The Magic of "This Island Earth"

[@cameliad3522]

'This Island Earth' is my second favorite 50s sci-fi movie. 'Forbidden Planet' is my first favorite.

[@darania1]

Ditto!

[@ianallan8005]

@@darania1I’m clearly among friends here. Ditto

[@TOPDadAlpha]

Also "Them"

[@paulgandy7347]

Exactly!

[@lovesvegas]

Me too!!!!

[@badbenito]

Not even aliens can resist the charms of sultry, Faith Domergue!!!

[@oobrocks]

Her career was way too short; her face was as gorgeous as Liz Taylor

[@starmnsixty1209]

She was definitely one of the sexier femme fatales of the 1940s/50s.

[@OPS5255]

I am very fond of this movie. One of my favourite "staying in tonight" movies. Lifts you up on a cold rainy night.

[@fredblonder7850]

You overlook the most important spinoff: Russel Johnson, as Steve Carlson, learned enough of the interocitor in this movie that eight years later he was able to apply that knowledge using bamboo and coconuts as professor Roy Hinckley on Gilligan’s Island.

[@TWELS20]

You failed to mention the superb acting of Jeff Morrow! He was a very popular star in his day, particularly in the science fiction genre. He is my uncle by marriage.

[@TheDejael]

Wonderful! I was a personal friend of both Jeff Morrow and Rex Reason. I knew Jeff from 1979 to his passing in 1993, and knew his lovely wife, actress Anna Karen Morrow.

[@markbanash921]

The scene where Cal Meacham assembles the Interrocitor inspired me to become a scientist. I figured that any profession but gave you the skillset to be able to assemble a complicated alien machine was what I wanted to do.

[@scifiandmore]

@markbanash921, Thank you for your comment. That is an exceptionally inspirational comment you made. And I have just say, becoming a scientist is no easy task. Outstanding accomplishment, and as a sci-fi fan, it’s always great to hear how a show or movie motivated our lives in a particular direction. I myself wanted to join the Navy, and Star Trek was my inspiration to do so. Excellent comment. And thank you again. I hope you are enjoying the channel, stay tuned, there is more to come. Have a great day. Mike

[@markbanash921]

@@scifiandmore I'll bet you know a lot of engineers who became them because of mr. Scott

[@scifiandmore]

@@markbanash921 I actually do, largely because of my career in the Navy. And I want to be fare to all of them, because they are all my friends and former associates. I consider myself to be an intelligent, educated person. But when you sit around a BBQ with guys of this level of knowledge, you realize the depth of knowledge and expertise you just don't posses. It's a very humbling experience. Sometimes when I am with a group of them and they are have a deep intellectual engineering conversation, and they know I am no expert in this field, I just sit back waiting for one of them to tell me to sit down and color, lol. I really can't keep up with them on the engineering front, but the men and women I know that do that as a profession are all wonderful people.

[@themagus5906]

"Where do we start?" "Right.....here!" These movies were, I'm sure, inspiring to young scientific minds. I pursued chemistry because of these early movies, but I have to admit it was partly because I thought I'd get the girl at the end. I never got the girl, I never got the money, but I did get a lot of common sense along the long way.

[@markbanash921]

@@themagus5906 I'm a chemist, and my wife wears a t-shirt that says "You can't scare me, my husband has a chemistry degree."

[@walterfechter8080]

This one has it all -- flying saucers, alien landscapes, interplanetary war, green rays, big-head bug-eyed monsters, heroic scientists, and very good storyline. "Forbidden Planet" is my all-time favorite Sci-Fi movie, but "This Island Earth" comes in at a close second. Oh yeah, don't forget, "Klaatu Barada Nikto!" Gotta go now. The delivery guys just dropped off a lot of wooden crates from Directory Electronic Service Unit 16. Ciao -- W

[@1vantheterr1ble47]

You forgot to mention the beautiful leading lady!

[@walterfechter8080]

@@1vantheterr1ble47 A pox upon me for not mentioning the gorgeous and charming Faith Domergue. She was also in, "The Cult of the Cobra." (1955)

[@iansands8607]

I love many of the 50s sci-fi films, The Day The Earth Stood Still, Invaders From Mars, It Came From Outer Space, and I Married A Monster From Outer Space, (which is a lot better than it's title suggests) and of course This Island Earth. Being born at the end of the 50s I saw all these films on TV in the 60s and I have them all on DVD so watch them about once a year, I also think the special effects in some of these old flicks are better than the CGI we have now, just look at the opening scene in Day The Earth Stood Still, where the flying saucer skims across the sky over Washington DC, that's still impressive.

[@stevenlitvintchouk3131]

I agree! You knew you were looking at matte paintings and traveling mattes, but that's OK because they were true art. Artists had to paint those matte paintings. Today's CGI may be photorealistic but it lacks warmth and soul. It's like comparing the "Mona Lisa" painting vs. a selfie of some woman named Mona.

[@vitabricksnailslime8273]

"Just don't mention the head!" "You boys haven't got an interociter up there have you? Nooooo!"

[@haroldmorey1107]

I watch this Island Earth when ever I can find it. I was in high school when it came out . I am 83 years old and watch scifi and have for as long as I can remember .keep up the good work...

[@sly2392]

when a movie is done with care and has a great story, it becomes a classic such as THIS ISLAND EARTH.

[@tonycowin]

My and my mates got into this film in the 1980s when we read an interview with a Liverpool band we liked called This Island Earth got their name from this flick.

[@douglasswicegood4420]

One of the most beautiful Sci-Fi movies ever made. Three-strip Technicolor shows this off as no other color system could. Remains a favorite of mine.

[@rickhibdon11]

This is one of the first truly "epic" sci fi films. It is so well written and acted. As a kid, it grabbed my attention and still does. The whole concept of building the Interocetor ? I dreamed about that sort of thing. And what better way for an alien species to make contact?

[@Melbournelost66]

I love This Island Earth. More so than forbidden planet. I still love watching it. It's part of my DVD collection.

[@mind_of_a_darkhorse]

This movie and Forbidden Planet laid the foundation for modern Sci-Fi!

[@scifiandmore]

@mind_of_a_darkhorse, Thank you for your comment. I couldn't agree more. Both of those movies were entertaining and revolutionary for their time. And continue to get referenced today. Hope you enjoyed the video. You comment is greatly appreciated, and stay tuned, there is more to come. Have a great day. Mike

[@MrOhYeahRight]

Don’t forget The Professor from Gilligan’s Island!

[@TheDejael]

I met and interviewed Russell Johnson in 1987. Great guy!

[@hankmessaros6700]

One of my top5 fav from that Era, no movie takes 2.5 yes to make a movie in today's world or at anytime, but they took their time to get it right and it paid off big time for them. Such a great movie just wish it was long exploring that planet

[@allanalogmusicat78rpm]

Movies have always taken a long time to make, especially fantasy and science fiction films. They require an enormous amount of pre production and even more time in post production to create the effects, unique sounds, and editing it all together, of course. Two years is about average.

[@TheDejael]

That publicity slogan is correct! The film was made and developed from January 1953 to its release in June 1955.

[@alexisnicole3965]

Done to perfection, love the narration style.

[@TheDejael]

There is no narration. You mean 'narrative style'.

[@douglasmackinlay7574]

One of my all time favourites.

[@papaowl13803]

This has always been one of my favorites from the 50' s.

[@dennisnaylor2965]

My personal favorite SF film. Seen it hundreds of times, the first of which when I was 6 !

[@Merylstreep1949]

I'm watching this on the Intericitor I just built😅

[@scifiandmore]

Now that is hilarious. It is rare that someone can make me spit my coffee from laughter, but you got me good on that one. Love the comment, stay tuned there is more to come. And thank you for putting great laughter into my day. Have a great day and a Happy and Safe 4th of July. Mike

[@Merylstreep1949]

@scifiandmore aww hell yeah glad you liked my funny. If you get a chance, MST3K does a pretty good loving but hilarious send up to This Island Earth. Yeah this movie and Forbidden Planet are the grandparents to films like the original Star Wars and even Alien

[@schallrd1]

The alien scared the hell out of me when I was a kid. Well done!

[@TheDejael]

The last of the great Universal Movie Monsters, the Metaluna Mutant was designed by Millicent Patrick and Jack Kevan for Bud Westmore's Spiecial Makeup Dept. at Universal, immediately after the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

[@leebritnell2405]

I always consider this the ultimate 50s sci fi film.It's like watching a vintage pulp novel (and I mean that in the very best way)

[@buffstraw2969]

Well, Raymond F. Jones was a pulp SF author, so it's got that classic feel. Written SF was highly imaginative and paved the way for Hollywood to create landmark sci-fi films & TV. SF, or sci-fi, is probably the hardest genre to do, in the sense of pulling it off well, with style and intelligence. "This Island Earth" is quite an achievement, and still enjoyable to watch even today.

[@starmnsixty1209]

Indeed Jones was. I believe these stories which Jones reworked into the novel THIS ISLAND EARTH ran in THRILLING WONDER STORIES. Jones career lasted through the 1970s.

[@kokomo9764]

It's one of my favorites.

[@themagus5906]

I used to do technical service calls at a place in New Jersey called "Inductotherm". I often asked about what, exactly, they produced (being a degreed chemist myself). Nobody would ever answer me directly. After a while, at lunch time, one employee admitted to me that they produce power cells for interocitors. I asked him if he knew what they were, and he replied "I guess it's parts for industrial ovens, but I don't know. I just build the sub-assemblies." The company also has their own private aircraft landing strip. I also noticed the word "turboencabulator" in one of the assembly blueprints as I was performing service on their water system. WTF? Science or science fiction? YOU be the judge. Look it all up.

[@wirebrushofenlightenment1545]

One of my very favourite scifi films. I hold it as being truly every bit the equal of films such as Forbidden Planet and The Day The Earth Stood Still. The way the story begins with a small mystery, and then gradually unfolds into a much bigger plot is perfectly done.

[@saiello2061]

For me this runs a close second to Forbidden Planet for 50's films. It appears a kind of Sci-Fi film stepping stone, it still has that 'flying saucers on strings' feel to it of earlier B&W Sci-Fi, but in colour and with more modern backdrop art techniques similar to that adopted by Forbidden Planet. Forbidden Planet though, raised the bar to end the decade and still takes the prize for its animation, unique spooky sound effects and all round polished production. I believe it was on on my third(?) watching of this film over the years that had me notice that the flaming meteors being used as bombs were actually steered by tiny little ships... 😁. A very enjoyable film 👍.

[@bluemouse5039]

One thing Forbidden Planet had that made me like it more than some of the other classic 1950's Sci Fi movies was that weird futuristic background music playing thru out the movie

[@saiello2061]

@@bluemouse5039 Yes, the sound effects certainly were unique and memorable. I've always wondered how they produced them prior to the use of modern electronic music. I do know that the BBC had a pioneering and experimental 'radiophonics' workshop in London which was responsible for the theme tune to Dr Who in the early 60's as well as other sound effects used by other programmes. But this was several years after FB.

[@TheDejael]

George Pal's movies, THIS ISLAND EARTH, THE THING, DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, and FORBIDDEN PLANET are the best of the best of 1950s science fiction films.

[@robertr1096]

I was probably 5 years old when I saw this film with my father in the 50"s. Being grabbed by one of the insect-like creatures as the transport tube opened was the theme of nightmares for weeks thereafter. It was probably 60 years before I had the chance to see the film again. I selected it as my last Netflix DVD rental so I could keep it.

[@scifiandmore]

@robertr1096, Thank you for your comment, it is greatly appreciated and we hope you enjoyed our video. I did this video for a couple of reasons, the first is that it is one of my favorite science fiction movies. The second reason is that I had done a Top 10 1950's video, and I'm embarrassed to say that I completely overlooked it. But that actually worked out in the end because I created two more Top 1950's videos, Part 2 features This Island Earth, and this stand alone. There were so many comments, mostly positive that surrounded This Island Earth, I decided that a stand alone off any list would be something positive that viewers and subscribers were looking for. I made this channel really just for fun, so when I read the comments and I could see that this movie was a lot of fun for a great majority, I wanted to give people what they wanted and create a positive experience. Thank you again for your comment, and stay tuned, there is more sci-fi to come. Merry Christmas. Mike

[@blackholeentry3489]

I saw this movie as a 14 year old kid at the local drive-in, but had long forgotten it's name. However, I did remember the triangular Interrocitor, although that too I had long forgotten its name. I'm not sure of what my parents thought of it, as my dad wasn't a fan at all of Sci/fi, although my mother was more open. Just about the only thing which ever interested my father was baseball. Now if, they were broadcasting a baseball game on the Interrocitor, he might have picked up more interest.

[@starmnsixty1209]

A couple of fun facts are that the Metalunian Mutant was a popular Halloween mask for some years in the US. STARLOG magazine Number 15 from way back on 1978 features this film, and is its cover story.

[@katmandoism]

One of my top 10. Fantastic planet is another.

[@borusa32]

I am not sure I recall the mutant saying anything at all.

[@andreaslermen2008]

The mutant was one of the scariest things, I have seen as a kid.

[@mariesimbeck9875]

One of my favorites in my collection of 50s and 60s sci-fi collection. Along with Forbidden Planet, The Day The Earth Stood Still, Earth VS The Flying Saucers, THEM!, The Thing, The War of the Worlds, to name a few. I'm a cinephile who collects movies and enjoys researching info about them.

[@vonzigle]

I saw the film many times and don’t remember the mutants having conversations with humans. But the mutants were scarey enough!

[@LarcheOsborne]

Thanks for posting this. I first saw This Island Earth as a young teen some 45 or so years ago and fell in love with it. I've long aga lost count of the number of times I've rewatched it since.

[@scifiandmore]

@LarcheOsborne, So glad you enjoyed the video, and thank you for you comment. This movie just blew my mind when I was younger. I used to see it on the Saturday Afternoon Creature Feature in the 70's, and I would watch it every time it came on. For me, this is one that is just going to stick with me for the rest of my life. Again, so very glad you enjoyed the video, stay tuned, there is a lot more sci-fi to go. Have a great day, and have a Happy and Safe 4th of July. Mike

[@toonman361]

Same here. Just love it!

[@billthevillageidiot4069]

This Island Earth , War Of The Worlds , Forbidden Planet , When Worlds Collide ,etc,etc , and even the earlier ones such as the Flash Gordon Serial's with Buster Crabb , loved these films and helped me grow into the genre was i was a nipper , they sure don't make 'erm like this any more lol

[@ARWest-bp4yb]

The 50s were such an awesome time for sci fi movies, and this one was one of the best and totally deserving of its classic status. I'm glad the algorithm sent you my way Mike! 👍👍 BTW- I was in the Navy too, had no idea how much like Star Trek it was like til I got onboard the ship lol!

[@alexisnicole3965]

This is still a good movie! Luv the background volume!

[@KenseiSanjian]

MST3k was my 2nd viewing ❤

[@stainlesssteelfox1]

Normal view! Normal View! NORMAL VIEW!

[@alfavulcan4518]

They certainly nailed it. I laughed so hard!

[@CaptainVideo1960]

“There are two woodies in this shot.” “Gee, the floors look great!”

[@loreleesomershein1249]

I saw this in the theater when it came out. I loved it then as well as today.

[@williammoore3279]

My older brothers took me to see this movie in 1955, when I was six-years-old, maybe a bit too young but even at that age I loved science fiction. I was reprimanded by an usher and the people sitting around us when I made up a song and started singing "it's a bug-man wearing bug-space-pants" over and over again.

[@S-T-E-V-E]

I can't believe you haven't mentioned 'Invaders From Mars' 1953 in any of your videos, this was the movie that sparked my love of 50's Sci-Fi as a kid!

[@scifiandmore]

@S-T-E-V-E, Good morning, and thank you for your comment, I really appreciate it. I haven't mentioned Invaders from Mars yet. But it is included in the next three upcoming videos. We are going to drop a short for it first, just like we did with This Island Earth, and then we have another "List" type of video that it is going to be included in, and finally we are going to do a stand alone video for Invaders from Mars. There is so much great Sci-Fi from that era, that inevitably something is going to get missed. But stay tuned Invaders From Mars is coming sooner rather than later. Thank you again for your comment, have a wonderful day, and have a Happy and Safe 4th of July. Mike

[@S-T-E-V-E]

@@scifiandmore Don't worry I've subscribed for future content, I love old Sci-Fi, great job so far!

[@woodrowwheeless2509]

Invaders from Mars gave me nightmares. loved it

[@andrewofford1533]

You forgot to talk about, Forbidden Planet.... This film, had a bigger impact, with future Film Makers, Star Trek, Star Wars and films after this, can trace their rots to this fim....

[@woodrowwheeless2509]

In my top 5. Like the day the earth stood still it had a message I'm 76 and spent Saturdays in wonderful dark movie houses. SCIFI was my favorite

[@Lethgar_Smith]

Has anyone ever noticed how the plot of this film foreshadows our current mythology about Area-51? A scientist is fed alien technology. He flies on a plane with blacked out windows to a secret and remote laboratory where there are other people working in conjunction with what appear to be aliens. Later, a giant flying saucer comes out of a secret hanger in the side of a mountain. I dont know what that means. Is it really prophetic or was it a self-fulfilling prophecy?

[@darania1]

Predictive public disclosure programming like Speilbergs CE3K...

[@AtomicExtremophile]

@@darania1 we've been hearing that for decades.

[@darania1]

@asoulunwashed4491 Indeed..subliminal media public disclosure programming began back in 1951 with The Day The Earth Stood Still...

[@tklrrbccar3906]

I see according to IMDB and Faith Domergue's listing she "insisted" on pronouncing her last name as "Dah-mure". Can't quite figure that one out. But a GREAT film none the less.

[@scifiandmore]

@tklrrbccar3906, Thank you your comment, I really appreciate it. You bring up an interesting point. So with Faith Domergue's name, I really wanted to give proper respect and pronounce it correctly. I did my due diligence for research, but I was looking for audio and video so I could actually hear how her name was pronounced. And I got it down to two different pronunciations, and I was 50/50 on each one. So I did what any rational man would do in that situation, I flipped a coin, and hoped for the best. It's ironic, I try to be thorough with my research, but this came down to a flip of a coin. Thank you again for your comment, I hope you enjoyed our video, we have a lot more to come. So stay tuned, and have a great day, and have a Happy and Safe 4th of July. Mike

[@mlt6322]

@@scifiandmore Names can be hard to figure out sometimes because of the the various ethnic variety good actors and actresses originally came from. My Great grandmother came from Germany as a child and they couldn't pronounce her last name at Ellis Island so they just changed it, It took my Uncle 75 rears tracking down birth certificates based on immigrant ship records and point of origin to eventually find her original last name, we found it in his files after he passed away. Speaking of names, you called it an Intor-ocitor when it's pronounced in the movie as an Into-rocitor, see how easy it is to mispronounce something. She probably dealt with her name being pronounced as if it was English all her life and just got fed up.

[@TheDejael]

Faith Domergue was half Spanish and half French Creole from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her last name is French and there are two accepted pronunciations: Dah-mur and Doh-merg.

[@mut8inG]

How about Mars Attacks. Ha! What a fun movie.🎶💥🌸

[@scifiandmore]

@mut8inG, Funny you should mention Mars Attacks. I have always found that movie hilarious. It is on the docket to make a Mars Attacks video in the future, so stay tuned. Have a great day and a Happy and Safe 4th of July. Mike

[@chereecargill355]

I've seen this movie numerous times, but I don't ever remember the Mutant speaking. I'll have to pay closer attention next time i see it.

[@susanorourke6868]

One of my most loved bad movies of the 50's and there where many. The Actors were clearly world class. You need to remember Richard Carlson, Gene Barrie, Michael Rennie. Movies like "The Thing from Another Planet". I really do like the movies where the Earth finally wins or at least learns lessons that might eventually let Earth win

[@gorymarty56]

Loved this movie

[@stanleydomalewski8497]

Great Sci-Fi Movie !😊

[@jonathanmartin-ives8665]

This and other 50's classics influenced my meager 'B' movie making adventures. 👽🤖

[@minhthunguyendang9900]

Mr. Raymond F. Jones, like many thoughtful scifi authors of his time-Raymond E. Banks comes to mind- wanted to convey the eternal yet always spurned message that Science Without Conscience … is the stuff of mad scientists. A civilization as advanced as Metaluna with its mind-boggling technology would be but trace in the sand of an ⌛️ for want of The Love Of Peace. Like Plato’s Atlantis Story.

[@Philipwaltho]

great film

[@nobody6546]

🏆👍🏆 Big Thanks Sci-fi & More! Subscribed. I had Penned a few early Sci-Fi Storyboards myself in my Prime. KEEP ADDING to your Collection. Maybe much later you can Expand & Critic the Minutia of Movies. “ There’s Nothing New Under the Sun “ as the saying goes. “ T. I. E. - Luna Giant Killer Insect “, 1964 “ First Men on the Moon “ Insect Leaders & Grunts. Etc.. A plethora & So much More even before 1912! And THEY never had the Big Budgets/ Green Scenes/ CGI / Lucas’s ILM, etc. Only Hot & Sweaty Alien & Creature Rubber Costumes. Or 1962’s Walking TRIFFIDS- Idea written into an earlier STAR TREK Episode. Waaaayyy Before 1979 Ridley Scott’s ALIEN came out. Keep them Coming! 👴🏽NoBody🎞️s.

[@michealtaylor1946]

When did the mutant speak? There was English used throughout. When did the metalunans use an alien language?

[@scifiandmore]

@michealtaylor1946, Good morning, and thank you for your comment. That one confused me too. While I was researching the film, specifically box office numbers, and production techniques. I learned about the synthesized sounds for the Metalunan Mutant, which the producers designated as a "Language". Everything was english in the film, and I never considered including the part about a made up language until I was reading about the production of the movie. And it's real deceptive, almost like if you blink you miss it. My thought was, I never considered it a language because the synthesizer used blends with the music of the movie. So it never occurred to me that was the producers idea of a language. So I blinked, and I missed it. So it's included because the research I did seems to indicate, that was the plan within the movie. I thought that was a bit of a fun fact. Anyway, thank you again for your comment, it is greatly appreciated. Stay tuned, there is more sci-fi to come. Have a great day, and have a Happy and Safe 4th of July. Mike

[@dwood8277]

Thank you, Ii thought I had watched a different "this Island Earth"

[@larrydavis3645]

I had never thought about the ties to the cold war. I just enjoyed the story and the mystery behind it.

[@soppdrake]

I can imagine that the ship inspired the designer of NCC 1701!

[@TheDejael]

Actually, the flying saucer in THIS ISLAND EARTH was inspired by real UFO photos of an object taken over Brazil in 1952.

[@mattheviewer]

Some interesting observations here for an early groundbreaking color SIFI. Not mentioned were This Island Earth's running out of money at end of production leading to some unfinished matte shots (bluescreen inside airplane), comet FX (visible platforms and wires) and reuse of various FX footage throughout the film (metaluna saucer flights, etc.). You can also see liquid inside the Mutant's eyes in one shot that is actually the actor's sweat! Appreciated the archival photo of the saucer's early motion control equipment! However, even the recent BluRay of TIE doesn't feature any mutant dialog nor vocals - were those dropped at the last minute?

[@TheDejael]

David S. Horsley, ASC and Wes Thompson received a special Academy Award for the motion control system used in THIS ISLAND EARTH to move the saucer across the starfield. It was called the Linear Accelerator. Sadly, Edward Muhl in the front office at Universal got upset over production delays and more costs on THIS ISLAND EARTH in early 1955, and fired David S. Horsley, ASC from the film and stripped him of his Academy Award nomination for Best Special Visual Effects of 1955. Muhl put Horsley's assistant Clifford Stine, ASC in charge of finishing 3 more days of shooting on the effects work and Stine did the final shot of the saucer exploding in the ocean with yellow sulphur dioxide on a squib on a wire.

[@timconstable7348]

I was hoping for more info. about the technical background, how the special effects were done, how shots were made up and so on. Could you do a follow-up with some of this please?

[@scifiandmore]

@timconstable7348, Good morning, and thank you for your comment it is greatly appreciated. The answer to your question is yes, I do plan to do a follow up to this video, and specifically for the reason you indicated. There is so much going on with This Island Earth, it is very difficult to put it all into one video. From a technical point of view, I did not want to water down the specifics of the technical expertise into this video. I felt like it would have been lost within this video, and it deserves its own specific video to properly cover it. So stay tuned, it will be coming soon. Thank you for your feedback. It is feedback like this that really helps guide the direction of the channel. Very much appreciated. Stay tuned, and have a great day. Mike

[@TheDejael]

Special Visual Effects were supervised by David Stanley Horsley, ASC and 2nd Unit by Clifford Stine, ASC who also was DP on the film. They were assisted by Cleo "Charlie" Baker, practical effects working directly with Horsley, and by Roswell A. Hoffman on the optical printer doing all the technical effects work with 3-strip Technicolor using a beam splitter and a kaleidoscope at times. The effects work on the picture took an entire year to do from April 1954 to April 1955.

[@timconstable7348]

@@TheDejael Many thanks for this, very interesting. I've always thought This Island Earth is one of the most visually beautiful scifi films ever made.

[@raycornell5102]

"This Island Earth" was the very first novel I read cover ot cover. I have also seen the movie several times. Sorta Hokie by todays standards but quite good for the time.

[@CybershamanX]

(9:36) I love this picture. Do you think these guys were employed to get around union rules? 😉

[@BillHalliwell]

G'day Mike, What you said ; ditto !

[@Bikewer]

I just watched this again last week. The thing that jumped out at me again, as with my first watching years ago…. We have these guys with the white hair and the enormous foreheads, with technology unlike anything on Earth…. And none of the characters figures there might be something a little off here?

[@minhthunguyendang9900]

3:46 >> this brainy bug gave me no end nightmares without even having to see the movie.

[@TheDejael]

The Mutant was actually half humanoid and half crustacean like a crab.

[@minhthunguyendang9900]

@@TheDejael For a real bad-looking lobster 🦞 see « Galaxy Quest » with Sigourney Weaver.

[@TheDejael]

The Metaluna alien language was considered for the film, but the idea was dropped before filming in early 1954. The Mutant was mute and did not speak at all. The people of Metaluna are a beautiful alien race, like Klaatu in DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. Did you see the same movie I saw? The Mutant was mute. Also, another stunt actor, Eddie Parker, was also on hand in the Mutant costume when Regis Parton was not available.

[@devinreese1397]

One exception to its greatness is that there are magnetic handles that hold the people's hands, even though their hands are not made of metal, and magnetic metals at that, of course.

[@hagerty1952]

A pretty good summary, but you have me scratching my head over the Metaluna Mutant. I watched this movie more than a dozen times, in whole or in part, while researching my book "The Saucer Fleet." Your description of the alien language created for the film and the synthesized voice of the Mutant has me wondering if we watched the same movie. As far as I remember, the Mutant did not speak at all, and all of the conversations with and between the Metalunans were in English. Are you sure you're not thinking of "The Day the Earth Stood Still?" (also in "The Saucer Fleet")

[@scifiandmore]

@hagerty1952, Thank you for your comment. I meant to respond to you sooner than this, but life manages to get in the way sometimes. So when I was doing my research for this video, I came across something that had indicated that the language was a "blink and you miss it" synthesized" language for the Metalunan Mutant. I that just struck me funny. But I found it interesting. So after I made this video, I watched This Island Earth again, just to see if I could catch it, and I couldn't. The next thing I uncovered through my research was that the synthesized language was credited in the films credits. So I went through that as well, and I didn't see it. So i'm inclined to belief that what I read was something that sounded good but wasn't true. If anyone is able to give me a definite yes or no on the Metalunan mutant language, I'll be good with that. And if it turns out I put it in there in error, that's OK too, I'm not afraid to admit when I am wrong. On a different note, your book sounds interesting. I was reading the description of the contents on Amazon, and it sounds really interesting. I'll probably be ordering the book, but if you would like, and if you think it would be helpful, I'd be happy to drop a book recommendation for "The Saucer Fleet" into our next video. But that is up to you. Let me know, I'd be happy to do it. And if you would like me to do that, and have specific language you would want me to use, you can email me at [e-mail] Other than that, thank you again for your comment, it is greatly appreciated. And stay tuned, there is more sci-fi to come. Have a great day. Mike

[@hagerty1952]

@@scifiandmore - Thanks, Mike. Not to worry about reply speed, you do much better than I! Regarding mistakes, I have to put out an errata page for each of my hardcovers that runs 4 or 5 pages of closely spaced type 🙂

[@MH-jt3lx]

This is a great film I loved it. I seen it for the first time on regular tv in 1982.

[@pjimmbojimmbo1990]

I remember seeing this movie as a Kid in the late 60s, and then again in 72. I always was fascinated with it, especially the Interocitor(Weird Al even had one in his 'Dare to be Stupid' Video. About 15 yrs ago, I got the DVD. As I watch it with older Eyes, I find it a bit less Magical.

[@CybershamanX]

Rex reminds me of Seth MacFarlane. 😜

[@dogwalker666]

Actually Klingon was invented by James Doonan (Scotty).

[@HootOwl513]

Bugs, Babes and Blasters! What's not to like? Drive your car into the Drive-In with your date or your buddies, get a large buttered popcorn, big Cokes for all around, some Dots, a chocolate bar, and settle back for another Saturday night galactic adventure.

[@richin2123]

What sequences are you referring to you when you discuss an alien language spoken in this movie? The Metalunans speak English to Cal, Ruth, the Monitor, and each other; Exeter even orders the mutant in English. The catalog sent to Dr Meacham is in English. The Zahgon forces are represented only by their ships. The only other languages spoken in the film are a little German during the dinner scene.

[@parkpunk2]

"Is this metal? I got a bet with Joe."

[@LSOK38]

I loved this movie. I was glad to see that the aliens valued the intellect of "the professor" from Gilligan's Island enough to🎉 have rescued him. Too bad that they later killed him!🌴🌴🌴 I also liked the apparent off-screen cameo by Green Lantern when he saved the jetplane from crashing. PS I also loved: Them!🐜 , When Worlds Collide🌎💥🌕, War Of The Worlds🛸, and Forbidden Planet 🛸(Which Gene Roddenberry also was a fan of.) Live Long and Prosper.🖖🖖🖖🖖🖖🖖

[@dicksonfranssen]

Way ahead of it's time and still better than some of the crap we're seeing now. If aliens could see what we've done to our big blue ball now we'd be the trash of the universe, in just 100 years we've turned it into a rundown trailer park.

[@kuvasz5252]

Has anyone else seen the facial similarity between Exeter and Richard Feynman?

[@danielpitti6030]

One of my top favorite Sci Fi B movies from The 1950s!

[@TheDejael]

THIS ISLAND EARTH is not, and never was, a B-movie! It was announced by Universal as one of its Top 20 A-productions for 1955. At Universal, a B-movie had a budget limit of $300,000. per picture. This movie, including all the publicity and release prints, cost a million dollars. The production budget was $800,000.

[@delcannon5051]

THE BEST SCI-FI MOVIES, IN ORDER: 1) The Day The Earth Stood Still 2) Forbidden Planet 3) This Island Earth

[@dwood8277]

I almost never comment. This is a great movie and deserves more than four minutes of re-hash and twelve minutes fifty-three seconds of fluff. I have seen "This Island Earth" dozens of times and I'm sorry but I do not recall any foreign languages at all. I also noted only a passing mention of Faith Domeregue and nothing of her relationship with Howard Hughes. I also noted the complete omission of Russell Johnson. The success of this movie was due to a great plot , wonderful actors, a beautiful leading lady (one of Faith Domeregue's most sensual scenes ever was the beach scene in "It came from beneath the sea). It also had an almost unlimited budget, in 2023 dollars it would be a Sci Fi flick with a nine million budget. Wonderfful film, not so great video

[@44excalibur]

And here I thought that Forbidden Planet was the Star Wars of the 1950s.

[@jhonwask]

I always loved this movie; I own two copies. Too bad I didn't have a version for Super8 or 16MM.

[@followerofjulian1652]

Great presentation!

[@alfavulcan4518]

My one question is why would the aliens have a cat?

[@Tony-d4t3j]

You were slightly wrong when you said there was no green screen. There sort of was, but it was blue and done with masks made on film, not digitally. You can see it in the car journey when they land on Metaluna, and it must be admitted that it was pretty bad, a lot worse than average for the time. The scenes with the Monitor are in reverse colour in all recent copies. Does anyone know why?

[@sandrotrois6959]

And a touch of beauty ,and fascination , Anne Francis .

[@videogeekin]

Very interesting special effects but acting and pacing was lacking. I have watched it many times because of the special effects and Howard Hughes babe Faith Domergue.

[@TOTMGreenish-Top-Of-The-Morrin]

ISLAND❓ let's make that SPACESHIP EARTH 🌍... and of all possible worlds we only got one and we got a ride on it

[@JohnDlugosz]

It was also the basis of a theatrical release episode of _Mystery Science Theater 3000_ , which for those who don't know, is what we would call today a reaction show where three comedians annotate a bad movie.

[@starmnsixty1209]

An inexplicable choice for the contemptible MST3. They should've stuck to the truly bad films.

[@kelvington4182]

At 2:15 you mention that the film was in production for two-and-a-half years??? It was actually in production (meaning actual shooting) from the end of January to mid-March. So just over a month and half of actual production. Very few films in that era had a production schedule longer than 30 days.

[@danny1959]

The clip he shows from the trailer says that the film was 2 and a half years in the making.

[@kelvington4182]

@@danny1959 "In The Making" counts pre-production, production, and post production. When you say IN production for 2 years... that means they filmed for two years. Which they did not. :)

[@danny1959]

@@kelvington4182 Again, and FINALLY, he's quoting the film trailer.

[@TheDejael]

That advertising slogan is correct. The film was in production development from January 1953 to June 1955.

[@mut8inG]

Thank you for all your comments. The site’s such a treasure.🎶💥🌸

[@scifiandmore]

@mut8inG, Thank you for your comment, it is greatly appreciated. And, I am very happy that you are enjoying the channel. And your support by viewing, subscribing, commenting on, and enjoying the videos makes me think, I am doing the right thing and giving people what they enjoy. There is a wealth of science fiction out there, so there is a lot more to come.So thank you again for your positive feedback, and stay tuned, there is more to come. Have a Happy and safe 4th of July. Mike

[@nobody6546]

PS- What I’d like to see you List/ Cover/ Critique? Past through Present: HOW MANY Sci-Fi / Horror Movies have Used the Good-Old-Reliable “ Claustrophobic, Elongating, Dimly Lighted, NO Where to Hide:, Restrictive: Hallways/ Corridors/ Crawl Spaces/ Very High Tech and Threatening ALIEN & Ghost Spaceship Interior Corridors??!! From the Cave Tunnels of 1953’s INVADERS FROM MARS UP to maybe Paramount’s 1997 EVENT HORIZON Ominous Corridors or Rotating-Knife-Pointy ONLY Access Tunnel ! I can name at least 12 That were Well done & 1st in that Genres from 1917! God Bless. Now on to BINGING your offered Videos on this ‘ Sci-Fi Saturdays Night ‘ !

[@josephharvat6202]

I really wanted to like This Island Earth but, even after multiple viewings, I still think it's just an OK movie. I actually like the first half of it better than the second half. To me, the Metaluna sequences just haven't aged very well. This is one of those rare films that I think might have looked better in black and white rather than in color.

[@devinreese1397]

Well, War of the Worlds was literally Star Wars in the 1950s.... but i digress.

[@henrybrowne7248]

As a boy, I had this bitchin' monster calendar. The December monster was the best--and it was one of those "insect workers" or whatever they're called now. Just its head. Surpassing even the Wolfman, which was gorgeous . . But being in the 1960s, I had missed this movie and did not know for a long time where that incredibly ugly and intimidating thing came from. Because of that huge brain, I figured it was probably a peaceful alien of advanced intellect. [WRONG] Eventually I heard about this movie and I GOT it here on YT and was thrilled. I'd rank it with any of the 1950s classics, even Forbidden Planet which it was competing with . . Plus lovely Faith Domergue 😍. Why is it missing from so many top 1950s lists?! (SPOILERS) I was so sad for Exeter or whatever his name was at the tumultuous end. [the main guy with the big square head]