Directed by:
John SturgesScreenplay:
Mayo SimonCinematography:
Daniel L. FappCast:
Gregory Peck, Richard Crenna, David Janssen, James Franciscus, Gene Hackman, Lee Grant, Nancy Kovack, Mariette Hartley, Scott Brady, Frank Marth, George Gaynes (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
A space team consisting of pilot Buzz Lloyd, scientist Clayton Stone, and mission commander Jim Pruett tests man's endurance in outer space. Observing that the crew's efficiency has faltered after five months, Houston supervisor Charles Keith orders its return. Upon reentry, however, the ship malfunctions, leaving the astronauts with no means of reaching earth. Veteran astronaut Ted Dougherty and a presidential mandate compel the reluctant Keith to mount a rescue effort. As the astronauts' oxygen runs out, the rescue mission races against time. When the launching of Dougherty's spaceship from Cape Kennedy is delayed by a hurricane, the astronauts' wives are brought to Houston for televised conversations with their husbands. During his interview Lloyd becomes hysterical, in so doing consuming additional oxygen. To compensate for this loss Keith suggests a sacrificial suicide, a possibility which the team rejects. Leaving the vehicle to correct a mechanical defect, Pruett rips his suit and floats away in space. Although the oxygen has dangerously diminished, Stone donates his supply to Lloyd, breathing the little left inside the ship's cabin. Panicking, Lloyd opens the hatch, depleting Stone's precious store. As hope dims, a Russian spaceship arrives with sufficient oxygen to maintain the American astronauts. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (2)
Taken from today’s point of view, it seems more like a cold procedural drama than a nerve-racking thriller - it is also supported by restrained (albeit stellar) acting performances and contains zero appeal to the audience’s emotions. It is absolutely incomparable with the emotional impact of later similar movies like Apollo 13 and Gravity. Technically, however, this movie is beyond reproach. The Oscar-winning special effects are great, although it could be compared, critically, to 2001: A Space Odyssey, released only a year before with more fascinating special effects. But the special FX in this movie were still amazing for their time - I can imagine how impressed movie-goers were in 1969. Unfortunately, in other respects, this movie does not really deliver what the audiences are hoping for in terms of proper drama.
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Definitely one of the best "real sci-fi movies" I've seen. Marooned is in places a huge psychological wringer, which at least for me made a pretty strong impression. Excellent acting performances led by the helpless and stressed Gene Hackman, an oppressive atmosphere, scenes in which not much happens (the first start), but which are still somehow mysteriously suspenseful, the music - if you can even call it that, still impressive visual effects... All this contributed to my almost absolute satisfaction. I regretted that the film wasn't a bit longer and that some of the things it touched on only peripherally (the preparation of the rescue rocket) weren't dissected more... This film, which is unfortunately not very well known, gets five stars from me.
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Gallery (32)
Photo © Columbia Pictures
![Marooned - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/161/088/161088909_cd8f85.jpg)
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