this 1959 movie adaptation of jules verne from the earth to the moon be the graveyard of decline actor . joseph cotton and george sander be at the end of fairly successful film career and about to be relegate to guest appearance on a variety of television show while the most notable be sander mr. freeze on batman . debra paget be in her late twenty while she have lose her glow and be use up by hollywood standard . the change to an unflattering strawberry blonde look exacerbate the problem a few actress have ever be less suit to a light hair color . on the plus side and the movie itself be a fairly accurate adaptation of verne story while at least the book illustration appear to have be use a model for the rocket and the cannon . verne 19th century take on space travel turn out to be more accurate than most of the speculation during the first half of the 20th century . the adaptation big problem be alter verne story by insert a topical theme about the post wwii arm race . in verne 1865 novel and the baltimore gun club itself set about build a rocket to go to the moon . in the adaptation a munition manufacturer ( think destination moon ) concoct the scheme to demonstrate his powerful new explosive . with a lot of discussion about science and weapon and and peace the movie dance around the subject extensively yet never make a coherent point about it position ( regard the nuclear arm race ) and a if simply insert the theme be somehow sufficient . the movie be a cross between destination moon and rocketship x m and combine the former good science and bad political message with the latter dismal set and comical special effect . the acting in all three film be equally sad . the premise have munition manufacturer victor barbicane ( cotton ) discover an explosive ( power x ) capable of fire a shell like projectile to the moon . his plan be oppose for philosophical or religious reason by stuyvesant nicholl ( sander ) and another manufacturer . although these philosophical difference play an important part in the story and they be never convincingly elaborate on and which undermine the basic storyline . president grant order barbicane to abandon the project because it be consider an act of war by other nation . while this be unconvincing it do serve a barbicane inspiration to change the project to a manned space flight . nicholl then agree to manufacture the ceramic coating need for re entry and to accompany barbicane on a flight to the moon . paget play nicholl daughter who hide inside the rocket just prior to take off . from the earth to the moon be often confused with first men in the moon which be make five year later . probably because both be set in the 19th century and both feature a female stowaway ( play by martha hyer in the late film ) . first men in the moon ( while not a great film ) be superior in virtually every detail to from the earth to the moon . rather ironically it be adapt from a story by h. g. well and an early science fiction writer often compare to verne . movie adaptation of verne book be a big thing in the 1950 and early 1960 . among the good one be 20 and 000 league under the sea ( 1954 ) and around the world in 80 day ( 1956 ) and journey to the center of the earth ( 1959 ) and mysterious island ( 1961 ) and and master of the world ( 1961 ) . unfortunately from the earth to the moon be simply not in the same league a these example . then again and what do i know . i be only a child .