Rocky Jones, Space Ranger: Crash of the Moons (1954)

Cast:

Richard Crane is Rocky Jones
Scotty Beckett is Winky
Sally Mansfield is Vena Ray
Robert Lyden is Bobby
Maurice Cass is Professor Newton
Charles Meredith is Secretary of Space Drake

What the box says:

Richard Crane stars as legendary space captain "Rocky Jones, Space Ranger" in this 2-part episode from the syndicated 1954 television series. The series was cancelled after a single season because the costly special effects made it unprofitable. Rocky's scantily clad assistant Vena Ray is played by Sally Mansfield.

Plot:

On Opheusius, Kleolana, the woman leader of her world, demands that Rocky Jones, Space Ranger, and his crew leave her planet or else. Rocky isn't able to discuss anything with Madame Tyrannomaxima.

Captain Kirk doesn't have anything on me...Rocky Jones: Space RAnger!!! Elsewhere, on the space station, Vena, Professor Newton have calculated that the approaching Gypsy moons will soon destroy the space station and the atmosphere chain will numerous worlds.

The rocket is able to evacuate the station.

Nice to know that Sputnik wasn't the pinnacle of 1950s space technology... They try to push the station out of the atmosphere and even try radioing Bor-el to no avail.

On the Gypsy Moon, Bosito, Bor-el is waiting so he can meet his friends Rocky Jones, etc, again...

My son, Kal-el, yuo will be sent to the planet Earth, where the yellow sun will give you strength greater than them. Rocky finally gets in contact with Bor-el and informs him of the the moon will collide with Opheusius. Apparently, they can't radio most of those on Opheusius since the leader has banned all radio communications to keep them from realizing how terrible a leader Kleolana is.

Rocky and Winky try to send a message to Opheusisus about Bosito crashing. They plan on evacuating Bosito and warning Opheusius, and attempt to land.

Addislan reported his wife, Trinka in for being a member of the underground. Kleolana tries to convince Trinka to snitch on the underground. Rocky and Winky reach the city and tel Kleolana about the impending moon crash. Kleolana doesn't want anyone to know. She traps Rocky and Winky and starts to gas them. Being the megolomaniacal world leader she is, Kleoloana decides to try to blow Bositio off a collision course with them.

Addislan tells Trinka about Kleolana's plane. Trinka is able to free Rocky and Winky. Let the Star Trek Captain Kirk fighting ensue. Rocky, Winky, and Trinka head for the rocket to stop Kleolana from blowing up Bosito.

Addislan hears Trinka and prevents Kleolana from blowing up Bosito.

One thing I can't stand planetary tyrants in the passenger seat... Everyone reaches Bosito, Bor-el is evacuating his people and thinks that blowing up the moon to save Opheusius is understandable with it having so many more people that Bosito.

The bombardments starts but to no avail. Opheusius will have to be evacuated. Landing there to start the evaucations, Kleolana's goons climb into the rocket. Let the Star Trek Captain Kirk fighting ensue. Trinka is able to calm everyone down. The evacuation fleet arrives and begins landing.

Special effects that aren't quite on par with Star Wars. Rocky, Vena, nad hte rest take Kleolana away before the moons collide. Kleolana realizes her people matter more than the land does.

What I say:

Take a kids sci-fi show from the 1950s, what do you get? Take a couple episodes of that kid show, put'em together and get something like Rocky Jones: Crash of the Moons. Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers had been the radio and movie serial stars that gave some heroes to kids before Captain Kirk. Rocky Jones's Space Rangers sound like the Lensmen or the Jedis without the powers.

Kid sci-fi shows aren't going to be known for science accuracy. These 3 episodes may be better known as being watched on MST3K than as part of a syndicated 1950s sci-fi kids show isn't going to be known for groundbreaking special effects. Somehow, this show still has more of a plot than the typical crashing moon, meteor, asteroid, etc...Yes, the story makes more sense than Michael Bay's Armageddon. It is hard to not think of Rocky Jones as a prototype Captain Kirk....

Every evil leader needs plenty of goons. With it being made in the 1950s, some government has to be the representation of the evil empire. Kleolana imprisons anyone whenever she wants. After learning of the impending impact, she first wants to keep it a secret while she bombs the rogue moon into dust.

Now, we have so many sci-fi shows that want to beat us down with their superiority or have tongue so far in it happens to be in someone else's cheek. Turning back to see an old sci-fi show that has a story that sounds lifted out of an Amazing Tales magazine rather than the contemporary heavily plot detailed stories is a shock.

Quotable Dialogue
"Thanks for the buggy-ride, out..."
"We can make our pickup on the visiograph."
"Trinka's a married woman, Winky..."
Morals of the Story
Space stations have lightning rods.
"Astro-phone" sounds very hi-tech.
Lightning is very common in outer space.