Customer Reviews
Stands above the rest 
2008-07-18
This is one of the best of the era's many SF films that still holds up today. The special effects were as good as anything done up till that time, and the stop action animation for the alien ships was cool. The three main actors, Adam West, Paul Mantee, and Vic Lundin (who plays Friday) all did fine jobs, and this might have been the peak of Paul Mantee's career, who I don't recall ever doing another staring role like this, although he turns up briefly many years later in the Robert Duvall film, The Great Santini, 15 years or so later. I always (along with West) thought he should have gone much further.
The Martian landscape is beautifully and realistically portrayed, and the science about the Martian surface was accurate for the time. One of the strengths of the movie is in showing how difficult it would be to survive there, and I didn't mind the Deus ex machina of the oxygen containing rocks too much--after all--there wouldn't have been a story if not for that. :-) The final big scene with the meteror strike melting the Pole ice is still memorable, too. Overall, a fine SF classic from another day that stands heads and shoulders above the rest.
Great "Realistic" Science Fiction Film from the Early 60s 2008-06-25
I first saw this film at a drive-in years after its release - and it was great watching it play out under the stars. What still makes this film good is the sense it creates of being alone on an alien planet - of being "lost in space" - that I'm not sure any other sf movie has managed to convey as well. Plus, in spite of some inaccuracies in its science, it comes across as a very probable movie, "realistic" as opposed to the space fantasies of the day.
The actors are very good - they took their roles seriously and it shows. I've always been surprised that Paul Mantee never had a big career after this movie - he certainly should have! What went wrong there? (He sure would have made a good Star Trek Captain.)
It's difficult to explain why this show is so addictive, but I think, more than any other movie of its time, it does make you feel how alien, and lonely, space can be.
This one makes my top 10 of SF movies.
Onbe of the best. 2008-06-16
Robinson Crusoe on Mars is one of the best SciFi films of it era and genre. Drawing as much as possible on the science, technology and expectations of the time, it avoids hokey monsters. The plot is an intense one man/two man story of survival. The script inserts several interesting elements. First rate cinematography, effects and score.
FANTASTIC CLASSIC SCIFI 2008-06-10
I LOVE THIS CLASSIC OUTER SPACE TRIP TO MARS. IN MY VIEW IT IS AN EXCELLENT MOVIE AND ALTHOUGH NOT SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE, YOU BELIEVE EVERY BIT OF IT. THE FILM IS EXCELLENT. THE DVD IS WELL WORTH THE PRICE WITH ALL THE EXTRA FEATURES AND INFORMATION PAMPHLET.
I Wanted To Like It More 
2008-05-08
Given the rather overwhelming number of five-star reviews, I thought perhaps I should at least register my somewhat less ebullient response to this movie -- not to spoil anyone's fun, but merely as a point of balance.
When I rented the (beautifully transferred) Criterion DVD of "Robinson Crusoe on Mars", I secretly hoped I had discovered a sci-fi sleeper/gem. It really had everything working in its favor. The plot line and literary parallel intrigued me, and I had once read something positive about this seldomly mentioned film. Well, as in real-world geology, I discovered that true gems are rare.
My own conclusion is that RCOM is a type of cult film (nothing wrong with that), perfect for a certain sort of science-fiction viewer (I won't attempt here to describe them). For me, though, the level of interest, involvement, and 'credibility' just never rose too high on the thermometer. I certainly didn't hate it (I'd give it 3 1/2 stars if I could), but like I've said I was hoping for something special. I would rate it on a par with some of the better Star Trek TV episodes (original series), though not as good as "The Menagerie" (my favorite installment). And as far as old-time sci-fi flicks go, I would prefer stuff like War of the Worlds, The Fly, The Time Machine, and a few others.
Delightful story, beautifully rendered 
2008-05-02
Special-effects wunderkind and genre master Byron Haskin (The War of the Worlds The Outer Limits) won a place in the hearts of fantasy-film lovers everywhere with this gorgeously designed journey into the unknown. When his spaceship crash-lands on the barren wastelands of Mars U.S. astronaut Commander "Kit" Draper (Paul Mantee) must fight for survival with a pet monkey seemingly his only companion. But is he alone? Shot in vast Techniscope and blazing Technicolor Robinson Crusoe on Mars is an imaginative and beloved techni-marvel of classic science fiction.System Requirements:Running Time: 110 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: SCI-FI/FANTASY Rating: NR UPC: 715515025621 Manufacturer No: CC1712DDVD
Excellent DVD of a childhood memory! 2008-04-29
I had been seeking a copy of Robinson Crusoe on Mars for years and was excited when I saw that Amazon.com had it! This Criterion Collection DVD of a movie I remember seeing as a child in the theatres is excellent quality! The picture quality and the sound are great. The extras are very nice also! The extra comparing what we thought Mars would be like when the movie was made compared to what we know know was very interesting! Yes, we know now that a man (or even his monkey!) wouldn't be able to be able to breathe at all on Mars without a suit, but, hey - this IS science-FICTION! Highly recommended DVD!
Great old sci-fi movie 2008-04-18
Great old sci-fi movie, the rating is for the movie. But i won't buy at $30
Robinson Crusoe on Mars 2008-03-26
I was very pleased when this movie was finally available on DVD. It is the classic Crusoe story with a twist. outer space. It shows that values and kindness towards others can extend beyond our human race. and courage to face unknown challenges. Not a complicated plot but a fun adventure story.
Colorful 2008-02-25
Not as well known or beloved as George Pal and Byron Haskin's WAR OF THE WORLDS and THE TIME MACHINE, this humble film nevertheless displays the adventurous use of color, unusual setting, and unexpected event that characterizes those two more popular films. It links to both films as well--the natural resources of Mars are mined by invaders who use flying search-machines reminiscent of those in WAR OF THE WORLDS; and the key tools of those invaders are slaves, oppressed and victimized by the invaders' reign of terror, much as the Eloi were the victims of the mining Morlocks in THE TIME MACHINE. More understated than naive, this pared-down science fiction adventure is a delightful watch in a gorgeous transfer.
