I Aim at the Stars

Producer Chares H Schneer (Jason and the Argonauts '63) assembled a variety of talented people for his space-age story of rocket scientist Wernher Von Braun. It follows portions of Braun's life from his youth in Germany, his war research service with the Nazis - through to his 'capture' and being seconded to the US space research program.

Screenplay writer Jay Dratler (Laura'44) strikes a deft balance in the moral argument between whether or not great scientists, who create technologies used in war, should be held responsible for the deaths of innocent bystanders - or should they simply be regarded as perfecting new technological developments for future progress? In this case, it was Wernher Von Braun's determination to perfect a rocket to eventually carry man into space. Whatever your moral stand, the brilliance of this man's brain cannot be denied.

German-born Curt Jurgens makes for a perfectly cast Von Braun. Jurgens was openly critical of Nazism and was interned in a Nazi Labour Camp for the 'politically unreliable'. He escaped and went into hiding - after the war, he became an Austrian citizen. In a long and distinguished career, he appeared in over a hundred movies and numerous stage plays. Though this film was shot in Munich it features a varied international cast including Australian actress Victoria Shaw, playing Braun's wife.

Director J. Lee Thompson (The Guns of Navarone'60) was blessed to have Wilkie Cooper selected by Schneer to guide principle photography, helping to create the films solid visuals. Cooper, one of Britain's most gifted directors of photography had worked with many of the world's acclaimed directors Including Hitchcock and Cardiff. His visual design excellence gave many of Ray Harryhausen's great animation epics (Jason and The Argonauts '63, etc) their strong images. Respected British composer Laurie Johnson provides an interesting music score.

Actual footage from failed Rocket test launches (both in Germany and the USA) capture the devastatingly destructive power and huge expense of these pioneering days in space exploration.

As a member of the National Association of Rocketry (hobby group). I enjoyed this movie's historical footage for its value to the scale modeler (model rockets that fly). It also tries to capture some of the internal struggle within the man. With working with the military while fostering his dreams of manned flight after the War.

For a more un-laundered perspective seek out _Man/Moment/Machine_ and the von Braun episode concerning the V-2 on the History Channel.

The only time I've seen this movie on television was about ten years ago on the _Super Station_ (WTBS). I don't recall if his rank as a Colonel in the S/S was indicated in this film. Enjoy it for what it is. A glorification of one of the most important persons responsible in our beating the _Russkies_ in getting to the Moon first.

A passe hagiography of the life of Werner von Braun, a great rocket engineer with a questionable past. It's original title was "I Aim For the Stars." The best line I ever heard about this film was: "I aim for the stars, but sometimes I hit London."

This movie starts with the younger years of von Braun's life when he was experimenting with rockets and propulsion.

The film shows the March 1944 arrest of von Braun by the Gestapo. The alleged crime was that Von Braun had declared his main interest in developing the V-2 was for space travel, not as a weapon. Also, since von Braun was a pilot, it was suggested that he was planning to escape with V-2 secrets to the Allies.

After a recording of von Braun referring to Adolf Hitler in an insulting manner is heard, the scientist is told he will be executed, but through Dornberger's influence, Hitler becomes convinced that von Braun's intellect puts him in a class of people too important to be executed.

After surrendering to the Americans, Von Braun refuses to consider himself a war criminal, but Maj. William Taggert, a former newspaperman whose wife and baby were killed in a London bombing raid, argues that because von Braun "invented an infernal device used to support an iniquitous regime," he was a war criminal.

Wernher von Braun was responsible for the space age becoming a reality in the 20th century. Von Braun was named by Life magazine as one of the "100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century," touting him as the man who "launched the greatest adventure of all, a journey to the Moon".

This interesting film includes some of von Braun's strongest critics but is balanced with von Braun's contributions to the American space program. The film ends in 1958, however von Braun when on to design the Saturn V moon rocket that put a man on the moon (the Saturn V still remains the most powerful rocket ever built, and it never had a critical failure).

Anyone interested in space travel will enjoy this movie.

This very interesting biopic of Werner von Braun was unfortunately badly received at the time of its release. Americans weren't happy when the brilliant scientist found sanctuary and a new home in America after WWII, and they weren't happy that Hollywood made a movie about him without making him out to be a villain. In fact, in England, rioters cruelly scribbled on promotional posters, "I Aim at the Stars, but Sometimes I Hit London." If you know the life story of von Braun, chances are you followed the space race and will be very anxious to rent this movie. If you're not interested in space at all, you might need a little more to the story - and thankfully, it has more. Friendship conflicts, betrayal, romance that makes you wait, secrets, rebellion, and all under the cloud of Nazi Germany. It really is an interesting story, and with Curd Jurgens at the helm, you can rest assured you're going to see some fine acting. It's not his usual character, since he usually played either soldiers or ladies' men. He's a scientist who thinks of rockets and the stars more than anything - including politics and women. He may have strength, but he puts his usual swagger on the shelf and embodies a different role; after all, that's called acting.

Herbert Lom is also very good, playing Curd's friend and colleague with a different idea of patriotism. There are a couple of women in the cast, even though they're not the focus: Victoria Shaw and Gia Scala, as their love interests. James Daly plays a good villain, making you grit your teeth and root for Curd all the more. I enjoyed this movie, and I'm not interested in space in the slightest!