Crash of Moons (1954) (TV)

Harmless enough, but not very good, 14 May 2017

Crash of Moons isn't really a movie - it's several episodes of the Rocky Jones: Space Ranger series cobbled together into 78 minutes. As the title implies, there are two moons set to crash into each other. The crash will destroy both worlds and their citizens. One planet is friendly and open to evacuation. The other is hostile and doesn't believe Rocky and Co. Can they get everyone off in time?

Crash of Moons is harmless enough, but it's not very good. I'm sure that had I been 7 in 1954, I would have eaten this up. I can just imagine the exploits of Rocky Jones thrilling kids of the 50s. Today, it's all so quaint. The special effects are as naive as you'd expect. The acting is hammy. The comedy relief is corny. And the male chauvinism is thick. Still, the idea of two worlds colliding is an interesting one and held my interest throughout most of the runtime. Like I said, it's all harmless enough, just not anything special.

One thing I really enjoyed was seeing a younger John Banner. I'm an unashamed fan of Hogan Heroes. I think it's one of the best 30 minute comedies to ever air. I always enjoy seeing Hogan alumni in other settings, whether it's Werner Klemperer, Bob Crane, or Leon Askin (who is in a bunch of stuff). But Banner holds a special place in all Hogan fans' hearts.

4/10