Небо зовёт (‘ne-bah zav-‘yoht), The Sky Calls
[ IMDB | Streaming (YouTube I – 1:11:08) | Streaming (YouTube II – 1:05:57) | Streaming (YouTube III 1:11:08) | Wikipedia ]
YouTube I is in Russian, II is in English but is the Battle Beyond the Sun edit, III is the same as I. I ended up purchasing a copy.
Runtime: 1:17:00, aspect ratio: 1.85 : 1
Release with edits in the US as Battle Beyond the Sun (1962).
Edited into: Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women (1968), not to be confused with Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet (1965) but some scenes were used in that movie. Geneology:
- Planeta bur (1962) -> Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet (1965) -> Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women (1968)
- Nebo zovyot (1959) -> Battle Beyond the Sun (1962) -> Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women (1968)
The movie begins almost as a frame story (albeit with a dry, 1950s high school documentary style) with a reporter visiting the Space Institute in order to interview its members. He marvels at the plans to enter space and visit another planet, though he is informed that they are not yet entertained.
Flash forward, the first rocket to mars is prepared for flight. Husbands part with wives, sons and daughters with parents. The flight to the rotating space station is very 2001. Throughout, this movie has the same seriousness as Planeta bur, in that both are relatively “hard sci-fi” for their time.
The Americans Herman Verst/Berst (astronaut, sportsman) and Robert Klark arrive at the station and announce that they are about to embark on the first trip to Mars. Demchenko (Russian commander of the space station) responds that they are also sending a rocket to Mars. Competition! The dinner concludes with tense friendliness at best.
The older, more seasoned Klark and Kornev (one of the cosmonauts) meet secretly after and Kornev proposes working together in order increase the chance of success. Klark declines, knowing US politicians would be in an uproar. Though seemingly a harmless commentary on bureaucracy, this is the start of the Soviet propaganda aspect of the film. I will become much more ham-fisted later on.
Even though the planets aren’t aligned correctly, Klark and Verst on the Typhoon are ordered to take off immediately in order to get a head start in their rocket the Typhoon. Celebrations back in the US (selling land on mars and space drinks that will make you weightless). Gregori on the dock is injured by the unexpected departure, head injusty so Andrei must go in his place. He and Kornev leave on the Родина (Rodina, Homeland).
To recap: the American adventurers refuse cooperation, sneakily get a head start, and injure one of the cosmonauts in their recklessness. The Russian ship is patriotic; the American celebrates aggression.
The Americans’ navigation equipment fails takes them towards the sun instead of Mars (really? I guess depending on orbital position it’s admittedly possible, but still…). Verst cowers in terror (yep). They send an SOS to the Russians but on their approach the Typhoon is caught in a meteor shower. Klark calls them off to protect them but Verst grabs the radio and demands they come save him (yeeeeep). Once the ship is approachable the Americans are rescued and taken aboard the Homeland. Verst is sheepishly conciliatory (oh brother). Unfortunately, their fuel was used up during the rescue and they must land on an asteroid, Icarus, that is travelling between Earth and Mars. (Spatial locations were a little confusing.)
While they wait for an unmanned ship with reserve fuel to arrive the asteroid takes them past Mars, unattainable. Once it arrives, the refueling ship unfortunately crash lands on the asteroid and explodes. Stranded once again.
Using the asteroid as a reflector (having previously commented on its high albedo) to broadcast an SOS to Earth. Once received, Gregory takes a ship and lands on the asteroid but, with no explanation, dies immediately. The four return to earth and are celebrated (some of them) as heroes.
