"Rocketship XM" October 23, 2009

"Rocketship XM" (1950) Lloyd Bridges, Osa Massen. The first of the post-War science fiction boom, Rocketship XM was rushed into production to cash in on the publicity generated by the higher-budgeted Destination Moon (1950). Amazingly, the cheaper film beat the more expensive one into release and became a smash hit! From today's perspective, the science is pretty silly, and the rockets are all experimental V2s in stock footage. However, there's a lot of fun to be had watching the preachy anti-war sentiments as our heroes accidentally detour themselves from the moon to Mars! You see, Mars is inhabited by a race of people who are blind due to nuclear radiation, caused by their own war. Music is by Ferde Grofé, and it represents one of the first uses of the spooky instrument called the Theremin, now a staple in science fiction films. Can the intrepid astronauts make their sparse fuel hold out until home? Can Lloyd Bridges melt the icy resolve of his nemesis, the cute scientist Osa Massen? Will someone finally slug obnoxious Noah Beery, Jr. for bragging about Texas one too many times? Come to the Irving and find out!

PLUS: Chapter 1 of "The Phantom Empire" (1935) with Gene Autry, the only science fiction western musical ever made!

AND: a vintage cartoon!

The film will be briefly introduced by film historian Eric Grayson. All original film prints, not DVDs!

Official Website: http://www.attheirving.com