Osa Massen

Space scientists Dr. Ralph Fleming (Morris Ankrum) and Dr. Karl Eckstrom (John Emery) conceive the first manned spaceflight, "Rocketship eXpedition Moon". Eckstrom crews the ship with his brilliant protegé Dr. Lisa Van Horn (Osa Massen), Astronomer Harry Chamberlain (Hugh O'Brien), and engineer Major William Corrigan (Noah Beery Jr.) under pilot Captain Floyd Graham (Lloyd Bridges). After a succesful launch, the mission goes awry, as the crew are hurled across space and past the moon by a rocket malfunction, to land instead on the planet Mars. Encouraged to explore by Eckstrom, they find the remains of a human civilization destroyed by nuclear warfare. They are soon attacked by a band of savage, mutated humans, and Corrigan and Eckstrom are killed. The survivors escape back into space, but Dr. Van Horn discovers that not enough fuel remains for a safe landing. She and Graham contact Fleming to pass on what they have learned, and share their first and last few tender moments together, before their ship crashes to Earth. Grief-stricken, and stung by suggestions that the mission was a failure, a sombre Fleming proudly announces the imminent construction of RX-M2...

Episodes in the adventurous life of the American novelist (1876-1916). Episodes in the novelist's life: In 1890, young Jack London quits a cannery job to try oyster piracy. Later, he signs on for a sealing voyage, tries Yukon prospecting and a brief university career, loving and leaving women along the way. Instead of riches, he gets story ideas. Suddenly, he finds success and a delectable lady; but the urge to adventure won't let him go. —Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>

In order to cover up his philandering ways, a married Broadway producer sets one of his dancers up on a date with a chorus girl for whom he had bought a gift, but the two dancers fall in love for real. After his wife discovers a telltale diamond bracelet, impresario Martin Cortland tries to show he's not chasing after showgirl Sheila Winthrop. Choreographer Robert Curtis gets caught in the middle of the boss's scheme. Army conscription offers Robert the perfect escape from his troubles- or does it? —Diana Hamilton <hamilton@gl.umbc.edu>