Very minor B grade sci-fi from Columbia Pictures tells the story of 12 men and women from around the globe, selected to be astronauts on a mission to the moon based on their area of expertise. After a fair bit of exploring (and some really stupid behaviour), they discover that an alien intelligence exists on the moon. The aliens, naturally, order the meddling humans to get the hell out, but the problems for planet Earth don't end after our heroes leave.
"12 to the Moon" may well be yet another example of the budget size limiting any ambitions on the filmmakers' part. As it is, it's a talky, dull, mostly uneventful picture. David Bradley's direction is flat and he fails to achieve any real dramatic tension. The script doesn't appear to have been that well thought out, which is surprising considering that the writer is DeWitt Bodeen of "Cat People" fame. The scenario fails to offer much surprise, or even much entertainment, although the movie is not without atmosphere. The one moment that comes closest to working is when one of the astronauts is sucked beneath the surface of the moon.
The characters are predictable (the Russian team member is an arrogant prick), and the performances are, to put it charitably, pretty underwhelming right across the board. Ken Clark ("Attack of the Giant Leeches") is our jut jawed hero, Captain John Anderson. Tom Conway, co-star of three Val Lewton productions (including the aforementioned "Cat People") is the somewhat amusing Russian, John Wengraf ("The Return of Dracula") is the guilt ridden German, and lovely Anna-Lisa is the Swede. Francis X. Bushman wastes his time making a special guest appearance as the guy delivering the exposition at the outset.
Dedicated sci-fi buffs might find some value here, but overall this is quite forgettable.
Four out of 10.
"12 to the Moon" may well be yet another example of the budget size limiting any ambitions on the filmmakers' part. As it is, it's a talky, dull, mostly uneventful picture. David Bradley's direction is flat and he fails to achieve any real dramatic tension. The script doesn't appear to have been that well thought out, which is surprising considering that the writer is DeWitt Bodeen of "Cat People" fame. The scenario fails to offer much surprise, or even much entertainment, although the movie is not without atmosphere. The one moment that comes closest to working is when one of the astronauts is sucked beneath the surface of the moon.
The characters are predictable (the Russian team member is an arrogant prick), and the performances are, to put it charitably, pretty underwhelming right across the board. Ken Clark ("Attack of the Giant Leeches") is our jut jawed hero, Captain John Anderson. Tom Conway, co-star of three Val Lewton productions (including the aforementioned "Cat People") is the somewhat amusing Russian, John Wengraf ("The Return of Dracula") is the guilt ridden German, and lovely Anna-Lisa is the Swede. Francis X. Bushman wastes his time making a special guest appearance as the guy delivering the exposition at the outset.
Dedicated sci-fi buffs might find some value here, but overall this is quite forgettable.
Four out of 10.