Moon Pilot

Moon Pilot is a 1962 American Technicolor science fiction comedy film from Walt Disney Productions, released through Buena Vista Distribution, directed by James Neilson, and starring Tom Tryon, Brian Keith, Edmond O'Brien, Dany Saval, and Tommy Kirk. The film is based on Robert Buckner's 1960 novel Starfire, and reflects Disney's interest in America's space program during John F. Kennedy's presidential era in the early 1960s.
== Plot ==
Air Force Capt. Richmond Talbot inadvertently volunteers to make the first manned flight around the Moon. He is ordered to keep the upcoming flight a secret, even from his family on his upcoming leave.
On his flight to visit his family, Talbot is approached by Lyrae, a mysterious "foreign" girl who seems to know all about the astronaut's coming mission. She approaches Talbot to warn him about possible defects in his spacecraft. He assumes she is a spy, runs away from her, and contacts the Air Force. The Air Force orders him home and places him under the protection of "National Security", a thinly disguised FBI.
Eventually, Lyrae reveals that she is a friendly alien from the planet Beta Lyrae. She wants to offer him a special paint formula that when applied to his rocket, will safeguard his brain from "proton rays". Enchanted by the young woman, Talbot sneaks away from the agents who have been guarding him to spend more time with Lyrae. Eventually, after his rocket is launched, Lyrae appears by his side and convinces him to visit her planet with her. Talbot informs Mission Control that he will be a little late coming back. The film ends with Mission Control totally confounded by the bizarre transmissions they are receiving from both singing a romantic song duet about her home planet Beta Lyrae.
== Cast ==
* Tom Tryon as Captain Richmond Talbot
* Dany Saval as Lyrae
* Brian Keith as Major General Vanneman
* Edmond O'Brien as McClosky
* Tommy Kirk as Walter Talbot
* Bob Sweeney as Sen. Henry McGuire
* Kent Smith as Secretary of the Air Force
* Simon Scott as Medical Officer
* Bert Remsen as Agent Brown
* Sarah Selby as Mrs. Celia Talbot
* Dick Whittinghill as Col. Briggs
Sally Field makes her film debut as one of the beatnik girls in the lineup. She is the one in the oversized sweater, dark hair, and glasses. Jo Anne Worley also appears as an extra. Nancy Kulp appears as a space flight nutritionist.
Category:1962 films
Category:Walt Disney Pictures films
Category:1960s American films
Category:1960s science fiction comedy films