USA, 1954
71m
35mm film, black and white (some US video prints include green tinted sequences), 1.37:1
mono, English
An American science fiction film directed by W. Lee Wilder.
Plot Summary
Scientist Doug Martin disappears after his aircraft crashes while monitoring the after effects of a nuclear test. He turns up again some time later with a fantastic story of being abducted by alien invaders who are lurking underground and planning to take over the world using a menagerie of atomically enlarged animals and insects.
Credits
Crew
Directed by: W. Lee Wilder
Copyright MCMLIII [1953] by Planet Filmplays, Inc.
Produced by: W. Lee Wilder
Associate: Fred M. Muller
Production Supervision: Mack V. Wright
Screenplay by: Bill Raynor
From a Story by: Myles Wilder
Director of Photography: William H. Clothier
Lighting: Jim James
Film Editor: William Faris
Music Composed and Conducted by: Manuel Compinsky
Supervised by: Alec Compinsky
Sound Recorder: George E.H. Hanson
Western Electric Recording
Make Up: Harry Thomas
Optical Effects: Consolidated Film Industries
Locations: Bronson Caves, Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California, USA *
Cast
Peter Graves (Doug Martin)
James Seay (Colonel Banks)
Steve Pendleton (Briggs)
Frank Gerstle (Dr [Curt] Kruger)
John Merrick [real name: John Frederick.[/mfn] (Denab-Tala)
Barbara Bestar (Ellen Martin)
Shep Menken (Major Clift)
Jack Daly (power house guard)
Ron Kennedy (Sergeant Powers)
Ben Welden (pilot)
Burt Wenland (Sergeant [Bandero])
Lester Dorr (station attendant)
Robert Roark (guard)
Ruth Bennett (Miss Vincent)
Mark Scott (narrator)
Alternative Titles
Asesinos del espacio – Chilean title
Guerra tra i pianeti – Italian title
Links
Extracts included in
The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made (2004)
Attack of the Killer B-Movies (1995)
Don't Ask Don't Tell (2002)
Horrible Horror (1986)
Monsterama Sci-Fi Late Night Creature Feature Show Vol. 1 (1996)
References
Periodicals
- Castle of Frankenstein no.12 p.36
Books
- Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Science Fiction by Phil Hardy (ed) p.146; 147
- Earth vs the Sci-fi Filmmakers: Twenty Interviews by Tom Weaver pp.133-148- illustrated interview with Peter Graves
- Horror and Science Fiction Films III by Donald C. Willis p.153-154
- Nuclear Movies: A Filmography by Mick Broderick p.46
- Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.242 – credits
- RKO Radio Pictures Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films, 1929-1956 by Michael R. Pitts p.163-166
