May 16, 1964 - Film producer Aubrey Schenk arrived in New York this week to help promote the first of what he hopes will be a cycle of space adventures for Paramount. This is “Robinson Crusoe on Mars,” which derives “directly from Defoe’s great work and is, nevertheless, entirely in tune with our times.” In fact, Mr. Schenk said, “I’ve already got the second film set, and we should start work on it in the fall. It’s called ‘The Invisible Galaxy of Robinson Crusoe,’ and it takes him, as is obvious, out of this world and even out of our galaxy.”
“Robinson Crusoe on Mars” was directed by Byron Haskin and features actors Paul Mantee and Adam West (left). “It will be released in June,” said Mr. Schenk. “It does not have a big cast or extensive dialogue, but its special effects do create striking, authentic, and believable stuff. There are no phony Martians, no dancing girls. Our hero is an American astronaut stranded on Mars by accident. Friday is a visitor from another planet. The point is, I think, that kids and grown-ups too now relate to cosmonauts and not to phony science-fiction stuff.”
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