Gregory Peck's 1969 space thriller, 'Marooned', was a solid but flawed attempt at adapting Martin Caidin's 1964 novel of the same name. The film's premise, about three astronauts stranded in space, was thrilling, but it was somewhat undermined by slow pacing and the fact that it debuted the same year as Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey'. Despite this, 'Marooned' had plenty working in its favor, including a talented cast and impressive production design that used real-life NASA equipment to create immersive sets. However, the movie failed to make back its budget, which was a real shame considering its premise and the book on which it was based.
The screenplay, written by Mayo Simon, changed the story significantly, most notably by having three astronauts become stranded in space. This was long before Sandra Bullock's 'Gravity' and Gene Hackman, Richard Crenna, and James Franciscus's characters in 'Marooned'. The film's pacing issues and dialogue-heavy scenes, with extended moments of silence, didn't help its case. While 'Marooned' didn't become one of Peck's best performances, the production design and moments of real tension make it a solid attempt to adapt Caidin's novel.
The film's release coincided with the Apollo 11 moon landing, and Columbia brought in NASA to advise and ensure set designs were accurate. The agency provided real Apollo hardware, but it didn't seem to impress audiences, with 'Marooned' making just $4.3 million on a budget of between $8 million and $10 million. Despite this, visual effects maestro Robbie Robertson won the Best Visual Effects Oscar for his work on the movie.
In his review, Roger Ebert noted that 'Marooned' demonstrated convincingly that it will be a long time before a space movie comes along to outclass '2001: A Space Odyssey'. He also criticized the special effects, suggesting that Sturges should have hired a better technical consultant. However, Ebert admitted that 'Marooned' worked very nicely as an entertainment, and praised Hackman for his performance as a man who gradually went nuts.
In my opinion, 'Marooned' is an unfairly overlooked entry in Peck's filmography. While it may not have been a commercial success, it's a solid attempt at adapting Caidin's novel, and it's well worth a watch on Tubi, where it's currently streaming for free. The film's premise, talent, and production design make it a fascinating piece of sci-fi cinema, and it's a reminder of the challenges of adapting novels to the big screen.
