Space Master X-7

Space Master X-7
Directed by Edward Bernds
Produced by Bernard Glasser
Written by George Worthing Yates
Daniel Mainwaring
Starring Bill Williams
Lyn Thomas
Robert Ellis
Music by Josef Zimanich
Harry Bluestone
Cinematography Brydon Baker
Edited by John F. Link Sr.
Production
company
Distributed by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Release date
 July 16, 1958 (1958-07-16)
Running time
 71 min.
Country United States
Language English
Budget $90,000[1]

Space Master X-7 is a 1958 American black-and-white science fiction film in widescreen Regalscope from Regal Pictures, produced by Bernard Glasser, directed by Edward Bernds, that stars Bill Williams, Lyn Thomas, and Robert Ellis. Paul Frees, Judd Holdren, and Moe Howard have supporting roles.[2] The screenplay was written by George Worthing Yates and Daniel Mainwaring. 20th Century Fox distributed the film.

Space Master X-7 was theatrically released on a double bill with the Vincent Price classic The Fly.

Plot

A space probe returns to Earth covered with a mysterious fungus, which, when accidentally tinged with human blood, transforms into an ever-growing pile of space rust. If not stopped, this infection may cover the entire world.[3]

Cast

  • Bill Williams as John Hand
  • Lyn Thomas as Laura Greeling
  • Robert Ellis as Pvt. Joe Rattigan
  • Paul Frees as Dr. Charles T. Pommer
  • Rhoda Williams as Stewardess Archer
  • Joan Barry as Jean Meyers, a brunet
  • Carol Varga as Elaine Frohman
  • Thomas Browne Henry as Prof. West
  • Thomas Wilde as Collins
  • Fred Sherman as Mr. Morse, Hotel Manager
  • Gregg Martell as Jim Dale, plane engineer
  • Jess Kirkpatrick as Pilot Vaccarino
  • Court Shepard as Battalion Fire Chief Hendry
  • Moe Howard as Retlinger, the Cab Driver
  • Al Baffert as Plane passenger

Production

After making several Westerns for Regal Pictures, director Ed Bernds and producer Bernard Glasser thought they would make a science fiction picture.

Bernds says the script was written on "spec" by Daniel Mainwaring and George Worthing Yates. Bernard Glasser bough it. Director Bernds rewrote the script without credit because the original was written for a feature film with a larger budget and a longer running time. Bernds said the budget was $90,000.[1]

Glasser recalled that Space Master X-7 was budgeted at $125,000, with $25,000 going to the screenwriters.

The film was rushed into production to take advantage of the Explorer I satellite space launch. Regal's head of publicity, Marty Weiser, recommended they change the title from Missile into Space to the more exciting-sounding Space Master X-7.

Harry Spalding who was Robert L. Lippert's story editor recalls the filmmakers went over budget but did a good job - so good they were hired for The Return of the Fly (1959).[4]

Moe Howard, who makes a cameo in the film in a notable departure from his slapstick performances, had worked with Bernds on his Three Stooges shorts and asked if the production crew had a position for his son-in-law Norman Maurer. Mauer would work for no salary in exchange for learning about the film industry. Maurer designed the film's special effects for the space fungus and received $1000.00 for his efforts. In fact, Glasser was so impressed with Mauer's work that he recommended him to producer Sidney Pink for Pink's upcoming science fiction film, The Angry Red Planet (1959).

Video game trivia

A Space Master X-7 video game was announced in 1983 for the Atari 2600 by Fox's video game publishing arm; it was not based on the original feature film. In fact, programmer David Lubar had not even heard of the 1958 film before Fox decided to attach its title to an original game he had developed. The game's Atari 800 port, published by Sirius Software that same year, was eventually released as Alpha Shield, dropping the film connection entirely.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Weaver, Tom (2006). Interviews With B Science Fiction And Horror Movie Makers: Writers, Producers, Directors, Actors, Moguls and Makeup. McFarland. p. 58.
  2. ↑ Eder, Bruce. "Space Master X-7 (1958)". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  3. ↑ details
  4. ↑ Weaver, Tom (19 February 2003). Double Feature Creature Attack: A Monster Merger of Two More Volumes of Classic Interviews. McFarland. p. 326.
  5. ↑ Stilphen, Scott. "David Lubar". DP Interviews. Digital Press. Retrieved 2010-05-28.

Bibliography

  • Warren, Bill. Keep Watching the Skies! American Science Fiction Movies of the Fifties (covers films released through 1962), 21st Century Edition. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2009 (First Edition 1982). ISBN 0-89950-032-3
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