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Spaceways (1952)

Country of Origin: UK
Year of Production: 1952
Running Times: 74m (USA - theatrical)/76m/77m 33s (UK - theatrical)
Length: 6,879 ft
Format: 35mm
Colour Format: black and white
Ratio:
Sound: mono


DIRECTION

Director: Terence Fisher


CREW

PRODUCTION
Production Company: Hammer Films
Producer: Michael Carreras
Production Manager: Victor Wark

SCRIPT
Script: Paul Tabori, Richard Landau
Radio Play: Charles Eric Maine

DIRECTION
Assistant Director: Jimmy Sangster
Continuity: Renee Glynne

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Reginald Wyer
Camera Operator: Len Harris

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Maurice Rootes

MUSIC
Musical Director: Ivor Stanley
Music Performed By: The New Symphony Orchestra

SOUND
Sound Recording: Bill Salter
Dialogue Director: Nora Roberts
Sound: RCA Sound System

COSTUMES AND MAKE UP
Make Up: D. Bonnor-Moris
Hair: Polly Young

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects: The Trading Post Ltd
Process Shots: Bowie, Margutti & Co Ltd

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Art Director: J. Elder Wills

LOCATIONS
Locations: Exclusive Studios, Bray, Berkshire, England, UK


CAST

Howard Duff (Stephen Mitchell)
Eva Bartok (Lisa Frank)
Andrew Osborn (Philip Crenshaw)
Philip Leaver (Professor Kelper)
Cecile Chevreau (Vanessa Mitchell)
Alan Wheatley (Smith)
Anthony Ireland (General Hays)
Michael Medwin (Toby Andrews)
Marianne Stone (Mrs Rogers)
Hugh Moxey
David Horne


PLOT SUMMARY

Scientists Stephen and Vanessa Mitchell are part of a British team testing the nation's first rocket, but their personal lives are ruined by their bickering and by Vanessa's affair with fellow scientist Philip Crenshaw. The rocket is launched but malfunctions and is left stranded in orbit - and Vanessa and Crenshaw have gone missing. Has Mitchell murdered them and hidden their bodies aboard the ruined rocket?


AVAILABILITY

UK
Theatrical Distributor: Exclusive Films

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Lippert Films


CENSORSHIP HISTORY

UK
Rating: U


TIMELINE

1953
January

29: UK - rated U by the BBFC (for theatrical release)

June
22: USA - press screening in Hollywood
24: UK - trade show at the Rialto, London

December
21: UK - theatrical release

1955
March

4: USA - television broadcast (on CBS)

1957
November

10: UK - television broadcast

1959
August

23: UK - television broadcast


ALTERNATIVE TITLES

Viaggio nell'interspazio - Italian title


LINKS

INCLUDES FOOTAGE FROM
Rocketship X-M (1950)


REFERENCES

MAGAZINES

Cine-Technician May 1953 - June 1953 p.65 (UK)
credits

Hollywood Reporter vol.124 no.48 (23 June 1953) p.3 (USA)
review

Kinematograph Weekly no.2400 (25 June 1953) p.21 (UK)
review

Monthly Film Bulletin vol.20 no.234 (July 1953) p.110 (UK)
credits, synopsis, review

Motion Picture Herald vol.192 no.1 (4 July 1953) p.1902 (USA)
review (by W.R.W.)

Today's Cinema Special (September 1952) p.6 (UK)
note

Today's Cinema vol.79 no.6619 (27 October 1952) p.6 (UK)
note (C.H.B. Williamson Talks... About British Films)

Today's Cinema vol.79 no.6629 (10 November 1952) p.6 (UK)
note (C.H.B. Williamson Talks... About British Films)

Today's Cinema vol.80 no.6786 (25 June 1953) p.6 (UK)
review (by C.A.W.)

Variety 8 July 1953 (USA)
credits, review (by Brog)


KEYWORDS

plays into film, spaceships, rockets, scientists, murders, adultery


Last Updated: 1 January, 2009

 


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