Commando Cody Vs The Moon Menace

Military installations across the U.S. have become the target of a mysterious "atomic ray." Journeying to the Moon, space hero Commando Cody and his team of scientists discover that it is power-crazed alien ruler Retik who is behind the attacks. With advanced technology and undercover agents at his command, Retik has only one goal: the conquest of planet Earth!

This feature-length film is assembled from the Republic Pictures 12-chapter play, Radar Men from the Moon. The serial was the second go-around for the famous 'rocket suit' created by the studio. Before George Wallace, the costume was originally worn by Tristram Coffin as the King of the Rocketmen (1949) and was later worn by a third hero, Larry Martin (Judd Holdren) in Zombies of the Stratosphere (1952.) Commando Cody himself made a return appearance in a short-lived NBC TV series in 1955. The rocket suit was not the only instance of recycling by Republic. Character actor Roy Barcroft was cast as Retik specifically so stock footage from The Purple Monster Strikes (1945), in which Barcroft played another alien villain, could be used. Also making a villainous turn is the legendary Clayton Moore as thug henchman Graber. Moore is best known for starring as the Lone Ranger on television from 1949 to 1957.

• science fiction