Flying Disc Man from Mars (1950)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Fred C. Brannon

Writer:

Ronald Davidson (written by)

Release Date:

25 October 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

SEE THE SHOCKING ANSWER TO THIS TERRIFYING THREAT WHEN A MARTIAN DICTATOR VISITS THE EARTH! (original poster - all caps)

Plot:

A single-handed hero sets himself against Martians trying to assume control of Earth.

Plot Keywords:

Uranium | Planet | Dictator | Plant | Mars

Cast

Walter Reed	...	Kent Fowler
Lois Collier	...	Helen Hall
Gregory Gaye	...	Mota
James Craven	...	Dr. Bryant
Harry Lauter	...	Henchman Drake
Richard Irving	...	Henchman Ryan
Sandy Sanders	...	Steve
Michael Carr	...	Trent, semi-disc pilot
Dale Van Sickel	...	Watchman [Ch. 1]
Tom Steele	...	Taylor
George Sherwood	...	Bryant's Gateman [Ch. 7]
Jimmy O'Gatty	...	Grady
John De Simone	...	Curtyis, Torpedo Tech.-Thug [Ch. 8]
Lester Dorr	...	Crane, Bryant's Secretary [Ch. 7]
Dick Cogan	...	Kirk, Workman in Bryant's lab [Ch. 7]

Also Known As:

Atom Man from Mars (USA) (working title)
Disc Man from Mars (USA) (working title)
Disc Men of the Skies (USA) (working title)
Jet Man from Mars (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

167 min (12 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (certificate #14759)

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures (I)

Trivia:

Chapter Titles: - 1. Menace From Mars - 2. The Volcano's Secret - 3. Death Rides The Stratosphere - 4. Execution By Fire - 5. The Living Projectile - 6. Perilous Mission - 7. Descending Doom - 8. Suicide Sacrifice - 9. The Funeral Pyre - 10. Weapons of Hate - 11. Disaster On The Highway - 12. Volcanic Vengence

Quotes:

[Earth pilot Trent inspects a Martian Flying Disc for the first time]
Trent: You know, I've never flown one of these things before.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Missile Monsters (1958)

One of the all-time great serials!

This one is absolutely "so bad, it's good". The characters are wooden, the dialog stiff, the plot contrived. All in all, it's one of the most entertaining films I have in my vast collection of classic sci-fi space movies. Sure, there isn't a whole lot of outer space in it, and few rockets...and way too many fist fights where nobody's hat falls off. But the leaps in logic, the never-ending stream of vehicles that the characters drive, the bad line deliveries...all worth the price you pay. On the truly plus side: it is beautifully photographed, and the editing is pretty tight. Personally, I can't wait till this one comes out in DVD. I consider this one better than the Commando Cody serials (1951, 1953), and I'm a big Cody fan. The only thing missing is Judd Holdren (Captain Video, Zombies from the Stratosphere, etc.). Delightful.