It's the late 1880s and Victor Barbicane (Joseph Cotton) has invented a new power source called "Power X." He realizes it has the potential to boost a rocket into outer space (or, more specifically, to the moon).
After some initial flubs he manages to embark on his journey along with his assistant (Don Dubbins), semi-villain Stuyvesant Nicholl (George Sanders), and Nicholl's daughter Virginia (Debra Pagent).
Nicholl thinks that Victor's Power X is sacrilege and sabotages their entire journey -- will they be able to get back to earth? This was presented on TCM as the least successful adaptation of Welles' material and it shows in every frame. The special effects are really pathetic - even for a 1958 film - and the acting is subpar. The great character actor Joseph Cotten looks utterly bored and disgusted at the fact that he's even remotely close to starring in this film - he basically just stumbles and mumbles through the entire project, and I truly felt sorry for him after seeing such superior films as "Citizen Kane," "Shadow of a Doubt," "The Magnificent Andersons" and of course "The Third Man." If you want to laugh, this is a good choice. If you're looking for something worthwhile (at least in terms of artistic merit) - look elsewhere!
After some initial flubs he manages to embark on his journey along with his assistant (Don Dubbins), semi-villain Stuyvesant Nicholl (George Sanders), and Nicholl's daughter Virginia (Debra Pagent).
Nicholl thinks that Victor's Power X is sacrilege and sabotages their entire journey -- will they be able to get back to earth? This was presented on TCM as the least successful adaptation of Welles' material and it shows in every frame. The special effects are really pathetic - even for a 1958 film - and the acting is subpar. The great character actor Joseph Cotten looks utterly bored and disgusted at the fact that he's even remotely close to starring in this film - he basically just stumbles and mumbles through the entire project, and I truly felt sorry for him after seeing such superior films as "Citizen Kane," "Shadow of a Doubt," "The Magnificent Andersons" and of course "The Third Man." If you want to laugh, this is a good choice. If you're looking for something worthwhile (at least in terms of artistic merit) - look elsewhere!