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Directed by Hollingsworth Morse Written by Warren Wilson Produced by Roland D. Reed Cinematography by Walter Strenge Edited by Roy Luby and Fred Maguire Visual Effects by Jack R. Glass Cast Richard Crane (Rocky Jones) Scotty Beckett (Winky) Sally Mansfield (Vena Ray) Robert Lyden (Bobby) Patsy Parsons (Cleolanta) Maurice Cass (Professor Newton) Charles Meredith (Secretary Drake) Leonard Penn (Griff)

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The television science-fiction program Rocky Jones, Space Ranger had a one-season syndicated run of thirty-nine episodes (mostly arranged in three episode story arcs) in 1954. Although it had strong ratings and many sponsors, it simply cost too much for a television program of the early 1950s to ever break even, so it died a premature death on the weekly schedules. It did, however, reappear in a series of theatrically released films that edited together the various storylines into motion pictures (which also screened on TV as well). Two of these movies, Manhunt in Space and Crash of Moons, appeared as riffing material on the legendary comedy program Mystery Science Theater 3000 in the 1990s, introducing many of us to this forgotten piece of science fiction TV history…a space opera adventure series long pre-dating Star Trek.

Make no mistake, these Rocky Jones episodes make perfect fodder for the wise-cracking comments of the MST3k crew, and the show’s appearances on the comedy program were extremely funny. Although expensive for television of the day, the episodes look incredibly cheap to us now, and the acting is mostly atrocious, especially Robert Lyden as the obligatory ‘cute kid’ (believe it or not, he has a supporting role in John Ford’s ultra-classic The Searchers), and the despicable comic sidekick, Winky (former Our Gang child actor Scotty Beckett). Top this off with some decidedly bizarre science and smug male chauvinism, and you have the recipe for an unintentionally campy time.

I have to admit a certain affection for Rocky Jones, Space Ranger. Away from all the problems that limit it today, it was a serious effort to create a space opera show for the budding TV medium. It was shot on film, instead of done live or on the awful-looking kinescope, making it stand out from most other early television programs. The scripts have intelligent plots and frequently good suspense, and despite the budget limitations, the writers often dared to go for large-scale action set-pieces. The idea of the peace-keeping Space Rangers also predicts the eventual emergence of the cerebral science fiction of Star Trek in the late 1960s. Above all, Rocky Jones, Space Ranger can be a lot of Saturday morning nostalgic fun, where you can imagine wolfing down big handfuls of Capn’ Crunch cereal while vegging in front of the television.

Beyond the Moon contains the first three-episode story arc linked together as a single movie. When the show originally aired in April 1954, these three episodes went under the collective title “Beyond the Curtain of Space,” which makes much more sense because the Moon doesn’t factor into the story at all. Rocky Jones and useless co-pilot Winky return to earth in their Orbit Jet (a classic needle rocket with fins)

Our Season Regulars: Vena, Secretary Drake, Professor Newton, Bobby, Winky, and Rocky

to get some time off from the Space Rangers. But Secretary Drake has news for them; valuable scientist Professor Newton and his aggravating little kid ward Bobby have apparently defected to the Ophiuchans, the enemies of the United Worlds! Vena Ray, one of the Professor’s students, believes that the Ophiuchans are holding Prof. Newton against his will, and so Rocky and Winky blast-off to Ophiuchus to attempt a rescue. Secretary Drake insists they take along Vena—she speaks Ophiuchan—but Rocky doesn’t want some dumb ol’ girl along and grumbles about it whenever possible. Vena does serve some help on the mission, but true to ‘50s formula, she also commits a number of dunder-headed acts, like getting herself locked in a room rapidly losing its oxygen, just so the males have to rescue her and put her back in her place. And even though Secretary Drake makes her an official Space Ranger, she still has to wear a mini-skirt.

It turns out that the Ophiuchans, led by their vicious femme fatale leader Cleolanta (Patsy Parsons in the relatively best performance in the flick), have brainwashed Bobby and Prof. Newton, not only making them resistant to leaving Ophiuchus, but making them worse actors than ever before. It’s up to Rocky and Vena (and Winky, unfortunately) to get them off the enemy planet and defeat the traitor back on Earth who has fallen for the Ophiuchans’ obscure but obviously evil philosophy. (Read your own Cold War commie-baiting allegory here.)

Plenty of silliness ensues. See ten-year-old Bobby threaten Rocky in chilling terms to beat him in the space race! Watch the incredible stuntman with the awful bald cap mysteriously replace Secretary Drake! Thrill as we watch Rocky climb the ladder of a power station (uh, I mean the gantry to the Orbit Jet) over and over! Witness the wonder of the Lego building that houses the Ophiuchan government offices! Marvel at the very Griffith Park-like landscape of the strange planet of Ophiuchus! And finally, gape in astonishment at the myriad ray guns the characters carry but never seem to fire! (This is a fists-only space opera.)

But, dammit all, the plot actually works! The suspense scenes are well put together, and the storyline nicely combines the old fashioned movie serial adventures with a more sober and comprehensible set of dramatics. For audiences of the day, this must have created quite a thrill. Despite all its defects, Beyond the Moon honestly tries to deliver the science fiction goods, and somewhat succeeds.

But I have to agree with this Mystery Science Theater 3000 assessment: “Winky, I’d like to hit you sooo hard.”

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