The Astronaut

One of my sci-fi/horror/fantasy reviews written 50 years ago: Directed by Robert Michael Lewis for producer Harve Bennett and Universal TV. Starring Susan Clark, Jackie Cooper, Monte Markham, Richard Anderson, Robert Lansing, John Lupton and Walter Brooke.

Science Fiction stressing human relationships and political considerations rather than hardware or adventure. Set in 1981, the first astronaut on Mars is killed by unknown atmospheric causes, and a double is hired to impersonate him so that itchy government officials don't cut off funds from the space program. Story is handled like a straight, no-monster "Outer Limits" episode.

Either Monte Markham has good taste, or he was lucky in the TV movies in which he was cast. He's certainly made some gems: Visions of Death, Death Takes a Holiday, and The Astronaut. The Astronaut pairs him with Susan Clark, a major actress of the '70s.

This film is based on the same idea as Capricorn One. In Capricorn One, the astronauts have to fake a space landing for the government. In The Astronaut, the astronaut doesn't make it back, so the government plants a look-alike and returns him to the man's wife (Clark).

Because of the story and strong acting, this is another film that sticks in the minds of people who saw it, and another one I wouldn't mind seeing again.

I agree with the first poster of comments, Melissa. This has remained in my head for a long time (especially Monte Markham's "replacement" astronaut's word to his "wife" "I carved your initials on a Martian Apple Tree...". This isn't a space tale but a tale of humanity and all it's facets. A lovely tale for a TV production (was an "ABC Movie of the Week"). If it plays or comes out on tape, I'll ship you a message, Melissa. BP

This was probably the first Susan Clark movie that I saw and I became a lifelong fan of hers. I saw it when I just a young kid. I have thought about it often and told friends what a good movie it was. I've always been more of plot fan of movies than of the actors in the movie. This movie was really good and the performance of Susan Clark and Monte Markham was well above average for a television movie. It's unfortunate that I entice my friends to see the movie and it's not available for viewing that I know of. Too bad Nick at Night doesn't show old television movies also.

This is the movie that made me a fan of Monte Markham. He positively shines! And I love how the movie is more concerned with the human factor rather than the hardware. Special effects are well and good, but that's all a lot of newer movies have. I taped this a couple of years after its first airing, and have never tired of watching it!