This movie was shown repeatedly on TV between 1957 and the early 60s. Anyone who saw it in the 50s remembers the soundtrack and the hot Fire Maidens! It was a silly low-tech movie, yes, but it was no worse than any other implausible sci-fi flick of that pre-spaceflight era. This movie is what it is, and what it is, is a pleasurable escapist marshmallow. See it if you can - you'll get a few laughs out of it.
74 Reviews
A noteworthy piece of Sci- Fi. nostalgia
bbhlthph22 August 2004
Science fiction has long held an honorable place in the entertainment industry. Gulliver's Travels was written as a satire on Society in Swift's period, but its theme is essentially science fiction. The books of Jules Verne are noteworthy for featuring much of the scientific knowledge about submarine and space travel current at his time. A broadcast of H.G. Wells "The War of the Worlds", which started with an announcer unwisely declaring that the Martians had landed, caused a major panic in the 1930's; and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's, "The Lost World" was later made into a remarkable film featuring the dinosaur era. But the rapid evolution of films of this genre in recent years is most clearly seen in the case of space travel. When I was young space travel still seemed several generations away, and films featuring it were mostly low budget and quite unsophisticated. Today we have only to think of Independence Day or the Star Trek saga, to realise how completely this situation has reversed. Only very high budget films with extremely sophisticated special effects have any credibility with young people today. Such films do not have a great appeal for me, but I can really enjoy the nostalgia of re-watching some of the early films I first saw when a youth. Their appeal is probably limited largely to people of my age (and perhaps to film historians), so such films are likely to become increasingly difficult to see as time passes. We should be grateful to the Space TV channel (and occasionally one or two of the others) for dusting off some of them for us to watch again.
I found one recent TV revival of this film to be a really delightful piece of nostalgia. Viewers were left in no doubt that it was pure nostalgia right from the opening shot which is in black and white and shows a passenger in a propeller driven airliner settling into his seat and lighting a cigarette. For my generation this quickly brought back memories of traditional Saturday afternoon cinema matinees. In the U.K. town where I then lived admission cost 9d (about the equivalent of 10c Cd today). Clearly at such prices the films shown were all very low budget productions that are easy to criticise today, and obviously viewers much younger than myself are unlikely to share my delight at the rare opportunity to see such films again. This film is not currently listed by Amazon, and I am not sure if it was ever available in video tape format, so there is clearly little ongoing demand to view it. Audiences today have a relatively sophisticated appreciation of space travel and would never accept the scenario of a spacecraft landing on a planet of Jupiter and finding gravity, climate and vegetation very similar to that at home, followed by the further improbabilities associated with finding English speaking inhabitants who were somehow transported there from Atlantis when this terrestrial continent sunk into the sea. However at the time that I first saw this film I would have judged the probability of successful space travel in my lifetime as extremely low; and it is important to appreciate that to my contemporaries, once we had accepted the basic improbability of space travel, all the other assumptions in the script shrank into insignificance. A few of its many incongruities have been identified in other viewers comments, but it can be quite fun to watch this film with the aim of listing as many more as possible.
Once the space travel premise had been accepted, we were left with a whimsical and rather appealing little story which flowed very smoothly. The fire maidens danced gracefully to well known ballet music and there was nothing to really jar in this marshmallow soft tale which passed an afternoon very smoothly. This may be why the Fire Maidens are still remembered nostalgically by many of us whilst most of the numerous other similar low budget epics produced around this time faded into obscurity within a few weeks of their first Saturday afternoon showing. Their audiences were not sophisticated cinema goers but chiefly adolescent teen youths for whom a cast of nubile young women was a prerequisite; and a decade or so after this film was released it became almost obligatory for such low budget films to find an excuse for requiring them to shed their raiments at some point in the story. Perhaps, for all but today's teenage youths, one of the attractions of the rare revivals of this film is the fact that it predates this requirement.
It is fascinating to see how such a story could be filmed with virtually none of the special effects we always expect today. In fact, apart from some non-burning flames and a grotesque head mask suitable for a Mardi Gras parade, it is hard to think of any. The shots of the rocket ship, both on the ground and when taking flight are quite impressive, and it is almost charming to see a long wooden ladder being used to board this relatively sophisticated looking spacecraft.
If you do not remember it and have the chance to see this film, my advice is put your critical faculties aside, sit back, and enjoy it. I doubt if it will soon be possible to buy a copy, but I would urge that a DVD version should be made available. It should not only sell to filmgoers of my generation but also become a valuable part of the film library in every training college or cinematographic club, where it would become recognised both as an interesting precursor of today's space travel films and as a noteworthy example of an ultra-low budget production.
I found one recent TV revival of this film to be a really delightful piece of nostalgia. Viewers were left in no doubt that it was pure nostalgia right from the opening shot which is in black and white and shows a passenger in a propeller driven airliner settling into his seat and lighting a cigarette. For my generation this quickly brought back memories of traditional Saturday afternoon cinema matinees. In the U.K. town where I then lived admission cost 9d (about the equivalent of 10c Cd today). Clearly at such prices the films shown were all very low budget productions that are easy to criticise today, and obviously viewers much younger than myself are unlikely to share my delight at the rare opportunity to see such films again. This film is not currently listed by Amazon, and I am not sure if it was ever available in video tape format, so there is clearly little ongoing demand to view it. Audiences today have a relatively sophisticated appreciation of space travel and would never accept the scenario of a spacecraft landing on a planet of Jupiter and finding gravity, climate and vegetation very similar to that at home, followed by the further improbabilities associated with finding English speaking inhabitants who were somehow transported there from Atlantis when this terrestrial continent sunk into the sea. However at the time that I first saw this film I would have judged the probability of successful space travel in my lifetime as extremely low; and it is important to appreciate that to my contemporaries, once we had accepted the basic improbability of space travel, all the other assumptions in the script shrank into insignificance. A few of its many incongruities have been identified in other viewers comments, but it can be quite fun to watch this film with the aim of listing as many more as possible.
Once the space travel premise had been accepted, we were left with a whimsical and rather appealing little story which flowed very smoothly. The fire maidens danced gracefully to well known ballet music and there was nothing to really jar in this marshmallow soft tale which passed an afternoon very smoothly. This may be why the Fire Maidens are still remembered nostalgically by many of us whilst most of the numerous other similar low budget epics produced around this time faded into obscurity within a few weeks of their first Saturday afternoon showing. Their audiences were not sophisticated cinema goers but chiefly adolescent teen youths for whom a cast of nubile young women was a prerequisite; and a decade or so after this film was released it became almost obligatory for such low budget films to find an excuse for requiring them to shed their raiments at some point in the story. Perhaps, for all but today's teenage youths, one of the attractions of the rare revivals of this film is the fact that it predates this requirement.
It is fascinating to see how such a story could be filmed with virtually none of the special effects we always expect today. In fact, apart from some non-burning flames and a grotesque head mask suitable for a Mardi Gras parade, it is hard to think of any. The shots of the rocket ship, both on the ground and when taking flight are quite impressive, and it is almost charming to see a long wooden ladder being used to board this relatively sophisticated looking spacecraft.
If you do not remember it and have the chance to see this film, my advice is put your critical faculties aside, sit back, and enjoy it. I doubt if it will soon be possible to buy a copy, but I would urge that a DVD version should be made available. It should not only sell to filmgoers of my generation but also become a valuable part of the film library in every training college or cinematographic club, where it would become recognised both as an interesting precursor of today's space travel films and as a noteworthy example of an ultra-low budget production.
12th Moon of Jupiter? Looks more like England to me!!!!
matthew-hyatt8 February 2012
I first saw this film back in 1992, on ITV. I wanted to see it because I had read in Phil Hardy's Aurum Film Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Movies that the film's one major claim to fame was its use of classical music, such as Borodin (and, of course, Stanley Kubrick would use classical music in 2001: A Space Odyssey - mind you, did Stanley Kubrick ever see this film?). Anyway, watching it makes me to admit that it really is a laugh. It begins at an oh-so important space centre in Britain (I think - or was it America?)where the announcer says a 12th moon of Jupiter has been discovered and there are signs of intelligent life on it (!!!!!!!?????????). So, off goes Anthony Dexter (not that chap who played Rudolph Valentino again - well, the late Dennis Gifford said he did!) along with loads of Britishers in the stock footage of a rocket (tsk, tsk, tsk)- and funnily enough, they are not even sitting down in accelerator couches but most are standing up! No mention is made of G-forces - but then again, what's a little gravity amongst friends? Well, Anthony Dexter is sitting down and he is pulling and pushing a lever backwards and forwards to make the rocket go where he wants it to go (Gordon Bennett!). They pass through stock footage of asteroids then land on the 12th moon of Jupiter - which looks more like the green fields of England! Wow, I am impressed! They encounter descendants of the lost civilisation of Atlantis (well, how did they get there?) as 12 beautiful young ladies, who dance well, plus an old bloke and some unfortunate bloke monkeying around in a extremely tatty monkey suit! He's the monster, by the way. The monster gets destroyed and the Atlantean descendants get accepted by Earth society. The End.
Atlantis, outer space, monsters and beauties.
Nozze-Foto19 March 2002
Okay now let me get this straight, the people of Atlantis escaped their sinking continent by blasting off into space where they colonized the 13th moon of Jupiter so 3000 years ago. Now only a dozen or so are left and they are all young, attractive women and just one middle aged man who claims to be the father of all of them. As a certain pointy eared TV character might say, "Fascinating captain." This movie has got to be the culmination of many male fantasies all rolled into one. A bunch of guys from Earth land on the on the planet, which has breathable atmosphere and plenty of sunlight despite being hundreds of millions of miles further from the sun than Earth. They encounter a bunch of miniskirted, barefoot, submissive women (one of whom even exclaims "Men at last!" so you know what has been on their minds!) and get a chance to play hero by defeating a monster called The Creature (a man in a black bodysuit and a monster mask). Unique to say the least. Actually I found myself liking it because of its very ineptness. The photographer never lets us forget the girls sex appeal since the camera is often on ground level giving us a good look at their legs and there is also a long interpretive dance scene. I would say they don't make them like this anymore but the truth is the do, you can find movies similar to this on USA Network every Saturday night at 3 AM.
A Pleasant Diversion
Uriah4328 October 2012
It appears that my evaluation of this film may differ from a vast majority of comments made about it. That's okay. Obviously, other viewers gave their honest opinions and I fully understand and respect their point of view. Be that as it may, allow me to say that I honestly enjoyed this movie. For several reasons. First, I think that in order to fully appreciate a film like this a person really needs to have experienced the time period in which it was made. Things were different and more basic back then. For example, this was an era without personal computers, cable television, cell phones or anything like that. Slide rules were used instead of hand-held calculators and Sputnik hadn't yet been launched. The drug epidemic, Vietnam and the sexual revolution had not yet occurred either. Mini-skirts hadn't been invented and all women wore their skirts below the knee. As a result, young men had to use their imagination to a greater degree. And nothing is better for a young man's imagination than watching a dozen flirtatious "fire maidens" performing a dance routine in alluring attire. If that sounds "tame" then let me just say that it was an innocent time. And this film captures that charm and innocence. Now, don't get me wrong, this is a 1950's era, grade-B, science fiction film all the way. It has bad acting, cheap sets, a thin plot and terrible special effects. I realize all of this. But it was never intended to be taken seriously. It was simply meant to be enjoyed for what it was--a pleasant diversion at a local drive-in on a Saturday night. And what could be a more enjoyable diversion than watching "Hestia" (Susan Shaw) and a dozen beautiful "fire maidens" being rescued from a deadly monster by British and American astronauts on the 13th moon of Jupiter? All it takes is a little imagination.
The love of my life
keith-moyes22 July 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I love cheesy Fifties SF movies. They evoke the world of my childhood more powerfully than any other kind of movies. In the UK, most of these movies were given A or X certificates, so I wasn't able to see them when they were first released, but the few I did see all left an indelible impression. One, believe it or not, was Fire Maidens. I guess I was only about 8 at the time, but the Creature dominated my play for weeks afterwards and I never forgot the movie.
I didn't get to see it again until the late Seventies, when it showed as part of an all-night SF programme at a repertory cinema. It was a terrible print and had a complete reel missing, which made little difference to its coherence. Amazingly, although I could now see how truly desperate the movie is, I got a real frisson watching it. Part of me could still see it through an eight-year-old's eyes.
As a result, I have a fondness for this movie that reason cannot explain. I endorse all that other reviewers have said but still enjoy it far more than it deserves. I would only add a couple of observations and one heartfelt plea.
Firstly, the product placement doesn't stop with Longines. Why start the movie with a pointless flight from America, except to get the TWA logo on the screen? Later in the picture we see a couple of military types in a corridor seeking admittance to the control room. It is a completely unnecessary scene that required the building of an additional set. Why is is there? Check out the notice on the wall next to the guard: "Drink Coca Cola."
Secondly, this kind of bottom-of-the-barrel garbage is unusual for British movies of the era. There is a whole strata of film making that did not seem to exist in Britain. There were no British equivalents of Ed Wood, Phil Tucker, Gerry Warren or Tom Graef: wannabee film makers with the sheer cheek to get movies made and shown despite the fact they had no money, no time and no talent. Their movies were undoubtedly abortions, but at least they got released. I suspect it was a cultural thing: that kind of maverick, 'can do' attitude was common in America but alien to Britain in the Fifties. It comes as no surprise to learn that Cy Roth, the writer/producer/director of Fire Maidens, was an American.
Finally, I have a copy of Fire Maidens on NTSC video tape and on DVD. Both are edited versions, missing most of the surreal scene with the secretary in the observatory, and both appear to be transcribed from a poor TV broadcast (there is heavy fringing throughout).
I know that better prints exist, because a complete version of Fire Maidens was shown on cable TV about 15 years ago. Does any one know where I can get a good print? Help me please!!
I didn't get to see it again until the late Seventies, when it showed as part of an all-night SF programme at a repertory cinema. It was a terrible print and had a complete reel missing, which made little difference to its coherence. Amazingly, although I could now see how truly desperate the movie is, I got a real frisson watching it. Part of me could still see it through an eight-year-old's eyes.
As a result, I have a fondness for this movie that reason cannot explain. I endorse all that other reviewers have said but still enjoy it far more than it deserves. I would only add a couple of observations and one heartfelt plea.
Firstly, the product placement doesn't stop with Longines. Why start the movie with a pointless flight from America, except to get the TWA logo on the screen? Later in the picture we see a couple of military types in a corridor seeking admittance to the control room. It is a completely unnecessary scene that required the building of an additional set. Why is is there? Check out the notice on the wall next to the guard: "Drink Coca Cola."
Secondly, this kind of bottom-of-the-barrel garbage is unusual for British movies of the era. There is a whole strata of film making that did not seem to exist in Britain. There were no British equivalents of Ed Wood, Phil Tucker, Gerry Warren or Tom Graef: wannabee film makers with the sheer cheek to get movies made and shown despite the fact they had no money, no time and no talent. Their movies were undoubtedly abortions, but at least they got released. I suspect it was a cultural thing: that kind of maverick, 'can do' attitude was common in America but alien to Britain in the Fifties. It comes as no surprise to learn that Cy Roth, the writer/producer/director of Fire Maidens, was an American.
Finally, I have a copy of Fire Maidens on NTSC video tape and on DVD. Both are edited versions, missing most of the surreal scene with the secretary in the observatory, and both appear to be transcribed from a poor TV broadcast (there is heavy fringing throughout).
I know that better prints exist, because a complete version of Fire Maidens was shown on cable TV about 15 years ago. Does any one know where I can get a good print? Help me please!!
I was young when I saw it!
mitchdi5 August 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I saw this movie when it was released. My friend and I who saw it thought it was funny then and I still think it is one of the most unintentionally funny films ever made. The 'no-expense-spared' location shots of, possibly the planet Clapham Common, are a complete hoot. Whenever I talk with people about bad films I have seen (and I've seen a few) this one always comes up. Some of the people in it went on to become car-park attendants, I think. One thing, though. It was a 'B' feature, but I cannot for the life of me remember what the big film was, so it must have had something to make me remember it. And, it was better than 'The Wicker Man' (don't get me started on that bilge!)
Not the good kind of bad.
imdb-1262120 February 2006
I just saw this at the Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival 31. I have a few observations to offer.
This movie certainly falls within the realm of "there go eighty minutes of my life that I'll never get back again". In fact I have two quite earnest theories about this movie that may account for at least a part of its overall horribility.
It is quite obvious that the film was only minimally scripted. There were all the hallmarks of improvised dialog, but not in an artsy experimental cinema kind of way. More like "OK, We've got this sound stage for an hour, but no dialog written. Action!" My other suspicion is that the studio contracted for a film of a specific length, and the director was actively trying to pad it out. This is quite obvious. Another commenter mentioned product placements for Longines watches, but not every time we were subjected to real-time half-minute closeups of clocks were we looking at a Longines.
Finally, If I ever hear Borodin's "Stranger in Paradise" again, I'll strangle myself! It was played at least twelve times, I'd swear.
I've officially named the villain "Mr. Tiki-Head" for reasons that will be obvious if you have the misfortune to view this dreadful excuse for a movie.
This movie certainly falls within the realm of "there go eighty minutes of my life that I'll never get back again". In fact I have two quite earnest theories about this movie that may account for at least a part of its overall horribility.
It is quite obvious that the film was only minimally scripted. There were all the hallmarks of improvised dialog, but not in an artsy experimental cinema kind of way. More like "OK, We've got this sound stage for an hour, but no dialog written. Action!" My other suspicion is that the studio contracted for a film of a specific length, and the director was actively trying to pad it out. This is quite obvious. Another commenter mentioned product placements for Longines watches, but not every time we were subjected to real-time half-minute closeups of clocks were we looking at a Longines.
Finally, If I ever hear Borodin's "Stranger in Paradise" again, I'll strangle myself! It was played at least twelve times, I'd swear.
I've officially named the villain "Mr. Tiki-Head" for reasons that will be obvious if you have the misfortune to view this dreadful excuse for a movie.
"Hey! I wonder what we'll find on the thirteenth moon?"
richardchatten6 September 2019
The total of Jupiter's known moons presently stands at 79. Number 13 was discovered in 1974 and named Leda, which presumably means that this film is set in the mid-1970s; although no Atlantean civilisation relocated from Earth was noticed by its discoverers and no manned spaceflight there has yet been attempted (possibly because it is only 6 miles across).
After emerging from the V2 in which they made their three-week trip from Earth, the crew wander about deepest Hertfordshire for a bit before returning to what appear to be standing sets from previous historical productions at Elstree Studios at Borehamwood. The memorable use of excerpts from Borodin's 'Prince Igor' (acknowledged in the credits) pre-dates the use of Strauss in '2001'; but 'Fire Maidens from Outer Space' also shares with Kubrick's film the presence of Maya Koumani. (Prominently featured in the opening credits and as one of the dancing Fire Maidens, Ms Koumani later gets some dialogue, whereupon she is identified by name as what sounds like 'Nyssa'. In '2001' she appears as Dr Stretyeneva, one of the Russian delegation that meets Dr.Floyd at Space Station V.)
Interestingly enough, although there isn't the usual woman among the five-man crew (which includes the reassuringly familiar faces of Paul Carpenter, Sydney Tafler & Harry Fowler) - presumably because there'll be plenty of them were they're going - two of the six senior staff shown gathered round the radio at Mission Control are women.
After emerging from the V2 in which they made their three-week trip from Earth, the crew wander about deepest Hertfordshire for a bit before returning to what appear to be standing sets from previous historical productions at Elstree Studios at Borehamwood. The memorable use of excerpts from Borodin's 'Prince Igor' (acknowledged in the credits) pre-dates the use of Strauss in '2001'; but 'Fire Maidens from Outer Space' also shares with Kubrick's film the presence of Maya Koumani. (Prominently featured in the opening credits and as one of the dancing Fire Maidens, Ms Koumani later gets some dialogue, whereupon she is identified by name as what sounds like 'Nyssa'. In '2001' she appears as Dr Stretyeneva, one of the Russian delegation that meets Dr.Floyd at Space Station V.)
Interestingly enough, although there isn't the usual woman among the five-man crew (which includes the reassuringly familiar faces of Paul Carpenter, Sydney Tafler & Harry Fowler) - presumably because there'll be plenty of them were they're going - two of the six senior staff shown gathered round the radio at Mission Control are women.
England's Finest
bletcherstonerson21 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
No Film made in England can come close to the greatness and cinematic quality of this forgotten piece celluloid art. I am shocked that this is not in the Criterion Collection, I used to think that "Beat Girl" was England's "perfect film". However, Fire Maidens is empirical proof of the country's creative genius.
As the fire maidens walk briskly around in circles the suspense builds to a crescendo while a taut rescue is planned to save the lead Fire Maiden from her imminent sacrifice, a scene with this measure of suspense has never been matched. This film set a metric for dialogue, and action that later British movies like Bridge over the River Kwai, and Lawrence of Arabia tried to meet, but paled in comparison. This film casts a giant shadow with the Ballet sequences so difficult, they could only be duplicated by Isadora Duncan. So if you are looking for a Science Fiction movie, this is not it, but if you are looking for an existential film with depth and philosophic questions that you will be plagued with after viewing, then this forgotten gem is for you. I guarantee that after viewing this, you will ask yourself a question in wonderment that is against all known laws of science and religion ," How can I get those 55 minutes of my life back, and if I can't...will the universe punish me for wasting them so greatly."
As the fire maidens walk briskly around in circles the suspense builds to a crescendo while a taut rescue is planned to save the lead Fire Maiden from her imminent sacrifice, a scene with this measure of suspense has never been matched. This film set a metric for dialogue, and action that later British movies like Bridge over the River Kwai, and Lawrence of Arabia tried to meet, but paled in comparison. This film casts a giant shadow with the Ballet sequences so difficult, they could only be duplicated by Isadora Duncan. So if you are looking for a Science Fiction movie, this is not it, but if you are looking for an existential film with depth and philosophic questions that you will be plagued with after viewing, then this forgotten gem is for you. I guarantee that after viewing this, you will ask yourself a question in wonderment that is against all known laws of science and religion ," How can I get those 55 minutes of my life back, and if I can't...will the universe punish me for wasting them so greatly."
Yet Another Film About a Lost Tribe of Women...
Space_Mafune17 June 2003
Like nearly all these films, A lost group of traveling men, here astronauts, stumble upon a glorious and most unexpected find upon Jupiter's 13th Moon: a group of scantily clad young lovelies looking for husbands (yes it's another CAT WOMEN OF THE MOON rehash). Along the way they must overcome a deadly meteor shower and a weird misshapen creature (a tall guy wearing a mask) which roams the moon. If you like this type of film (CAT WOMEN OF THE MOON, MISSILE TO THE MOON, QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE), you'll likely enjoy this one too even though it actually somehow manages to look cheaper and more low budget than any of those. Some rather unexpected musical accompaniment does enhance a dance ritual scene.
Why not simply just enjoy this charming piece of sci-fi escapism?
ronevickers7 May 2007
I've read many comments on this film over the years, from fully fledged movie critics & amateurs alike. Apart from a few exceptions, it is universally slammed. Surely these ultra-critical critics have missed the whole point - Fire Maidens From Outer Space is exactly what it was meant to be, quite simply an extremely low-budget piece of escapism which requires no deep thinking, or analysis, on the part of the viewer. It was obviously made on the frayed edge of a shoestring budget, but it still manages to convey a charm all of its own. I remember seeing the film as a child, not long after its release in the UK when, I think it was on a double bill with a Superman film (can anyone confirm this?) and saw it again on TV in 1963. Even watching it today, it is perfectly clear that it has lost none of its original distinctive innocence and charm. Obviously it has many flaws, and as these have been catalogued many, many times, it is pointless to repeat them here and now. However, one comparison I must dispute most strongly is that with Plan Nine From Outer Space. That particular Ed Wood effort was plainly irritating, and is scarcely watchable all the way through, in one sitting. Fire Maidens From Outer Space certainly doesn't come across as irritating or tedious, and is just a bit of fun. Anyway, I don't care what anyone thinks or says, I will always be fond of this film, in all its innate glory, or not, as the case may be.
Kismet on Jupiter
JohnHowardReid29 November 2006
Despite inept dialogue, cramped sets, second-string acting, penny-pinching special effects, and time-wasting "B"-picture shuffling, this low-budget, sci-fi yarn is not all that unentertaining. Decided assets include: (1) The plot, neatly combining the Atlantis legend with Theseus and the Minotaur; (2) a bit of effective Minotaur make-up by Roy Ashton; (3) a few flashes of directorial skill by Mr Roth; and (4) not least, a bevy of really beautiful fire maidens led by the very charming Susan Shaw (one of my favorites, I must admit) and the agreeably villainous Maya Koumani.
Camp followers will also enjoy the zippy music score comprising a few snatches of Khachaturian's "Saber Dance" with generous excerpts from Borodin's "Polovetsian Dances". If you close your eyes, you can almost imagine yourself listening to the soundtrack of M-G-M's Kismet.
True, Dexter makes a wet hero, and Carpenter is even more soppy, but who cares?
Camp followers will also enjoy the zippy music score comprising a few snatches of Khachaturian's "Saber Dance" with generous excerpts from Borodin's "Polovetsian Dances". If you close your eyes, you can almost imagine yourself listening to the soundtrack of M-G-M's Kismet.
True, Dexter makes a wet hero, and Carpenter is even more soppy, but who cares?
My cat could make a better movie
Dextrousleftie25 April 2009
You know, in spite of how bad this one is I really like it. It's one of my fav of the older MST3Ks, because of the sheer cheese factor and the very funny riffing on this travesty by the SOL crew. The sad thing is they took a few bits of interesting plot(they didn't even know if Jupiter had a 13th moon in the 50s!) and padded it out with the most ridiculous things - bad dancing, loathsome men leering at pretty girls, a really stupid 'monster'(which they never explain the origins of), men smoking and sitting around, an inexplicable cup of poisoned wine, and a sacrifice that never quite happens. The science part of this sci fi movie is almost non-existent. The 'astronauts' don't wear spacesuits; the ship is retarded looking and wouldn't even get off the ground; two levers control every function on the ship; the moon is identical to Earth in every way; the Atlanteans speak English with no explanation; and not only is the trip way too fast when they communicate with Earth there is no time lag whatsoever even though they're millions of miles apart. The Stranger in Paradise soundtrack is so repetitive that it makes you want to stick an ice pick in your ear after awhile so you don't have to listen to it anymore. Lots of padding, male chauvinism, girls in skimpy costumes, and innuendo. Horrible, to say the least. But wonderfully cheesy, which is why its so amusing in spite of all of these defects. MST3K just had so MUCH to work with! The movie isn't dull like so many Corman films, in spite of the padding.
Makes Plan 9 Look Like an Epic???
michaeljacobs31 January 2004
Somebody else mentioned the shocking level of product placement for Longines watches (and we thought that placement was new in the movie "2001"). What nobody else here has touched on is that dreadful loooooonnnnngggg scene in the observatory in England near the start of the movie where the secretary spends about 20 minutes (well, almost) just walking down the long stairs to bring a report to the chief astronomer, and then spends almost as long going back up (including opening and shutting the safety gate on the stairs...) Yes, truly a movie in which the concept of editing was only a slogan!
The rest of the comments above by previous commentators say it all, but I must point out that in the early days of analogue ship controls, all piloting functions appear to be digital, carried out by switching the positions of just two levers (in binary sequence?) to do everything - take off, land, dodge meteors, change course, etc... Even better, when the crew report in after quite a long flight, we cut back to the control centre on Earth, and yes, nobody has moved from their pre-launch positions! (Were their shoes nailed to the floor?)
In Britain, we don't get to see MST3K, so I watched this as a late-night stinker, and loved it. I shared the movie with friends on tape, and still feel that it's amongst the funniest B movies I have ever seen, right down there with Plan 9, and without the excuse that it was made by Ed Wood Jr!
The rest of the comments above by previous commentators say it all, but I must point out that in the early days of analogue ship controls, all piloting functions appear to be digital, carried out by switching the positions of just two levers (in binary sequence?) to do everything - take off, land, dodge meteors, change course, etc... Even better, when the crew report in after quite a long flight, we cut back to the control centre on Earth, and yes, nobody has moved from their pre-launch positions! (Were their shoes nailed to the floor?)
In Britain, we don't get to see MST3K, so I watched this as a late-night stinker, and loved it. I shared the movie with friends on tape, and still feel that it's amongst the funniest B movies I have ever seen, right down there with Plan 9, and without the excuse that it was made by Ed Wood Jr!
A sedate British sci-fi cheapie guaranteed to improve your mood
AlsExGal26 October 2022
The copy I found on YouTube was an Olive Films restoration, and I could clearly see what was going on. The laughs start with a line in the opening credits; "All outer space characters are fictional". The film's plot concerns a trip to the 13th moon of Jupiter, which has an atmosphere just like Earths', and male and female inhabitants.
Longines must have paid for part of the film, as they are mentioned at least three times, their clocks get four closeups, and there are three closeups of their wristwatches. There is a constant use of "Strangers in Paradise" as background music whenever the female inhabitants of Jupiters' 13th moon do their versions of interpretive dance. The filmmakers let the viewer get too good a look at the "creature" that roams the woods; it's nothing more than a skinny man wearing a bad Werewolf mask with a tuft of hair on top and eyeholes to look out of.
The acting is uniformly dreadful. When the creature appears near films' end, the astronauts can't stop themselves from smiling/grinning. The main female character in the scene looks to be biting her lip to keep from laughing. This slow moving, silly, British film gets a 3/10 rather than just a 1/10 because it did make me smile on a day I was not feeling like doing so.
Longines must have paid for part of the film, as they are mentioned at least three times, their clocks get four closeups, and there are three closeups of their wristwatches. There is a constant use of "Strangers in Paradise" as background music whenever the female inhabitants of Jupiters' 13th moon do their versions of interpretive dance. The filmmakers let the viewer get too good a look at the "creature" that roams the woods; it's nothing more than a skinny man wearing a bad Werewolf mask with a tuft of hair on top and eyeholes to look out of.
The acting is uniformly dreadful. When the creature appears near films' end, the astronauts can't stop themselves from smiling/grinning. The main female character in the scene looks to be biting her lip to keep from laughing. This slow moving, silly, British film gets a 3/10 rather than just a 1/10 because it did make me smile on a day I was not feeling like doing so.
Welcome to New Atlantis.
Hey_Sweden10 December 2017
A five man team of astronauts undertake a joint American-British mission to investigate the possibility of life on the previously undiscovered 13th moon of Jupiter. There they discover a civilization of babes who are supposed to be the last living descendants of the residents of Atlantis. Oh, and they also realize that there is a "creature" roaming around that the lovely ladies fear.
"Fire Maidens from Outer Space" just goes to show you that the Brits can deliver cheesy goods just as "well" as Americans when it comes to this sort of low budget genre entertainment. We of course don't take it seriously, although it's largely played with an endearing sincerity from the majority of the actors. That "creature" is certainly good for laughs; Richard Walter plays the role in a crude mask that seems to have no means of vocalization, yet the thing is always heard howling and snarling. The sets are designed as frugally as possible, and special effects are likewise economically done.
Anthony Dexter plays American scientist Luther Blair, our strapping hero, and receives amiable support from Paul Carpenter, Harry Fowler, Sydney Tafler, and Rodney Diak, who play his comrades. Owen Berry is a hoot as gnarly old man Prasus, Jacqueline Curtis is alluring as the jealous Duessa, and Susan Shaw is positively GORGEOUS as Hestia, the female lead.
"Fire Maidens from Outer Space" has its clunky charms, just like many other movies of this kind, but the unqualified highlight is when the Fire Maidens perform interpretive dance to the strains of music by Aleksandr Borodin.
Written, produced and directed by American-born Cy Roth, whose other theatrical credits include "Air Strike" and "Combat Squad".
Five out of 10.
"Fire Maidens from Outer Space" just goes to show you that the Brits can deliver cheesy goods just as "well" as Americans when it comes to this sort of low budget genre entertainment. We of course don't take it seriously, although it's largely played with an endearing sincerity from the majority of the actors. That "creature" is certainly good for laughs; Richard Walter plays the role in a crude mask that seems to have no means of vocalization, yet the thing is always heard howling and snarling. The sets are designed as frugally as possible, and special effects are likewise economically done.
Anthony Dexter plays American scientist Luther Blair, our strapping hero, and receives amiable support from Paul Carpenter, Harry Fowler, Sydney Tafler, and Rodney Diak, who play his comrades. Owen Berry is a hoot as gnarly old man Prasus, Jacqueline Curtis is alluring as the jealous Duessa, and Susan Shaw is positively GORGEOUS as Hestia, the female lead.
"Fire Maidens from Outer Space" has its clunky charms, just like many other movies of this kind, but the unqualified highlight is when the Fire Maidens perform interpretive dance to the strains of music by Aleksandr Borodin.
Written, produced and directed by American-born Cy Roth, whose other theatrical credits include "Air Strike" and "Combat Squad".
Five out of 10.
It's perfect for RiffTrax
ksdilauri8 July 2019
Most of us go into these low-budget, no-name, 1950's sci-fi things with similar expectations: it's going to be lame, but good for some unintentional laughs. 'Fire Maidens' maintains that mediocre standard proudly. (It was apparently funded by Big Tobacco, because most of the earthlings are constantly lighting up, and a Chesterfield pack shows clearly in one scene. ) Less prominent is any evidence of realistic dialogue or acting talent, especially among the titular characters. However, they are adept at wearing flimsy clothing and dancing to the tune of "Stranger in Paradise", which somehow found its way to the 13th moon of Jupiter. Meanwhile, back on Earth, the staff at 'mission control' is a hoot--in all their scenes, they're standing in exactly the same places around a desk, like mannequins, although at times one may light a cigarette. The script-as well as Jupiter's sunlight, breathable air, posh habitats, and conveniently-English-speaking fire maidens- are every 1950's adolescent boy's outer-space fantasy. While it IS hokey, it's still kind of sad that most audiences today require nonstop conflict, combat, darkness, gore and mayhem in order to be entertained. Progress? Maybe a trip back to a simpler time isn't so bad.
Falls so short of the title's potential that it makes me want to cry...
lemon_magic14 January 2007
Warning: Spoilers
"Fire Maidens Of Outer Space" misses the mark on so many levels that I wanted to travel to England and throw rocks at the window of the room in the nursing home that Cy Young is probably living in now. It's an exercise in tedium, static blocking, and endless padding, weighed down with a tiny budget and zero imagination in production and art design.
In its favor: they actually play some music by Borodin and what sounds like the "Saber Dance" at some points in the movie, a nice touch considering the title; the fire maidens are quite attractive (if somewhat blank faced) and the camera spends a lot of time focused on their shapely legs as they walk endlessly from one corridor to another; if you're going to have liturgical dancing in a cheap science fiction movie (and it seemed to be a requirement whenever the plot concerned alien civilizations), you might as well have well choreographed liturgical dancing, and the women are pleasantly limber and graceful. Also the set-up with the alien civilization can't help but serve as a litmus test for the modern male viewer's chauvinism and political correctness (what with the patriarch apparently being a semi- doddering drunk surrounded by nubile women - your reactions to this will tell you a lot about yourself).
Against: well, the first third of the screenplay is about as exciting for the viewer as the time my best friend and I camped out in his back yard in a piano crate overnight and pretended we were flying to the moon and back. (We were 10 years old at the time). And the special effects aren't much more convincing. The rest of the movie resembles a slow motion Brtish bedroom farce, only without the slamming doors or humor.
I am glad I saw this - once! - if only to assure myself that the movie in no way lived up to the promise of its title and that I hadn't missed anything worthwhile by putting off watching it for 30+ years.
In its favor: they actually play some music by Borodin and what sounds like the "Saber Dance" at some points in the movie, a nice touch considering the title; the fire maidens are quite attractive (if somewhat blank faced) and the camera spends a lot of time focused on their shapely legs as they walk endlessly from one corridor to another; if you're going to have liturgical dancing in a cheap science fiction movie (and it seemed to be a requirement whenever the plot concerned alien civilizations), you might as well have well choreographed liturgical dancing, and the women are pleasantly limber and graceful. Also the set-up with the alien civilization can't help but serve as a litmus test for the modern male viewer's chauvinism and political correctness (what with the patriarch apparently being a semi- doddering drunk surrounded by nubile women - your reactions to this will tell you a lot about yourself).
Against: well, the first third of the screenplay is about as exciting for the viewer as the time my best friend and I camped out in his back yard in a piano crate overnight and pretended we were flying to the moon and back. (We were 10 years old at the time). And the special effects aren't much more convincing. The rest of the movie resembles a slow motion Brtish bedroom farce, only without the slamming doors or humor.
I am glad I saw this - once! - if only to assure myself that the movie in no way lived up to the promise of its title and that I hadn't missed anything worthwhile by putting off watching it for 30+ years.
1950's sexist fantasy come to life *Spoilers*
icehole411 February 2002
Warning: Spoilers
This film definitely doesn't stand up to the test of time. Basically the plot goes like this: A group of Astronauts land on a planet where there is an old coot and a bunch of hot babes eager to find a husband. These women were supposedly descended from the Greek goddess Venus. Then for conflict they throw in a silly-looking monster that the men must destroy, but it's supposedly indestructable. Sloppy acting, sloppy plotline shoot this one down.
Avoid unless you're watching the MST3K version.
Avoid unless you're watching the MST3K version.
Jupiter!! America's Dairyland!! (moo)
ticklemetorgo3 September 2005
Tedious? You bet and quite cheesy too, but unlike most films seen on MST not too fun. Joel and the bots do try but this film just drags and drags and drags. Five whitely dressed British astronauts go to the 13th moon of Jupiter because they saw it had an atmosphere (without the aid of any of the Voyager spacecraft or the Hubble telescope) after dodging space popcorn they safely land their V-2 rocket in Wisconsin (sorry Jupiter's 13th moon) and smoke a lot. Eventually an old man and his hot daughters greet the men and try to seduce them, convincing them that they are the last survivors of Atlantis. Well it takes forever for our nicotine fiends to find their way out their lair and try to avoid a not too scary monster who wears a turtleneck. The best part of all of this was not the movie itself but Joel's epic battle with the evil Timmy!!
MST3K - Fire Madiens
angelfish7430 September 2005
This movie is solely about five guys who sit around for a long time in a rocket ship headed towards Jupiter's thirteenth moon. Where they find human life, well, rather many "attractive" women, an old man, and The Creature (a horrible costume, if i may say so). The MST3K version made me laugh hysterically and made the movie much more entertaining that it otherwise would have been. if you have an interest in this movie, i suggest getting the MST3K version. It's worth the watch. Too much interpretive dance if you ask me. The Creature could definitely use a little love. The special effects and definitely short of special...then again, we must remember the time period, but come on, the rocket could have been a little better.
I Love This Movie
timbertrail444427 March 2016
I just love this movie. I can watch it over and over and get enjoyment out of it. I first saw it in 1956 as a child and watched it many times over the years. The musical soundtrack is so captivating. Susan Shaw is very cute. It reminds me of the early Universal Pictures Horror Movies that I can watch again and again. This movie and The Mole People and Zombies of Mora Tau are my favorites from the time period. Please watch it and see if you agree with me. Many of the current movies cannot hold my interest and I have to force myself to sit through them. This movie has a certain charm and holds my interest. It is a low budget but they did a great job with the funds they had at the time.
I Have A Soft Spot In My Heart For This Movie
Joseph-106 February 2000
Okay, so it's ultra-cheap. However, any movie that can inspire the MST3K crew to such high peaks of mocking has to be worth something. Who can forget all of the sitting, the wonderfully cheap controls, the smoking, the phone receiver held upside down to be used as a microphone, the sitting, the interminable dancing to "Stranger in Paradise," the smoking and the screen's wussiest monster?
By the way, did I mention the sitting and smoking. I quit five years ago, and this movie makes me want to light up just to have something to do during the smoking scenes.
By the way, did I mention the sitting and smoking. I quit five years ago, and this movie makes me want to light up just to have something to do during the smoking scenes.
Does your dad got like...bowel problems?
jerome_horwitz3 December 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Fire Maidens from Outer Space, about the only thing I agree with is the maidens part. This mid-50s sci-fi flick is just horrible. I don't really know how else to put it.
The story is one of man venturing to a moon of Jupiter. Upon arrival the Earth ship, and the 5 male passengers, is greeted with co-ordinates of where to land. After some exploring the Earth men come upon a screaming maiden who appears to being assaulted by a werewolf (thing)? The Earth men scare the werewolf off, and follow the maiden back to her lair. As the story continues we learn this moon's inhabitants are actually offspring from the civilization of Atlantis. I'm not really sure if the werewolf is ever adequately explained, only that something about the Earth men can't leave until they figure out a way to kill it. As well, the population has since dwindled to near nothing, and the 5 Earth men are nearly forced to mate with the lovely maidens. Of course the Earth men can't leave for that reason as well. The movie ends with the werewolf being killed, and the Earth men being freed to return back to Earth, even taking one of the maidens with.
There's a lot that can't really be explained about this film. The werewolf thing, I don't really think it was ever explained or whatever it was. I really don't know for certain.
MST3k does a fairly well job with this old turd. But it's still extremely painful, and required many viewings to actually be able to watch the entire thing. 1/10
The story is one of man venturing to a moon of Jupiter. Upon arrival the Earth ship, and the 5 male passengers, is greeted with co-ordinates of where to land. After some exploring the Earth men come upon a screaming maiden who appears to being assaulted by a werewolf (thing)? The Earth men scare the werewolf off, and follow the maiden back to her lair. As the story continues we learn this moon's inhabitants are actually offspring from the civilization of Atlantis. I'm not really sure if the werewolf is ever adequately explained, only that something about the Earth men can't leave until they figure out a way to kill it. As well, the population has since dwindled to near nothing, and the 5 Earth men are nearly forced to mate with the lovely maidens. Of course the Earth men can't leave for that reason as well. The movie ends with the werewolf being killed, and the Earth men being freed to return back to Earth, even taking one of the maidens with.
There's a lot that can't really be explained about this film. The werewolf thing, I don't really think it was ever explained or whatever it was. I really don't know for certain.
MST3k does a fairly well job with this old turd. But it's still extremely painful, and required many viewings to actually be able to watch the entire thing. 1/10
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