- On the Threshold of Space
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On the Threshold of Space 
Directed by Robert D. Webb Produced by William Bloom Written by Shimon Wincelberg
Francis M. CockrellStarring Guy Madison
Virginia Leith
John HodiakMusic by Lyn Murray Cinematography Joseph MacDonald Editing by Hugh S. Fowler Distributed by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation Release date(s) April 30, 1956 Running time 98 min. Country 
United StatesLanguage English On the Threshold of Space is a 1956 Drama directed by Robert D. Webb, starring Guy Madison, Virginia Leith and John Hodiak. Historical depiction on tests done to prepare US for space travel.
Contents
Plot
Much of the plot depicts the testing of downward firing ejection seats from B-47 Stratojet bombers that were conducted at Eglin AFB, Florida, initially between 7 October and 21 October 1953, when nine tests were conducted of the seat from a B-47 over Eglin's water ranges over the Gulf of Mexico, by the Air Proving Ground, at an altude of 10,000 feet and various speeds. A second series of tests was also conducted beginning 8 July 1954 after refinements to the system. [1][2] These tests were recreated in the film, shot at Eglin in 1955, with a different Stratojet than the one in the actual missions.
Filming locations
The movie was filmed in part at the Air Proving Grounds Command, Eglin AFB, Florida.
Cast
- Guy Madison as Capt. Jim Hollenbeck
- Virginia Leith as Pat Lange aka Mrs. Hollenbeck
- John Hodiak as Maj. Ward Thomas
- Dean Jagger as Dr. Hugh Thornton
- Warren Stevens as Capt. Mike Bentley
- Martin Milner as Lt. Morton Glenn
- King Calder as Lee Welch
- Walter Coy as Lt. Col. Richard 'Dick' Masters
- Ken Clark as Sgt. Ike Forbes
- Donald Murphy as Sgt. Zack Deming
- Barry Coe as Communications Officer
- Dan C. Ogle as Himself - Prologue (as Major General Dan C. Ogle)
References
- ^ Henderson, Col. Arthur M. (Chic), USAF, "I Made the First Jump", Popular Mechanics, March 1955, Volume 103, Number 3, pages 88-92, 252.
- ^ http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Aircraft_by_Type/B-47.htm
External links
- On the Threshold of Space at the Internet Movie Database
- On the Threshold of Space at the TCM Movie Database
- On the Threshold of Space at AllRovi
1940s The Caribbean Mystery (1945) · The Spider (1945)1950s The Glory Brigade (1953) · Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953) · White Feather (1955) · Seven Cities of Gold (1955) · On the Threshold of Space (1956) · The Proud Ones (1956) · Love Me Tender (1956) · The Way to the Gold (1957)1960s Guns of the Timberland (1960) · Seven Women from Hell (1961) · Pirates of Tortuga (1961) · The Cape Town Affair (1967) · The Jackals (1967)Categories:- Aviation films
- United States Air Force in films
- Films shot in CinemaScope
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