Mission Mars (1968)
Directed by Nicholas Webster and released by Allied Artists Pictures, Mission Mars is a low-budget science fiction thriller that reflects Cold War anxieties through a tale of interplanetary exploration gone awry. With a screenplay by Mike St. Clair based on a story by Aubrey Wisberg, the film stars Darren McGavin, Nick Adams, and George De Vries as American astronauts facing mysterious dangers on Mars.
Plot Summary
Three American astronauts—Col. Mike Blaiswick (Darren McGavin), Nick Grant (Nick Adams), and Doug Duncan (George De Vries)—embark on a mission to Mars, unaware that the Soviet Union has secretly launched its own expedition. Upon landing, they discover the frozen body of a Russian cosmonaut, and soon encounter a mysterious talking orb and alien forces that threaten their survival.
The film mixes space procedural elements with paranoia and surrealism, as the crew struggles to understand the hostile environment and the fate of the Soviet team. Themes of international rivalry, human frailty, and cosmic mystery drive the narrative.
Cast Highlights
- Darren McGavin as Col. Mike Blaiswick
- Nick Adams as Nick Grant
- George De Vries as Doug Duncan
- Heather Hewitt, Michael DeBeausset, and Shirley Parker in supporting roles
Production Notes
- Produced by Red Ram Productions
- Music by Berge Kalajian and Gus Pardalis, with contributions from the band The Forum Quorum
- Cinematography by Cliff Poland, edited by Paul Jordon
- Runtime: approximately 90 minutes
- Released: July 26, 1968 in the United States
