The Astronaut

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!

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.

I've only seen this movie once, when it was originally broadcast, and I have never forgotten it. Recently I've been trying to find it on video, but have been unsuccessful. This is an excellent movie. Even if the premise is a little far-fetched, the movie is wonderful in the way it allows the emotions of the characters to unfold. I still hold out hope that one day this movie will show up on video.

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.