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The Rocket Man is a 1954 American comedy science fiction film directed by Oscar Rudolph and starring Charles Coburn, Spring Byington, Anne Francis, John Agar and George "Foghorn" Winslow. The script was co-written by Lenny Bruce and Jack Henley from a story by George W. George and George F. Slavin.[1] A comedy with science fiction overtones, the film carries the tag line, “Out-of-this-world laughter and down-to-earth charm when the face from space turns out to be… the kid next door!”[2]

The New York Times found the fact that comedian Lenny Bruce was one of the film's screenwriters was the "strangest aspect of the low-budget production", noting that the film contains little of Bruce's trademark humor.[3]

Plot

As a result of the sudden and unexplained appearance of a mysterious rocket man, a little boy comes into possession of a mysterious ray gun that compels anyone caught in its beam to tell the truth. He uses it to prevent his orphanage from being foreclosed upon by creditors and to help a young couple fall in love.[4]

Cast

Critical reception

Writing in AllMovie, critic Hal Erickson described the film as "essentially an Andy Hardyesque comedy drama with a peripheral sci-fi slant," and that despite having Lenny Bruce as a co-screenwriter, "there's nothing scatalogical or even satirical in the film itself."[5] Film critic Derek Winnert wrote that "any acid wit, high-spirited fun or real charm are sorely lacking from director Oscar Rudolph’s lame, would-be whimsical" film, adding that it is an "often very silly and mostly boring movie, though the cast have charm and the skills to save it."[6]

References

  1. ^ "Movies Were Always Magical": Interviews with 19 Actors, Leo Verswijver - 2003 Page 40- Rocket Man (20th Century Fox, 1954). DlR Oscar Rudolph. PROD Leonard Goldstein. SCR Lenny Bruce, Jack Henley (story by George W. George, George F . Slavin). CAM John F. Seitz. ED Paul Weatherwax. Ml's Lionel Newman. RUNNING
  2. ^ Laura Wagner Anne Francis: The Life and Career 2011 -p 25 "She was given the second lead (with John Agar) in The Rocket Man (1954), an ordinary, passable comedy with some sci-fi elements made for Panoramic Productions, the company run by producer Leonard Goldstein that made flat-screen pictures for Fox " ; Page 129 "The Rocket Man (1954) “Out-of-this-world laughter and down-to-earth charm when the face from space turns out to be ... the kid next door!” Director: Oscar Rudolph."
  3. ^ Hal Erickson (2013). "The Rocket Man (1954)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  4. ^ The Rocket Man at the TCM Movie Database
  5. ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Rocket Man (1954)". AllMovie. Netaktion LLC. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  6. ^ Winnert, Derek. "The Rocket Man". DW. Derek Winnert. Retrieved 2023-07-12.

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