@celeste_writes
A patient, formally daring work — the cinematography lingers on empty rooms longer than most audiences will tolerate, but those who stay are rewarded with the most haunting final act of the year.
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.
Quick Stats
5.9
TMDB Rating
100
Votes
1h 31m
Runtime
$592K
Budget
$5.0M
Box Office
845%
Return
Key Crew
DirectorIrving Pichel
WriterRobert A. Heinlein
CinematographyLionel Lindon
ComposerLeith Stevens
EditorDuke Goldstone
Production DesignErnst Fegté
Produced by
George Pal Productions
Where to Watch
Streaming
Netflix
HBO MaxBuy
Apple iTunesSee more on TMDB → JustWatch
Critics & Reviews
3 featured@jhalberg
I walked in expecting another genre exercise and walked out feeling like I'd been eavesdropping on a confession. The lead performance is genuinely singular — a career-defining turn.
@priya_a
A few too many scenes feel borrowed from a better film, but the soundtrack and the production design carry the rest. Solid recommendation for fans of slow-burn European thrillers.
Cast
John Archer
Jim Barnes
Warner Anderson
Dr. Charles Cargraves
Tom Powers
General Thayer
Dick Wesson
Joe Sweeney
Erin O'Brien-Moore
Emily Cargraves
Steve Carruthers
Businessman at Meeting (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum
Factory Worker (uncredited)
Jack Gargan
Businessman at Meeting (uncredited)
Everett Glass
Mr. La Porte (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp
Businessman at Meeting (uncredited)
Knox Manning
Himself (uncredited)
M
Mike Miller
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
Irving Pichel
Off Screen Narrator of Woody Woodpecker Cartoon (voice) (uncredited)
Cosmo Sardo
Businessman at Meeting (uncredited)
Grace Stafford
Woody Woodpecker (voice) (uncredited)
