Italian screwball comedy meets janky space travel — because why not launch to Mars for a girl?
Guido Renzi and his lawyer friend chase a beautiful girl to return a purse that he lost and after a long drive in the car reach the laboratory of an improvised astrophysicist - the girl's father - who, together with another scientist, is about to take off in the direction of Mars aboard a missile.
Practical Effects
Depression-era Mars rocket built from ambition and spare bicycle parts.
Acting
Nino Besozzi's frantic physical comedy carries the whole absurd premise.
Costume
Scientists in lab coats that scream 'we bought these this morning'.
Director
Mario Mattoli
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released months before WWII, this represents Italy's final cinematic gasp of carefree futurism before fascist propaganda took over screens.
Mario Mattoli directed over 70 films but this remains his only sci-fi — reportedly because the rocket prop kept malfunctioning and he swore off the genre forever.
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