Wealthy industrialist Wayne Crowder uses all his company's assets to build a private spaceship and become the first man in space. He pushes at all costs to achieve his goal. What will happen?, well that's what this story is about. Very low budget TV "play" from the early years of television. A nice little surprise twist puts this short selection to a close. Listen to the dramatic background music, very reminiscent of old radio shows. Test flight is quite a nice little treat. The DVD that I saw was complete with commercials from Jacques Kreisler watchbands. If you don't like the old stuff, stay away. If you get a kick out of B movies, maybe even old radio shows, this is for you.
6 Reviews
good series for it's time
blakezen10 October 2018
A very good episode with some surprisingly bad acting.
planktonrules17 September 2012
Lee J. Cobb was a brilliant actor. On Broadway, he scored a HUGE success in the late 1940s playing the lead in "Death of a Salesman" and played many great supporting roles in films--such as in "12 Angry Men". Because he was such a fine actor, I was taken aback when I watched "Test Flight", as he was the weakest link in an otherwise excellent episode of "Tales of Tomorrow". I am pretty sure that this show was aired lived (very common in 1951)--especially as many episodes had slight miscues from the actors that would have been re-shot had they been filmed first. Had this show been filmed first, I am sure Cobb would have been a lot better. But the sad fact is that when the show began, it seemed like he had no idea what he was saying or why. Now it got much better--but the first couple minutes were just embarrassing to watch. Also, while a much smaller problem , the organ music was also very poor and distracting.
Cobb plays a megalomaniac head of a corporation. He's decided, on his own, to build a spaceship to go to Mars! The problem is that as the CEO, he's also decided to use the corporation's money to fund this insanely expensive program. Throughout the show, board members vow to stop him from destroying the company, but Cobb is not to be swayed. And, with the help of a scientist to had created new engines capable of the trip, it looks like the nutty plan MIGHT work. But there, of course, is a hitch! The show has a nice plot and a great twist at the end. So, look past Cobb's mistakes and you'll enjoy a fine early sci-fi anthology episode--one that makes nice use of cheap props and a simple idea.
Cobb plays a megalomaniac head of a corporation. He's decided, on his own, to build a spaceship to go to Mars! The problem is that as the CEO, he's also decided to use the corporation's money to fund this insanely expensive program. Throughout the show, board members vow to stop him from destroying the company, but Cobb is not to be swayed. And, with the help of a scientist to had created new engines capable of the trip, it looks like the nutty plan MIGHT work. But there, of course, is a hitch! The show has a nice plot and a great twist at the end. So, look past Cobb's mistakes and you'll enjoy a fine early sci-fi anthology episode--one that makes nice use of cheap props and a simple idea.
Slight but fun sci-fi yarn
jamesrupert201411 December 2021
A wealthy self-centered industrialist decides to become the first man in space (an interesting bit of foreshadowing...) and will go to any means to do so, including betting everything on an experimental magnetic space-drive. The whole plot is a set up for a 'twist ending' (not unusual for anthology episodes) but remains mildly entertaining and inventive (the twist was likely more of a 'surprise' 70 years ago). Future A-lister Lee J. Cobb bullies and blusters his way through a fairly simplistic script and the live filming of the old show is apparent, as the cast members occasionally stumble over a words. There is not a lot of 'science' in the fiction and the final 'reveal' is not practically effective (but at least they tried). Far from great but typical, so if you enjoy the fanciful anthology series from the '50s, you'll probably like this episode.
I Should Have Asked to Drive!
Hitchcoc30 July 2013
Lee J. Cobb is in classic bully stance here as he rants and raves about building a rocket to go into outer space. He also wants to be the first person to take the ride. The process is going to take millions and he is willing to destroy his own company and betray his stockholders to do this. He is constantly at odds with the board of directors but he ignores their practicality and gets his way. He hires a strange man who begins the process of building the ship. More and more money flows and there is more and more need for metals and fuels, etc., etc. The story if filled with potholes (technology, for one) and Cobb's nut case obsessions are really out there. Also, there is some ridiculous stock footage in the middle as they look for some strange element that will add millions to the project. Not much of an episode and pretty easy to predict.
Not quite "The Man Who Sold the Moon"
Martin-12116 October 2022
The plot is extremely close to the Heinlein novella "The Man Who Sold the Moon". There's a twist at the end, but I won't spoil it. (I saw it coming from about the middle.)
There's nothing wrong with similar stories. There are only so many ideas. What matters is the execution. They did a good job of compressing a big idea into a half hour. An industrialist begs, borrows, and steals to launch the first rocket into space. He tangles, with governments, rivals, partners, and friends, letting nothing stand in the way of his vision. Will he reach space? What will he learn in the process? What fate lies ahead?
This is the fourth episode I've seen. They were shot on a 1950s TV budget with 1950s special effects (i.e., not much). But I like the stories.
There's nothing wrong with similar stories. There are only so many ideas. What matters is the execution. They did a good job of compressing a big idea into a half hour. An industrialist begs, borrows, and steals to launch the first rocket into space. He tangles, with governments, rivals, partners, and friends, letting nothing stand in the way of his vision. Will he reach space? What will he learn in the process? What fate lies ahead?
This is the fourth episode I've seen. They were shot on a 1950s TV budget with 1950s special effects (i.e., not much). But I like the stories.
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