This 1951 piece was close on the heels of Destination Moon and Rocketship X-M, but was not at all rooted in science. Cameron Mitchell plays the reporter who rockets to Mars with Arthur Franz and his scientist girlfriend of 3 years, Carol. With Dr. Lane and Dr. Jackson, they board wearing thier civilian clothes and lift off into space.
	Astronomer Franz chugs away at his pipe as Dr. Lane spouts pretend science on the leftover bridge set from R. X-M. Amidst endless Sci-fi jargon, Mitchell is blunt about his designs on Carol. The obligitory meteor shower puts them off course and they crash into a snowy Martian hillside, nose first, stopping in less than one second. Everyone is fine, of course.
Seeing structures from the porthole, the 5 go exploring in their euro-style flight gear when they meet Ikron (Morris Ankrum!) and other pastel- suited residents. Their underground cities, Ikron explains, are powered by Corium, a special mineral resource. Mitchell and Co. seem well recieved.
	Their quarters sport a sexist robo-kitchen. Ikron also chairs the leadership council, which promises to help the 5 to rebuild their ship. Telemar, Ikron's vice-chair, is outvoted in his opposition of Ikron's plan to sieze the rocket when completed. Franz rebuilds aided by Alita, Telemar's satinclad space- tart scientist daughter.
Alita discerns the plot to capture the ship, and a production delay is faked. The escape plan soon includes the sudden romance of Franz and Alita, while Mitchell swoons the jilted Carol. What a waste of effort! Such potential, and the talent called in sick. Minutes before launch, Ikron's spies catch wind of the deception and detain Alita for grilling. Franz storms the interrogation demanding explanations. Ikron and the council leave, presumably to seize the ship, and are not seen again. Franz, Alita, and her father Telemar effortlessly overpower their guards and beat their pursuers to the rocket without really breaking into a run. True suspense wanted to be there as the hangar doors struggle to open. All fly home with Alita and Telemar as guests.

The costume crew found the look the producers sought, and may have been the most successful part of the project, though Ikron's "space" suit is a leftover from Destination Moon. This film is a vehicle for a stab at romantic drama, with a rocket to Mars thrown in for trendy color. "Two-strip" Cinecolor photography supplies a warm, surrealistic feel. Shooting angles turn trapezoid doorways into equilateral triangles. It should be said again that any film with Morris Ankrum is worth buying. Silly or not, one gets the impression the film turned out much as intended. Many later films lacked even these charms.

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