Red Planet Mars (1952)

26% of users liked it
(208 ratings)

A husband-and-wife scientist team (Peter Graves, Andrea King) are experimenting with a "hydrogen tube" invention (which he got from a missing German scientist, lost in the collapse of the Reich), when they get signals back from what appears to be Mars. The culture-shock of that event is serious… More A husband-and-wife scientist team (Peter Graves, Andrea King) are experimenting with a "hydrogen tube" invention (which he got from a missing German scientist, lost in the collapse of the Reich), when they get signals back from what appears to be Mars. The culture-shock of that event is serious enough, and the couple and their family are suddenly thrust into the spotlight. But then they begin to translate the increasingly complex messages (which started out as mathematical equations) that they receive back, and find that Mars is a perfect world, a true Utopia, and that the messages are quoting Scripture -- and the inevitable conclusion is that God is speaking from Mars. Soon a religious revival starts to spread across the globe. What they don't realize is that the messages are a very calculated fraud, being engineered by a Communist operative (Marvin Miller) and carried out by the scientist (Herbert Berghof) who invented the hydogen tube, and who now has an even more sinister agenda of his own. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: Harry Horner
Written By: Anthony Veiller, John L. Balderston
Genres: Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: May 15, 1952 Wide
On DVD: Dec 5, 2006

Critic Reviews

Rob Humanick, Suite101.com
Achieves genuine science fiction with a nearly entire absence of sci-fi subjects on screen.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Tedious McCarthyesque nonsense as sci-fi.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
One of the most obnoxious sci-fi films ever.

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

One of the most interesting sci-fi movies of the fifties, I highly recommend checking it out.
Randy T

Due to the elliptical nature of Mar's orbit, only rarely does it come close enough to Earth to afford a clear view of it's geography. When it does, supposedly in 1952, scientists notice that the huge ice mountains of the poles have been melted into water and channeled to… More
Due to the elliptical nature of Mar's orbit, only rarely does it come close enough to Earth to afford a clear view of it's geography. When it does, supposedly in 1952, scientists notice that the huge ice mountains of the poles have been melted into water and channeled to large cities spread across the landscape, proving the existence of life on the red planet. Coincidentally, a remarkable invention known as the "Hydrogen Valve" has just been developed, enabling the sending of coded messages across the vast expanse of space. Now Earth can communicate with those industrious water channelers so very far away. But, the question is, what will they say? Will they end hunger, disease and misery on Earth? Will they advance our technology? Are they friendly? Could they be... possibly... Christians?!?!?