Moon Pilot (1962) User Reviews

Dated by its slow pacing

[dinky-4 · 6/10 · 11 December 2000]

While the technical aspects of this "space age" comedy from the early 1960's are understandably dated, the major problem with watching "Moon Pilot" now lies in its slow pacing. Virtually every scene runs longer than it should and the conversations within each scene are too often marked by needless pauses and languid delivery. The result is a 70-minute story that's been s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d into a 98-minute movie.

Tom Tryon seems an unusual choice for the title role. His dark, brooding, sexually-ambiguous looks would qualify him to play "Heathcliff" but "Moon Pilot" is virtually his only foray into farcical comedy. However, his innately serious quality helps him to anchor the movie more securely than would a Dick Van Dyke or a Dean Jones, but he really doesn't shine in this kind of material. His image as a juicy slab of "beefcake" remains intact, however, since even this family-oriented Disney comedy finds an excuse to strip him down to his boxer shorts in order to display his hairy chest in two separate scenes.

corny, cute cosmic candy

[silvrdal · 6/10 · 14 December 2009]

Bearing in mind that this was a made-for-TV-movie, Moon Pilot isn't bad. Disney didn't blow their budget on it, but the production and effects were serviceable if spare. The actors try to inject as much into their bland dialogue as they can, but the writing isn't Disney's cleverest.

The genuine highlight of the film is the parade of loony beatnik girls toward the end of the movie, as the military tries to identify their astronaut's supposed space-chick -- Very funny. Dany Saval is adorable. To the best of my knowledge, I've never seen her before. She shows off to advantage the cute outfits designed for her. What a doll.

When the Moon (Pilot) hits your eye with the big Disney pie, that's entertainment.

[fom4life · 6/10 · 15 September 2008]

The Eagle has Landed.

Back in the good ol' days of Disney Live action films (before the 1980's) Disney produced quite a few wholesome if not entertaining family films. Back then you didn't have to worry about dad sleeping with his kids tutor, or some wacky comic villain, hero, or sidekick getting hit in the nuts. There were hardly any poop jokes for kids to wet their paints laughing so hard. Sadly some smoked cigarettes, which is the greatest evil known to mankind next to the destruction of polar bears in the arctic due to global warming. Some even drank beer and perhaps ate some sweets like cookies. Sesame Street realized this evil and transformed Cookie Monster into the Vegetable Monster (I think) This brings us to my short but not fully formed review of Disney's 1962 comedy Sci-Fi film "Moon Pilot". It chronicles the space program sending a man to orbit the moon before such events have taken place. Some chick from an alien planet has come to help out the pilot so his brain doesn't become scrambled like the chimp they sent up before him. Disney had a lot of chimps and chumps in this film, and this monkey does a great acting job if a monkey ever did one.

There is the usual Disney army general yelling at the main bumbling astronaut played by Tom Tryon. You all know Tom Tryon form, you know, those films he was in. There is also a security chief yelling at him a lot. Wish I could help you in this review and tell you who they are, but unless you're a wiz at movie triv you might not know who they are if I told you.

Some interesting and harmless scenes with French actress Dany Saval. Capt. Richmond Talbot (Tom Tryon) teaches the chick from outer space who earthlings exchange affection. She is so fascinated by she just has to try it again and again. In her culture they bite each other on the ear. In her culture when they predict the future they can bring a living thought into reality for just a moment. Her prediction of the future provides a future for her and her hunky moon pilot.

This is a fun little entertaining comedy with some lite sci-fi touches. Overall there is nothing particularly memorable about the film, but could be fun for the kids and the Disney die hard fan. 'The Cat from Outer Space', is a better Disney Sci-Fi comedy but there are plenty of other great family comedies out there to see in general. Wouldn't own it in a collection but it might be worth a rental.

The Eagle is now lifting off.

A Way Out Trip To Outer Space

[bkoganbing · 3/10 · 20 July 2009]

I never did get around to seeing Moon Pilot back when it was in theaters when I was a lad. Looking at it now, I'm sure glad I didn't waste the money.

By 1962 the NASA Program for sending someone to the moon was launched and the public generally familiar with it. I can't believe that even the Disney Studios could have worked within the parameters that were known to the public, even for this innocuous comedy.

Tom Tryon before Otto Preminger tried to make him a major star in The Cardinal was a Disney contract player and best known for the Texas John Slaughter films on television. Instead of going through the exacting selection process to be an astronaut, Tryon gets to be the first man to go to the Moon because the chimpanzee who had made the trip previously had stuck a fork in him, causing him to jump and make General Brian Keith think he volunteered.

But that isn't all for our intrepid astronaut, this mysterious woman with a French accent played by Dany Saval keeps trying to contact him to make sure a special coat of paint is used on the space ship. Otherwise Tryon will exhibit the same behavior as the chimpanzee. And that wouldn't be good because Saval's getting a thing for him.

Saval's not an American, but she isn't French either. She's from a faraway planet called Beta Lyrae and Tryon's attempts to at first shake her involve the Air Force as personified by Keith and the Federal Security Agency as typified by Edmond O'Brien. Due to reasons of national security these two keep working at cross purposes and of course neither are solving anything.

I have to hand it to Keith and O'Brien. Both these veterans realized this film was a turkey and then they proceeded to enjoy it the best they could with one of the great blustering contests of all time. You have to be your own judge to determine which one you think is overacting more. Please note that the euphemism Federal Security Agency was used for the FBI. No one, least of all at Disney Studio was going to make fun of them in 1962.

Moon Pilot was one of the least successful of Disney films, it certainly hasn't aged well. All of the cast did better things, even at the Magic Kingdom.

MOON PILOT (James Neilson, 1962) ***

[Bunuel1976 · 7/10 · 7 December 2008]

I'd missed out on this one as both as a VHS rental and on local TV in the past but which, bafflingly, hasn't been available anywhere else (not even on DVD) until now…or, perhaps, not so strange – since it's considered pretty much an outdated early movie about the space program!

That said, the film has always enjoyed a reputation as one of the better Walt Disney live-action efforts – an opinion I was happy to share after watching it for myself (especially given my recent disappointment with such other popular albeit ultra-juvenile fare as THE GNOME-MOBILE [1967] and the two "Witch Mountain" outings). In fact, this has very few concessions to the typical Disney 'cuteness' (basically extending to the inevitable romance and an over-eager member at the space center breaking into a would-be hip "Go, man, go!" routine with every shuttle launch) and is clearly elevated by the presence of strong actors – Tom Tryon is ideally cast in the lead, though it's Brian Keith as his constantly exasperated superior and Edmond O'Brien as the dogged yet bewildered Federal Security man who dominate much of the proceedings (especially when the two engage in shouting matches between themselves).

Anyway, as can be gleaned from the title, the plot involves attempts by the U.S. to orbit the moon: the first guinea-pig is a chimp which, however, goes berserk on returning home; undeterred, a human volunteer is requested – Tryon, of course (though he's actually air-sick!). Soon after, he begins to be followed by a petite girl of obvious foreign origins (Dany Saval, whose gaucheness starts off by being corny but eventually proves disarming) – who not only knows all about his supposedly top-secret mission but actively wants to impart to him vital information about his safety 'up there'; however, he believes her to be a spy and tries his best to avoid her! Still, she manages to turn up at the most unexpected places (even after O'Brien has him 'kidnapped' to a hotel) and eventually confesses to being an alien – clearly possessing advanced knowledge and who, atypically for the sci-fi genre, intends to extend help to Earth people rather than conquer them!

MOON PILOT, then, resorts agreeably to such well-worn albeit effective suspense/spy movie trappings as the "McGuffin" (in the form of the missing element which would allow humans to adapt to the atmosphere in outer space), chases, impersonation and, it goes without saying, the growing affection between hero and heroine thrown into this unusual situation. Apart from the obvious space gadgetry, the sci-fi aspect of the film is evident in the scene in which, to demonstrate her powers, Saval gives Tryon a foretaste of his/their future. As always with Disney films, however, comedy is as much an intrinsic ingredient of the formula: best of all are the running 'unreliable elevator' gag with Tryon and O'Brien, and the potentially campy suspects' line-up of beatniks (under whose guise Saval has descended to Earth – clearly a sign of the times). Keith's queasy look during the latter sequence is priceless…as is his final flustered off-screen outburst when Tryon and Saval sign off in space courtesy of a Sherman Brothers love song!

Silly Disney film about the space program

[DLewis · 19 October 1999]

An astronaut has his moonshot delayed by a series of seemingly endless personal problems. A feast for fans of unintentional absurdity, though the kiddies may wonder if he makes it to the moon after all. In turn, adults may wonder what the heck all this has got to do with the space program.

Headache-inducing comedy...a thin script oversold by frenetic players

[moonspinner55 · 3/10 · 15 April 2011]

As the director of many films for the Disney Studios, both comedic and dramatic, James Neilson never livened up; his name in the credits usually means a picture with a steady, sometimes leaden pace. "Moon Pilot" is no exception, and one can only imagine family audiences from 1962 dozing through the movie's more sluggish sections. Tom Tryon was a good casting choice for the part of an Air Force captain chosen to orbit around the moon, yet his hot-tempered superiors on the ground (Edmond O'Brien and the usually-reliable Brian Keith) do nothing but bark at him and at each other. Dany Saval twinkles like a manic pixie playing a flirtatious young woman who may be a spy--maybe not. For the Disney faithful, there's also a monkey clowning around. Production values solid, theme song "Seven Moons" very sweet, though this is still an awfully slow rocket-ride into space. *1/2 from ****

Please Remake

[januszlvii · 7/10 · 2 May 2021]

I have a hard and fast rule: Originals are better then remakes. Are there exceptions? Of course: The Maltese Falcon was a remake, so was the Loretta Young version of Christmas Eve, but those are part of the 1% or less of movies where the remake was better. This brings me to Moon Pilot. Disney who did the original needs to remake or rework this film. Why? It had an excellent idea: The very reluctant astronaut. Richmond Talbot (Tom Tyron) meets the beautiful space alien. Lyrae.( Dany. Saval), who is trying to save him from going crazy like a chimp did due to.proton rays. One scene really works: Where she can show the future with her mind, and it turns out they will have a son together. Spoilers ahead: At the end: He is alone in space and really misses Lyrae, and she is able to come to him and the end up going to her planet. Beta Lyrae. A really great concept. It also has a great supporting cast featuring Brian Keith ( Major General Vannerman) and Edmond O'Brien ( McClosky). O'Brien who is one of the most neglected actors in history, manages to steal the picture away from Tom Tyron, with an excellent comedic performance as an agent of National Security ( really FBI). Here is the problem: Tom Tyron. He neither looks like an astronaut, nor is funny, nor does he ever do anything to stand out in a positive way. He is basically a weak and pathetic character. Disney can easily remake the movie, get an actor who can do comedy or look like an astronaut ( or better yet both), cast another beautiful woman, get rid of the cringe worthy beatnik women scene, and add more science fiction and they might have a winner. Moon Pilot as is, I give 7/10 stars ( mostly for the concept, O'Brien and looking at Dany Savat. )It would be 10 except Tyron and the beatnik scene. Again: Please remake. Zendaya as Lyrae would work for me.

Far too talky

[r96sk · 5/10 · 4 July 2020]

Underwhelming start to Disney's 1962 live-action offerings.

I didn't enjoy 'Moon Pilot'. It's far too talky for my liking, with pretty much 80/90% of the film filled with build-up to the 'main event' which ends up concluding all too quickly. There's slight mystery there with the secondary premise, but that's unfulfilled in favour of chit-chat.

The cast don't give performances to be remembered. Tom Tryon is alright but mostly dull as Capt. Talbot. Dany Saval is OK as Lyrae, her role is barely developed in fairness - her overall shtick is being female, it seems. Brian Keith (Maj. Vanneman) and Edmond O'Brien (McClosky) standout most, but both overact from start-to-finish; especially the shouty Keith.

The intrigued surrounding Lyrae is all I have to praise, to be honest. There's a potentially good film in there, but James Neilson and crew didn't realise it unfortunately. I'm sure we'll get a remake some day.

We owe it to the monkeys especially a certain chimp called Charlie

[ragpap93 · 7/10 · 15 May 2018]

Not only do we owe it to monkeys for we evolved from them but if it were not for Charlie sticking a fork up Richmond's posterior, mankind would not have made a leap to the moon. So behind every man there is a monkey putting a fork up the man's posterior. Richmond takes leave before the big launch. Espionage with comedic paranoia and sci-fi elements are present in this film and romance with the beautiful dame Lyrae by Dany Saval . She is quirky. Richmond breaks all the rules the general has set for him all for the dame with the unbelievable story. They search for this woman 'spy' like the usual suspects and find probably the craziest women in town. The Eagle got launched into space Lyrae appears. They stop communicating with the general as his shouting was killing the mood. Richmond and Lyrae take a minor detour to the twilight zone LOL. The end.

The chimp vs. the chumps.

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 19 June 2022]

It's more monkeying around at Disney in this science fiction comedy adventure that is once again loud and obnoxious and mostly confusing and unfunny, and a plotline that would put the kiddies to sleep. But who can sleep with Brian Keith bellowing even more loudly than George C. Scott? He is ridiculously over the top, one of the hammiest performances I've seen in a Disney film, and that's saying a lot. Actors in classic Disney films aren't directed to emote. They are directed to open their mouths as widely as possible and shout out their lines.

There are a few scattered good moments in this film, and probably the only one I'll remember from it is the single scene with Nancy Kulp, giving instructions to Tom Tryon, then asked to leave so they can discuss something a bit "too sensitive for a woman's ear's to hear. Kulp hesitates in the most hysterical of ways, and in her two minutes on screen makes more of an impact than anybody else in the cast. Well other than the chimp astronaut who is less animated than others in the cast.

Dany Saval as a possible spy has a role that makes absolutely no sense, and she is rather unappealing. Tryon and Edmond O'Brien come off unscathed because they seem to be the only people not following the director's orders to screech every line. This is the type of film that instantly dated itself, poorly directed and badly plotted. There is a reason why the bulk of the Disney output of the 60's and 70's are nearly forgotten because they follow a formula that in retrospect is annoying.

From the 8 year old me

[imlong54 · 10/10 · 4 December 2018]

This is the first movie I ever went to see alone at the tender age of 8. It played the Paramount Theater in my hometown of Syracuse, NY. I went over the Easter holiday with money I had received from an uncle. I was so mesmerized by it I sat through it at least six times until my mother came down the aisle @ 9 at night calling for me. My lifelong love of the movies began here and so the picture holds a special place for me. That said, I watched this again recently, and despite its out of date science and themes, it still holds up because of the many solid performances and the sincerity behind its production. I was also amazed to see a very young Sally Field as one of the beatniks in the line up. Still great fun.

Watch it for Dany Saval

[SanDiego · 5 February 2000]

Wry satire skewing the government, the military, and the space program at a time when there wasn't that many films taking aim at those agencies. This was the Kennedy era after all, and Disney didn't make that many satires. Tom Tyron ("Texas John Slaughter")is good as the astronaut but French actress Dany Saval ("Boeing, Boeing") makes the film worth watching. The support actors fail to bring the script alive (good actors but dry direction lets them sway in the wind). Tommy Kirk appears in a very small, but adult role.

out of this world!

[lucky_ladybug · 10/10 · 25 September 2000]

Pun aside, this really is a great movie. I don't know why it wasn't one of Disney's bigger hits. Anyway, the plot concerns an unwilling astronaut who meets up with an alien shortly before he needs to leave for the space center. And the alien has a very important message for him! Then when the astronaut disappears to talk with the alien, Federal Security and some high-ranked Air Force men get involved in the search! If you can find this movie somewhere, definitely buy it! I'm anxiously waiting for Disney to reissue this movie on video, like they've been doing with so many of their old classic comedies.

cutesy-pie

[cemab4y · 16 December 2013]

This film is cute little trick of a film. In the early days of space flights, it was time for a send-up. And the great character actor edmond O'Brien, was terrific as the "hard as nails" security agent. A treat for us Disney fans.

The comic highlight of the film is the "parade of usual suspects", when San francisco beatnik chicks are brought in for review. A real HOOT!

The alien chick is disarmingly funny, and I wish she could have had more films after this one. She was so fine, I wanted to sign up for astronaut training.

The pacing is slow, and the humor is formulaic, but I still get a chuckle out of this minor classic.

Tom Tryon Was Movie Star!

[adventure-21903 · 10/10 · 11 November 2020]

Walt Disney when that studio produced Moon Pilot was a studio that made a handful go "G" rated movies a yer at the compact, wonderful movie lot.

Moon Pilot starred Tom Tryon a very very handsome Man sort of like Rock Hudson. Disney had Tommy Kirk under contract and cast him in this film. I liked this movie because the setting was the space contest in the early 60s.

Tryon did two movies at 20th: Marines Lets Go, and was in MM's unfinished movie Somethings Got To Give. MM and Tryon would have been a spectacular eyeful of good looking beauty.

Tom Tryon would join the Otto Preminger organization and starred in "The Cardinal;"- a very good film- and was featured with John Wayne, Richard Widmaark and a galaxy of fine supporting actors and the love interest to gorgeous Paula Prentiss on loan from MGM. It is now part of history that Preminger was tyrannical toward Tryon so much so that Kirk Douglas said he would quit unless Otto let up.

Tryon left movies and became a great best selling Author.