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The Man from Planet X (1951) 5.7
As a mysterious planet hurls itself toward earth, an enigmatic extraterrestrial scout arrives on a remote Scottish island with unknown intentions. Director:Edgar G. Ulmer |
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Title: The Man from Planet X (1951)
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Cast
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Robert Clarke | ... |
John Lawrence
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Margaret Field | ... |
Enid Elliot
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Raymond Bond | ... |
Prof. Elliot
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| William Schallert | ... |
Dr. Mears
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Roy Engel | ... |
Tommy the Constable
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David Ormont | ... |
Inspector Porter
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Gilbert Fallman | ... |
Dr. Robert Blane
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Tom Daly | ... |
Donal, a searcher
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June Jeffery | ... |
Wife of Missing Man
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
To study a rogue planet heading for a near-miss with Earth, Prof. Elliot sets up an observatory on the foggy moors of a remote Scottish island, with his pretty daughter and Dr. Mears, a former student with a shady past. Soon after arrival of reporter John Lawrence, a ship from Planet X just happens to land near the observatory. Is the visitor (who actually looks alien) benevolent? What are Mears' real motives for trying to communicate with it? Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
Taglines:
The Deadliest Enemy the World has ever Known! See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
27 April 1951 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
O Homem do Planeta X See more »Filming Locations:
Griffith Park Observatory, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »Box Office
Budget:
$50,000 (estimated)Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
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Did You Know?
Trivia
According to producer Jack Pollexfen, the original budget was set at $38,000 and it was ultimately brought in by director Edgar G. Ulmer at $41,000. See more »Goofs
When the alien's gas regulator begins to malfunction when he first confronts Lawrence and Elliott, he tries to turn the knob on his suit while standing up. But the close-up of him trying to turn the knob is an insert shot of a scene late in the film, when he is lying on the ground and again attempting to turn the knob back on. See more »Quotes
John Lawrence: [desperately] If the men don't buckle down to the job, this is going to be a village of zombies!See more »
Having caught this film quite by accident, i felt gripped not only its innate cheesiness but also several little gems of direction and production design. If you can get past the stereotypes (doddery professor, beautiful daughter, brash American newsman), and the awful accents (isn't that policeman Irish, rather than Scottish?!) The Man From Planet X is a very watchable b-movie. The alien reminded me of the last days of the Spirit comic strip and the lonely croft amongst the billowing fog was a very stark image. Add to this the beautifully sleek (although wholly impractical) spaceship, typically 50s in design, some great chiarascuro cinematography (the alley abduction scene), plus that low-pitched camera outside the dungeon, and you've got a very technically engaging movie.
Never mind that the plot's got more holes than a string vest (where did all those soldiers come from?) and the acting and script are as wooden as a Scots pine dresser, enjoy it on a technical level if you can't engage with the human drama. As with many films of this ilk, the denoument was a bit hurried but all in all, this watches as well as (or dare i say, better than) any episode of Dr Who - with which it shares many similarities.