The President of the United States of America in the 1953 film 'Project Moonbase', which is set in the year 1970, is a woman who is unnamed in the film. She's portrayed by Ernestine Barrier and first mentioned merely as President in the film until the final act when stranded United States Space Force astronauts on the moon receive a personal address from her with Major Moore being promoted by her. Her first act in the film was to send an order as Commander in Chief to the USSF to have female Colonel Briteis (who made the first orbit around the Earth) replace male Major Moore as pilot of the Magellion, a space craft meant to complete the first lunar orbit and return to the USSF space station.
Speculation[]
- Using Ernestine Barrier's age at the time of her role as Madame President (45 years of age) we can assume the character was born in the year 1925.
- Since the film came out in 1953, before the presidency and assassination of John F. Kennedy, and before Eisenhower's 2nd term we can speculate that she's likely the 38th President of the United States (one full term for Eisenhower and her predecessors) having been elected in 1969. Three years after Colonel Briteis became the first person (and woman) to orbit around the Earth. This would put the events of the film during Madame President's 2nd year in office.
- Alternatively, using the same logic she's the 37th President of the United States having been elected in 1964 with Colonel Briteis orbit around the Earth taking place during her first term in office. Due to a comment by General Greene regarding politics back then we can assume there was a political push to put woman into positions of authority and achievement during Briteis orbit of the Earth. This likely carried over with Madame President, having put a woman in orbit of the Earth (indeed as the first person to orbit the Earth) being re-elected for the nation's achievement.
- The absence of the Oval Office, and window indicates a renovation of the White House or other change regarding the residency of the President between the years 1953 and 1970.
Notes[]
- She's only ever referred to as 'President' in the film so the fact she's a woman is a surprise for the audience but people who look back on that reveal positively have taken to calling her Madame President.
- Madame President is the second live action feature film depiction of a female US President. The first was in the 1924 silent feature length film 'The Last Man on Earth'.