Original subtitles

(cosmic orchestral music)

(spaceship whooshing)

- [Announcer] In 1985 during the course of the work

undertaken to irrigate the Gobi Desert,

a strange fragment of rock was discovered.

Several remarkable features of this rock

attracted the attention of the scientists

engaged on the project.

Research revealed that it contained a spool.

Further analysis showed the material

to be extraterrestrial in origin

and not of human manufacture.

Where did it come from?

Then somebody remembered that in June 1908 in Siberia,

an explosion had occurred equivalent

in force to a hydrogen bomb,

an explosion visible within a radius of 350 miles.

At the time, it was thought

to have been caused by a giant meteor.

77 years later, an international expedition

tried to determine the trajectory and the point of impact

and to find some debris of what

was called the Tongue Meteor.

Shortly afterwards under the auspices

of the World Federation for Space Research,

scientists meet to celebrate the anniversary

of the establishment of the first space station on the moon.

Professor Harringway from the United States

makes a public statement about the famous meteor.

(soft intriguing music)

- Our calculations indicate, confirmed also by the results

recently transmitted to us by our colleagues on Luna 3,

that the mysterious Tongue Meteor

was really a spaceship from another planet

which exploded in the air before landing.

- [Announcer] This hypothesis stimulated

scientific thought throughout the world.

Reporters of every nation are waiting to hear

what the nuclear physicist Professor Orloff has to say.

(muffled crosstalk) (intriguing music)

- Professor Orloff, is this another hoax

of the flying saucer variety?

What about this spool that was found in the desert

some 350 miles from the crater of the explosion,

how do you explain that, Professor Orloff?

- I believe there was a grave emergency.

When the rockets normally used

for deceleration refused to function,

the captain of the spaceship decided to save

what he considered was most valuable.

I'm referring naturally to the spool

which may contain a document of prime importance

in an unknown language,

recorded apparently by magnetic process.

(computer whirring)

- [Announcer] An international committee

of expert linguists was offered access

to the world's largest computer

to try to decipher this strange language.

(computer whirring)

This is Dr. Tchen Yu.

Not only is he one of the world's leading authorities

on languages, but also his biological work

is of immense importance.

Humanity is in debt to him for the technique of transforming

inorganic substances into foodstuffs.

He directs the committee with world-famous mathematician

Professor Sikarna whose work rivals even that of Einstein.

- In the astrophysical domain, we've made rapid progress.

Although we haven't deciphered the mysterious message,

we have determined ship's launching base.

At the moment, there can be no doubt.

This spaceship was launched within our solar system.

I can even say that it was definitely launched

from within the path of our planet.

Since there can be no life on Mercury,

there is only one other planet that it could've come from.

I am referring to the Earth's sister planet,

Venus, the Morning Star.

(intense orchestral music) (computer whirring)

- Listen!

(alien speaking foreign language)

- The element's existing on Earth.

- That's right, it certainly is

a chemical physical analysis of the atmosphere.

- Professor.

(alien speaking foreign language)

- What we have just heard are the first words

of the inhabitants of another planet, a cosmic document.

- Yes.

Yes, but it's unfortunate that the magnetic spool

was damaged through the effect of the high temperature

which prevailed aboard the cosmic vessel

at the time of the crash.

That's the reason we've only heard a part of the text.

We must try to find a method to renovate the rest.

First, we'll immerse the spool

in a chemical catalytical medium.

After that, subject it to radiation.

Tchen Yu?

- Yes, that's a very good idea.

All that we have learned indicates that on Venus

there is a highly developed lifeform,

yet I'm wondering why Venus stays silent.

It's very surprising.

Now we know a little of this language,

we must at every cost communicate with her.

- I agree with you.

It's high-time we made an attempt.

(muffled crosstalk)

- Well then, I'd like to propose a course of action.

I think the most logical thing to do

would be to request that our government's consent

to train all the radio and radar stations

of the world and Venus.

(morse code beeping) (intense orchestral music)

(radio bleeping)

- Polar Station calling Moon Space Station.

Attention please, Luna 3.

Attention please, Luna 3.

(signals beeping)

- Thank you.

- This is station Luna 3. - I'll keep it in mind.

- Station Luna 3 calling Earth.

No replies yet from Venus.

Our signals are reaching the planet.

But so far, there's no reply.

We'll keep you informed.

(intense orchestral music)

- Good morning, my friends.

- May I please have an interview?

- This afternoon, I have news

of the utmost importance to announce.

As you probably know already,

our most modern spaceship, the Comsostrator,

is now completed and ready to set forth

on our exploration of space.

The World Federation for Space Research

has decided to change the destination of the Cosmostrator.

Instead of sending her to Mars,

she will be directed toward the planet Venus.

- Oh that's great news, isn't it?

Have you any ideas to the date of the takeoff?

- One more question if you don't mind, Professor.

- Do you think there's anybody living on Venus?

- Did you manage to make contact with Venus?

- No, my friends.

Venus is silent, but we'll soon discover why.

- And who's going with you?

- Let me present some of the other scientists

who'll take part in this expedition.

They are all first-class specialists

chosen from among the most qualified

in their particular fields.

They with others who are coming

will form the crew of Cosmostrator 1.

(spaceship whooshing)

- All the units of propulsion are in perfect working order.

- That's fine.

The crew can now attend to their personal affairs.

We'll start late tomorrow night.

We'll fly following the hyperbolic trajectory.

- Good, I'll make a last check.

- See you later, Durand.

Talua, will you please make a thorough recheck of the radar?

- Right away, Professor.

- This is Vision calling the world.

We have just showed you the preliminary tests

of the Cosmostrator's rockets.

Our (mumbles) now is Brinkmann,

the first American spaceman to land on the moon.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I have an important announcement to make.

Intervision is going to present you minute-by-minute

the historic launching of the Cosmostrator.

We know very well how much you'd like to be here with us.

Unfortunately, that's impossible.

The only ones admitted are those directly concerned

with the countdown and final blastoff of the rocket,

so I will try to describe in detail

everything that's taking place.

Intervision will bring to you

the wonderful story of this great event.

Ah, but come the first members of the crew.

Among them is Professor Durand, the chief engineer.

He's a French scientist well-known for his work on robots.

- Thank you. - Thank you.

- We'll load the crawlocopter later on in the evening.

That's, of course, if it's alright with you.

- Yes, of course.

- I've checked out your electronic equipment.

- Good.

- Professor Durand report from Station A,

your celestial charts are ready.

- Thank you.

(jet engine whirring)

- Hello, Durand. - Oh Durand,

I'm glad to see you again. - So am I.

- Still working as hard?

How about showing me your latest creation in robots?

I hear it's a masterpiece.

- Around here, we have nothing but masterpieces.

Omega?

Come here, Omega.

(whimsical orchestral music)

Omega, what's the weather report for the next 10 hours?

- The barometer will rise four millibars.

Four millibars.

Fine and clear. - Why, that's fantastic.

Your latest invention? - Nothing special.

Just a small gadget.

- You're a lot too modest, Durand.

What else does it do?

- He reacts to stimuli in his environment

and evaluates them with his Electronic Brain.

I recently managed to give Omega an elementary memory.

- Four millibars. - Wonderful.

Perhaps he might consent to play Chess with me.

- Why, of course.

Why shouldn't he? - Hold on.

- Strator have reached Urania, eight of them.

Scientists, mathematicians and astrophysicists.

Seven men and a woman.

She's the physician of the expedition

and has already spent two years on Luna 3.

- Sumiko.

- Brinkmann.

Have I changed that much?

- I don't know.

I've got it, your hair used to hang down to your waist.

- Mr. Brinkmann? - Yes?

- You forgot this. - Oh, thank you.

- (chuckles) Robert Brinkmann,

the man who's always forgetting something.

- I have a reputation for that.

You're right, but there are things I'll never forget.

- No, Brinkmann.

On a voyage of this kind,

there'll be no room for excess baggage.

- [Man] Dr. Sumiko Omigura.

- 30 hours left.

30 hours and the Cosmostrator

will blastoff into the unknown.

Now we will leave the air.

In the next few hours, the crew of eight

picked for the Cosmostrator,

will be unable to communicate with the world.

They're going into a state of artificially induced sleep

'til the time comes for them to takeoff.

This is to make sure that they will be

in good physical condition for the effort to come.

This is Intervision.

Good afternoon.

(soft orchestral music)

- Brinkmann, in two minutes you'll be asleep

like all your colleagues whether you want to or not.

You'll be able to see and hear your heart.

- I'm very glad you're coming with us, Sumiko.

That way I'll be near you.

- Your heartbeat is normal.

- Sumiko, my heart is-- - No Brinkmann, no.

No, please we mustn't speak of that ever.

(soft romantic music)

Goodnight, Robert.

- It's time for you to sleep too, Dr. Sumiko.

- Yes, you're right.

(foreboding orchestral music)

- [Joan] This is Intervision.

Intervision calling the world.

It won't be long now until the blastoff.

Tension is mounting among the scientists and technicians

on the base as zero hour approaches.

Everything is ready.

All we're waiting for is the crew and here they are.

(soft intriguing music)

- [Reporter] (mumbles) of the crew are finished.

They are now boarding the vehicles

which will take them to the Cosmostrator.

(muffled shouting)

(horns honking)

- Time check.

51,

52,

53,

54,

55,

56,

57,

58,

59,

60.

Okay. - Rockets primed;

ready for blastoff.

- Breathe calmly.

Relax.

Don't tense up.

- [Control] Ignition system ready.

10 seconds.

Nine,

eight,

seven,

six,

five,

four.

- Standby. - Three,

two,

one.

- Zero.

(spaceship whooshing loudly)

(signals beeping)

- Luna 3 calling Urania.

Have Cosmostrator on our radar screens; appearance normal.

- We're feeling alright?

No ill effects, huh?

- Riding the clouds.

- At over second cosmic velocity,

we've left them way behind us.

- (winces) I'm going to loosen this belt; it's uncomfortable.

- Hey, be careful.

Don't forget there's no gravity.

We're in free fall now.

(soft cosmic music)

(Talua chuckling)

Durand switch on the artificial gravity field, will you?

(Orloff chuckling)

- Orloff, careful.

I'm pushing the button.

(both laughing)

- That was a dirty trick. (chuckles)

Cosmostrator calling Luna 3.

Come in Luna 3.

(signals beeping)

- This is Luna 3.

We are receiving you well, over and out.

- Hello Luna 3, we hear you loud and clear.

- Minus two plus five.

Course normal, course normal. - Our course

is exactly hyperbolic;

no deviations. - We are passing

within 1,200 miles of you. - This is Luna 3.

We have established visual contact with you.

- That's the Sinus Roris Crater.

On the top of it is Luna 3.

(signal whirring)

- There's the solar reflector.

They're signaling us.

(soft orchestral music)

That's where her husband fell.

I brought him back to the camp, but he was already dead.

We were friends.

Sumiko is a wonderful woman.

- This is Luna 3, I've picked up unexpected swarms

of meteorites on our radio.

Their present trajectory shows

that they may cross your path and be very dangerous.

- [Talua] We are receiving you, over.

- Here are the trajectory coordinates and orbital velocity:

Alpha-X seven degrees, two minutes.

Beta-epsilon 48 degrees, 42 minutes.

- Listen, I've had an extremely urgent message from Luna 3.

A meteorite warning.

(signal whirring) (soft intriguing music)

- Professor Sikarna, here's the latest meteorite report:

Alpha-X seven degrees, two minutes.

Beta-epsilon 48 degrees, 42 minutes.

That meteorite swarm should reach us

in 48 hours at the latest.

That is if there are no orbit fluctuations.

- Keep close radio contact with Luna 3.

- Cosmostrator calling Luna 3.

I've received your meteorite warning.

We'll be sending you regularly coordinates of our course,

so stay in close contact.

(soft orchestral music)

- This is the beginning of my personal logbook.

There's no one in the nerve center of the Cosmostrator.

The computer is keeping us on our course.

In case of unforeseen circumstances,

it can take immediate decisions

to alter our speed or direction.

This Electronic Brain will be our pilot

for the next 30 days because no human being

could handle the immensely complex machines

of the spaceship by himself.

Up 'til now, we have covered a distance of 2,600,000 miles.

Dr. Omigura is noting our reactions carefully

and keeping close check on our health and well being.

The special liquid food which can easily be absorbed

in the state of no gravity is proving

very successful with all of us.

(soft orchestral music)

Our chief engineer spends most of his time

in his machine shop testing his automats

over and over again.

It is thanks to them and to the fact

that they are in perfect running order

that we are relieved of many tiresome tasks.

Our expert in cybernetics has to be everywhere.

He's one of the key men of the expedition

and devotes all his time to the message of the beings.

Him and Tchen Yu are tryin' to decipher the damaged spool

which means they spend long hours at the max.

The Electronic Brain is working night and day,

but no one can be sure what the result will be.

(soft orchestral music)

Harringway, our commander,

is keeping a constant check on our course.

- Your computer was active last night.

It switched the rockets on for nearly 17 seconds,

perhaps to avoid the meteor swarm.

- We won't be running into it 'til tomorrow.

- (chuckles) It looks like your automats

don't have the same idea that you do.

- Professor Orloff is an enthusiastic Chess player

and he has beaten all of us,

but I think he's found his master, Omega.

- [Orloff] King G8.

- King E6.

- That's amazing.

He plays his endgame wonderfully.

I thought I had got him, but you see he's put his king on E6

and I'm forced into the corner at H8.

(whimsical orchestral music)

- King E7.

Checkmate next move.

(Robert groaning and clicking)

- That is the 10th match that I have lost.

I should give up, I guess.

- I would suggest that you make an improvement in Omega.

- Oh really?

- If he only had a heart,

he would let Orloff win once in a while.

Don't you think you could be able to do that?

Just a little bit of heart, Durand.

(alarms whirring) (intense orchestral music)

- Meteorites!

(meteorites crashing)

- Brinkmann, switch on the emergency gyro.

(glass shattering)

(spaceship whirring)

- Brinkmann, see if Tchen Yu and Sikarna are alright.

(soft orchestral music)

How could this happen?

I thought that the Cosmostrator

was able to avoid meteor swarms automatically.

- She didn't react quickly enough.

She was regulated to a shower of under (mumbles),

that was why we had to switch on the emergency gyros.

- Orloff, how much course deviation?

- 12 degrees, 17 minutes.

- Our speed? - Constant.

8.2 miles a second.

- I estimate the principle swarm will be on us soon.

If we continue with maximum speed, it'll be disaster.

Cut the motors, we're going to decelerate.

The breaking motors aren't working.

What's the matter, Durand?

- A meteor fragment has damaged the deceleration unit.

We'd have to go outside to try and repair it right away.

I'll go at once. - How long before

the main swarm hits us?

- I can't say, it may be on us any second now.

- Brinkmann, will you help me? - Professor Sikarna

and Tchen Yu, are you alright?

- No guns broken. - That's fine.

Please give me our present deviation,

direction coordinates and corrected course.

(foreboding orchestral music)

(alarm whirring)

(intense cosmic music)

- Watch out.

Everybody fasten your belts.

(smoke fizzing)

Standby.

Principle swarm's in sight.

Is it safe to start the motors yet?

- Repair is completed. - (mumbles) back.

(alarm beeping) (spaceship whooshing)

- Cosmostrator calling Luna 3.

Cosmostrator calling Luna 3, meteor swarm has passed.

Everything okay on board.

(soft cosmic music) (signal beeping)

- [Robert] Three weeks have gone by since we left the earth.

We should reach Venus in about 10 days.

In spite of our enormous speed,

the stars seem to hang motionless.

Due to all types of disturbances caused by the planet,

radio contact with Earth is no longer possible.

- Nothing.

Too much interference.

I can't hear a thing.

- Keep trying.

- Alpha-X 32 degrees, eight minutes.

Beta-Y seven degrees.

(soft orchestral music)

- What are you doing?

- I'm making a heart for Omega.

10 consecutive defeats are driving our friend crazy.

I want him to enjoy his favorite game.

- I would like you to do something also for me.

It would be nice to see you eat occasionally.

- I swear not to forget anymore.

- Sikarna said exactly the same thing.

- Professor? - Hmm?

What do you want?

Please, not now.

(signal whirring)

- Your health is my responsibility

and you haven't eaten for days.

- I haven't a second to spare.

- Sumiko.

You mustn't insist; he's nervous.

He's having a very hard time with that spool.

You understand.

- Knight E6,

check.

(soft whimsical music)

- He doesn't like that.

- King E8.

- Mate.

- Congratulations, you won at last. (chuckles)

- A neat classical endplay.

- I think you deserved to win.

- He plays a good game.

He's not very easy to beat, but I did it at last.

Man has defeated the machine.

- Too much heart.

- Want to try?

- Why not?

- [Tchen Yu] Will you all come to the (mumbles) please?

- Hey, it's a cosmic document.

(signal whirring and beeping)

- We have finally deciphered the last part of the spool.

It gives complete meaning to the cosmic document.

(alien speaking foreign language)

I will translate.

"We will initially subject the planet

"to a very intense bombardment of radiation.

"The conquest and occupation of the Earth

"will then present no difficulty.

"When the ionization intensity has fallen by 1/2,

"the final extermination phase can start."

- This can only mean an attack.

Get start planning.

An invasion by the inhabitants of Venus.

- The cosmic document was not intended for us to read.

It's a coldblooded blueprint of destruction.

- We must inform the Earth.

I'll try and make contact.

- Wait, Talua.

- No, let him try.

- Would it do the Earth any good

to know what we know?

- The Earth is in danger.

We must warn them.

- No, our planet was in peril

before they discovered the spool and nothing happened.

- That's no argument as we haven't any idea

how the Venusians calculate time.

- If the Earth knew of the terrible danger threatening her,

unrest and even hysteria would spread like wildfire.

From pole to pole, the whole world would be in a panic.

- No.

No Orloff, I'm convinced you're wrong.

For years and years the whole of the human race

faced the danger on atomic war.

- Yes. - And they survived,

not through ignorance but through knowledge

because they knew what the danger was.

Hmm?

No, there won't be a panic.

Tchen Yu, don't you agree with me?

- I am sure that if we reach the inhabitants of Venus,

we'll be able to convince them

that it'll be folly to start that war.

- Talua, try to contact the Earth.

- I can't get through, too much disturbance from Venus.

Our signals are distorted.

The Earth won't hear us.

(somber orchestral music)

- Well, what do you say?

Should we turn back to Earth?

- No.

- (scoffs) Nonsense.

- Return?

No.

- Never.

- Uh-uh.

- Durand, our speed.

- 31,000 miles per hour.

In three days, we reach Venus.

- Good.

Talua, check our course.

Orloff, the latest readings.

- Gamma radiation increasing steadily.

I'll recheck the neutron count.

(signals whirring)

- 5,000 miles.

- After only 31 days of flight,

we have nearly reached our destination.

All our efforts to communicate with the Earth

via Luna 3 have been unsuccessful.

We have started to decelerate

by means of our rocket motors.

Professor Harringway is guiding the ship

into an elliptical orbit around Venus.

We are now a satellite of this silent planet.

We are still trying but in vain,

to establish radio contact with her inhabitants.

A thick wall of cloud surrounds the planet.

- 3,500 miles.

First analysis of Venus' atmosphere:

27% carbon dioxide, 14% formaldehyde.

No oxygen, atmosphere poisonous.

- We're faced with a difficult decision.

As you know, we can only land and takeoff once.

No point in taking any unnecessary chances,

so one of us has got to go ahead as scout.

- 2,000 miles. - We're close enough now.

I'll go in the crawlocopter.

- Okay Brinkmann, you've got to try

and find a landing place for us.

We'll stay in orbit at 150 miles altitude, alright?

- The crawlocopter's ready. - 1,500 miles.

(soft orchestral music)

- Well? - Now let's don't be formal.

- [Harringway] Action stations.

Action stations, everyone.

- 750 miles.

- Standby.

We are now entering the atmosphere of Venus.

Attention!

(spaceship whooshing)

We're flying at 300 miles altitude.

Our present speed is 4.3 miles a second.

Are you ready, Brinkmann?

- Alright, let 'er go.

- Release!

(copter whooshing)

Brinkmann?

Hello.

Hello, Brinkmann. - Hello?

- What's the matter with his receiver?

- [Brinkmann] I'm not getting you.

- There's something wrong with your receiver.

Can you hear me now?

- [Brinkmann] I can't understand you.

There's something wrong with your transmitter.

- Talua, what's wrong with our transmitters?

- Heavy electrical disturbance.

We're completely blocked out.

- Hello.

Brinkmann!

What is it, Brinkmann?

- Harringway, can you hear me?

(copter whooshing)

I'm now at 1,500 feet.

Visibility: nil.

Radar indicates that the surface is extremely mountainous.

I can't see anything.

I'm completely surrounded by thick clouds.

Wait a minute.

Yes I see land, boys.

I can see land.

(intense orchestral music)

Hello, hello?

Cosmostrator, I can't hear you!

I'm landing.

Here she goes!

- Brinkmann is not receiving us.

I can't make contact.

- Our altitude? - 24,000 feet.

(radar beeping) (spaceship whooshing)

(foreboding orchestral music)

- Omega, you take the lead.

Go on.

I'm right behind you.

- I don't understand.

I'm puzzled by these strange flashes

of light which we keep seeing.

They're bursting all around us.

What do you make of them, Orloff?

- In my opinion, the atmosphere in this area is ionized.

- What's the cause? - Atomic radiation.

- Then that means they're attacking us and Brinkmann.

- We must fly lower.

We must get below this bank of clouds

if we want to establish contact with Brinkmann.

It's the only way.

- Brinkmann calling Cosmostrator.

Please answer me, over.

(signals whirring)

Omega.

- I'm listening.

Be careful.

Danger.

- [Brinkmann] Go on, Omega.

- Intense radiation.

Eight (mumbles).

- [Brinkmann] How long can we stay here?

- Eight minutes maximum.

- Turn back, Omega.

Cosmostrator.

Cosmostartor, I don't hear you!

Hello!

Hello, d'you hear me?

This blasted radioactive forest

won't let radio waves through.

Go on, Omega.

Go on.

Keep going.

Keep on.

(copter exploding) (intense orchestral music)

(mumbles), Omega.

They're attacking us.

Cosmostrator, Cosmostrator!

Do you hear me?

The crawlocopter's exploded.

- A flash.

See that?

What was it?

- I don't know, the computer shows a pressure wave.

Apparently an explosion.

Distance: 120 miles.

- Brinkmann.

- Or it could be a signal from the Venusians.

We better land at once as best we can.

Talua, make a careful check on our positions

and try to contact Brinkmann again.

(signal beeping) (cosmic orchestral music)

- Omega, back here quickly!

(ground crumbling)

(creatures squeaking) (signals whirring)

(foreboding orchestral music)

- Standby deceleration rockets.

- Thrust.

18,

21,

24,

27,

30.

(spaceship whooshing)

(signals whirring) (creatures squeaking)

(cosmic orchestral music)

(scanner clicking)

His crawlocopter exploded.

Poor old Brinkmann.

- There's the cause.

There's a high-tension line underground.

Durand get the crawlers out of the way

or the next time the voltage mounts,

exactly the same thing'll happen to us.

- The voltage (mumbles).

(soft orchestral music)

- Omega.

- Brinkmann, we thought you were dead.

- I was lucky.

- You might've chosen a better place to land.

- Why, what do you mean?

- There's a high tension line over there.

- Your machine blew up just because you landed

right on top of that surface power line.

- All we have to do is to follow it

and it will probably lead us to the inhabitants of Venus.

- There's no point in trying to do that.

I've already found the inhabitants of Venus.

In fact, brought one of them back for you.

(cosmic orchestral music)

- What is it?

- I wonder if it is a form of life.

I'll investigate at once.

- Alright, Tchen Yu.

While he's doing that, let's go

and try to follow that line.

- Okay.

- Omega, come on.

- Crawler, please come in.

Crawler, please come in.

- We're following the power lines.

Something very strange here,

a white sphere that looks like an immense golf ball.

(intense orchestral music)

It's incredible.

Do you think it's a machine, Orloff?

- Well I can't say yet.

I don't know.

Everything here is so strange.

It's as if we're trying to decipher a book

in an unknown language.

Let's hope that soon we'll be able to read it.

Then perhaps we'll understand.

- Orloff, let me know

when you've got your instruments ready.

Now I'll need all the figures I can get.

- Okay, Sikarna. - Good, thank you.

- [Orloff] Talua, stay in first contact with us.

- Very well, Professor.

(cosmic orchestral music)

- I am looking (mumbles)

the observation screen at the Cosmostrator.

Everything is strangely quiet.

Is this the calm before the storm?

Why don't the Venusians answer or are these metallic insects

really the masters of this planet?

Tchen Yu is working day and night

to solve the mystery of these strange creatures.

(signals whirring) (foreboding orchestral music)

(soft orchestral music)

- We have investigated your strange inhabitants.

They're completely harmless.

They're not a form of life.

- When I think how scared I was in that hole.

- Your discovery is more significant than you think.

I put one of the micro-crystals in the (mumbles).

Listen.

(electronic whirring)

- Yes, those were the voices of the Venusians.

I would say that these strange metallic insects

had a way of storing sound in their crystalline nuclei.

- Are you tryin' to tell us

that the Venusians used these insects

to record both speech and sound?

- That's right. - That's fantastic.

- Yes, but it's true.

- That would mean that the hole

which Brinkmann fell into is a chamber of archives

containing some of the records of this planet.

- But then where can the inhabitants be?

They certainly saw our spaceship land.

They couldn't have missed it, yet nothing happened.

Nothing at all.

- And my machine blowing up, you call that nothing?

- I need more figures, more data

and especially more of those metallic insects.

(soft orchestral music)

- [Robert] The research program is going according to plan.

We are all fascinated by the vitrified forest.

But our spacesuits are so heavy

that working outside the ship is difficult.

The investigation of the power lines

leading to the white sphere

and measurement of tension changes is done.

The storms which whip across Venus

only make the work harder.

- That's where the lines lead to alright.

There's no doubt.

- That's it.

(cosmic orchestral music)

- Tchen Yu was collecting samples of the sand

carried by the storm.

Sometimes they are radioactive, sometimes they are not.

He is searching for traces of life.

The long Venusian night is always preceded

by a violent storm,

then the outside work must stop

as we spend our time studying what we have found so far.

(foreboding orchestral music)

Do you think this vitrified forest

is a biological formation?

- Why not?

It could come from a dried up seabed.

- You're wrong.

It's not a natural formation.

Professor Sikarna has been feeding

figures and data into the Electronic Brain

and he now has some conclusions.

He says that the vitrified forest

is an enormous energy projector

capable of destroying all life

within a radius of millions of miles.

- Then it was built by the inhabitants of Venus?

- Yes.

This vitrified forest was made to be a weapon of aggression,

but then something went unexpectedly wrong.

- Perhaps they decided to disarm.

- I'm afraid it was more serious than that.

The metal insects you found for us

shows something very significant.

- That's very interesting.

Go on tell us more, Professor Sikarna.

- I do not yet have all the facts,

but I think that a terrible catastrophe took place on Venus.

I reach a certain stage and I can't get any further.

It's chaotic.

It's like everything was broken.

Now if there really was a catastrophe

which changed the face of the whole planet,

then it was so huge a catastrophe

as to be absolutely beyond our powers of comprehension.

- We can only solve this problem

by means of further systematic research.

Take this great white sphere

to which all these power lines lead

and whose function we don't understand.

It appears to be a giant transformer unit

or else it is a force field generator.

- Another strange thing is that

there is periodic tension in the main power line.

- I would even suggest that there might still be Venusians

inside the sphere, who have survived

the colossal catastrophe that befell their planet.

They could still be trying

to send an SOS to another station.

- What should we do? - We must go out and explore.

We'll follow the main power line to the other end.

- Yes.

(foreboding orchestral music)

- Calling the Cosmostrator.

We have been driving for nearly seven hours now.

We are following the energy line

and so far we haven't found a trace of life.

This power line's got to end somewhere.

Harringway, shall we keep going?

- [Harringway] Yes.

(cosmic orchestral music)

- We're still going forward.

Keep on following us and watch out.

- What's that? - I don't know.

They're not natural forms.

They must've been buildings of some sort.

(intense orchestral music)

- There must've been as high a temperature here

as on the sun

and every living thing was destroyed

by an incredible catastrophe.

- What are you thinking, Sumiko?

- All the damage.

(cosmic orchestral music)

- Come.

The power line goes in here.

This must be the entrance.

Let's follow it. - I agree with you.

- Come on, Omega.

We're going in.

(cosmic orchestral music)

- [Man] Look, Venus and the Earth

and their orbits around the sun.

- Perhaps it's a model for instructing space pilots.

- [Man] No, it probably has a deeper significance.

- Over here, there's a shaft.

Looks like one of the Venusian nerve centers.

- A huge control room.

- But who was servicing it,

since it's apparent that this whole installation

is still under tension?

(soft orchestral music) (slime bubbling)

- Omega, what is it?

- [Omega] Beats me.

- Strange, what could it be?

- It might be the missing power source.

- Look at those bubbles. - It could be

a kind of organic life.

(intense orchestral music)

(rocks crumbling) (slime bubbling)

- Omega, stop.

(slime bubbling)

- It's coming after us, look!

- Up the ramp Sumiko, quick!

(Sumiko shrieking)

Sumiko, I'm coming!

(ground rumbling) (slime bubbling)

(intense orchestral music)

Hold onto me, Sumiko.

(Sumiko shrieking)

- Don't panic, Sumiko.

- We'll find a way out.

- Don't shoot, Durand.

Don't shoot!

(gun fizzing) (foreboding orchestral music)

- What was that?

- Where are the others?

I can't see them.

(intense orchestral music)

(creatures whirring)

- I see what Durand meant now.

It's a model they used to work out

their plans of attack on the Earth.

Remember the cosmic document?

It said they would first subject the planet

to a highly-intense radiation bombardment.

Thanks to this device, they calculated how atomic beams

could be directed to our planet.

- I think you're quite right.

Directly beneath us is their operational headquarters.

(cosmic orchestral music) (signals whirring)

(Omega whirring)

- Professor Sikarna, the Glass Forest is radiating energy.

Come quickly.

(meteorites clanking) (thunder rumbling)

- That's just what I was afraid of.

- Look at that.

The sphere's turned red.

Gravity's increasing.

- I am not surprised. - It's incredible.

- No, now everything is clear.

The sphere creates an artificial force field

which strengthens the gravitation of Venus

and diminishes it.

This very moment, the power is (mumbles).

When the energy is inverted, the field will reverse itself.

We'll be hurled into space again.

- Don't worry Professor, there's still time.

- Call Harringway quickly.

- Hello Harringway, come in please.

(thunder rumbling) (lightning crackling)

(foreboding orchestral music)

- Their shadows.

- [Robert] Thrown on the wall when they were hit

by an atomic explosion.

Incredible.

- Now the only thing that is left of them is their shadows.

- The (mumbles) is picking up commands

from the underground nerve center.

Look at the key it's using to decode them.

- Why it's incredible, Sikarna.

E equal to MC squared.

That's Albert Einstein's old formula.

- Yes, but their integration factor

is a curve closed upon its own.

(soft orchestral music)

- Take a look.

It's interesting.

- But that's wonderful.

Those are seeds.

They're plant seeds.

Where did you find them?

- I found them on the surface near the nerve center.

They were certainly carried there

by one of those big storms.

If these seeds are still fertile,

it proves there is life on this planet.

- [Harringway] Professor Sikarna

wants everybody in the (mumbles) please.

- Our researches on the metal insects

found in the cave have told us

so little of this planet's history.

As to the message we heard,

there's no doubt about it.

The inhabitants of Venus were contemplating launching

an atomic attack on our planet,

but the attack wasn't carried out.

An accident they didn't expect upset their plan.

Their atomic weapons got out of their control,

a chain reaction was unleashed and they all perished.

- Only their shadows remained.

- Their energy projectors, although partially destroyed

are capable of working again

if their energy reactions are set in motion

by some accident or even by one of us.

- Why, what do you mean that we started the reaction?

- When that rock fell into the black mud, what happened?

- The rock was thrown out

as if the slime was a living thing.

- Then something terrible happened,

the slime began to grow rapidly.

- First, it dilated.

Now tell us, what happened next?

The black slime started to move.

- Yes, it began to follow us.

We were cornered.

- What did you do?

- I used the deuteron ray gun and I shot into it.

- You should never have done that.

You started an atomic reaction.

- But there was nothing else to do,

we had no other way of getting out.

- Yes, you started a chain reaction

over the whole atomic installation.

Now we're really in a nice mess.

What can we do?

- What time was it?

- 17 hours 10. - I remember.

- Yes.

Yes, it was at that moment that the sphere turned red.

- It looks as if mass changed into energy

by process not unlike that of the atom bomb.

The people of this planet knew how to reverse the process.

They changed mass into energy,

but also they could change energy back into mass.

- Fantastic.

- The inhabitants of Venus are,

or rather were far in advance of us

in the applications of physics.

That's one thing we have to acknowledge.

(thunder rumbling) (Omega whirring)

- Omega, stop!

Omega!

(winces) Omega's out of control.

- Brinkmann, switch off all the automats.

- Talua, come and help me.

- The Glass Forest.

The Glass Forest!

The sphere is turning red.

- Orloff, the radiation from the Glass Forest

has upset Omega's electronic brain.

The (mumbles) computer's gone out of action as well.

- Look!

(wind whooshing) (thunder crackling)

If the radiation keeps on increasing like this,

we won't have a chance.

Even the Cosmostrator's light shielding

won't be enough to protect us.

- Durand! (winces)

- I think he has internal injuries.

I must operate.

- Start up the rockets, Durand.

We must take off at once before it's too late.

- The (mumbles) won't work.

The gravity field is increasing more and more

and the radiation's paralyzed everything.

Nothing is working.

The whole Cosmostrator is nothing

but an inert lump of metal.

(thunder rumbling) (foreboding orchestral music)

- There's only one chance.

We must try to do what the Venusians did.

Make the energy of the Glass Forest and the sphere

change back into mass once more.

- Yes, but how?

- When the mud attacked you on the tower

and you decided to use the ray gun

which changed the mass into energy,

I think I saw something was happening

in the Venusian nerve center.

I think I know how to start the reverse process.

Can I use the rocket plane?

- You're forgetting the gravity field.

It won't fly.

But the crawlocopter would work.

- You mustn't go alone.

I'll come with you.

(soft orchestral music)

(lightning crackling) (wind whooshing)

- We're entering the Venusian city.

The hurricane is getting much worse.

How is Harringway?

- [Orloff] The doctor's operating now.

- Sumiko will manage.

- Swab.

(climactic orchestral music)

- [Harringway] How are you coming along, Durand?

- Fine.

I've managed to fix the computer.

- [Harringway] Tchen Yu, can you hear me?

Where are you?

- We're starting to climb down

into the Venusian nerve center.

(intense orchestral music)

My spacesuit, it's punctured.

- I'm coming to help you. - No Talua, go on down.

You must save the others.

Harringway, I can't hold out for long.

My air's escaping.

(cosmic orchestral music) (wind whooshing)

(sphere exploding)

- The sphere is white again.

Look, Sikarna.

- [Tchen Yu] Talua has succeeded in reversing the field.

My spacesuit is punctured.

My oxygen's escaping and the safety device has failed.

- Try to hold out, Tchen Yu.

You've got to.

- The gravity's back to normal.

I'll set off at once in the rocket plane.

I'll get you out of it, Tchen Yu.

Hold on, I'm coming with oxygen.

- Tchen Yu.

Hello, Tchen Yu.

Hold on.

Brinkmann is coming.

(climactic orchestral music)

- Tchen Yu.

Tchen Yu.

I must talk to him.

Tchen Yu, listen to me.

Those seed that you found, they're growing.

They're growing, Tchen Yu.

You've proved that there's life on the planet.

Yes Tchen Yu, there's still life on Venus!

- Sumiko, there's life.

(foreboding orchestral music)

(ship whooshing)

- The breaking motors, Durand.

The breaking motors!

- Talua, Tchen Yu, Brinkmann.

Come back at once.

We can't hold the Cosmostrator down.

We're being pushed off the planet.

A reverse process is in action.

The energy field is acting like a catapult.

- The negative gravity is increasing.

(spaceship whooshing) (intense orchestral music)

- Brinkmann, can you hear me?

We're being hurled into space.

Talua, Tchen Yu, Brinkmann, are you receiving me?

- [Brinkmann] Sumiko!

Sumiko!

- Orloff, we must try and go back!

Please, please!

- Cosmostrator, where are you?

Are you receiving me?

I can't get back.

I'm being hurled off the planet! (screams)

(foreboding orchestral music)

- Cosmostrator, you're taking off?

You're leaving me?!

Harringway!

Orloff!

Don't leave me!

Don't leave me!

Cosmostrator!

Cosmostrator!

(intense cosmic music)

- Luna 3 calling the Earth.

The Cosmostrator is returning.

We have called them, but at the moment there is no reply.

(signals beeping) (soft orchestral music)

(spaceship whooshing)

(sirens wailing) (victorious orchestral music)

- I greet the Earth.

I greet you all.

- We have learned much, but we have sacrificed a lot.

Too much.

(soft orchestral music)

- Let us honor the memory of three great men.

Talua saved the expedition from disaster,

Tchen Yu discovered life on Venus

and Brinkmann was the first human

ever to set foot on the planet.

May they never be forgotten.

- We found traces of a great civilization

that had advanced beyond our comprehension.

The Venusian science had gone beyond

their power to control it.

A dreadful catastrophe fell upon them.

They were destroyed by their own machines.

- We still have a grave task before us.

We must use our knowledge to establish life again on Venus.

Then after that, go on to explore the other planets.

We'll fly further and further.

It's mankind's destiny.

(cheerful orchestral music)