I was rather surprised to have seen this movie a long time ago. this obscure 1952 scifi movie is similar to the 1997 movie Contact, based off of a book by the same name.
The plot is about an American astronomer, Cyron(Peter Graves) who obtains images of Mars suggesting large-scale environmental changes are occurring at a pace that can only be accomplished by intelligent beings with advanced technology. At the same time a colleague claims to have been contacting Mars by radio, first through an exchange of mathematical concepts and then through answers to specific questions. The transmissions claim that Mars is a utopia.
A former Nazi, Franz Calder, who invented the hydrogen valve, is secretly bankrolled by the Soviets. He's set up in the Andes mountains. Messages come in telling of economic marvels.
This revelation leads to political and economic chaos, especially in the Western hemisphere. The U.S. government imposes a news blackout after the first four messages, only to reveal much later that Earth's people can be saved if they return to the worship of God. Revolution sweeps the globe, including the Soviet Union.
An avalanche destroys Calder's lab, but he shows up later at Cronyn's lab claiming to have sent the messages himself, to destroy the West's economy and the Soviets' empire. He then planned to tell all in order to destroy the faith the religious messages spawned. Cronyn and his wife decide that Calder must be stopped. They open the hydrogen valve, willing to die to stop Calder and preserve the new peace. At the last minute, the receiver begins to crackle. A new message comes in from Mars and obviously not Calder. Outraged, Calder shoots the radio, sparking the huge hydrogen-fueled explosion.
Christian elements are woven throughout the film, just to underscore the point that the Free World has religion while the Communist country's are "godless". An interesting scene near the end, in which Calder scoffs at the Cronyn's faith in God. He quotes Milton. "Better to rule in hell than serve in heaven." Calder doesn't deny God's existence, but says he worships Lucifer. "God may have won that battle (kicking Lucifer out of heaven), but I will win this one..." (Nazi's are easy to hate.)
Despite the fact that there are no aliens, flying saucers, or lasers it is a bit of a disappointment. But this is more of a thought-provoking film. It kind of makes you think what would happen if we did receive an alien message from space and the effect it would have on the world.
The plot is about an American astronomer, Cyron(Peter Graves) who obtains images of Mars suggesting large-scale environmental changes are occurring at a pace that can only be accomplished by intelligent beings with advanced technology. At the same time a colleague claims to have been contacting Mars by radio, first through an exchange of mathematical concepts and then through answers to specific questions. The transmissions claim that Mars is a utopia.
A former Nazi, Franz Calder, who invented the hydrogen valve, is secretly bankrolled by the Soviets. He's set up in the Andes mountains. Messages come in telling of economic marvels.
This revelation leads to political and economic chaos, especially in the Western hemisphere. The U.S. government imposes a news blackout after the first four messages, only to reveal much later that Earth's people can be saved if they return to the worship of God. Revolution sweeps the globe, including the Soviet Union.
An avalanche destroys Calder's lab, but he shows up later at Cronyn's lab claiming to have sent the messages himself, to destroy the West's economy and the Soviets' empire. He then planned to tell all in order to destroy the faith the religious messages spawned. Cronyn and his wife decide that Calder must be stopped. They open the hydrogen valve, willing to die to stop Calder and preserve the new peace. At the last minute, the receiver begins to crackle. A new message comes in from Mars and obviously not Calder. Outraged, Calder shoots the radio, sparking the huge hydrogen-fueled explosion.
Christian elements are woven throughout the film, just to underscore the point that the Free World has religion while the Communist country's are "godless". An interesting scene near the end, in which Calder scoffs at the Cronyn's faith in God. He quotes Milton. "Better to rule in hell than serve in heaven." Calder doesn't deny God's existence, but says he worships Lucifer. "God may have won that battle (kicking Lucifer out of heaven), but I will win this one..." (Nazi's are easy to hate.)
Despite the fact that there are no aliens, flying saucers, or lasers it is a bit of a disappointment. But this is more of a thought-provoking film. It kind of makes you think what would happen if we did receive an alien message from space and the effect it would have on the world.