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Robinson Crusoe on Mars (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Paul Mantee (Actor), Victor Lundin (Actor), Byron Haskin (Director) Rated:
NR
Format: Blu-ray
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,742 ratings
IMDb6.4/10.0
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Genre Science Fiction & Fantasy
Format NTSC, Blu-ray, Anamorphic, Special Edition, Widescreen
Contributor Mona, Byron Haskin, Paul Mantee, Victor Lundin, Adam West
Language English
Runtime 1 hour and 50 minutes
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Product Description

Special-effects wunderkind and genre master Byron Haskin (The War of the Worlds, The Outer Limits) won a place in the hearts of fantasy-film lovers everywhere with this gorgeously designed journey into the unknown. When his spaceship crash-lands on the barren wastelands of Mars, U.S. astronaut Commander “Kit” Draper (Paul Mantee) must fight for survival, with a pet monkey seemingly his only companion. But is he alone? Shot in vast Techniscope and blazing Technicolor, Robinson Crusoe on Mars is an imaginative and beloved techni-marvel of classic science fiction.

Blu-ray Special Edition Features

  • Restored high-definition digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
  • Audio commentary from 1994 featuring screenwriter Ib Melchior, actors Paul Mantee and Victor Lundin, production designer Al Nozaki, Oscar-winning special effects designer and Robinson Crusoe on Marshistorian Robert Skotak, and excerpts from a 1979 audio interview with director Byron Haskin
  • Destination: Mars,a featurette from 2007 by Michael Lennick detailing the science and dreams behind Robinson Crusoe on Mars
  • Music video for Lundin’s song “Robinson Crusoe on Mars” from 2007
  • Stills gallery of behind-the-scenes photos, production designs, and promotional material
  • Theatrical trailer
  • PLUS: An essay by filmmaker and space historian Michael Lennick, Melchior’s “Brief Yargorian Dictionary” of original alien dialect, and a list of facts about Mars from his original screenplay

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 2.35:1
  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.4 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ 1974
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Byron Haskin
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Blu-ray, Anamorphic, Special Edition, Widescreen
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 50 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ January 11, 2011
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Paul Mantee, Victor Lundin, Adam West, Mona
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Criterion Collection
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0047P5FUY
  • Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,742 ratings

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
1,742 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

LCityGuy
5.0 out of 5 stars The Big Thunderstorm!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2024
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I was in elementary school when my brother and I got shipped off to Oklahoma for 6 weeks. Our mother had a hysterectomy and she needed a break from us. This movie came on late night TV and we stayed up to watch it. Unfortunately, a late night severe thunderstorm was approaching. Tornadoes are taken seriously in Oklahoma and our grandparents had a wood frame home and the panes of glass rattled every time there was thunder. It was scary for children and adults. There were all kind of tornado warnings that night and that night dragged on for hours of intense storms. My grandparents were concerned about the weather. They blamed my anxiety on this movie; but it was really several hours of severe weather with tornado warnings. I will never forget it.
The models for the alien space ships used in the 1953 film of War of the Worlds were modified and used again in Robinson Crusoe on Mars. A fairly cool movie with oxygen coming out of rocks when heated.
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Dusty Boyd
5.0 out of 5 stars Speedy
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2024
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It arrived quickly and in great condition.
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Garry
5.0 out of 5 stars Old memories...
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2024
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Brought back great old memories from childhood. Very well made movie
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Mr. Andrew Elphick
4.0 out of 5 stars Cute
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2024
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I first saw this film when i was 9 or 10. The perfect age. Breezy space fairy tale, low on scientific merit but high on fun and monkeys.
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"Robert F. Fox, Esq."
5.0 out of 5 stars "My God; A Voice From Mars!" :)
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2007
Verified Purchase
Okay, well-I guess it's my turn to add a few notes to those that have already reviewed the Criterion Collection's DVD Version of Byron Haskin's "Robinson Crusoe On Mars."

From the DVD Notes: "Robinson Crusoe on Mars is presented in its original Techniscope aspect ratio of 2.35:1. (And formated for 16X9 TV's too.) This new high-definition digital transfer was created on a Rank-Cintel Spirit 4K Datacine from the 35mm 2-perforation A/B interpositive struck from the original negative. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, and scratches were removed using the MTI Digital Restoration System. To maintain optimal image quality through the compression process, the picture on this dual-layer DVD-9 was encoded at the highest-possible bit rate for the quantity of material included."

Boy, Is it ever!

I remember seeing this movie as a kid 'many moons' ago in a theatre, and I can tell you that in some instances, it is even better than I remember it. The colors and contrast/brightness of the film are 'spot-on', and of course, you can even discern a little film grain when the visual EFX are added, but it doesn't detract from the film itself.

As far as that part goes, it's *Absolutely Wonderful!*

As a side note, maybe the reason why the Criterion Collection hasn't committed to putting anything on High-Definition DVD's is because there is a format war still in progress, (I'm routing for the 'Blu-Ray' Camp, because the format can hold more information then HD-DVD, and therefore more extras.), but the good thing is that they already have the movies ready when the smoke clears, so I'm waiting right now....

As a matter of fact, Stanley Kubrick's classic "2001: A Space Odyssey" should be coming to Blu-Ray sometime fairly soon....so....

My only gripes about 'Robinson Crusoe On Mars' are a few small ones, and they are:

1: As I can recall from the few times that I had seen the movie on TV, and when I saw the movie in the theaters, there was a version that had a anamorphic border on the top and bottom of the screen that consisted of artwork such as the space station from 'Conquest Of Space', a delta-winged spaceship, some various rockets, and a deep sky blue background with stars. For some reason on the new transfer of the film, this film element was omitted, but now that I think about it--it isn't *exactly vital that it should be there,* It just seems a little odd to me that it is missing....

2: (From the DVD Notes): "The soundtrack was mastered at 24 bit (Better then Compact Disk Audio Quality.) from a 35mil. magnetic full coat (That's the entire surface of the film.) three track master, and audio restoration restoration tools were used to reduce pops, hiss, and crackle."

That would mean the three track sound rundown would be something like this:

1: Dialogue

2: Sound EFX

3: Music

So-what I'm getting at is--why didn't Criterion have Van Cleave's fantastic music score for the film on a *isolated* track? Sort of what Fox did for Jerry Goldsmith's score for 'Alien' on the DVD Box set. Even Paul Mantee mentions the music score at one time during the commentary track.

They missed out on that one....

Then to others that have put notes here:

R. Monteith: I agree about the cover art....it was more then a bit confusing when I saw it for the first time. Like you mentioned, I would have expected the artwork from the poster art from the film, or at the very least a montage of images taken from the movie like Paul Mantee in a close up wearing his suit-helmet, or Vic Lundin as 'Friday' when we see him for the first time. (Shrugs) I don't get it....

Anyway, I could have got the original 12 inch Laserdisc version had I had a player at the time, and bought the disk when it came out, but by that time, well--it sold out already, was getting to costly....the DVD was coming into it's own, and so I waited....

To Deaftom: Yes, there is a closed captioned track available....I was watching the movie with it on the other day while listening to the commentary track.

In Closing: All things considered however, 'Robinson Crusoe On Mars is (Still) one of my favorites (I'll go as far to typing that it's perhaps one of my 'guilty pleasures' sort of movies.), and to those that have never seen the movie before, you are in for a real treat! Okay, so the information that we had about the surface of Mars at the time is more then a little dated--remember this is back in 1964, but the underlying theme of the movie is still valid today.

Buy it 'tho...you'll like it. :)
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WallyBear
5.0 out of 5 stars A review of the Blu-Ray version...with some comments on the film
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2011
Verified Purchase
I am writing this review to tell everyone just how good this film looks on Blu-Ray. As far as I can see today, there are no other reviews here for the Blu-Ray version of the film (I saw just one review from a guy who seems to think the aspect ratio on Blu-Ray is wrong....it's not....in fact it looks more accurate than the DVD in terms of the anamorphic transfer).

Before I give a few details, I feel I have to say that I just love this film. The 5-star rating is for the film. I also give the Blu-Ray top marks (4+) considering the source material. I have enjoyed this movie since I was a kid and saw it on TV in the late 1960s and 70s. So, naturally, I have a rather soft spot in my heart for the film itself. The day I found it on LaserDisc (about 1990 I think) was a happy day indeed. I bought the DVD when it was released a few years and I was happy with it, too. The Criterion material is almost the same on each three versions (not exactly the same, but I won't recount the details here because if you want to see this move in all its glory, then you will want the Blu-Ray regardless of its lack of a few extras that were on the LaserDisc).

The really good news is that this film has never looked so good! I bet it even looks better than it did when it was projected in theatres over 47 years ago. Yes, the film stock is a bit grainy (just as it was in the DVD format) due to the film stock used in 1963. The picture is much clearer, brighter, and has far better color fidelity than the DVD. The transfer of this old film onto this modern high-resolution format (1080p/24) is rather amazing, I must say. I will even admit that seeing it look this good brought a lump to my throat when I thought of all the times I watched it on a small black and white TV.

I compared the Blu-Ray to the DVD using a Playstation3. The exceptional transfer to Blu-Ray does mean that you can see the small flaws in the optical effects (for example when the fireballs move across the screen or when the character "watches" movies of how to find water on another planet or when he's taking a swim in the underground pool Mona finds). That's a small price to pay, so to speak, for the wonderful look of the rest of the film. The skyline views of Mars are just magnificent--the dark, starry sky against the reddish atmosphere, the daytime shots....wow, in Blu-Ray the film's many wonderful vista shots are almost breathtaking. I know, I know. I sound breathless. I am. Bringing this movie to Blu-Ray so soon after the long-awaited DVD release is a real gift and, I think, a wonderful tribute to this wonderful old film. Of course, the price of both the DVD and Blu-Ray are high (they are, after all, Criterion products). But, if you're a fan of films like this one, you know the high price is justified. If you own the DVD version, buying the Blu-Ray will not be money wasted.

I will also mention that I own a high-end 60-inch rear projection set (Sony's KDS series which is no longer made) and a high-end 52-inch LCD set (Sony's XBR9 series). The film actually looks best on my projection set, but then I'm partial to most films on it rather than on LCD. Oh, and if anyone does review this Blu-Ray and tries to assert that it's not that much better than the DVD, then you can be sure he/she has an inferior TV that is incapable of showing the difference between the two (oh, if I had a nickel for every such review I have read on Amazon I'd be able to buy copies of this Blu-Ray dics for all my friends!).

In summary, if you are wondering whether to buy this film on Blu-Ray, I say the answer is YES. Buy it. Enjoy it. Show it to your family, friends, even the whole neighborhood. There's so much crap being produced nowadays (i.e., repetitive special effects instead of a good story or poor remakes or "reimaginings" like "The Day the Earth Stood Still"). I think it's refreshing to watch a good, old movie that was a valid, even valiant, effort to be a "scientifically-accurate" (with what was known about Mars at the time) adventure tale that was at least loosely based on the famous Dafoe novel. (I do like that "Friday" in this version comes from a more-advanced technology, not a less-advanced one like the novel.)

Oh, and if you want to buy--or even borrow--my LaserDisc, it's not for sale or to lend. <grin>

If you found this review to be helpful, or even amusing, please leave a comment. Thanks.
119 people found this helpful
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Frank Mclellan
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic sci fi
Reviewed in Canada on January 27, 2024
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Arrived promptly A+++ service
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Rui Pedro Mourão
5.0 out of 5 stars UM FILME A VER!
Reviewed in Spain on October 14, 2021
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é uma excelente adaptação do livro original de 1719 e uma aventura a partilhar entre pais e filhos e com lições de sobrevivência e perseverança. é também um bom paradigma da amizade possível e de comunicação entre povos de nações diferentes... certamente o conto que inspirou o livro "Enemy Mine" e mais tarde a sua adaptação para cinema. para os amantes de ficção científica é um filme a não perder.. efeitos especiais muito audazes para a época. o mesmo dispositivo deste filme de como se respira em marte foi usado no filme RED PLANET : ) é um marco histórico incontornável na ficção científica.
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Rui Pedro Mourão
5.0 out of 5 stars UM FILME A VER!
Reviewed in Spain on October 14, 2021
é uma excelente adaptação do livro original de 1719 e uma aventura a partilhar entre pais e filhos e com lições de sobrevivência e perseverança. é também um bom paradigma da amizade possível e de comunicação entre povos de nações diferentes... certamente o conto que inspirou o livro "Enemy Mine" e mais tarde a sua adaptação para cinema. para os amantes de ficção científica é um filme a não perder.. efeitos especiais muito audazes para a época. o mesmo dispositivo deste filme de como se respira em marte foi usado no filme RED PLANET : ) é um marco histórico incontornável na ficção científica.
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Amazon カスタマー
4.0 out of 5 stars 素晴らしい特撮映像
Reviewed in Japan on October 20, 2020
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50年前の作品にも関わらず特撮技術SFXの素晴らしさ
当時の火星に関する情報は現代ほど無かったにも関わらず、いろいろなアイデア満載で
飽きさせない内容になっている。最初の火星着陸のシーンで周回軌道に乗らず
いきなり着陸するとはかなり無謀なやり方だが（笑）
火星の表面が情報がほとんどない(火星探査機はまだ行ってない当時)状況では
この映画の荒々しい起伏の多い火星面、は仕方ないかと。
火山があったり湖があったりはたまた適度に空気があったり(かなり薄い大気だが)
回転する火の玉は生命体か？
バイロンハスキン監督の映画宇宙戦争に登場したUFOが登場する。
こちらは宇宙戦争の緩慢な動きのUFOと違って、非常に素早い動きで光線を発射して
あたり一面が光るシーンも見事かと
奴隷の宇宙人が地球人にそっくりなのは宇宙人情報のある現代ではむしろ普通かと
東宝映画なら怪獣でも出すのだろうね（笑）
石が火に当たると酸素を発生するとはなんと素晴らしいアイデアだろうか
しかし火星着陸の原因になった隕石はやたらに飛んでくる
ちょっと登場し過ぎるけど･････当時はほとんど情報無かったから
エンターテイメント性を持たせたのだろうね
いまみても全く遜色のないSF映画なのは間違いないです
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars ROBINSON CRUSOE ON MARS [1964 / 2015] [Dual Format Blu-ray + DVD]
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 9, 2015
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ROBINSON CRUSOE ON MARS [1964 / 2015] [Dual Format Blu-ray + DVD] Intelligently Imaginative Sci-Fi! One Astronaut Alone . . . Against Terrors Unknown! This Film is Scientifically Authentic . . . It is Only One Step Ahead of Present reality!

A futuristic retelling of Daniel Defoe's classic story, Robinson Crusoe on Mars has gained a beloved cult reputation ever since its debut in the years leading up to the space race. As a mingling of speculative science-fiction with an extraordinary visual design, it proved to have a significant influence on fantasy filmmaking on both the big and small screen.

Paul Mantee plays American astronaut Kit Draper, stranded (with his pet monkey in tow) on the Red Planet after an emergency crash landing. Now he must find ways to adapt and survive, physically and emotionally, in the alien landscape – but he may not be as alone as he thought...

Shot in magnificent Techniscope, ‘Robinson Crusoe on Mars’ is a landmark for fans of genre cinema, and remains a uniquely charming and thrilling adventure, filled with contemplative humanity and wild imagination. Eureka Entertainment Ltd are proud to present Byron Haskin's ‘Robinson Crusoe on Mars’ in a Dual Format edition for the first time in the UK.

FILM FACT: Exterior locations were shot mostly at Zabriskie Point in Death Valley National Park, California. Special effects by Lawrence Butler and Academy Awards® winning matte artist Albert Whitlock gave the film the benefit of "big-studio resources usually lacking in movies about outer space." Albert Whitlock provided the matte paintings used in ‘Robinson Crusoe on Mars.’ "Some scenes of spacecraft in motion were created with the kind of flat animation seen in official NASA promotional films." For the alien spacecraft, designer Al Nozaki constructed three miniatures closely resembling the "Martian war machines" he had made previously for director Byron Haskin for ‘The War of the Worlds’ [1953]. Paul Mantee was chosen out of approximately 70 actors, including actor Vic Lundin, based on his being an experienced unknown.

Cast: Paul Mantee, Adam West, Barney the Woolly Monkey (Mona) and Victor Lundin (Friday)

Director: Byron Haskin

Producer: Aubrey Schenck

Screenplay: Ib Melchior, John C. Higgins and Daniel Defoe (novel)

Composer: Nathan Van Cleave

Cinematography: Winton C. Hoch

Video Resolution: 1080p [Technicolor]

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 [Techniscope]

Audio: English: 2.0 Dolby Digital LPCM Audio and English: 2.0 LPCM Audio

Subtitles: English SDH

Running Time: 110 minutes

Region: Region B/2

Number of discs: 2

Studio: Paramount Pictures / Eureka Entertainment Ltd

Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘Robinson Crusoe on Mars’ is Hollywood’s 1964 vision of what the planet Mars might look like for real but in some ways it is very close to the planet Mars we know today, and is a highly intelligently imaginative sci-fi version of the Daniel Defoe classic, especially with scenes filmed in death valley show us the familiar dun-coloured slopes, the pale, salmon-tinted sky; and they conjure up that sense of emptiness, the red planet as a desert island in space. In other ways, it's much more alien. Blasts of fire shoot out and up unexpectedly from what might be underground methane deposits and we find a strange red weed that grows in secret caves.

The story begins in orbit around Mars on board an American spacecraft piloted by Commander Christopher 'Kit' Draper [Paul Mantee] and Colonel Dan McReady [Adam "Batman" West]. Also aboard is the obligatory comedy monkey, Mona, here credited as the "Woolly Monkey" though in fact its name was Barney. Dodging a large meteor, the crew are forced to eject when their spacecraft's orbit begins to decay, but on crash landing they become severely separated having each landed on opposite sides of a mountain range.

Designer Al Nozaki came to ‘Robinson Crusoe On Mars’ direct from Byron Haskin's take on ‘The War Of The Worlds’ and he brought a little something with him. There's no rout of mankind here, however, as it only has two representatives, and one of them, the spaceship colonel played by Adam West, who somehow keeps you waiting for a punchline that never arrives, does not survive the opening 20 minutes. This leaves Commander Kit Draper [Paul Mantee] alone on the Martian surface except for a monkey named Mona (Barney the Woolly Monkey). Between them they have to find out how to get oxygen, water and food and how to survive in a hostile new environment, especially as the film was shot in Death Valley National Park at a suitably blasted place called Zabriskie Point. The superb photography combined with Albert Whitlock's brilliant matt painting makes for one of the best looking Martian landscapes ever conceived, all stark colours and appallingly bleak dust blown vistas.

The film’s special effects and cinematography are very impressive for the 1964 period, especially including the abandoned spaceship Mars Gravity Probe 1 orbiting overhead, awesome flaming meteors thundering out of the sky and some of the background matt paintings are stunningly detailed, meshing brilliantly with the foreground action.

The film was praised in its time for its adherence to scientific reality, and even though it gets a few things wrong, this approach means it retains a roundedness that many such tales lack today. It's not always tightly plotted especially when Mona is frequently forgotten about, but despite this it does pack in a lot in, with a tour of the planet that makes room for lots of different scientific discussion after Commander Kit Draper who displays a typical Colonial-style attitude, especially when he tries to teach Friday to speak English. There are lots to appeal to sci-fi fans of adventure stories and the film has a distinctive visual style that adds to its character, with a mixture of animation and model work that works to great effect. It wasn't a big success on release but it's a fascinating example of the science fiction cinema of the time and it is well worth a look, especially purchasing this special Eureka Entertainment Ltd Blu-ray disc.

Blu-ray Video Quality – Eureka’s ‘Robinson Crusoe on Mars’ is brought to us in the Techniscope 2.35:1 aspect ratio and is captured in a brilliant encoded 1080p transfer for a film of that period and on par with The Criterion Collection Blu-ray release. The flesh tones are very appealing and the colour values on the whole are very solid, especially the reds are equally good for the age of the film, and sharpness is really good throughout the film especially with long shots and has great detail. Black levels are equally are rich and inky throughout the film. The print used for the transfer is very clean and artefacts are free of any blemishes, which gives this transfer stands the test of time and well worth purchasing the Eureka Blu-ray disc release. But another bonus you have is the optional English SDH subtitles that are provided for the main feature film.

Blu-ray Audio Quality – Eureka’s ‘Robinson Crusoe on Mars’ brings you for the main soundtrack in the 2.0 Dolby Digital LPCM Audio, but the audio commentary is brought to you in the 2.0 LPCM Audio. But the audio what you hear has total clarity and is very good. Van Cleave's music score, which has an important role throughout the entire film, is also well very rounded and totally vibrant and the depth could be slightly better, but the big explosions and some of the audio effects that are used for the alien spaceships are very impressive. But the dialogue is also very stable, clean, and always easy to follow. There are no pops, audio dropouts, or digital distortions to report with this review and viewing this Blu-ray is of course a joyous experience.

Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:

Stunning 1080p high-definition Blu-ray transfer in the film's 2.35:1 [Techniscope] original aspect ratio.

DVD copy is Progressive encoded.

Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

Exclusive New Audio Commentary with Special Effects Designer and ‘Robinson Crusoe on Mars’ Historian Robert Skotak, and is hosted by Michael Felsher who is of Red Shirt Pictures: Here we get a cheerful introduction by Michael Felsher with this very impressive and very special audio commentary. When Michael announces the film title, and then introduces Robert Skotak who is sitting next to Michael watching the film together. We find out that Robert Skotak is a two time OSCAR® winner and that he has previously worked for Roger Corman om several of his films such as ‘Battle Beyond On The Stars’ and ‘Galaxy of Terror.’ We also find out that Robert and his Brother were massive big fans of space travel and astronomy in the late 1950s. But on top of all that they both loved reading specialised books on space travel, especially about going to the Moon and Mars. But both of their interests in films really started kicking off when both use to visit the cinema regular to watch films like ‘Destination Moon;’ ‘The War of the Worlds’ and ‘Conquest of Space’ and they realised at an early time of their life that they would never travel into space, so instead they decided to pursue their science fiction interest and go into making their own private little films instead, and their main interest was making miniature sets and models. So over a period of time they got to perfect their craft and especially improving their visual effects, and over time they produced well over 20 short films and some were comedy films, especially some of them were in homage to films like ‘Robin Hood’ and ‘The Time Machine.’ In 1976 Robert moved to Los Angeles in the hope of pursuing a career as a writer/director, but instead decided to pursue a career in whatever avenue he was able to his first foot in the door in all aspects of the film industry. But one day he was at a typical Hollywood party that were around at the time and at this particular was the legendary editor of the famous publication “Famous Monsters of Filmland,” and in the process bumped into this guy who informed Robert that he was about to embark on a film and was looking for someone who could make specialised models and that was how it kicked started Robert’s career into the film industry. As time progressed with Robert’s career he also got into the make-up department and also pursuing into building ever more ambitious film sets. But eventually his career stepped up a notch when he got a phone call to work with the legendary film director Roger Corman, especially working on films like ‘Battle Beyond The Stars’ which took 15 months to shoot, but even more exciting he eventually met the equally legendary direct James Cameron, before he became a famous director. Over the many years Robert’s film career the name Ib Melchior [Screenwriter] kept cropping up and eventually by pure chance he actually got to meet his hero, the legendary Ib Melchior, because Robert was totally fascinated with Ib Melchior and all the films he was involved in. But a very interesting fact emerges about Robert is that when he lived in in Michigan in 1967 he became a Theatre Manager, because that is where they showed films, but in 1973 Robert decided to create his own publication because for many years he had been writing loads of short articles about the art of making films like ‘The War of the Worlds.’ Again Robert informs us that all this time he was still fascinated by Ib Melchior and happened to see he was listed in the telephone book and decided to send a letter to Ib Melchior in finding out as much detail about this famous screenwriter and any sort of background fascinating information that would interest his readers of his publication which was entitled “FANTAZINE” and from that first correspondence he got a massive big box delivered to him from Ib Melchior, because Robert was informed by Ib Melchior that he had massive amounts of original scripts, drawings and story boards of films that Ib Melchior had been involved personally and Ib Melchior told Robert that he was very honoured he was interested in his work and getting everything published. So from that fantastic start went up a gear and in 1975 went to Los Angeles to do loads of interviews with anyone involved with the film industry and eventually actually got to meet the legendary Ib Melchior in his home and from then on became a very good close friend to Ib Melchior with lots of regular correspondence and visiting him in his home. But very sadly just after Robert made his last visit in 2015 he heard the very sad news that Ib Melchior passed away at the age of 97 years of age who was originally born in Denmark in 1917 and over his lifetime career Ib Melchior had seen a lot of massive changes in the film industry, not only in Europe, but of course in Hollywood. But as this audio commentary progresses, we get to hear from Robert more in depth information about Ib Melchior lifetime career and all that shaped his career and the information is totally fascinating and because of this information Ib Melchior sounded like a really nice person I would have liked to have known him personally. We hear a lot of information about the logistics of filming in Death Valley for the film ‘Robinson Crusoe on Mars,’ and also all the other problems of transporting all the equipment to shoot the film and luckily at the time of shooting in 1963 it was the cooler part of the year, but despite this, it was still a very arduous working conditions especially with all the crew getting dirt in their shoes and especially the actor Paul Mantee wearing the black spacesuit, which as you know absorbs heat and the actor got extremely hot working in it, but we especially we find the black spacesuit kept getting split in a very embarrassing part of the suit that exposed his underwear and had to be repaired far too many times. We also find out that when the film was released that it was very well received by the public, but some of the critics were very caustic and Robert has kept all the reviews, but Robert says that that the way the film was constructed story wise, especially with all the characters in the film, that is why the film is still respected and loved today. We also find out some interesting facts about Mona the monkey, because originally the animal was one found on the planet Mars that would become the pet of the astronaut that he could talk to before Friday made an appearance. But what animal they proposed was an armadillo puppet and in the wide shots you would see it walking around, but when on the close-up shots we would see its paws work like hands, so of course they felt it was going to be too complicated, as it would have been too restrictive, so eventually Mona was brought in, especially as you may remember in the early days of sending up rockets they use to send up chimpanzees, but today if they made a sci-fi film the way they used Mona in that 1964 film, the Animal Rights people would be up in arms and would not be tolerated. As we arrive around the 1:48:00 mark, we come to the end of this special audio commentary, which for me personal has been very informative and also very interesting, especially concentrating most of the time on Ib Melchior, who I personally have never heard of until now, but I am so pleased to hear about this very prolific Ib Melchior and again so enamoured by the information I have heard, again I would have loved to have known this really nice and brilliant person. And so this audio commentary comes to an end and it is a must to hear and it definitely gets a 5 star rating from me.

Theatrical Trailer [1964] [1080p] [2.35:1] [4:00] This is the original Theatrical Trailer for ‘Robinson Crusoe on Mars,’ that is well preserved trailer that's big on the film's authenticity and lists 'Mona, the Woolly Monkey' as one of the stars. What I can tell you is that it is a totally brilliant dramatic presentation and the image quality is stunning. So obviously Eureka Entertainment Ltd is very professional in bringing out their Blu-ray discs.

BONUS: Beautiful designed 28-PAGE BOOKLET featuring a new solid essay on the film ‘Robinson Crusoe on Mars’ by author Paul McAuley, and rare archival imagery who highlights a few of its scientific inaccuracies, but also praises many of the things that mark it as a standout genre work. Paul McAuley is a Science Fiction writer whose works includes “Red Dust,” which is a novel about the Chinese conquest of Mars. But what I liked about this essay is that it is very informative and fascinating. But I feel the last part of the essay sums up what I feel about this booklet, is when Paul McAuley states, “Long before the first images of Martian landscapes were beamed back to Earth by robot landers, and it portrayed Mars as a sublime and truly alien place, and gave human context by focussing on the travails of its hero. And because our dreams of one day sending people to the red planet are as yet unfulfilled, especially shots of Draper’s lone figure tolling through vast and vividly alien landscapes are still thrilling evocative. Like all good science fiction, ‘Robinson Crusoe on Mars’ both entertains and enlightens. It shows us something new, and remakes old ideas into fresh and strange visions of things to come.” The stunning designed booklet also contains the original Press Release, Viewing Notes and Blu-ray and DVD Disc Credits.

Finally, this fantastic Blu-ray released by Eureka Entertainment Ltd which seems to be sourced from the same master of The Criterion Collection Region A/1 Blu-ray USA release and the image is sharp, colourful and there is good depth to the image. Grain is intact and the overall sharp picture should please viewers a lot. The Audio is clear and has a nice depth and the music score especially stands out well. Despite the lack of Extras, it still includes a brilliant interesting exclusive new brilliant audio commentary with Michael Felsher and Special Effects Designer and ‘Robinson Crusoe on Mars’ Historian Robert Skotak. Also included is the brilliant original film trailer and an equally well written stunning booklet. Some of the observations at the end feel quite dated now, but the film still has a tremendous atmosphere. To be honest, I find it a lot more enjoyable than the various flashy blockbusters from recent years that have tried to outdo each other with all sorts of different special effects. Very Highly Recommended!

Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
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Katzenflüsterer
5.0 out of 5 stars Ein Science Fiction Klassiker - wohl nicht mehr im Fernsehen zu sehen
Reviewed in Germany on March 14, 2012
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Die zwei Astronauten Draper und MacReady umkreisen den Mars, um wissenschaftliche Experimente zu machen. Mit an Bord ist das Äffchen "Mona". Als ein Meteor dem Raumschiff bedrohlich nahe kommt, müssen die Astronauten mit Raumkapseln auf dem Mars landen. Nur Draper überlebt die Landung und muss mit Mona in dieser feindlichen Umgebung alleine klar kommen. Schnell aber lernt Draper sich Sauerstoff, Nahrung und Wasser zu beschaffen (wohl ein bisschen mit der Hilfe von "Mona"), um zu überleben. Aber die Isolation macht Draper immer mehr zu schaffen. Doch dann macht Draper eine unheimliche Entdeckung auf dem Mars.

Ein Science Fiction Klassiker der 1960ger Jahre, der das Thema von Daniel Defoe von einer einsamen Insel auf den roten Planeten verlegt. Die Handlung ist natürlich vorhersehbar, aber auf dem Mars kommen da einige neue Ideen in die Geschichte. Die Tricks sind natürlich entsprechend der Zeit von damals, aber als Klassiker immer wieder gern zu sehen.

Ein Film, den man heutzutage nicht mehr im Fernsehen findet, wohl nur noch auf DVD. Die Filmlaufzeit beträgt 105 Minuten, man kann zwischen der englischen und deutschen Sprachfassung wählen, wobei im Deutschen ein paar Stellen nachsynchronisiert wurden.

Der Film galt ja damals im Zuge der Raumfahrt zwischen Ost und West als "Ein Schritt von der Zukunft entfernt". Im Bonusmenü ist deshalb noch ein zwanzig Minuten langer Beitrag über die Geschichte und Zukunft des Mars eingefügt.

Wenn man diesen Film nochmals im Fernsehen sehen würde, dann steht in der Fernsehzeitung "Klassiker-Tipp" oder "Nacht-Tipp", weil solche Filme dann eher um 2 Uhr Nachts kommen, weil um 22.00 Uhr z.B. die Casting-Shows kommen!
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