Cat-Women of the Moon (1953) – Nostalgia Central

This cheap little movie from Astor Pictures proves once again that actors have to eat just like you and me.

A team of four male scientists and a female navigator named Helen Salinger (Marie Windsor) pilot the Moon Rocket 4 and land on the dark side of the moon.

The four are shocked to discover a vast city inhabited only by young man-hating cat-women in black leotards and tights, ruled over by their leader, Alpha (Carol Brewster).

The cat-women – the last survivors of a two-million-year-old lunar civilisation – plan to make their way to Earth aboard the spaceship and gain control over the minds of all women on the planet.

Matters are complicated by the fact that the American commander, Grainger (Sonny Tufts) and Kip, the lieutenant (Victor Jory), are rivals for the hand of Helen.

The men, therefore, have quite a few headaches before the team can return to Earth.

Following a modern dance performance by the cat-women, Walt (Douglas Fowley) is stabbed to death by Beta (Suzanne Alexander). Meanwhile, Lambda (Susan Morrow) has fallen in love with crew member Doug (William Phipps) and tells him of the cat-woman plot, saying, “I love you, Doug, and I must kill you”. The male crew now realises they are in danger.

Carrying three stolen spacesuits, Alpha, Beta, and Helen run toward the spaceship. Lambda teleports ahead to delay them and is bludgeoned to death by Beta. Kip catches up and fires several shots, killing Alpha and Beta but leaving Helen uninjured.

The surviving expedition members escape the cavern, reach the spaceship, and return to Earth.

Project Moon Base (1953) used the same costumes and sets. The musical score was composed by Academy Award–winner Elmer Bernstein.

Commander Laird Grainger
Sonny Tufts
Lt. Kip Reissner
Victor Jory
Helen Salinger
Marie Windsor
Walter ‘Walt’ Walters
Douglas Fowley
Douglas ‘Doug’ Smith
William Phipps
Alpha
Carol Brewster
Beta
Suzanne Alexander
Lambda
Susan Morrow
Cat-Women
Betty Arlen
Roxann Delman
Ellye Marshall
Judy Walsh

Director
Arthur Hilton