Space Jockey (lost unfinished Phil Tucker film; 1953): Difference between revisions
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Phil Tucker (1927-1985) is an American film director mostly known for directing the 1953 science-fiction movie ''Robot Monster'', | Phil Tucker (1927-1985) is an American film director mostly known for directing the 1953 science-fiction movie ''Robot Monster'', often listed among the worst movies of all time. Before ''Robot Monster'', he started working on a movie that he never finished: '''''Space Jockey''''' an unfinished, unreleased film dating back to 1953. A possible alternate title was '''''Return to Earth'''''. | ||
Tucker | Tucker describes the lost film as ''"probably the worst film ever made"'', ''"that’s ever been made by anyone, anywhere"'', ''"a real piece of shit"'' while he views his other films as ''"okay"''. Considering the infamous reputation that ''Robot Monster'' has, this brings a lot of speculation to many vintage B-movie fans. | ||
The movie's title is similar to a famous nickname given to a deceased character in the 1979 ''Alien'' movie and a 1947 novel by Robert A. Heinlein.<ref>http://www.nitrosyncretic.com/item-rarc.html</ref> However, it is unknown if it is only coincidental. | |||
==Premise== | |||
According to the words of Tucker himself, ''"it was about a brave crew of men who go to Mars and Venus. And although they don’t make it back, they manage to send back enough information so that the lead can say at the end of the picture, “Now the stars are ours.”"'' | |||
The plot and similar visual elements seemed derivative of 1950 film ''Rocketship X-M''. | |||
==Status== | |||
To this day, no copy or footage of ''Space Jockey'' has reemerged. Tucker himself was unable to recover a print. | |||
Anders Runestad, who authored the book ''I Cannot, Yet I Must: The True Story of the Best Bad Monster Movie of All Time: Robot Monster'', wrote on 20th July 2020 on forum ''Classic Horror Film Board'' that he recovered the script of ''Space Jockey''. A copy was found in the possessions of Donnis Stark Thompson, a cast member of the film, and her son, Tok Thompson, decided to share it with Runestad. The script was published around 2021. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
*[https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Turkey-Awards-Michael-Medved/dp/B000KVLFRG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=golden+turkey+awards&qid=1571421163&sr=8-1 ''The Golden Turkey Awards'' - Harry and Michael Medved (1980)] | {{reflist}} | ||
==External Links== | |||
*https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0875973/ | |||
*[https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Turkey-Awards-Michael-Medved/dp/B000KVLFRG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=golden+turkey+awards&qid=1571421163&sr=8-1 ''The Golden Turkey Awards'' - Harry and Michael Medved (1980).] | |||
*[https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/monsterkidclassichorrorforum/phil-tucker-s-space-jockey-1953-lost-script-has-be-t78213.html Forum adressing the found script] | |||
*[https://runestadwrites.com/2015/08/19/phil-tuckers-space-jockey/ Blog post discussing Phil Tucker's recollections of ''Space Jockey''] | |||
[[Category:Lost films]] | [[Category:Lost films]] | ||
[[Category:Completely lost media]] | |||
Latest revision as of 13:28, 30 April 2023
Poster for Robot Monster, the film Tucker created after Space Jockey.
Status: Lost
Phil Tucker (1927-1985) is an American film director mostly known for directing the 1953 science-fiction movie Robot Monster, often listed among the worst movies of all time. Before Robot Monster, he started working on a movie that he never finished: Space Jockey an unfinished, unreleased film dating back to 1953. A possible alternate title was Return to Earth.
Tucker describes the lost film as "probably the worst film ever made", "that’s ever been made by anyone, anywhere", "a real piece of shit" while he views his other films as "okay". Considering the infamous reputation that Robot Monster has, this brings a lot of speculation to many vintage B-movie fans.
The movie's title is similar to a famous nickname given to a deceased character in the 1979 Alien movie and a 1947 novel by Robert A. Heinlein.[1] However, it is unknown if it is only coincidental.
Premise
According to the words of Tucker himself, "it was about a brave crew of men who go to Mars and Venus. And although they don’t make it back, they manage to send back enough information so that the lead can say at the end of the picture, “Now the stars are ours.”"
The plot and similar visual elements seemed derivative of 1950 film Rocketship X-M.
Status
To this day, no copy or footage of Space Jockey has reemerged. Tucker himself was unable to recover a print.
Anders Runestad, who authored the book I Cannot, Yet I Must: The True Story of the Best Bad Monster Movie of All Time: Robot Monster, wrote on 20th July 2020 on forum Classic Horror Film Board that he recovered the script of Space Jockey. A copy was found in the possessions of Donnis Stark Thompson, a cast member of the film, and her son, Tok Thompson, decided to share it with Runestad. The script was published around 2021.