I Hated this. Hated Robinson, Friday and the monkey. Whole the movie.
Expected much more from this Criterion release -- quite funny though I must say... the quintessential cheesy space flick. Felt like I was watching an episode of the original Star Trek minus the Shatner. That monkey was random. Even more random perhaps was the Native American that was meant to pose a Martian... wow, what the fuck were they smoking?
Yes, the special effects are cheesy, the science questionable, and the studio and Death Valley locations aren't too convincing as the Red Planet, but this imaginative sci-fi adventure from director Byron Haskins manages a smart and compelling story. Though it doesn't quite reach classic status, it's entertaining for fans of the genre.