From the Earth to the Moon

1958

1 hr. 40 min.

Sci-Fi

List

38%

8 Reviews

Tomatometer

39%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Following the Civil War, demolition expert Victor Barbicane (Joseph Cotten) develops the world's most powerful explosive, Power X. When other countries warn that the weaponization of Power X may be seen as an act of war, Barbicane and his rival, Stuyvesant Nicholl (George Sanders), join forces to create a Power X-fueled rocket to the moon. With Barbicane's assistant, Ben (Don Dubbins), and Nicholls' stowaway daughter, Virginia (Debra Paget), the two men set forth into outer space.

Read More

Read Less

Josh G

A decent cast filled with cool special effects but drags down in making a simple story complicated. Once you hit the finale you get into space 50's sci-fi tones but getting there is tedious.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/26/23

Full Review

dave s

The first half of From the Earth to the Moon actually has some pretty decent production values and performances, especially from veterans Joseph Cotten and George Sanders as rival scientists feuding over high-tech explosives developed during the American Civil War. While it all gets a bit dull and muddled, at least it's passable entertainment. Things go downhill considerably over the second half when they embark on their unlikely space mission, accompanied by an assistant and the daughter of one of the scientists. The space ship is absurd (even by Civil War standards!!) and the plot becomes ludicrous, embarrassing to the point that you almost have to just look away and long for the competent boredom of the first half.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

martin a

An outstanding classic, a very well made and ahead of its time film. I love the spaceship with a Victorian interior, just wonderful. The cast a great, and the acting is fantastic, a lost classic

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Starts as a good movie on the same plane as Journey To The Center of the Earth. Unfortunately halfway through production RKO studios went bankrupt and Warner which picked up the option slashed the budget and the second half falls flat. Too bad, would have been interesting to see what could have been. Even so, great cast and acting.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

In 1868, American inventor Victor Barbicane develops a powerful military explosive that he also uses as fuel for a moon-bound rocket manned by himself and a motley crew. Given the talent of the Hollywood stars such as icons Joseph Cotten, George Sanders and the source material From the Earth to the Moon novel by Jules Verne. I found the film to be substandard. I have decided to add some trivia about this film as it is more interesting than the movie its self. This went into production as RKO was preparing to shut down. It was believed to have had a much larger budget which was later cut. This greatly affected the quality of the special effects. Among the last-minute cost-cutting measures inflicted upon this film was the elimination of all scenes taking place on the moon. This was one of the last films produced for RKO. By the time it was completed, RKO had ceased production and distribution. It was released through Warner Brothers. Some of the music is actually the "electronic tonalities" created by Louis Barron and Bebe Barron for Forbidden Planet (1956). Although shot in academy 1.37:1 aspect ratio (for later television airing) the theatrical--or intended (by the studio, producer, director and/or cinematographer)--aspect ratio of this film is 1.85:1 widescreen. Most modern 16x9 (1.78:1) televisions have a "zoom to width" picture option, essentially allowing the viewer to see the film as the director and cinematographer originally planned.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A rare B sci-fi steampunk classic--helluva fun!!

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Byron Haskin

Director

Joseph Cotten

Victor Barbicane

George Sanders

Stuyvesant Nicholl

Debra Paget

Virginia Nicholl

Don Dubbins

Ben Sharpe

Patric Knowles

Josef Cartier

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

78%

63%

A Boy and His Dog

50%

33%

Frankenstein Unbound

24%

30%

Mission to Mars

TRAILER

for Mission to Mars

60%

25%

H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds

38%

53%

Immortal (Ad Vitam)

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The Moon in the Movies: 10 Giant Leaps From the Silent Era to First Man

View more photos

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

Clever special-effects camera work fails to atone for a confused story and several wooden performances...

Dec 3, 2019

Full Review

Thomas Delapa

Boulder Weekly

Rated: 3/5

Jul 29, 2005

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jul 3, 2005

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Saddled with dull melodramatics, muddled intentions about weaponry uses, lame special effects (due to the low budget) and stiff acting.

Rated: C+

Jun 15, 2005

Full Review

Michael Szymanski

International Press Academy

Rated: 2/5

Jun 1, 2005

Full Review

Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan

Good treatment of Jules Verne.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 16, 2004

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Following the Civil War, demolition expert Victor Barbicane (Joseph Cotten) develops the world's most powerful explosive, Power X. When other countries warn that the weaponization of Power X may be seen as an act of war, Barbicane and his rival, Stuyvesant Nicholl (George Sanders), join forces to create a Power X-fueled rocket to the moon. With Barbicane's assistant, Ben (Don Dubbins), and Nicholls' stowaway daughter, Virginia (Debra Paget), the two men set forth into outer space.

Director: Byron Haskin
Screenwriter: Robert Blees, James Leicester
Production Co: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 24, 2016