Conquest of Space

Director: Byron Haskin Byron Haskin

Overview

While heading to Mars on a experimental mission, the crew of a space ship deals with the commanding officer's attempts to disable their mission.

Product Details

Release Date:	12/03/2019
UPC:	0032429334015
Original Release:	1955
Rating:	NR
Source:	PARAMOUNT
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	1:20:00
Sales rank:	30,690

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Walter Brooke	Samuel Merrit
Eric Fleming	Bamey Merrit
Phil Foster	Jackie Siegle
William Hopper	Dr. George Fenton
Mickey Shaughnessy	Mahoney
William Redfield	Cooper
Benson Fong	Imoto
Ross Martin	Fodor
Vito Scotti	Sanella
John Dennis	Donkersgoed
Michael Fox	Elsbach
Joan Shawlee	Rosie
Iphigenie Castiglioni	Mrs. Fodor
Nathan VanCleave	Composer

Technical Credits

Chesley Bonestell

Philip Yordan

Barré Lyndon

George Yates

James O'Hanlon

Ivyl Burks	Special Effects
Jan Domela	Special Effects
John P. Fulton	Special Effects
Byron Haskin	Director
Paul K. Lerpae	Special Effects
George Pal	Producer
Irmin Roberts	Special Effects
Chesley Bonestell	Screenwriter
Philip Yordan	Screenwriter
Barré Lyndon	Screenwriter
Gene Garvin	Sound Effects,Sound/Sound Designer
Carl Mahakian	Sound Effects
George Yates	Screenwriter
James O'Hanlon	Screenwriter
Harold Lewis	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Conquest of Space can almost be seen as a continuation of producer George Pal's earlier Destination Moon, but there are some significant differences between the two films. Most significant is that Conquest is much more character-driven than Moon. Had the characters been more fully and convincingly developed, this would have made Conquest a superior film. Unfortunately, most of the character development is hackneyed and trite -- and in some cases utterly unbelievable. This last quality is exemplified by a totally out-of-left-field religious conversion for the lead character, which is crucial for the plot of the film but is so poorly set up that it damages the film's credibility. The religious atmosphere that permeates the rest of the film is interesting -- especially the deus ex machina ending wherein a gentle snowfall promises the creation of plant life to benefit the astronauts -- and adds a texture missing from Moon. The special effects team's work is strangely variable here; visible wires and obvious matte shots alternate with some impressive and convincing shots of the space station and its various components. The script has all the plot elements that make 1950s sci-fi enjoyable, and even has a few genuinely amusing moments (such as the dinner scenes involving food pills), and the acting is of the same general quality as similar films from this genre. Conquest is not a stellar example of sci-fi cinema, but it's decently enjoyable.