Moon Pilot
| Moon Pilot | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release title lobby card
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|
| Directed by | James Neilson |
| Produced by | Walt Disney |
| Written by |
Maurice Tombragel Robert Buckner (novel Starfire) |
| Starring |
Tom Tryon Brian Keith Edmund O'Brien Dany Saval Tommy Kirk |
| Music by |
Robert B. Sherman Richard M. Sherman (songs) Paul J. Smith |
| Cinematography | William E. Snyder |
|
Production
company |
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| Distributed by | Buena Vista Distribution |
|
Release date
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April 5, 1962 |
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Running time
|
98 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Moon Pilot is a 1962 American Technicolor science fiction satirical comedy film from Walt Disney Productions, released through Buena Vista Distribution, directed by James Neilson, and starring Tom Tryon, Brian Keith, Edmund O'Brien, Dany Saval, and Tommy Kirk.
The film is based on Robert Buckner's 1960 novel Starfire and reflects Disney's interest in America's early space program during the John F. Kennedy presidential era.
Air Force Capt. Richmond Talbot inadvertently volunteers to make the first manned flight around the Moon. He is ordered to keep the upcoming flight a secret, even from his family on his upcoming leave.
On his flight to visit his family, Talbot is approached by Lyrae, a mysterious “foreign” girl who seems to know all about the astronaut's coming mission. She approaches Talbot to warn him about possible defects in his spacecraft. He assumes she is a spy, runs away from her, and contacts the Air Force. The Air Force orders him home and places him under the protection of "National Security", a thinly disguised FBI.
Eventually, Lyrae reveals that she is a friendly alien from the planet Beta Lyrae. She wants to offer him a special paint formula that when applied to his rocket, will safeguard his brain from "proton rays". Enchanted by the young woman, Talbot sneaks away from the agents who have been guarding him to spend more time with Lyrae. Eventually, after his rocket is launched, Lyrae appears by his side and convinces him to visit her planet with her. Talbot informs Mission Control that he will be a little late coming back. The movie ends with Mission Control totally confounded by the bizarre transmissions they are receiving from the two of them singing a romantic song about her planet Beta Lyrae.
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Wikipedia