Main Cast: Tom Tryon, Brian Keith, Edmond O'Brien, Dany Saval, Bob Sweeney
Release Year: 1962
Country: US
Run Time: 105 minutes
Plot
Moon Pilot is an engaging Disney sci-fi comedy that manages to shoot off a few neat and surprisingly satirical barbs at the hypertense US/Russia "space race" of the era. Tom Tryon plays an astronaut who is ordered to keep his upcoming moon flight a secret, even from his family. While on a plane, Tryon is approached by lovely Dany Saval, who seems to know all about the astronaut's hush-hush mission, and who warns him about possible defects in his spacecraft. Despite the diligence of his FBI guards, Tryon is confronted time and again by Saval, who eventually reveals herself to be a visitor from the planet Beta Lyrae. A friendly alien, Saval merely wants to offer Tryon a special coating formula that will safeguard his rocket. Enchanted by the girl, Tryon plays hookey on his guards to spend more time with her, leaving the FBI, NASA, the CIA and the local constabulary to chase their own tails. When his rocket is launched, Tryon discovers that Saval has stowed away. The two sing a romantic song about Beta Lyrae while mission control (personified by Brian Keith at his most bombastic) expresses confusion over the bizarre transmissions emanating from Tryon's capsule. The release of Moon Pilot was heralded by a "preview" on Disney's Wonderful World of Color TV series, titled "Spy in the Sky." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Moon Pilot is a Disney film that seems to have slipped through the cracks. Although hardly unknown, it doesn't have the recognition factor of The Absent-Minded Professor or several other of the studio's live action releases from the same general period. That's surprising, for while Pilot is not a great film, it's a surprisingly good little family comedy. It's also somewhat satirical, a rarity for a Disney film of the period, taking some nice little shots at the space race and the FBI, among other targets. Granted, it's a formulaic film, and at times the formula causes a certain degree of predictability. But there are also several imaginative moments, and an overall touch of whimsy that's quite attractive. Lead Tom Tryon is a bit "heavy" for the part, lacking the natural light touch that a Dean Jones would have brought to the part, but he's still effective. Dany Saval is delightful, and Brian Keith and Edmond O'Brien get to bluster way over the top to good effect. All in all, a very agreeable way to pass the time with some of the younger members of the family. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Kent Smith - Secretary of the Air Force; Simon Scott - Medical Officer; Bert Remsen - Agent Brown; Sarah Selby - Mrs. Celia Talbot; Dick Whittinghill - Col. Briggs; Tommy Kirk - Walter Talbot; Robert Brubaker; Bob Hastings - Air Force Officer; William Hudson; Nancy Kulp - Nutritionist; Muriel Landers - Fat Lady; Tom Tryon - Capt. Richmond Talbot; Jo Ann Worley
Credit
Carroll Clark - Art Director, Marvin Aubrey Davis - Art Director, Gertrude Casey - Costume Designer, Chuck Keehne - Costume Designer, Bill Thomas - Costume Designer, James Neilson - Director, Cotton Warburton - Editor, Paul J. Smith - Composer (Music Score), William Snyder - Cinematographer, Bill Anderson - Producer, Ron Miller - Producer, Emile Kuri - Set Designer, Walace L. Stevens - Set Designer, Eustace Lycett - Special Effects, Robert Buckner - Screen Story, Maurice Tombragel - Screenwriter
Astronaut Capt. Richmond Talbot inadvertently volunteers to make the first manned flight around the moon. He is ordered to keep the upcoming moon flight a secret, even from his family. Due to the secrecy of the mission, he is put under the watchful protection of various security agencies.
Despite all the precautions, Talbot is approached by Lyrae, a beautiful, mysterious “foreign” girl who seems to know all about the astronaut's mission and warns him about possible defects in his spacecraft. Comedy ensues when the various agencies assume she is a foreign spy.
Eventually Lyrae reveals to Talbot that she is a friendly alien from planet Beta Lyrae and she wants to offer him a special formula that will safeguard his rocket. Enchanted by the girl, Talbot sneaks away from the FBI, NASA, and CIA agents who have been guarding him to spend more time with Lyrae. Eventually when his rocket is launched, Talbot discovers that Lyrae has stowed away. The two sing a romantic song about Beta Lyrae while mission control expresses confusion over the bizarre transmissions.
Disney vs the FBI
The Federal Bureau of Investigation protested to Walt Disney against their portrayal in the film. First they objected to an FBI Agent guarding an astronaut that was not a bureau function. Disney changed the character into a Federal Secruity Officer. Once released the FBI complained the Federal Agent was portrayed in "a most slapstick and uncomplimentary manner".[1]
Production
Robert Buckner's novel Starfire had been serialised in The Saturday Evening Post and came to the attention of Disney. The screenplay took a satirical view of the United States Government, with someone chiding a politician with "Didn't you read our 'Simple Science for Senators'"? The same characters Disney deified in their Man in Space series were gently ridiculed in the film.[2]
For his leading man Disney chosed Tom Tryon who had been starring in Texas John Slaughter on television, but for the space female Disney chose Dany Saval then touted as the "new Brigitte Bardot" for her American debut.[3]He surrounded his two young stars with many experienced actors and a chimp for children. Disney's songwriters the Sherman brothers contributed several songs to the film with Saval recording The Seven Moons of Beta Lyrae that was released on a record with Annette's The Crazy Place in Outer Space.
