The Purple Monster Strikes (1945)

A Martian spacecraft crash-lands near the observatory of Cyrus Layton, designer of Earth's first spaceship. The survivor, forerunner of an invasion, can assume the form of any earthman. ... See full summary »

Directors:

Spencer Gordon Bennet, Fred C. Brannon

Writers:

Royal K. Cole (original screenplay), Albert DeMond (original screenplay),

Stars:

Dennis Moore, Linda Stirling, Roy Barcroft

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dennis Moore	...	Craig Foster
Linda Stirling	...	Sheila Layton
Roy Barcroft	...	The Purple Monster
James Craven	...	Dr. Cyrus Layton
Bud Geary	...	Hodge Garrett
Mary Moore	...	Marcia [Chs. 11-13]
John Davidson	...	Emperor of Mars [Chs. 2, 10-11]
Joe Whitehead	...	Carl Stewart
Emmett Vogan	...	Saunders [Chs. 3-4]
George M. Carleton	...	Dr. Paul Meredith [Ch. 9]
Kenne Duncan	...	Charles Mitchell [Chs. 1-2, 10]
Rosemonde James	...	Helen / Maria posing as Helen [Chs. 11-12]
Monte Hale	...	Dr. Harvey [Chs. 13-14]
Wheaton Chambers	...	Prof. Benjamin [Ch. 11]
Fred Howard	...	Prof. Crandall (as Frederick Howard)

Storyline

A Martian spacecraft crash-lands near the observatory of Cyrus Layton, designer of Earth's first spaceship. The survivor, forerunner of an invasion, can assume the form of any earthman. Calling himself the "purple monster," the humanoid invader sets about gaining control of Layton's rocket project. Opposing him is Craig Foster, former Secret Service man, who episode by episode tries to thwart the monster's attempts to acquire rocket components. Will Craig ever suspect that his closest associate is really the monster?

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Plot Keywords:

spaceship | martian | observatory | color in title | impostor | 

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Taglines:

See the ATOMIC Ray Machine Destroy All Before It!

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 August 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

D-Day on Mars

Filming Locations:

Griffith Park Observatory, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

209 min 209 min (15 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Chapter Titles:

• 1. The Man in the Meteor
• 2. The Time Trap
• 3.Flaming Avalanche
• 4.The Lethal Pit
• 5. Death on the Beam
• 6. The Demon Killer
• 7. The Evil Eye
• 8. Descending Doom
• 9. The Living Dead
• 10.House of Horror
• 11.Menace From Mars
• 12.Perilous Plunge
• 13.Fiery Shroud
• 14.The Fatal Trail
• 15.Take-Off To Destruction

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Quotes

Dr. Cyrus Layton: Why, who are you?
Purple Monster: My name would mean nothing to you. I've come from the planet which people on Earth call Mars.
Dr. Cyrus Layton: From Mars? But you speak our language.
Purple Monster: I speak all languages. Many years ago, my people invented and perfected a remarkable instrument known as the distance eliminator. With the aid of this device, I've been able to see and hear everything that happens on Earth.

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Connections

Edited into D-Day on Mars (1966)

User Reviews

Great fun for an eight year old.

I saw this serial in 1945 at the Fox Egyptian Theater in San Diego. The scene of the Purple Monster taking off in his rocket ship in the last chapter was forever engraved into my mind. It was great fun a few years ago to see the serial again. I was amazed at how many people who were killed appeared again and again, plus that ford convertible that was crashed a few times had 9 lives.

I have seen a color poster of the Purple Monster, and the alien is dressed in a red costume with gold trim. In the black and white movie of course he is black and silver; perhaps they should have called him the Art Deco Monster.