Does it seem odd to anyone else that RiffTrax can get us to pay for something that annoys most people? Back in the days when Missile to the Moon was first-run material, in 1958, talking during the showing of a movie could get you tossed out of the theater, or at least harshly shushed by an indignant usher. (Nowadays, of course, this behavior is more likely to get you shot, and if an usher walks the aisles at all, it’s either to find the source of the pot smoke or whoever’s bootlegging the film with their cell phones.)
Yes, Missile to the Moon is the product of a very different time, back when, as the RiffTrax commentary reminds us, “the Government used to come over to your house and give you some good-natured ribbing.”
RiffTrax also hearkens back to an earlier time, when the crew of the Satellite of Love were subjects of an evil science project, forced to view dreadful movies while orbiting in space. That was the high concept for Mystery Science Theater 3000 (a.k.a. MST3K), the lamented TV series that introduced audience commentary as entertainment. On MST3K, one human astronaut and his two robot crew members cut up over screenings of such infamous stinkers as Manos, Hands of Fate and Monster A-Go-Go, and public domain shorts like A Case of Spring Fever.
Other than the MST3K’s original songs and skits, RiffTrax is identical, down to cast members Mike Nelson (who originated RiffTrax on the Web), Kevin (Tom Servo) Murphy, and Bill (Crow T. Robot) Corbett. And likewise, relies on unearthing appropriate subjects for their ridicule, their quick wit, and their facility with cultural and popular references. Missile to the Moon is a stereotypical '50s sci-fi cheapie, its cheap sets, broad acting, and ludicrous dialog making it ideal for the riffers. It’s the kind of movie where the moon has a breathable atmosphere, is populated by beauty queens, and looks a lot like the American southwest.
Article comments