A planet is discovered in the same orbit as Earth’s but is located on the exact opposite side of the sun, making it not visible from Earth. The European Space Exploration Council decide to send American astronaut Glenn Ross and British scientist John Kane via spaceship to explore the other planet. After a disastrous crash-landing Ross awakes to learn that Kane lies near death and that they apparently have returned to Earth, as evidenced by the presence of the Council director and his staff. Released to the custody of his wife, he soon learns things are not as they seem.

Doppelgänger (1969)
  • Rating: (1,355 votes)
  • Taglines:You will meet yourself face-to-face when Earth meets its duplicate in outer space! » Man has conquered the moon with the epic Apollo 11 flight! Now take another momentous journey! »
  • Runtime:101 minutes
  • Director: Robert Parrish
  • Country:UK
  • Actors:
    Colonel Glenn Ross
    Roy Thinnes
    John Kane
    Ian Hendry
    Jason Webb
    Patrick Wymark
    Sharon Ross
    Lynn Loring
    Lisa Hartmann
    Loni von Friedl
    Paulo Landi (as Franco Derosa)
    Franco De Rosa
    Mark Neuman
    George Sewell
    David Poulson (as Edward Bishop)
    Ed Bishop
    Dr. Pontini
    Philip Madoc
    Psychiatrist
    Vladek Sheybal
  • Genre:Sci-Fi
  • Producers:
    Gerry Anderson
    producer  
    Sylvia Anderson
    producer  
    Ernest Holding
    associate producer  
  • Plot: A planet is discovered in the same orbit as Earth's but is located on the exact opposite side of the sun, making it not visible from Earth. The European Space Exploration Council decide to send American astronaut Glenn Ross and British scientist John Kane via spaceship to explore the other planet. After a disastrous crash-landing Ross awakes to learn that Kane lies near death and that they apparently have returned to Earth, as evidenced by the presence of the Council director and his staff. Released to the custody of his wife, he soon learns things are not as they seem. Written by Doug Sederberg <vornoff@sonic.net>
Doppelgänger
  • User's comment:A Thinking Person's Sci-Fi Film by Stephen Abbott (Movie Steve)

    In this film, the astronauts sent to explore a newly-discovered planet must deal with several dilemmas, and they do so intelligently. The film approaches it's main plot theme in a unique way, and unfolds it gradually, though it can be guessed beforehand.

    The acting is very good, though sometimes stiff, as some late-60s acting can be. It can also be somewhat wordy and even melodramatic, especially after the plot theme reveals itself. Visually, it has a scene that resembles one in the previous year's "2001: A Space Odyssey", and that tends to date the movie. Some of the actors went on to star in the 1970 TV show "UFO," which is delightfully campy and worth checking out on DVD.

    Despite these small points, the space flight itself is realistic, and considering this was 1969, the scenes inside the cockpit of the spacecraft also had a realistic look. (Look for some 1990s/2000s video technology in use, too!) One thing: I suspect a love scene has been cut, but I can't prove it! It would have been a distraction anyway.

    Unlike most Sci-Fi films, this film will make you think about the plot, and that's well worth a look. I'm pleased to have this film in my video library.


  • Quotes: David Poulson: Does our side have anything like this? Mark Neuman: We do now. Jason Webb: When are you going to nail him?
  • Also known as: Más allá del sol (Mexico - imdb display title), Más allá del sol (Spain - imdb display title), Más allá del sol (Venezuela), Danger, planète inconnue (France), Doppia immagine nello spazio (Italy), Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (USA), Matka auringon taakse (Finland), Matka auringon tuolle puolen (Finland), Rumrejsen bag solen (Denmark), Unfall im Weltraum (West Germany), Utazás a Nap túlsó oldalára (Hungary - imdb display title), Viagem ao Outro Lado do Sol (Portugal),

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