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What's After the Movie?
Animated documentary

Mars and Beyond (1957): Cast

Mars and Beyond (1957) movie poster

Mars and Beyond is a 1957 animated documentary directed by Ward Kimball, starring Paul Frees as Narrator, Wernher von Braun and Ernst Stuhlinger. It runs 53 minutes.

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Mars and Beyond (1957) movie poster
Released
Runtime
53 min
Director
Ward Kimball
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Mars and Beyond About?

The premise of Mars and Beyond without spoilers.

Directed by Disney legend Ward Kimball, the 1957 short “Mars and Beyond” offers a light‑hearted look at space travel’s history and future, focusing on Mars. It blends scientific and philosophical ideas, references H.G. Wells and Edgar Rice Burroughs, and uses vivid animation to parody pulp‑era comics while profiling each planet’s potential for human adventure. Walt Disney praised it as ahead of its time and called Kimball a genius.

Mars and Beyond Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • mercury the planet
  • unidentified flying object
  • life form
  • planet
  • philosopher
  • star
  • scientist
  • time
  • robot
  • solar system
  • science
  • speculation
+38 more
  • dust storm
  • part animated
  • record player
  • flagstaff arizona
  • reference to edgar rice burroughs
  • milky way
  • reference to h.g. wells
  • phonograph record
  • reference to galileo
  • flying saucer
  • reference to copernicus
  • reference to plato
  • madagascar
  • hot air balloon
  • telescope
  • superstition
  • universe
  • greek
  • sun
  • egyptian
  • tortoise
  • elephant
  • moon
  • voice over
  • host
  • astronomer
  • earth
  • jupiter the planet
  • saturn
  • venus
  • sailor
  • rocket
  • photograph
  • dome
  • map
  • thunder
  • dinosaur
  • lightning
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Cast & crew

Mars and Beyond Cast & Characters

Paul Frees leads the cast as Narrator, with Wernher von Braun and Ernst Stuhlinger. Directed by Ward Kimball.

From the director

More from Ward Kimball

More films directed by Ward Kimball: Dad… Can I Borrow the Car?, The Mickey Mouse Anniversary Show, Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom and Melody.

Full filmography

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FAQ

Mars and Beyond FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Mars and Beyond, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Mars and Beyond?

Mars and Beyond runs 53 minutes.

When was Mars and Beyond released?

Mars and Beyond was released on December 4, 1957.

Who directed Mars and Beyond?

Mars and Beyond was directed by Ward Kimball.

More films by Ward Kimball

Who is in the cast of Mars and Beyond?

Mars and Beyond stars Paul Frees as Narrator, Wernher von Braun and Ernst Stuhlinger.

Does Mars and Beyond have a post-credit scene?

No. Mars and Beyond has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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