Marooned Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Three astronauts forget to pack extra oxygen and need space Uber Eats, but the delivery guy has to fight a hurricane first.

🍿 Marooned: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Mission Overview

Three astronauts, Jim Pruett, Clayton Stone, and Buzz Lloyd, are aboard the Ironman One, stationed at the Saturn 4B space lab for five months. Due to signs of fatigue, NASA chief Charles Keith orders them home early. As they prepare to undock and return to Earth, disaster strikes when their retro-rockets fail to fire.

Stranded in Orbit

The astronauts find themselves stranded in orbit with a dwindling oxygen supply. Ground control races against time to devise a rescue plan. Options are limited, and tensions rise as the reality of their situation sinks in. The astronauts’ wives are brought in to communicate with them, leading to emotional and difficult goodbyes.

The Rescue Mission

An astronaut, Ted Dougherty, proposes using an experimental, untested spacecraft for a daring rescue mission. The launch is complicated by a looming hurricane threatening the launch site. As oxygen levels deplete, the astronauts face a grim prospect: one of them must sacrifice themselves to save the others.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Charles Keith (Gregory Peck): The NASA Director of Manned Spaceflight who grapples with the decision to risk a rescue mission.
• Jim Pruett (Richard Crenna): The commander of Ironman One, who faces his fate with quiet resignation.
• Ted Dougherty (David Janssen): The chief astronaut who proposes a daring rescue mission against the odds.
• Clayton Stone (James Franciscus): The scientist astronaut aboard Ironman One, who maintains a clinical perspective amid the crisis.
• Buzz Lloyd (Gene Hackman): The pilot of Ironman One, who struggles with the psychological stress of being stranded in space.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Jim Pruett: “Okay Buzz you’re right. To hell with waiting for a bunch of slide-rule jockeys. We used to fix the airplanes we flew with paperclips. Lets get into our hard suits and fix this bird.” – Pruett decides to take matters into his own hands and attempt a risky repair to save the mission.
• Celia Pruett: “(referring to insurance policy) Well, at least that’s paid up.” – Celia is making sure everything is in order in her and Jim’s lives as his oxygen is running out.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $8,000,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Marooned Reviews

Personal Review

I watched ‘Marooned’ hoping for some thrilling space drama, and while it was a bit slow-paced, it kept me hooked. The scenes with the astronauts’ wives were unexpectedly moving, adding an emotional depth to the technical challenges. Knowing this film came out before the Apollo 13 crisis makes it even more impactful and thought-provoking. Though the effects are dated, the underlying tension and performances make it worth a watch.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic science fiction”
  • “Viewers interested in space exploration history”
  • “Those who appreciate suspenseful dramas”
  • “People who like movies with realistic technical details”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Brief scenes of panic and distress”
  • “Discussion of death and sacrifice”
  • “Some dated special effects”

Professional Reviews

• MovieWeb: “Gene Hackman’s performance is intense, marking a notable moment in science fiction cinema that inspired the real-life space mission.
• The Wrap: “An appreciation of Gene Hackman, highlighting his ability to prove naysayers wrong through intense and hilarious acting. His character in Marooned shows his acting range.

Audience Reactions

The raw emotion of the astronauts wives and the impact of the scene where they say goodbye to their husbands.: Despite dated effects, viewers praise the film for its suspenseful plot and strong performances, especially the wives.

Overall Consensus: A suspenseful drama marked by strong performances and a realistic plot, even if the pace is slow and the effects are dated.

Awards

1. Academy Award (Best Effects, Special Visual Effects)- 1970

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, considered impressive for its time despite limitations compared to later space films.”
• “NASA provided significant support for the film, granting access to facilities and equipment, which added to the movie’s realism.”
• “The film’s storyline bears a striking resemblance to the real-life Apollo 13 mission, which occurred shortly after the film’s release, adding to its impact.”

🖥️ How to Watch Marooned?

As a classic film, “Marooned” is available for purchase or rental on various digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your preferred streaming service for availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Marooned, you might like these similar films:

• Apollo 13 (1995): A dramatization of a real-life space emergency with astronauts fighting to survive against the odds. Offers a more intense and technically advanced portrayal of space crisis.
• Gravity (2013): Features astronauts stranded in space due to a catastrophic event, focusing on survival against overwhelming odds.
• The Martian (2015): An astronaut is stranded alone on Mars and must use his ingenuity to survive until a rescue mission can be mounted.

🛒 Marooned Related Products

• Marooned (Space Travelers) [Blu-ray]: A high-definition release of the movie, potentially including the MST3K version for a fun, ironic viewing experience.
• Apollo 13 [4K UHD]: A critically acclaimed space survival film for viewers that prefer accurate portrayals of NASA.
• Vintage NASA T-Shirt: A vintage-style T-shirt featuring the NASA logo, perfect for fans of space exploration and classic designs.
• LEGO Ideas NASA Apollo Saturn V: A detailed LEGO model of the Saturn V rocket, a symbol of the era of space exploration depicted in ‘Marooned’.

🎧 Soundtrack

Marooned features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Title” – performed by Uncredited (Primarily ambient sounds and electronic hums)

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Marooned (1969) – Great Scene

Want to see the heart-stopping moment when the astronauts realize their retros won’t fire? This scene perfectly captures the suspense of ‘Marooned’ – you’ll be holding your breath right along with them!

✨ Rate