Robinson Crusoe on Mars (Paramount Pictures) (1964)

PUBLICI SYNOPSIS (Not For Publication) ‘Robinson Crusoe on Mars’’ is not a fantasy. It is not ‘science fiction.’ It is simply and faithfully an updated version of Daniel Defoe’s literary classic of 1719. Instead of Defoe’s shipwrecked mariner on a remote island, the film presents the space-age Crusoe as a U.S. astronaut, stranded on Mars, and his subsequent fight for survival in that alien atmosphere without oxygen, food or water. ‘Robinson Crusoe on Mars”’ is ‘science fact’ of the foreseeable future. Every facet of the script adheres to the most advanced space-age thinking, the achievement of what is already on today’s drawing boards. Following Defoe’s story, the space-age Crusoe shows how a thoroughly trained astronaut, faced with unsuspected problems, uses his skills and native know-how to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. CAST Commander Christopher Draper USN............. PAUL MANTEE F EO Meesarnsiese i ek terrence gr cS RT VIC LUNDIN Colonel Dan McReady USAF .................... ADAM WEST Mona The Monkey .............. MONA THE WOOLLY MONKEY CREDITS Produced by Aubrey Schenck; Directed by Byron Haskin; Director of Photography—wWinston C. Hoch; Art Direction by Hal Pereira and Arthur Lonergan; Makeup by Wally Westmore and Bud Bashaw; Film Editor—Terry Morse; Screenplay by Ib Melchior and John C. Higgins. RUNNING TIME: 110 MINUTES ADVERTISING BILLING Pardtiount'Pictures:Presents oo). eo. FP 25% ROBINSON CRUSOE ON-MARS».:s «22> 32 oe 100% starring Paul Mantee : | Victor Lundin | 25% Trades optional ..... 4 20% Newsand papers Mona, The Woolly Monkey Produced by Aubrey Schenck 25% Trades Directed by Byron Haskin 20% NewsScreenplay by Ib Melchior and John Higgins pene optional. ..... Based on a story by Daniel Defoe SSIS) aes a i el Rd ah er a nea ED Zo a SO TEGMINISGOPE® |... > aneen. Hd 25% A,chenck-Zabel Production: :. ..2lmnen. a@ifexia. af; te. 15% “Robinson Crusoe on Mars” Is Updated Version Of Daniel Defoe’s Classic Adventure Novel There have been many science-fiction movies about space travel, but Paramount’s ‘“‘Robinson Crusoe on Mars,” which opens mae ey RON: wit ce | at the .......... Theatre, is not fiction or fantasy, it is ‘science fact.’ The film is not a pipe dream with horrendous monsters or Mars maidens—it is simply and faithfully an updated version of Daniel Defoe’s literary classic of 1719. Starring Paul Mantee, Vic Lundin, Adam West and Mona The Woolly Monkey, “Robinson Crusoe on Mars” is an adventure film which presents the space-age Crusoe as a U.S. astronaut stranded on Mars, and his subsequent fight for survival in that alien atmosphere without oxygen, food or water. The story excitingly begins with the U.S. spaceship, Elinor M, circling Mars on the first official probe to test the planet’s gravity. Aboard are Colonel Dan McReady (Adam West), Commander Christoper ‘Kit’ Draper (Paul Mantee) and Mona (The Woolly Monkey), a monkey, space suited for medical research. McReady and Draper suddenly realize that their craft is on collision course with a gigantic meteor. In a_ split-second evasive action the spacecraft swings too far off course and is dragged inexorably down by the Mars gravitational pull. McReady and Draper separately abandon ship with McReady taking charge of Mona. Despite its retro rockets, Draper’s ejection capsule crashes on landing, wrecking the craft and leaving food and water for only a few days. Exhausted, Draper falls asleep only to wake up suffocating for lack of air. Without oxygen he can sleep only an hour. Draper sets out to find McReady but in his search only locates Mona. With no more than a few hours of oxygen, Draper seems doomed. Light headed, he passes out but is miraculously saved when little yellow rocks, burning and giving off bursts of gas, revive him. This gas is pure oxygen and Draper devises a method to feed the oxygen into his regular tank. Sometime later, a spacecraft appears over Mars and then lands. Draper, sure he is being rescued, runs to the ship only to discover that it is not from the U.S., or even the Earth. Watching the ship, Draper suddenly sees a figure detach himself and run in his direction. (Let’s call the figure Cosmos). Draper and Cosmos (Vic Lundin) face each other warily. Gradually, Draper allay’s Cosmos’ fears and they settle down for the night. With the arrival of Cosmos, who Draper jokingly dubs Friday, his worst problem, loneliness, has gone. Slowly, over the months, Draper teaches Cosmos English, and _together, wondering if they will ever be rescued, set out to explore Mars. Filmed in Technicolor and Techniscope, “Robinson Crusoe on Mars” was produced by Aubrey Schenck and directed by Byron Haskin. Mat 1E Still #10393/72 A STRANGE FRIENDSHIP—Paul Mantee and Vie Lundin star in Paramount’s exciting new Technicolor adventure, “Robinson Crusoe on Mars,” which opens ............ SENG. sok sens nc: Theatre. Mantee plays a modern day Robinson Crusoe and Lundin portrays his man Friday. Mat 2A Still $10393/Spec/2 Paul Mantee And Vic Lundin Star In Exciting “Robinson Crusoe on Mars’ “Robinson Crusoe on Mars,” the ‘science fact’ film based on the classic novel by Daniel Defoe, opens ....... BE Ee ia trocrers Theatre. Starring Paul Mantee, Vic Lundin, Adam West and Mona The Woolly Monkey, “Robinson Crusoe on Mars” is about a U.S. astronaut stranded on Mars. Following Defoe’s story, this space-age Crusoe shows how a thoroughly trained astronaut faced with unsuspected problems uses his skills and native know-how to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. After a long treacherous flight through space, the U.S. spaceship, Elinor M, manned by Colonel Dan McReady (Adam West) and Commander Christopher ‘Kit’ Draper (Paul Mantee), along with test monkey Mona (The Woolly Monkey), is circling Mars when suddenly a gigantic meteor comes up in its path. In the split second that it takes McReady and Draper to evade the sure disaster, the spacecraft swings too far off course and is dragged down by Mars’ gravity. Because of this the two astronauts are forced to leave the ship by way of their separate emergency ejection capsules. Despite retro rockets on Draper’s capsule, the craft crash lands completely wrecking it and shattering all the emergency oxygen tanks. Draper soon discovers that in the rarefied atmosphere of Mars, he has only sufficient oxygen for two days. With this impending danger at hand, Draper sets out to find McReady, but in his search, he finds only Mona. As his oxygen becomes perilously low, Draper miraculously stumbles across a cluster of small yellow rocks, which to his amazement, give off bursts of pure oxygen. By concocting a loading device to feed the oxygen to his tank, he is able to survive. As the weeks pass by, Draper suddenly hears .a spacecraft overhead. Thinking it is a rescue party, he runs to the place where the ship lands. As he gets closer, Draper sees that the ship is not from the U.S., or for that matter, not even from the Earth. While watching this strange craft, Draper sees a figure detach himself and run in his direction. (Let’s call the figure Cosmos). Draper and Cosmos (Vic Lundin) uneasily face each other. Gradually Cosmos realizes that Draper is friendly. They settle down to rest. With the arrival of Cosmos, who Draper jokingly dubs Friday, Draper’s worst problem, loneliness, has gone. Together, hopefully waiting for a rescue ship, they set out to explore the Martian terrain. “Robinson Crusoe on Mars,” was produced by Aubrey Schenck and directed in Technicolor and Techniscope by Byron Haskin. The film is an Aubrey Schenck-Edwin F. Zabel Production. Mat 1A Still #10393/8 PAUL MANTEE stars as Commander Christopher Draper in Paramount’s thrilling ‘science fact’ film, “Robinson Crusoe on Mars,” WHICH ODORS ooo sas + scat at the SOT RE TE Theatre. Along with Mantee, the cast of this Technicolor film includes Vie Lundin, Adam West and The Woolly Monkey. 5