Sci-Fi Classic Review: INVADERS FROM MARS (1953)

[@indygeo4267]

One of my personal favorite Science fiction movies from the 1950s. I love the cinematography, the score, and the atmosphere of this movie. The overall look and feel of this film is just so nostalgic for me.

[@JoseyWales44s]

Great movie. My father, a sci-fi film buff, saw it as a kid so I naturally saw it when I was a kid too thanks to him. Just purchased and watched the remastered Blu-Ray from Ignite Studios. Although there is a lot of grain visible, the presentation is the best I've ever seen, no scratches or other film damage. It also contains all of the extra European release footage as well as an interview with Jimmy Hunt.

[@tommydarbe1524]

In the 50s Stock footage was use as a great money saver, but I think it added a lot of camp. At least it wasn't flying saucers held up by strings😊

[@mikesilva3868]

Agreed 🌲

[@1kylecurry]

A solid addition to the "Atomic Age" era of sci fi / horror. I thought the surreal approach & visuals to the story telling was clever.

[@rehetbutler]

This movie held a special place in my list of favorites. It wasn't a carbon copy of typical sci-fi films. There is an obscure movie from the 50s called Creation of the Humanoids that would make for a good review by you. I am also trying to recall the name of a movie about an alien woman that kills with a touch. I think it was called "She" or something like that. I think the whole thing was shot in two sets. lol.

[@mikesilva3868]

What about the 50s classic movie I married a monster from outer space 🙂

[@rsacchi100]

Do you mean 'The Astounding She-Monster'. The story is about a gang of crooks who hold a couple of people hostage in a cabin in the woods when an irredecent woman from outer space shows up.

[@CaminoAir]

That sounds similar to the Star Trek episode 'That Which Survives'.

[@walterfechter8080]

As a kid, this movie scared me so much that I didn't want to go anywhere there was sand. The music; with the haunting choral arrangements; was haunting and memorable. This movie will always remain with me. It's my absolute favorite "kid-oriented" Sci-Fi film. "Tobor: The Great" and "The Space Children" are two more of my favorites. Thanks, Unapologetic Geek.

[@rsacchi100]

The sets seem to play into it being a dream. I can see why a film maker would get upset with the, it was all a dream ending. It's a fun movie. A good point about the child not being annoying. One way to make a film unbearable for adults is having an annoying child.

[@rogervandusen8361]

I saw this charming film back in the 70s when it was in syndication. I always chuckle when Morris Ankrum commands, "All tanks surround the field!"

[@veseyvonveitinghof9593]

...i saw it when it first came out and it remains one of my favorite sci fi flicks right along with the original "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"....

[@AllanGonnella]

When I saw "Invaders From Mars' in the late 50's at the local kiddie matinee at the Garmar Theater in Montebello, Ca. it scared the daylight out of me. When I got home I demanded to see the back of my mother's neck. She thought I was crazy but finally relented. What a relief! No mind-controlling crystal sticking out but you just never know about your parents. To this day I thought it was one of the best alien invasion flicks made.

[@morgangallowglass8668]

As a kid, I found this movie amazingly eerie. It stuck in my mind like a splinter thanks to the points you make so brilliantly. It was from the perspective of a child, BUT did not, and does not strike me as a childish movie. Creepy and dark with decidedly less that kid-friendly themes, it bothered me then and now, as an adult, it fascinates me in its crafting as much as its seemingly simple tale. As always, a great vid on your part!

[@GunHillTrain]

I saw this on TV when I was about the age of eight in the early 1960's , and it struck me as one of the creepiest movies ever, even now. We had a black-and-white television, so perhaps that added to the weirdness and the sense of paranoia. The people disappearing into the sand, the Martian leader inside the globe, the drill slowly going into the woman's head, the lumbering Martian creatures - all that and move deeply unsettled me.

[@jeffreymoore6742]

I would like to see a review of the movie “Fiend Without a Face”. Every time I see “The Iron Giant “ it reminds me of this movie. The scene where Hogarth is watching tv and they have the giant brain on top of the scientist head.

[@mikesilva3868]

Another classic 🙂

[@indyspotes3310]

The first time I watched this film was also as an adult. As such, I was able to notice aspects such as forced perspective, differences in scale, abrupt changes in color palette, etc. which gave it a dream-like quality. Given that the plot also begins from the child's bedroom, let's just say I would have been disappointed if the movie WASN'T a dream (words that have never come out of my mouth for another single film...). This movie is kind of an sf interpretation of The Wizard of Oz. And, oddly enough, it always put me in mind of Black Narcissus with its quirky shot selection and color choices. It definitely could have used some Sabu. But what film couldn't...?

[@Krusader53]

You mentioned that the movie had originally been planned to be filmed in 3-D. A lot of the indoor locations had a square/rectangle shape with occasional objects along the walls in the background to add to the illusion of depth.(especially in the police station and laboratory). The stock footage of the military tanks and vehicles being loaded up on the train was filmed at the Ft Hood, TX railhead.

[@MrPeteykins]

I thought you kind of neglected the strange set decoration and design here. It's almost like an Expressionist film.

[@tomsenior7405]

Great review, as always. Can't say I liked the film as much as I did your retrospective. I used to put this down to the central character being a child. When one was 9 years old, a hero was a bloke with a large jaw and fists of iron, not some whiny brat. None of us wanted to see a child save the world from invading, mind-manipulating, green people, intent on World domination. That we would be silly. We wanted to see a bloke save the world from invading, mind-manipulating, green people, intent on World domination. At least we got to see Big John Cannon's wife, before he married Victoria.

[@gmanley1]

I remember watching this movie, Invaders from Mars on a weekend. It was honestly enjoyable to watch.

[@geraldmartin7703]

Saw this in an Austin, Texas movie theater with my mother when I was a kid. More accurately, saw most of it from the lobby peeking through the auditorium doors, I was that terrified. The movie is a prime candidate for 3D conversion. I even have an old television movies guide that lists it (incorrectly) as 3D.

[@jacksonj3082]

WOW - can remember seeing this film when I was a young boy. If possible, suggest you also review the 1957 classic Kronos. Another great classic and fantasy film is The Crimson Pirate with Burt Lancaster.

[@jameskerr8091]

The music and casting is good. I like the story but agree with you that all the stock footage is a bore. Would you consider reviewing The Invisible Boy?

[@mikesilva3868]

Another classic I would recommend them from 1954 or tarantula from 1955 or creature from the black lagoon from 1954🙂🙃

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

I’ve already got a video on Creature from the Black Lagoon! But The Invisible Boy and Tarantula are absolutely on my list.

[@mikesilva3868]

@@TheUnapologeticGeek the invisible boy fun movie tarantula was more fun them great movie saw it on cbs I was 7 in 1991 they were having a b movie marathon it was on a Saturday afternoon including invasion of the saucer men earth vs the flying saucers I married a monster from outer space and them from 1954🥩

[@palmercolson7037]

@@mikesilva3868 All good ones to review. I Married a Monster From Outer Space is a movie that has rarely been in circulation on TV.

[@amarreder6241]

Good

[@jgw1846]

How about reviewing World Without End.

[@brettcoster4781]

I first saw the two versions of Invaders From Mars just the other day. While I think that each has its great points, the original is the better film (although the Martians of the 80s version are done much better: the extra budget shows). As usual, this was a terrific review. As for a film that I want to see, I'm intrigued by the Blu-ray you have behind you on your desk, The Woman in the Moon, because that would be a great one to see. I just checked your Metropolis review from years ago where you said that Woman in the Moon was on your list to be done, so hopefully...?????

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

It’s not far off, I promise!

[@jasontoddman7265]

It seems ironic that the film maker was upset about the ending where it was all a dream, considering the basic idea was supposed to have come from his wife's childhood nightmares. Maybe that thought hit too close to home?

[@JohnTLyon]

As a kid, this flic scared the shite out of me!

[@larrydavis3645]

This film really scared me as a child.

[@user-gd8fn7qn7r]

great video like always.

[@18661873]

What would 1950's Sci-fi be without Morris Ankrum?

[@mikesilva3868]

Love this movie 😊

[@Mr.spooky5106]

This film is amazing

[@KonElKent]

It wasn't "For Kids" and how much "horror" vs "comedy" is up for debate, but I'm staring down my 38th birthday and my all time favorite film since I was a very little kid is Love at First Bite. Though I know more than one person who's admitted to being traumatized by Maleficent's transformation to a dragon in Sleeping Beauty.

[@indyspotes3310]

The underlying joke about casting George Hamilton as a creature that can't go into sunlight escaped me as a child when I saw this movie. Love it. "What do you say to THIS count!" "I would say, leave Cindy alone and find yourself a nice Jewish girl, doctor."

[@KonElKent]

@@indyspotes3310 the "pale" makeup only succeeded in making him look normal.

[@napoleon-sk5oc]

Remake of a classic is the phrase.

[@user-gd8fn7qn7r]

👍🏼.

[@danthsmith]

I have a higher opinion than the geek. The Hooper version is very disappointing

[@markusbaur2128]

and now please do "mars attacks" 8)

[@stevenhandzel5929]

Inframan!!!!

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

😁

[@rfernandz2001]

I'm glad to hear you don't think Invasion of the Bodysnatchers is about Communism. I have a similar distaste for assertions that Spanish horror in the 70's is about Franco.

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

I get a lot of flak for saying it, but I still believe it!

[@indyspotes3310]

@@TheUnapologeticGeek According to Stephen King, he said Jack Finney told him that it wasn't about anything at all. It was simply meant to be entertaining. According to his biographer Jack Seabrook, he said it was, as in most of Finney's work, about the general decline of post-war small town America. But even if it wasn't intended as an allegory of communism, it does contain a convenient number of tropes.. And Spanish horror films of the 70s were only about one thing: Seeing which country could make the most movies with "Blood" in the title...

[@adaddinsane]

Not a fan personally, I just can't get past the "scientist speculates on what might be true" => "is then instantly the truth".

[@geraldmartin7703]

Some movie critics are bothered by all those flying saucer scale models in a planetarium.