Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964)

Much better than you'd expect from that title. It's an intelligent little sci-fi piece about an astronaut stranded on Mars after a crash landing and trying to survive against the odds. Paul Mantee is excellent as the Crusoe surrogate. It gradually loses steam with the introduction of the Friday character, leading up to a conclusion that feels wholly perfunctory. And the special effects are pretty silly. But it's still pretty darn good. And it's got a cute monkey too!

Grade: B-