Satellite in the Sky (1956)
Following tests on a new British design of a high powered aircraft, scientists create the Stardust, a rocket ship that will become the first manned craft into space. The British crew are however joined by an American scientist and it soon becomes clear that the craft is being used to carry out a test on a new super bomb in an attempt to persuade Nations from developing nuclear weapons.
Starring Kieron Moore, Lois Maxwell, Donald Wolfit and Bryan Forbes, Satellite in the Sky should have been an absolute gem, however it's let down by a snail like script which takes an age to get into space and when it does the crew find that Wolfit has betrayed them and are all so civilly British about it all. Wolfit is the other problem. He seems to be in full Lugosi like ham mode. Despite falling short of shouting "Nothing can stop me now!" at times he's cringe worthy. Perhaps he was getting into character as Dr Callistratus for 1958's Blood of the Vampire. Things aren't helped by flat direction which doesn't allow any tension to build, especially at the climax which should have been emotional and nerve shredding but director Paul Dickson fails to encourage any human emotion or drama.
The film sports some terrific model work as well as some real footage of aircraft testing which the production team were allowed to film making it all feel decidedly authentic rather than using stock footage.
Satellite in the Sky ends up merely as a curio when it could have been something rather special.
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