Rocketship X-M

Rocketship X-M is the second American science fiction outer space adventure drama begun in Hollywood during the post-WWII era. Because production issues delayed the release of George Pal's high-profile Destination Moon, this black-and-white feature from Lippert Pictures was quickly shot in just 18 days, on a $94,000 budget, and rushed into movie theaters first, while taking full advantage of the high-profile national publicity surrounding the Pal film. Rocketship X-M tells the story of a Moon expedition that, through a series of unforeseen events, winds up traveling to distant Mars instead.... In the original 1950 theatrical release, the Mars scenes were tinted a sepia color. Lippert Pictures repeated this process the following year when their black-and-white Lost Continent had a green tint added to scenes when the film's explorers arrive atop a fog-shrouded jungle plateau lost in time. The film was directed by Kurt Neumann and features Lloyd Bridges, Osa Massen, John Emery, Noah Beery, Jr., Hugh O'Brian, Morris Ankrum, Patrick Ahern, Sherry Moreland, John Dutra and Katherine Marlowe. The film score is by American composer Ferde Grofe.
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