mantee, victor lundin, and adam west. For those unaware, the story follows an astronaut paul mantee who crashlands on mars. Robinson crusoe on mars import, dvd, australia import, ntsc region 0, science fiction, 9317486003304. Navy commander kit draper paul mantee forced to the surface in a. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free. Had byron haskin waited a year to shoot 1964s robinson crusoe on mars, it might have been a very different film or gotten scrapped altogether. Robinson crusoe pierce brosnan is a scottish gentleman with experience in the royal navy and the british army. Byron haskin, nathan van cleave, irvin talbot, and fred steiner. Robinson crusoe is a work of fiction by the british author daniel defoe. Robinson crusoe on mars and law of the lawless open here. Having just looked at the wikipedia entry for it, i dont need to go over the plot here, so i guess its just worth keeping a note of some points of interest, for later. The 20page booklet features notes on both film and score by genre specialist randall larson. During a flight to mars in the spaceship mars gravity probe 1, commander christopher kit draper and colonel dan mcready are forced to deviate from an asteroid and they leave their spacecraft in pods.
This 1964 hollywood sciencefiction film was released a year before nasas mariner 4 spacecraft took the first closeup images of the planet mars. After evacuating their space ship piloted by a prebatman adam west, they are left stranded on the surface of the red planet. The disc also includes a behind the scenes featurette highlighting the science behind the film and a music video for actor victor lundins song robinson crusoe on mars which is absolutely horrible. Stranded on mars with only a monkey as a companion, an astronaut must. Special effects wunderkind and genre master byron haskin the war of the worlds, the outer limits won a place in the hearts of fantasy film lovers everywhere with.
If you like robinson crusoe on mars you are looking for exciting, serious and suspenseful movies about with mars, astronaut, monkey, rescue, danger, survival and adventure themes of adventure and scifi genre shot in usa. The blu ray is certainly an improvement over the previous dvd but id recommend a double dip only to those serious fans of the film. Stranded on mars with only a monkey as a companion, an astronaut must figure out how to find oxygen, water, and food on the lifeless planet. It is generally considered to have been the first novel to have been written in the english language. Robinson crusoe on mars science fiction films of the early 60s were often bursting with the commiesunderthebednuclearnightmare ethos of the time. Apr 22, 2016 the two survivors safely land on mars and figure out how to breathe, drink, and eat on the inhospitable planet. Then you will truly love love love this movie and be totally enchanted by is story of mars each time you watch this. Il signor robinson, mostruosa storia damore e davventure, also known as robinson jr. Rentals include 30 days to start watching this video and 48 hours to finish once started.
Robinson crusoe on mars 1964 robinson crusoe on mars. The film opens to a fictionalized daniel defoe being offered to read a castaways autobiography. There really is a film called robinson crusoe on mars. Dated, but fun movie mostly with just 1 character 2 if you count the monkey. Byron haskin, director of the war of the worlds, treasure island, arsenic and old lace, the power, captain sinbad, from the earth to the moon, and conquest of space, delivers robinson crusoe on mars. The first edition credited the works protagonist robinson crusoe as its author, leading many readers to believe he was a real person and the book a travelogue of true incidents. July 10, 1964 greetings from the red planet the movie. Robinson crusoe on mars 1964 feature video dailymotion. This update of daniel defoes 1719 novel robinson crusoe is directed by byron haskin, best known for directing the war of the worlds, which was produced by george continue reading july 10, 1964 greetings from. Robinson crusoe on mars is a 1964 independently made american science fiction film in technicolor and techniscope, produced by aubrey schenck, directed.
Soon, he meets friday, who is an alien slave who recently escaped from his captors. Jan 11, 2011 in preparing his heavily illustrated first draft of the screenplay for robinson crusoe on mars, a film he intended to direct, melchior was clearly seeking a middle ground. Dec 17, 2007 robinson crusoe on mars is a science fiction adaptation of the daniel defoe classic. Although it is a thoughtful and surprisingly nonexploitative movie, the title robinson crusoe on mars might conjure up unholy echoes of crosspollinated genre movies such as jesse james meets frankensteins daughter or santa claus conquers the martians. Paul mantee, a busy tv actor, works hard carrying almost all the dialog as marooned astronaut christopher draper, our robinson crusoe.
The criterion collection dvd of this film was released in september. Robinson crusoe on mars import australia import, ntsc. But even on big monitors the film looks awfully impressive in highdefinition, with better, richer color than ever before and an increased sharpness. He grudgingly obliges and begins to get engrossed in the narrative. After some time, draper crosses paths with a human, friday, who has recently escaped. If you like scifi, heck if you just like good movies period, do yourself a favor and catch robinson crusoe on mars. A futuristic retelling of daniel defoes classic story, robinson crusoe on mars has gained a beloved cult reputation ever since its debut in the. The film is so given more a more thoughtful treatment by hollywood than would normally have been the case. While the plot is very lowenergy, the films quaint effects and recognizable. Great film, absolutely dreadful commentary by robert skotak. Robinson crusoe on mars 1964 is a slow and very ropey adaptation of the rc story. But when they have to avoid a huge bolide in orbit it uses the last of their fuel and the landing goes badly, the module crash landing.
While the mars depicted in the film is inaccurate as we know it today, it is a curious artifact because represents the best depiction of the red plant known at the time, the fading days of astronomer percival lowells idea of martian canals. Robinson crusoe on mars is an upmarket early 1960s movie much beloved and sadly overrated by many science fiction fans. Difference is with robinson crusoe on mars, paul mantee isnt the movie star that matt. Robinson crusoe on mars 1964 directed by byron haskin. Robinson crusoe on mars original theatrical trailer youtube. In robinson crusoe on mars, they never stop being central to the plot. This 1964 hollywood sciencefiction film was released a year before nasas mariner 4 spacecraft took the first closeup images of the. Jan, 2011 robinson crusoe on mars is still a brilliant film, just not in all the ways it was always intended. We know mars isnt really like this, but just pretend it takes place on a planet in another solar system. Dan oherlihy was nominated for the 1955 academy award for best actor.
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