Road to the Stars (1957)
Meta-data is 50 minutes. Not to be found in either IMDb or TVDb, but in Wikipedia.
Genre: science fact and fiction.
Verdict: Red moon rising.
A comrade got to the moon in 1957 (year of Sputnik) and kept his mouth shut about it in this excellent promotion of all things astro. The special effects steal the show: weightlessness, moon dust, extra vehicle activity, a space station, takeoff recliner chairs, and the black vastness of space. These are far better than any such effects in Yankee films of the period. It seems it was part of an effort to stimulate interest in space science and exploration, particularly in youngsters. It must surely have done that.
In retrospect what is perhaps of greater interest now is that it also shows Soviet citizens to be ordinary folks, dressed as they like, laughing at silly mistakes, picnicking to watch spectacles, young women appreciating young men, senior citizens proud of their achievements, and being just plain folks. Not a stern commissar in sight and no picture of comrade number one over the shoulder. No mass demonstrations like those staged in North Korea. No uniform like the Mao jacket. The party line seems to be let’s do this and have a good time while we’re at it! None of that fits with my image of the place and times. Where is the lash? The whip? Where is the all-seeing Comrade Number One? No where, that’s where.