Three American astronauts who land on Mars discover the body of a frozen Russian cosmonaut and a mysterious talking orb.Three American astronauts who land on Mars discover the body of a frozen Russian cosmonaut and a mysterious talking orb.Three American astronauts who land on Mars discover the body of a frozen Russian cosmonaut and a mysterious talking orb.
George De Vries
- Doug Duncan
- (as George DeVries)
Chuck Zink
- Radio Technician
- (as Chuck Zinc)
Jay W. Jensen
- Space Center Worker
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis was the first feature made at the Studio City Complex in Miami, Florida.
- GoofsHelmets worn by the astronauts on Mars are open to the outside atmosphere rendering their air supply useless (these appear to be painted motorcycle helmets).
- ConnectionsFeatured in 42nd Street Forever, Volume 2: The Deuce (2006)
- SoundtracksNo More Tears
Written by Gus Pardalis
Sung by Sturg Pardalis
Music by The Forum Quorum
through special arrangement with Hal Davis
Featured review
First seen on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater in 1970
1967's "Mission Mars" was rather poignant for starring the late Nick Adams opposite Darren McGavin and George DeVries, cast as three astronauts en route to the first Mars expedition since an aborted attempt by the Russians (alternate titles include "Lost in the Dark" and "Endstation Mars"). Dull dialogue exchanges are the rule before (and after) takeoff at the 17 minute mark, McGavin's Mike the cool, calm, collected one, DeVries as Duncan the sole bachelor doomed not to return from the 246 day trip, Nick Adams as Nick the adventurous biologist whose penchant for 'being the first' as an explorer does not bode well for his survival. Nearly a half hour in flight results in just one brief cycle of excitement, a meteor shower that barely lasts a minute, otherwise smooth sailing for ailing insomniacs until landing on Mars at the midway point. Two cosmonauts are spotted drifting through space, the one missing found frozen stiff on the Red Planet's surface, later proving to have survived and speaking enough English to get by. A large hole in their small supply ship seems to prove that Mars is inhabited, but all our trio encounter are a few one eyed creatures dubbed 'Polarites' that reflect the blazing sunlight on disc-like hands (looking like clay models), and a round ball that materializes 50 feet away from them. When DeVries is blinded and his corpse dragged inside the cylinder, the earth supervisors advise them to leave immediately but its magnetic presence prevents them from doing so. At this late stage Nick steps up to show his prophetic wife to be correct with his stated promise to make this the last trip. The story credited to Aubrey Wisberg ("The Man from Planet X," "The Neanderthal Man") is merely an endless catalogue of outdated cliches from outer space sagas of the 1950s, picked up by Allied Artists in time to look miniscule indeed against Stanley Kubrick's extravagant "2001: A Space Odyssey." Once we finally reach our destination the viewer must feel like they also spent 9 months in space, loads of stock footage of actual rocket launches adding nothing but padding to an already taxing running time of 87 minutes. Director Nicholas Webster was working with a bigger budget than in his previous outing "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians," from only the first of two screenplays churned out by Australian-born TV actor Mike St. Clair, followed a year later by "Invasion of the Body Stealers," another underwhelming sci fi effort that at least never strays from Earth. The best thing that people remember is the psychedelic soundtrack by The Forum Quorum, including the opening theme "No More Tears," produced by Milt Gabler, the band's signature song (and a non charting single) off their lone album release of 1968, sung by lead vocalist Sturg Pardalis and composed by his brother Gus. The last gasp in 50s-era sci fi, presented with sincerity but too predictably, and on a budget too low to compensate for the lack of excitement.
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- kevinolzak
- Mar 25, 2021
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