Space Master X-7
| Space Master X-7 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Edward Bernds |
| Produced by | Bernard Glasser |
| Written by |
George Worthing Yates Daniel Mainwaring |
| Starring |
Robert Ellis Bill Williams Lyn Thomas |
| Music by |
Josef Zimanich Harry Bluestone |
| Cinematography | Brydon Baker |
| Edited by | John F. Link Sr. |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation |
Release dates | June 1, 1958 |
Running time | 71 min. |
| Country |
 United States |
| Language | English |
Space Master X-7 is a 1958 science fiction movie directed by Edward Bernds, starring Robert Ellis and Bill Williams.[1]
Plot
A space probe returns to Earth covered with a mysterious fungus, which, when accidentally tinged with human blood, transforms into an ever-growing pile of space rust. If not stopped, this infection may cover the entire world.[2]
Cast
- Bill Williams as John Hand
- Lyn Thomas as Laura Greeling
- Robert Ellis as Pvt. Joe Rattigan
- Paul Frees as Dr. Charles T. Pommer
- Rhoda Williams as Stewardess Archer
- Joan Barry as Jean Meyers, a brunet
- Carol Varga as Elaine Frohman
- Thomas Browne Henry as Prof. West
- Thomas Wilde as Collins
- Fred Sherman as Mr. Morse, Hotel Manager
- Gregg Martell as Jim Dale, plane engineer
- Jess Kirkpatrick as Pilot Vaccarino
- Court Shepard as Battalion Fire Chief Hendry
- Moe Howard as Retlinger, the Cab Driver
- Al Baffert as Plane passenger
Production
After making several Westerns for Regal Films, director Ed Bernds and producer Bernard Glasser thought they would make a science fiction film. Glasser recalled that the film was budgeted at $125,000 with $25,000 going to the screenwriters. Director Bernds rewrote the script without credit as the original script was meant as a large budget film with a longer running time.[3] The film was rushed into production to take advantage of the Explorer space launch. Publicity head of Regal Marty Weiser recommended they change the title from Missile into Space to the more exciting sounding Space Master X-7.
Moe Howard who had worked with Bernds on his Three Stooges shorts asked if the production crew had a position for his son in law Norman Maurer who would work for no salary in exchange for learning about the film industry. Maurer designed the special effects of the space fungus for $1000. Glasser was so impressed he recommended Maurer to producer Sidney Pink for his The Angry Red Planet science fiction film.
The film was rushed into production to capitalise on the launching of the Explorer I satelillite.[4]
The film was originally double billed with The Fly.
Video game
A Space Master X-7 video game was released in 1983 for the Atari 2600 by Fox's video game publishing arm. It was not in fact based on the movie: programmer David Lubar had not even heard of it before Fox decided to attach the title to an original game he had developed. The game's Atari 800 port, published by Sirius Software that same year, was released as Alpha Shield, dropping the movie connection entirely.[5]
References
- ↑ Eder, Bruce. "Space Master X-7 (1958)". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
- ↑ details
- ↑ p.58 Weaver, Tom Edward Bernds Interview in Interviews With B Science Fiction And Horror Movie Makers: Writers, Producers, Directors, Actors, Moguls and Makeup McFarland, 2006
- ↑ pp.113-114 Weaver, Tom Bernard Glasser Interview in Science Fiction Stars And Horror Heroes: Interviews With Actors, Directors, Producers and Writers of the 1940s Through 1960s McFarland, 30/10/2006
- ↑ Stilphen, Scott. "David Lubar". DP Interviews. Digital Press. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
External links
- Space Master X-7 at the Internet Movie Database
- Space Master X-7 at the TCM Movie Database
- Space Master X-7 at AllMovie