This is how you fly to the moon – in your office. Image: csfd(dot)cz
We think NASA got it all wrong with the Apollo moon landings.
For starters, you’re going to cram astronauts in one tiny space capsule? And task them with collecting lunar soil & rocks? Then get them to kick lunar dust to “describe the trajectory”?
Puh-lease. Those American rocket scientists were thinking too small.
They should have studied Cat-Women of the Moon (1953) to learn a thing or two about moon exploration.
The plot of Cat-Women of the Moon is less important than the Concept, but here goes. Five American astronauts, dressed in casual park warden attire, fly to the moon where they discover a dwindling civilization of Cat-Women.
These women are the last of the bunch, and are delighted to see the earth rocket land on the moon. Their diabolical scheme is to hijack the rocket, fly to earth, and rebuild their civilization.
It’s almost too easy for the Cat-Women. They have the power to hypnotize the female astronaut (Marie Windsor), even from a great distance, and they’re able to make the male astronauts do their bidding using – uh – different methods.
The earthlings have no idea with whom they’re dealing.
The Cat-Women have carved out an exquisite life for themselves on the moon. They enjoy marble floors, silk draperies, and food that looks like melon balls. They serve drinks in silver goblets and dance to moon music.
They live in utter luxury, thanks to the water and breathable air on the moon.
It would appear NASA got that wrong, too.
Note the fab eye makeup and eyebrows. Image: IMDb
There’s so much to love about this movie. It’s a low-budget, high-entertainment flick with unintentional comedy. But our favourite scenes involve space travel.
First, the moon rocket is very spacious. As you can see in an image above, there’s room enough for desks and wheeled office chairs with seatbelts. (Our favourite husband said, “They put seatbelts on chairs that move. So they take the chairs with them when they crash into walls.”)
The rocket ship furniture only gets better. In the first scene of the film, we find the astronauts passed out in luxury beach hammocks, complete with metal stands. Astronauts need these for reclining when losing consciousness after leaving the earth’s atmosphere. (Betcha NASA never thought of that, either.)
There’s also a locker room, where astronauts can change into their moon outfits, or hazmat suits to deal with nitric acid spills.
Those rocket engineers provided as much as they could for the voyage, although the ship is rather primitive compared to the high-society world of the Cat-Women.
Uh oh. Man trouble on the moon. Image: IMDB
Cat-Women of the Moon was originally released in 3-D. It would be a real treat to see this film on a 3-D screen, and not just for the cheesiness. The painted moonscapes are really quite beautiful, and the score is courtesy of Elmer Bernstein, before he became the Elmer Bernstein.
The cast had no illusions about the kind of film they were making. Marie Windsor said, in a 1992 interview:
[It was] one of the worst pictures I’ve been involved in. I think we made it in two weeks. In the last few days of production we were told we were over schedule and filming just stopped. Several pages of the script never got shot! I still can’t believe we were flying to the moon in a spaceship while sitting in regular desk chairs with wheels.1
Reviews for the film were mixed. The New York Times dryly noted: “They (the Cat-women) try to get their hands on the visitors’ rocket ship, hoping to come down here and hypnotize us all. Considering the delegation that went up, it’s hard to imagine why.”2
We’re not going to say anything more about Cat-Women of the Moon, because we don’t want to spoil the fun. We urge you to see it, especially if you’ve had a bad day, to revel in prime 1950s sci-fi.
Cat-Women of the Moon starring Sonny Tufts, Marie Windsor, Victor Jory. Directed by Arthur Hilton. Written by Roy Hamilton. Z-M Productions, 1953, B&W, 64 mins.
Another one I have read about through the years but have never seen. Your beautifully written and illustrated essay makes me want to give it a look. It might become a bad movie I love!
I am so glad that you have a man that riffs too. From my experience, they make a bad film so much better… we will have to share riff recommendations and compare notes. For that I’d suggest getting his views on When Time Ran Out, for me it was much better with husband input – especially the Werner Herzog commentary.
I don’t think I’ve seen Cat-Women of the Moon, but I think I definitely need to! It sounds like a ridiculous escape from reality and I’m eager to experience the spaceship!
Great review! This is the perfect midnight movie, when quality and credibility get thrown out the window. I forgot that Mary Windsor starred in this – I love her quote.
It is a perfect midnight movie, with extra buttery popcorn. I like what you said about credibility being thrown out the window. That certainly happened here!
As always Ruth, you had me smiling and chuckling at your review! I will confess that this was the very first VHS tape I ever purchased, complete with cheap cardboard 3D glasses. The 3D effect was disappointing, but the cheesy fun of Cat-Women never does.
I watched this movie many years ago and it was great to revisit it with your post! I had forgotten about the decoration inside the rocket, so thank you for providing lively descriptions! I guess I was more enthralled with the Cat-Women.
This movie looks sublimely bad–the sets alone sound amazing. I have to see the office chairs with seatbelts, too. Thanks again for joining the blogathon, Ruth–this was a great choice!
Silver Screenings 
Another one I have read about through the years but have never seen. Your beautifully written and illustrated essay makes me want to give it a look. It might become a bad movie I love!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you might love this one. It’s got it all: adventure, romance, scientific discovery, and excellent rocket ship furniture.
LikeLike
Love my husband isn’t the only one who adds a riff track to a so bad it’s good film.. this sounds good fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! My husband had me in stitches when we watched this. I should’ve just uploaded his commentary!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so glad that you have a man that riffs too. From my experience, they make a bad film so much better… we will have to share riff recommendations and compare notes. For that I’d suggest getting his views on When Time Ran Out, for me it was much better with husband input – especially the Werner Herzog commentary.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gotcha. If I can get him to watch When Time Ran Out, I’d be happy to share notes! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh, boy. Must see this! After all, Marie Windsor and Victor Jory are in it.
many thanks for your review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was surprised to learn Marie Windsor and Victor Jory were in this film. Of course, their performances are terrific.
LikeLike
“It’s a low-budget, high-entertainment flick with unintentional comedy.”
Unintentional comedy is the best…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! So true!
LikeLike
Great review, Ruth!
I don’t think I’ve seen Cat-Women of the Moon, but I think I definitely need to! It sounds like a ridiculous escape from reality and I’m eager to experience the spaceship!
LikeLiked by 1 person
John, you must MUST see this one! I think you’ll get a real kick out of it.
LikeLike
The way you put it, this sounds like a delightful movie, a little cheesy and I guess I would laugh at the unintentional comedy bits.
Have a lovely day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s first-class cheese, but the acting is good – as is the score. You won’t believe the amount of heavy furniture on that rocket ship!
LikeLike
Great review! This is the perfect midnight movie, when quality and credibility get thrown out the window. I forgot that Mary Windsor starred in this – I love her quote.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a perfect midnight movie, with extra buttery popcorn. I like what you said about credibility being thrown out the window. That certainly happened here!
LikeLike
Yay, anything you recommend in exchange? And looking forward to your post where your husband recommends your watches…
LikeLiked by 1 person
As always Ruth, you had me smiling and chuckling at your review! I will confess that this was the very first VHS tape I ever purchased, complete with cheap cardboard 3D glasses. The 3D effect was disappointing, but the cheesy fun of Cat-Women never does.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This was the first VHS tpe you ever bought? That is completely awesome. And the fact it came with 3D glasses makes it that much better.
I really liked this movie, and am a little chagrined it took me so long to see it. Such a great cast!
LikeLike
I watched this movie many years ago and it was great to revisit it with your post! I had forgotten about the decoration inside the rocket, so thank you for providing lively descriptions! I guess I was more enthralled with the Cat-Women.
Best,
Le
LikeLike
This movie looks sublimely bad–the sets alone sound amazing. I have to see the office chairs with seatbelts, too. Thanks again for joining the blogathon, Ruth–this was a great choice!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The moon rocket office chairs, plus seatbelts, are the absolute Best.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anything with Marie Windsor is worth seeing, in my opinion! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You said it!
LikeLike