Earth II (1971)

Welcome to the first independent nation in Earth Orbit. Welcome to Earth II.

Today on Far Future Horizons it gives me great pleasure to present the TV motion picture Earth II starring Gary Lockwood of “2001: A Space Odyssey” fame. 

I saw this motion picture when it first aired on NBC Channel 4 in New York City. I was ten years old at the time. This is the very first motion picture I ever saw that depicted the concept of an orbital space colony. Later made famous by Gerald K. O’Neill.

Earth II was a 1971 pilot, aired November 28 (and released theatrically outside North America), for a television series about a colony established in orbit around the Earth. A WABE Production in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television, it starred Gary Lockwood, Anthony Franciosa, Lew Ayres and Mariette Hartley. The film was written and produced by William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter, and directed by Tom Gries.

In the peaceful space colony called Earth II, even toy guns are banned. But something far more dangerous threatens this ideal world: a Chinese satellite armed with three nuclear warheads. 

The citizens of Earth II decide to disarm the warheads, despite China's warning that anyone who interferes will instigate a thermonuclear World War III. Outstanding special effects and a name cast (headed by 2001: A Space Odyssey co-star Gary Lockwood) highlight this space-frontier chiller that brings audiences to the terrifying edge of Doomsday. 

Can men and women of peace triumph over the awesome power of nuclear weapons? Earth II has an answer.

Earth II is available on DVD from Amazon Books. 

Earth II Full Movie (1971)
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