Destination Moon

Film evenings begin with optional potluck refreshments and social hour at 6:30 pm,
followed by the film at 7:30 pm, followed by a discussion after the film.

DESTINATION MOON
by George Pal

When production on this movie began in 1949, everything about the project was state of the art. The great science fiction author Robert Heinlein co-wrote the script and served as technical advisor. The movie’s astronomical visions were realized by Chesley Bonestell, whose artwork virtually defined the look of space travel at the dawn of the rocket era. This movie is even noted in NASA’s official time line of space-travel history. It remains a milestone film, not so much as classic science fiction but as an attempt to visualize the reality of space exploration.

The movie now seems quaintly nostalgic, and its depiction of humanity’s first lunar landing is inaccurate on several details. Taken in context, however, it remains impressively authentic. The motivation for the lunar conquest remains military: the country that controls the moon will control the Earth, and cold war paranoia fuels the mission of the rocket ship Luna, which blasts off from the Mojave desert carrying four daring astronauts.

Wheelchair accessible around the corner at 411 28th Street

$5 donations are accepted