MovieChat Forums > Space Men (1961) Discussion > How'd a car get in there?!!!

How'd a car get in there?!!!

posted 18 years ago by BijouBob8mm
11 replies | jump to latest

During one scene, where a ship is heading straight toward the planet surface and explodes, although the blast is only a fraction of a second, there was something about it that didn't look right. Going back and watching the blast one frame at a time, the explosion in space is actually a charge set off in a street on the backlot. Freeze framing shows a building in the background, with the rear end of a car in silhouette in the lower right hand corner.

Also, I had to smile at the spacecraft, which were taken from sci-fi model kits sold in the 1950s & 60s. (Later reissued in the 1970s and, more recently, by Glencoe in the 1990s...I saw these same ships show up in a number of 8mm epics made by my buddies in high school in the wake of STAR WARS.)

[–] Kevjess74 18 years ago

If a goofs section is ever added to the "Space Men" page, that momentary revealing of the backlot has to be the lead item!

[–] kkuch 18 years ago

Yes, that has got to be one of the most hilarious goofs in cinema history. My father saw it and it took him ten minutes to stop laughing. It's really nice to see other people that watch these movies; they're more entertaining than most modern ones! But BijouBob8mm, I was just wondering... what sort of "epics" did your high school buddies make? What sort of storylines did they have? Do they have transfered copies today on VHS or DVD?

[–] Newsgroupie 17 years ago

I just got through watching it myself and also couldn't help but notice the cars in the explosion scene. I got quite a chuckle out of it too. You didn't mention, but I could swear that the explosion was of another car, (engine compartment possibly) exploding near the one in the lower right hand corner.

I loved the use of all the audio electronic test equipment too. The WOW and flutter meters gave me a good laugh. You can't beat these old 50's & 60's Sci-Fi movies for side splitting entertainment. I'm amassing quite a collection from a couple of Usenet groups and eBay. I bought "The Magnetic Monster" last week, but it hasn't been delivered yet. I can't wait to see it again after some 40 plus years.

And remember - Watch the skies, everywhere! Keep looking. Keep watching the skies!

Ya just don't get dialog like that these days. ;-)

Rob

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[–] omega2064 17 years ago

The ship design was pretty good. Its a very familliar one that dates back quite a bit. Even Disney liked it. I believe its based of of the original projections of what a multi-stage rocket would look like and didnt end up too far off the mark for what the eventual Apollo ones ended up as, sans the wings.

The explosion is notable for its peculiarity. One would assume it was stock footage. Or even likely stock footage mislabled and no one noticed. Or could be something rushed for time. Does make one mildly curious as to what the real story is behind that one little occurrence.

[–] BijouBob8mm 17 years ago

kkuch,

Sorry for not getting back here sooner! Re: Your question about what sort of 8mm epics my buddies and I used to make back in school--we were big fans of horror and sci-fi. I did a half-hour Hammer Films-style Frankenstein film, we did some space outings, a Sherlock Holmes film, etc.. There was also a lot of test footage shot, to see if ideas for special effects would work, as well as a number of projects that never got finished (usually because one of the main cast moved away, or because the story just didn't seem to be working). There is a DVD out called MONSTER KID HOME MOVIES, which shows the childhood/teenage 8mm efforts of a number of people who went on to become professional artists, writers and filmmakers. A volume 2 is in the works, and I have been invited for inclusion there. Meanwhile, some of my old 8mm ideas have served as the springboard for a number of my short stories in Scary Monsters magazine. For years I'd talked about taking some of the old test footage and scenes from unfinished films and cut together a series of "Previews of Coming Attractions," so that the stuff could at least be shown in some format to friends. These days, however, I'd probably be accused of imitating Tarentino's GRINDHOUSE, which included trailers for films that do not exist.

[–] perrycoins 17 years ago

That car is a 1955 red and white Fiat, that is supposed to be on Mars. Appearently Earth has colonized and Terraformed the Red Planet and are still using the internal combustion engine. What is telling is that the car is still having the same problem that it's Earth brethern has, a loose fitting tailpipe.

[–] The_Dying_Flutchman 14 years ago

My version, which is a completely faded black and white dub copy, the car has a Chevy insignia and looks like a 1958 Chevy. Whatever it is the flick is a huge leaden bore starring Rik Van Neuter!

Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it.

[–] marbleann 13 years ago

Yes the version I saw on a Ruko channel was a Chevy also.

[–] viewer-1230 12 years ago

LOL I just saw it now as it is on TV right now. I guess they were using the explosion from the scene with the car. I guess they thought if they flashed that scene the explosion would mix in with the scene.;) This is a really bad film in every respect and I have seen some stinkers. At least there are some laughs and some goofy fun retro space stuff. Also some of the acting in the scenes is just killing me. So it is a touch fun despite itself!;)

[–] babettegillette 12 years ago

One of the top attractions of retro sci-fi is the special effects, which were usually models. Most of today's sci-fi is heavy on CGI and weak in all other departments. Most 21st Century sci-fi stinks to hell.

[–] omega2064 8 years ago

Another thought.

The car explosion could have been a pacing placeholder that was never replaced. Essentially a visual cue to "place explosion SFX here and this duration".