A prophetic scenario scrolls into the distance of space.
It tells of advances in exploration, the contruction of a U.S. space station, and a planned quest for the moon. It also warns that "the enemies of freedom" are at work to destroy the station. General Greene and Major Bill Moore dis- cuss the moonshot...
Greene regrets that the first Earth orbital flight was made by Colonel, then a Captain, Briteis.
The assignment had been Bill's, but he lost it, and the glory to the lighter Capt. Briteis. Bill is to pilot The Magellan on the first orbital lunar flight, when word comes that for political reasons, Briteis has gotten the job! Enter Col. Briteis, exit Bill.
Greene names Bill as co-pilot. Col. Briteis says: "Oh no! The big lug hates me." After a childish exchange, ("Any more guff out of you & I'll turn you over my knee & spank you!"), the Colonel, Bill, and researcher guy Dr. Wernher rocket to a handsome docking sequence(see top).
Fortunately, the orbiter was built as a lander. En route, Bill is clued to Dr. W being an imposter by insufficient baseball knowledge. Boosters fire as they fight in the cabin, and they are to the moon in seconds, fuel-less. Landing is mandatory.
Their only chance of rescue is to place a signal relay atop the mountainous crags. During the trek, Dr. W falls to his death, leaving Bill and Briteis alone. This is why, when the relay works, Greene sug- gests they re-kindle their romance.
He and the President feel it would look best politically if they were married, as Magellan has been designated Moon Base #1. Bill is, of course, still in lust with her, and after a few supply rockets are received, the engagement is announced.
Bill is on a supply run when Briteis signals for a talk with General Greene, to arrange for a wedding surprise. Vows via video lead to visit by the President. She promotes Major Moore to Brigadier General, commanding the Moon Base that was never a Project.
Bill's spacesuit was not the only thing in this classic piece to be borrowed from Destination Moon. Project Moon Base had a screenplay co- written by Robert Heilein, which is how so much science got into this fiction. It tries to explain how this flight is possible.
Overall, the effects were quite good, on a clearly shoestring budget. The dialog is loaded with laughs, but the lunar landing sequence is nice work and not too far from reality. Female astro- nauts and Presidents are very progressive ideas for the era that bore us this fine collector's item.

Colonel Briteis may not properly respect her superiors, but she does have an acceptable behind.

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