The Astronaut (1972 film)

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The Astronaut
GenreDrama
Teleplay by Gerald Di Pego
Charles Kuenstle
Robert Biheller
Story byCharles Kuenstle
Robert Biheller
Directed by Robert Michael Lewis
Starring
Music by Gil Melle
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Producer Harve Bennett
Production locationsUniversal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California
Cinematography Alric Edens
Editors Les Green
John Kaufman
Running time73 minutes
Production companiesSilverton Productions
Universal Television
Original release
Network ABC
ReleaseJanuary 8, 1972 (1972-01-08)

The Astronaut is a 1972 American made-for-television science fiction film directed by Robert Michael Lewis and starring Susan Clark, [1] [2] Jackie Cooper, [1] [3] [2] and Monte Markham. [1] [2] It follows a man who has been hired to impersonate an astronaut who died during the first crewed mission to Mars. The movie was made for ABC for its movie of the week franchise. Real-life astronaut Wally Schirra appears in a cameo role as himself.

Contents

Plot

Television coverage of Brice Randolph, the first astronaut on the surface of Mars, is interrupted, indicating that the signal has been lost. Shortly afterward, Eddie Reese is recruited and shown what happened after the TV signal was interrupted: Brice reported something penetrating his EVA suit and soon expired. The other astronaut lifted off alone.

NASA, fearing their project will be canceled, needs to keep it a secret until they have answers about what exactly happened. Reese undergoes surgical alterations and begins learning his role as Brice. Upon the arrival of the spacecraft back on Earth, the splashdown site is altered so that the press is unaware of Reese being brought to join the returning space crew. Reese, maintaining the cover, is now tasked with playing his role with the dead man's wife, Gail. Uneasy about being intimate with another man's wife, Reese unwittingly betrays himself to her, raising her suspicions.

Eventually, NASA determines what happened on Mars and is ready to let Reese out of the masquerade. However, Reese and Gail are willing to carry on as if he is Brice Randolph. Reese then hears from a boy, who asked for an autograph, that the Soviets have just launched their own mission to land on Mars. NASA does not warn the Soviets of the dangers that await them; however, Reese and Gail decide to reveal the truth.

Cast

ActorRole
Jackie Cooper Kurt Anderson
Monte Markham Eddie Reese
Col. Brice Randolph
Richard Anderson Dr. Wylie
Robert Lansing John Phillips
Susan Clark Gail Randolph
John Lupton Don Masters
Walter Brooke Tom Everett
James Sikking Astronaut Higgins
Paul Kent Carl Samuels

Production

Robert Michael Lewis was hired to direct The Astronaut. [4] Harve Bennett was hired to produce the film. The Astronaut was written by Gerald Di Pego, Charles Kuenstle, and Robert Biheller. [5]

Reception

When The Astronaut aired, the Apollo missions to the moon were still under way. The ensuing TV shows and films like Capricorn One would trod the same ground. [6] Author Murray Pomerance wrote in his book Johnny Depp Starts Here that the film was modeled after Gene Fowler Jr.'s I Married a Monster from Outer Space . Pomerance thought the character Gail Randolph was a woman capable of knowing, and therefore recognizing the gentiles of her husband.. [7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hamilton, Lee (January 7, 1972). "A Review: The Andromeda Strain9 Foresees Microscopic Invasion of Earth". The Robesonian . Champion Media. p. 5. ISSN   2474-2236. OCLC   10467669 . Retrieved August 23, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 McKenna (2013), p. 67.
  3. ↑ Monush 2003, pp. 148–149.
  4. ↑ Weinstock 2016, p. 206.
  5. ↑ Weldon 1996, p. 29.
  6. ↑ McKenna 2013, p. 68.
  7. ↑ Pomerance 2005, pp. 140–141.

Sources

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