Red Planet Mars (1952) encourages us to think about what happens when a technologically superior civilization comes into contact with one that does not rely on such advanced technology.
It is unfortunate that the film's Christian message is laid on rather too thickly with its many references to God and Christ. This feature of the film results in it taking on a particularly naive, arrogant and blinkered view of the world and existence.
The eerie mood and atmosphere of the film is derived from the fact that neither the scientists nor we, the audience, actually see any Martians. We don't go to Mars and no Martians try to invade the Earth. Instead, messages are exchanged between Earth and Mars in the form of a code which is displayed as flickering lines on a video screen. The flickering lines, flashing lights and monitors and electric sounds add to the eerie and alien nature of the mysterious beings from another planet.
A great feature of Red Planet Mars, are the plot twists, particularly the one involving the ex-Nazi scientist, Franz Calder.
The two characters, Franz Calder and Arjenian are wonderful as the ex-Nazi scientist and Russian KGB agent respectively. They are both detestable in their own way, but you can't help liking them as they bounce off each other and try to seek advantage over one another. For Arjenian, the Soviets "demand an accounting" for their investment, to which Calder replies, "you won't harm me, you need me!"
The character Linda Cronyn's hysteria hits you like a sledge-hammer. Consider her reply to her husband's contention that science has advanced us and she spits out at him, "and you'll have done it!" and (off-screen and volume up high), "RIGHT INTO OBLIVION!" It is almost like Linda is a projection of the fear, hysteria and paranoia of the times. She frequently appeals to her husband, "don't send a message tonight" and she feels as though "the whole world is scared" and that "fear has become a natural state." Such sentiments are not surprising when you consider that the world of which speaks had not long before experienced the Great Depression, a truly global war and was then just coming to grips with the Korean war, a developing Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union and the internal insanity of the McCarthy anti-communist witch hunts.
Like so many other science fiction films of the 1950s, Red Planet Mars is definitely a product of its time. It provides us with a fascinating glimpse of a period in the USA's history where 'duck and cover' drills for kids, the 'red scare' and 'reds under the bed' menace and right wing paranoia were the order of the day. But what makes this film stand out from so many other films of this genre is that instead of relying on action and special effects, it does make you think and dare I say.....HOPE for something better!
It is unfortunate that the film's Christian message is laid on rather too thickly with its many references to God and Christ. This feature of the film results in it taking on a particularly naive, arrogant and blinkered view of the world and existence.
The eerie mood and atmosphere of the film is derived from the fact that neither the scientists nor we, the audience, actually see any Martians. We don't go to Mars and no Martians try to invade the Earth. Instead, messages are exchanged between Earth and Mars in the form of a code which is displayed as flickering lines on a video screen. The flickering lines, flashing lights and monitors and electric sounds add to the eerie and alien nature of the mysterious beings from another planet.
A great feature of Red Planet Mars, are the plot twists, particularly the one involving the ex-Nazi scientist, Franz Calder.
The two characters, Franz Calder and Arjenian are wonderful as the ex-Nazi scientist and Russian KGB agent respectively. They are both detestable in their own way, but you can't help liking them as they bounce off each other and try to seek advantage over one another. For Arjenian, the Soviets "demand an accounting" for their investment, to which Calder replies, "you won't harm me, you need me!"
The character Linda Cronyn's hysteria hits you like a sledge-hammer. Consider her reply to her husband's contention that science has advanced us and she spits out at him, "and you'll have done it!" and (off-screen and volume up high), "RIGHT INTO OBLIVION!" It is almost like Linda is a projection of the fear, hysteria and paranoia of the times. She frequently appeals to her husband, "don't send a message tonight" and she feels as though "the whole world is scared" and that "fear has become a natural state." Such sentiments are not surprising when you consider that the world of which speaks had not long before experienced the Great Depression, a truly global war and was then just coming to grips with the Korean war, a developing Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union and the internal insanity of the McCarthy anti-communist witch hunts.
Like so many other science fiction films of the 1950s, Red Planet Mars is definitely a product of its time. It provides us with a fascinating glimpse of a period in the USA's history where 'duck and cover' drills for kids, the 'red scare' and 'reds under the bed' menace and right wing paranoia were the order of the day. But what makes this film stand out from so many other films of this genre is that instead of relying on action and special effects, it does make you think and dare I say.....HOPE for something better!