Production History
In addition to preparing aPlot (Russian original)
A reporter interviews Dr. Kornev about his work in space travel. While writing his story, the reporter daydreams about such a future. In the daydream, he and others board a rocket that takes them to an orbiting space station. There, he learns the large rocket, the ''Rodina'', is docked at the station. A short while later, an American rocket, the ''Typhoon'', which is ostensibly having mechanical problems, arrives at the space station and is allowed to dock. The Soviet scientists hold a dinner for the visitors. At the dinner, Kornev announces that the ''Rodina'' will travel to the planet Mars in a few days, The Americans, Clark and Verst, are taken aback. The ''Typhoon'' was secretly prepared to make the first Mars mission. The reckless American authorities order Clark to take the ''Typhoon'' to Mars immediately. In their haste to blast off, they injure Somov, the ''Rodinas pilot. Gordiienko steps in as the new pilot. He and Kornev take off in the ''Rodina'' as planned. Not long after departure, things go wrong aboard ''Typhoon''. Their course is off and they have too little fuel to correct it. Now they are headed for an asteroid belt and if they survive that, a collision course with the sun. Clark radios the Soviets, seeking help. Kornev decides they can help and flies the ''Rodina'' to the rescue. Doing so, however, uses too much fuel, so the ''Rodina'' must land on the asteroid Icarus where they all at least get a fine view of Mars. A pilotless refueling rocket is sent to Icarus, but crashes. The men on Icarus despair. Verst awakens to see a fifth man on Icarus. It is Somov. He flew another pilotless refueling rocket to Icarus, but since it was not built as a crewed spacecraft, he suffered lethal cosmic radiation and dies. The surviving four are able to blast off and return to a hero's greeting in thePlot (US version)
The film opens with a non-sequitur prologue in which a narrator voice explains space flight concepts. Models of space craft "currently under development by the United States Government" are shown in succession. The narrator usefully explains that "the motion picture you are about to see may be called 'a fantasy of the future'." The time: November 1997. In the "fear-ridden years following the great atomic war", the world has been divided into northern and southern hemispheres. The two countries, North Hemis and South Hemis, are clearly analogues for the United States and Soviet Union. The camera zooms in toward the South Hemis banner. Dr. Albert Gordon and his wife, Dr. Ruth Gordon, currently head the top secret "Project Red Planet" for South Hemis. (The footage we see is dubbed from the original Russian-Soviet; names have been Anglicized.) A space mission – more re-purposed footage – blasts off for an orbiting space station. The mission docks with the station, delivering the Gordons as well as Astronaut Craig Matthews. South Hemis has been developing the ''Mercury'', a spacecraft which should be able to complete a mission to Mars. Solar and orbital conditions are favorable. Suddenly, another spacecraft is detected approaching the station. It is from North Hemis. It requests and receives permission to land for emergency repairs. The two North Hemis astronauts – Captain Torrance and his co-pilot Dr. Martin – are treated to dinner by their South Hemis hosts. Dr. Gordon reveals that they themselves are about to commence a flight to Mars. The two North Hemis astronauts decide to end dinner, because "it's getting late". Captain Torrance confers with his superiors in North Hemis. He wants to preempt the South Hemis flight to Mars with their own mission. Meanwhile, Dr. Martin meets with Dr. Gordon to discuss both missions. The North Hemis astronaut refuses to divulge any information about the North Hemis plan. Captain Torrance says, "I cannot accept defeat." He disconnects from his North Hemis superiors and barges in on the meeting between Dr. Martin and Dr. Gordon. Outside in the corridor, Captain Torrance decides to proceed with the flight to Mars anyway. "Our repairs may not hold up," says Dr. Martin. They decide to commandeer their rocketship – the ''Typhoon'' – under cover of trying to repair it. They blast off at full power. Paul Clinton, a South Hemis astronaut, is caught in the rocket back blast and is injured. Meanwhile, the ''Typhoon'' sets course for Mars. Paul Clinton is diagnosed with a concussion and cannot go on the Mars mission; Dr. Gordon will go with Craig Matthews. The ''Mercury'' launches. Meanwhile, the ''Typhoon'' encounters a meteor storm, and its course veers dangerously close to the sun. The ship is disabled. The ''Mercury'' locates the ''Typhoon'' and eventually intercepts it. Matthews effects an EVA transfer of the two North Hemis astronauts. The South Hemis ship abandons the ''Typhoon'' to space. The ''Mercury'' is now low on fuel and cannot reach Mars. Dr. Gordon decides to land on the asteroid Angkor which orbits Mars. (Reception
The ''Overlook Film Guide: Science-Fiction'' remarked: "(One) remains impressed with Corman's cheek and financial astuteness than with the finished film." While recommending the original version,References
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* * * * * {{Authority control 1959 films 1950s science fiction films Soviet science fiction films Dovzhenko Film Studios films Mars in film Films about astronauts Films set in 1997 Space adventure films Films directed by Francis Ford Coppola Films scored by Carmine Coppola Films scored by Yuliy Meitus 1950s English-language films