Robinson Crusoe on Mars

1964
PG
1h 50m

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

7.3K

YOUR RATING

Stranded on Mars with only a monkey as a companion, an astronaut must figure out how to find oxygen, water, and food on the lifeless planet.

Play trailer4:02

1 Video

36 Photos

Space Sci-Fi Adventure Sci-Fi

Stranded on Mars with only a monkey as a companion, an astronaut must figure out how to find oxygen, water, and food on the lifeless planet.Stranded on Mars with only a monkey as a companion, an astronaut must figure out how to find oxygen, water, and food on the lifeless planet.Stranded on Mars with only a monkey as a companion, an astronaut must figure out how to find oxygen, water, and food on the lifeless planet.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

7.3K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
The scenes in which Mona the monkey imitates Victor Lundin's agonized gestures whenever the alien masters activated the slave bracelets were not something the monkey was taught to do. It began to imitate the actor during these scenes, and the director decided to film these moments.

Goofs
When Draper records his first log entry, at one point he says that his supplies will get him by "for about fifteen days". His lips, however, mouth a different number and you can clearly hear that this part was dubbed in later.

Quotes
Draper: How long have you had these things on?
Friday: Sixty-two years.
Draper: How old are you?
Friday: Seventy eight.

Alternate versions
The BBFC website for the original UK theatrical release lists a running time of just 80 minutes. This suggests the film was heavily cut on its original release as the full theatrical running time is 106 minutes.

Connections
Featured in Terminus... the Theater of Science Fiction: Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1970)

User reviews138

Review

Featured review

6/10

WAAAAAY ahead of its time!

Even though this movie was made in 1964, it puts to shame the more recent (and astronomically more expensive) "Mission to Mars" and "Red Planet".

The characters act much more like real people/enslaved extraterrestrials than was common in sci-fi films of that era. Mantee is well-trained and resourceful, handling most problems (with the exception of his forced isolation) with reasonable aplomb. He is much closer to what we expect an astronaut to be than the ridiculous characters from MtM and RP.

The equipment is also a notch above the usual 60s fare, with real cables, actual dials and knobs, and that utilitarian look so common in military hardware. I have to give this film and extra half-star just for the realistic technology.

Overall, a good, solid sci-fi film from the golden age. Like many others, I'm waiting for the DVD.

*** out of *****