The Rocket Man (1954 film)
1954 film by Oscar Rudolph
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The Rocket Man is a 1954 American comedy science fiction film directed by Oscar Rudolph and starring Charles Coburn, Spring Byington, Anne Francis, John Agar and George "Foghorn" Winslow. The script was co-written by Lenny Bruce and Jack Henley from a story by George W. George and George F. Slavin.[1] A comedy with science fiction overtones, the film carries the tag line, “Out-of-this-world laughter and down-to-earth charm when the face from space turns out to be… the kid next door!”[2]
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Jack Henley
George F. Slavin
| The Rocket Man | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Oscar Rudolph |
| Screenplay by | Lenny Bruce Jack Henley |
| Story by | George W. George George F. Slavin |
| Produced by | Leonard Goldstein |
| Starring | Charles Coburn Spring Byington Anne Francis John Agar George "Foghorn" Winslow |
| Cinematography | John Seitz |
| Edited by | Paul Weatherwax |
| Color process | Black and white |
Production company | Panoramic Productions |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
|
Running time | 79 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The New York Times found the fact that comedian Lenny Bruce was one of the film's screenwriters was the "strangest aspect of the low-budget production", noting that the film contains little of Bruce's trademark humor.[3]
Plot
As a result of the sudden and unexplained appearance of a mysterious rocket man, a little boy comes into possession of a mysterious ray gun that compels anyone caught in its beam to tell the truth. He uses it to prevent his orphanage from being foreclosed upon by creditors and to help a young couple fall in love.[4]
Cast
- Charles Coburn as Mayor Ed Johnson
- Spring Byington as Justice Amelia Brown
- Anne Francis as June Brown
- John Agar as Tom Baxter
- George Winslow as Timmy (as George "Foghorn" Winslow)
- Stanley Clements as Bob
- Emory Parnell as Big Bill Watkins
- June Clayworth as Harriet Snedley
- Don Haggerty as Officer Mike O'Brien
- Beverly Garland as Ludine
Critical reception
Writing in AllMovie, critic Hal Erickson described the film as "essentially an Andy Hardyesque comedy drama with a peripheral sci-fi slant," and that despite having Lenny Bruce as a co-screenwriter, "there's nothing scatalogical or even satirical in the film itself."[5] Film critic Derek Winnert wrote that "any acid wit, high-spirited fun or real charm are sorely lacking from director Oscar Rudolph’s lame, would-be whimsical" film, adding that it is an "often very silly and mostly boring movie, though the cast have charm and the skills to save it."[6]
