Drive in Sci-Fi: Rocketship X-M (1950)

We go back in the past even more this time, 60 years ago. 1969 is the first time people landedo n the moon, in apollo 11 mission. However as far back as 1950 they already had movies about it. altrough not precisely, as the mission to moon failed and instead they landed on mars!
But everything at its time, For the movie of its kind, this has unusually long begining sequence, and whats even more intresting, the 15 minutes countdown we hear in the movie is an actual 15 minutes, filled with dialogue. and not that bad one compared to what they had to compete with. The rocket design and science behind it is not bad either. They dont go into much detail, but they explain the standart rocket design, and considering it was 19 years before the first actual landing, the science is pretty good for a movie. The Texan (is that correct word for a citizen of texas?) is used as a pretty decent comic relief. And as always we got a "female scientist" that seem to care about work only. such cliche been around for 60 years, its a wonder how people dont see it obviuos in movies like avatar or new indiana jones.
The Rocketship X-Moon becomes X-Mars when some malfunction happens. And they seem to "drift dead". As they drift around the area is filled by tasty music and good dialogue. So far so good. The manadge to fix the problem and the rocket speeds away. they are knocked unconciuos by the g-forces and push towards mars. When they wake up they are right next to Mars and decide to continue and land on Mars. And what do you know, whne a modern rocket takes 6 months to go to mars carrying a robot, they manadge to land in mars in 2 days. And apperently it RAINS on mars. THERE IS WATER ON MARS, WOOT.
When they go out however it is still a dead planet, though more brown than red, could be just that aging done its toll on the old film rolls. This is the first time we see color in the movie aswell, so hey its a plus. they still use breathing masks indicating that atmosphere is toxic, a good plus for the science part.
They find a explosion site and automatically assume that "some higher intelligence has wiped out a civilization". As for radiation being found at the site, they are pretty detailed on the effects. They decide that they should "research s much as they can in time they have supplies for" but then just lay around for what seems hours. They get attacked from locals, and decide to bail out. Most of the movie happens inside the claustrophobic rocket, and they pull it off.

Story: 5/10. The story was simple, they fly to moon but end up in Mars, but it worked.
Acting: 6/10. This time it wasnt that bad. not bad at all.
Sound: 4/10. Well its sitll the 50s bad movie soundtracks, but it was better compared to the other ones.
Sci factor: 7/10. They really pulled it off this time. And they pulled it off believably too.
Lasting Appeal: 6/10. Well the atomic war and going to stone age after it tendency still remains, so i guess lasting appeal is good. afterall they still make apocalyse movies, not on the mars though.
Overall rating: 6/10. Have to say, it wasnt that bad. If you want to see what the 1950 mvies was like, this can be one of them.

Edit: its also worth mentioning that this is believed to be the first sci-fi movie of the modern era and thus the cliches are not yet cliches as everyone else copied this. well the date fits, but we can often see cliches coming from the 30s and even 20s so this needs confirmation.

Strazdas wrote:

The Texan (is that correct word for a citizen of texas?)

Technically yes.