The other day I was watching a movie that I had seen on TV several times as a kid back in the '60s - "Robinson Crusoe on Mars," from 1964. You can go to the Internet Movie Data Base here for more info on the movie itself: Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964) - IMDb
In it an astronaut is stranded alone on the Red Planet and has to figure out how to survive until he can be rescued. Other than that there appears to be little similarity to the current film with that theme, "The Martian" starring Matt Damon.
I loved it when I was a kid and wondered how it held up today. What was known about Mars back then is quite a bit different from what we now know, and star Paul Mantee is able to walk around in pants and a black tee shirt, occasionally taking sips of oxygen from a tank.
Anyway, early in the movie after he has crash-landed, he is taking inventory of his survival gear. Among other items in the case is - a Smith & Wesson Third Model Perfected single shot target pistol! I had not remembered that and it was so unexpected that I laughed out loud when I saw it. However after thinking about it, an accurate single shot .22 wouldn't be the worst choice for a survival gun, assuming there are Martian squirrels and rabbits to be had.
(Click on the pictures for a larger version.)
He hears a strange sound and breaks the gun open to check it, then creeps around the edge of his wrecked ship to investigate. Turns out to be a piece of metal vibrating in the Martian wind.
Later on when investigating the fate of his other crewman, he sees a strange sight and draws his weapon from its shoulder holster. Suddenly from behind a rock appears....
Well, I don't want to spoil everything for you. 
Although I will say that he never actually fires the gun.
It may be that Mantee was left-handed, as you can see that's what hand he uses to aim the gun. The holster is a cross-draw and you can see the butt of the gun in the middle of his chest.
I guess the producers wanted something more exotic looking than an ordinary revolver. If they could've gotten ahold of a Straightline it would've looked even more unusual, particularly with its side swivel barrel.
In it an astronaut is stranded alone on the Red Planet and has to figure out how to survive until he can be rescued. Other than that there appears to be little similarity to the current film with that theme, "The Martian" starring Matt Damon.
I loved it when I was a kid and wondered how it held up today. What was known about Mars back then is quite a bit different from what we now know, and star Paul Mantee is able to walk around in pants and a black tee shirt, occasionally taking sips of oxygen from a tank.
Anyway, early in the movie after he has crash-landed, he is taking inventory of his survival gear. Among other items in the case is - a Smith & Wesson Third Model Perfected single shot target pistol! I had not remembered that and it was so unexpected that I laughed out loud when I saw it. However after thinking about it, an accurate single shot .22 wouldn't be the worst choice for a survival gun, assuming there are Martian squirrels and rabbits to be had.
(Click on the pictures for a larger version.)
He hears a strange sound and breaks the gun open to check it, then creeps around the edge of his wrecked ship to investigate. Turns out to be a piece of metal vibrating in the Martian wind.
Later on when investigating the fate of his other crewman, he sees a strange sight and draws his weapon from its shoulder holster. Suddenly from behind a rock appears....
Well, I don't want to spoil everything for you. Although I will say that he never actually fires the gun.It may be that Mantee was left-handed, as you can see that's what hand he uses to aim the gun. The holster is a cross-draw and you can see the butt of the gun in the middle of his chest.
I guess the producers wanted something more exotic looking than an ordinary revolver. If they could've gotten ahold of a Straightline it would've looked even more unusual, particularly with its side swivel barrel.
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