Is It Worth the Watch?

You know how some sci-fi cheapies from the 50s and 60s are so ineptly made they turn out to be wildly entertaining? The 1960 space-opera confusion, Assignment: Outer Space is not one of those. This one’s so inept it’s worse than bad, it’s just plain boring.

Originally an Italian film titled Space-Men, American International Pictures dubbed, retitled and released this version to the United States, and none of the things they did improved it in any way. The confused plot, aimless direction and lethargic performances remain.

A reporter talks his way onto a space station only to discover insubordination, suicidal self-sacrifice, space jet skis with open cockpits, dangerous astroids, infrared radiation flux, and even women, apparently. And did I mention the astronauts communicate with the Earth through a ticker tape machine, because, you know, the future!

The budget for special effects was less than for on-set catering, featuring such eye-melting highlights as stars twinkling through the image of solid spaceships and planets, and occasionally even dangling rockets’ wires. Director Antonio Margheriti apparently told the actors to physically move at half speed, I guess to indicate weightlessness, but all it does is make every activity take forever and lose any sense of urgency or importance.

On a side note, many of the actors’ names sound like they ought to be porn stars; Rik Van Nutter, Gaby Farinon, Archie Savage, Alain Dijon and Franco Fantasia to name a few. 

But porn is more compelling. 

Is It Worth The Watch? Even if you love “so bad, it’s good” mid-century sci-fi, you may still want to give this one a wide berth. Unfortunately, it’s just mind-numbingly dull.

1960

73 minutes

Starring – Rik Van Nutter, Gabriella Farinon, Archie Savage, David Montresor, Alain Dijon, Franco Fantasia (All definitely not porn stars) 

Director – Antonio Margheriti

Screenplay – Antonio Margheriti, Ennio de Concini