''The Rocket Man'' is a 1954 American comedy

science fiction film Science fiction (or sci-fi) is a film genre that uses speculative, fictional science-based depictions of phenomena that are not fully accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial lifeforms, spacecraft, robots, cyborgs, interstellar ...

directed by Oscar Rudolph and starring Charles Coburn, Spring Byington,

Anne Francis Anne Francis (also known as Anne Lloyd Francis; September 16, 1930 – January 2, 2011) was an American actress known for her ground-breaking roles in the science-fiction film ''Forbidden Planet'' (1956) and the television action-drama seri ...

, John Agar and George "Foghorn" Winslow. The script was co-written by

Lenny Bruce Leonard Alfred Schneider (October 13, 1925 – August 3, 1966), known professionally as Lenny Bruce, was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, and satirist. He was renowned for his open, free-wheeling, and critical style of comedy which ...

and Jack Henley from a story by

George W. George George W. George (born George Warren Goldberg; February 8, 1920 – November 7, 2007) was an American theater, Broadway and film producer. His credits included the film '' My Dinner With Andre'' (1981) and several hit Broadway productions. E ...

and George F. Slavin. A comedy with science fiction overtones, the film carries the tag line, “Out-of-this-world laughter and down-to-earth charm when the face from space turns out to be… the kid next door!” '' The New York Times'' found the fact that comedian Lenny Bruce was one of the film's screenwriters was the "strangest aspect of the low-budget production", noting that the film contains little of Bruce's trademark humor.

Plot

As a result of the sudden and unexplained appearance of a mysterious rocket man, a little boy comes into possession of a mysterious ray gun that compels anyone caught in its beam to tell the truth. He uses it to prevent his orphanage from being foreclosed upon by creditors and to help a young couple fall in love.

Cast

* Charles Coburn as Mayor Ed Johnson * Spring Byington as Justice Amelia Brown *

as June Brown * John Agar as Tom Baxter *

George Winslow George Karl Wentzlaff, whose stage name was George "Foghorn" Winslow (May 3, 1946 June 13, 2015), was an American child actor of the 1950s known for his stentorian voice and deadpan demeanor. He appeared in several films, opposite such stars as ...

as Timmy (as George "Foghorn" Winslow) * Stanley Clements as Bob * Emory Parnell as Big Bill Watkins *

June Clayworth June Clayworth (born Esther June Cantor, June 9, 1905 – January 1, 1993) was an American stage and film actress. Early years The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Cantor, Clayworth was born Esther June Cantor in New Jersey but raised in Wilk ...

as Harriet Snedley * Don Haggerty as Officer Mike O'Brien * Beverly Garland as Ludine

Critical reception

Writing in

AllMovie AllMovie (previously All Movie Guide) is an online database with information about films, television programs, and screen actors. , AllMovie.com and the AllMovie consumer brand are owned by RhythmOne. History AllMovie was founded by popular-cult ...

, critic Hal Erickson described the film as "essentially an Andy Hardyesque comedy drama with a peripheral sci-fi slant," and that despite having Lenny Bruce as a co-screenwriter, "there's nothing scatalogical or even satirical in the film itself." Film critic Derek Winnert wrote that "any acid wit, high-spirited fun or real charm are sorely lacking from director Oscar Rudolph’s lame, would-be whimsical" film, adding that it is an "often very silly and mostly boring movie, though the cast have charm and the skills to save it."

References

External links

* * 1954 films 1954 comedy films Lenny Bruce 1950s science fiction comedy films American black-and-white films American science fiction comedy films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films {{1950s-comedy-film-stub