Villain(s)  Aliens, Fire-dwelling creature

Actor(s):  Dean Fredericks, Coleen Gray, Anthony Dexter, Francis X. Bushman

Brief Description  Released on December 13, 1961, The Phantom Planet is a low-budget, independent black-and-white science fiction film directed by William Marshall and starring Dean Fredericks. Set in the futuristic year of 1980, it follows an astronaut who crash-lands on an invisible asteroid, gets shrunk to miniature size by the atmosphere, and becomes embroiled in an alien society's war.

Plot:
In the "futuristic" year of 1980, the United States Air Force Space Exploration Wing operates bases on the Moon. After multiple spacecraft mysteriously vanish near Mars, Captain Frank Chapman and his navigator, Lieutenant Ray Makonnen, are dispatched on Pegasus IV to investigate. During their search, the ship is struck by a severe meteor shower. Makonnen is forced outside to fix the hull but his tether snaps, sending him drifting to his death in deep space. Alone and with a failing ship, Chapman loses consciousness as a mysterious asteroid pulls Pegasus IV into its gravity well. Chapman awakes to find himself outside his crashed ship on the asteroid, known as Rheton. As he explores, the asteroid's unusual atmosphere and immense magnetic forces miniaturize him to a height of six inches. He is quickly discovered by the native humanoids, who are also tiny.

Chapman is brought before their ruler, King Sessom. Because the people of Rheton live in constant fear of discovery by outside forces, Sessom puts Chapman on trial for trespassing. The verdict states that Chapman can never leave the planet. However, he is granted full citizenship and given freedom to live among them. Chapman adapts to his new life and finds himself in a love triangle. He draws the attention of two women, Liara, the king's expressive daughter, and Zetha, a beautiful woman who was struck mute by a past trauma. Chapman's growing affection for Zetha enrages Herron, a young native warrior who was previously betrothed to her. To resolve their dispute over Zetha, Herron challenges Chapman to a duel to the death. The fight takes place on top of gravity-defying plates over a bottomless pit.

Chapman wins the fight but chooses to spare Herron's life, earning the warrior's eternal gratitude and respect. Soon after, the shock of a sudden event restores Zetha's voice, and she and Chapman profess their love. The peace is shattered when Rheton is attacked by its sworn enemies, the Solarites—a race of grotesque, fire-dwelling monsters (played by Richard Kiel in a rubber suit). The Solarites bombard the asteroid with flaming meteors and launch a ground invasion. Using his knowledge of Earth military tactics, Chapman helps defend the city. Herron and Chapman fight side-by-side to repel the beasts. During the battle, a captured Solarite breaks loose and attacks Zetha, but Chapman successfully subdues the monster.

With the Solarite threat defeated, Herron decides to repay Chapman for sparing his life. He helps steer the wandering asteroid close to an active Earth orbit. Chapman is dressed back in his spacesuit, walks out onto the surface of the asteroid, and inhales the residual gases left inside his ship's air tank. The Earth air counteracts the asteroid's atmosphere, restoring him to his normal human size. An Earth rescue team from Rocketship 380 picks up Chapman's signal and rescues him. Back safely on the rescue vessel, Chapman realizes his crewmates will never believe his extraordinary story. However, as the movie ends, he looks down into his hand to find a tiny, miniature jewel given to him by Zetha—the ultimate proof of his time on the Phantom Planet.