The Man from Planet X (1951)

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

Writers:

Aubrey Wisberg, Jack Pollexfen

Stars:

Robert Clarke, Margaret Field, Raymond Bond

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Clarke	...	John Lawrence
Margaret Field	...	Enid Elliot
Raymond Bond	...	Prof. Elliot
William Schallert	...	Dr. Mears
Roy Engel	...	Tommy the Constable
David Ormont	...	Inspector Porter
Gilbert Fallman	...	Dr. Robert Blane
Tom Daly	...	Donal, a searcher
June Jeffery	...	Wife of Missing Man

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?

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Plot Keywords:

planet | scientist | planet x | island | reporter | 

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Taglines:

The Deadliest Enemy the World has ever Known!

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Genres:

Horror | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Official Sites:

MGM Studios [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 April 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Homem do Planeta X

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mid Century Film Productions Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to producer Jack Pollexfen, producer Edgar G. Ulmer did rewrites, designed the moon and spaceship and glass paintings to expedite the production and cut down on expenses.

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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.

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Quotes

John Lawrence: [Looking at space ship] You know what that looks like to me - a big diving bell1
Professor Elliot: Well, the only difference between water and space is the amount of density.

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Connections

Referenced in Alien Trespass (2009)

User Reviews

Weird but compelling no-budget sci-fi

Edgar Ulmer was an absolute master of turning sow's ears into ,if not silk purses,at least something sturdily functional.Consider his masterpiece "Detour"--a cast not overburdened with either charisma or even basic competence,sparse sets and a perfunctory running time,The result? a brilliant,and disorienting movie,"The Man From Planet X"has a similar zero talent cast,phoney fog shrouded Scottish moorland setting and dialogue that might well ave been devised by a blindfolded monkey with a typewriter from which several keys are missing.Result? an odd and compelling little picture about alien contact that stands up well against other pictures from its era.

A rogue planet is about to crash into earth and brilliant professor Field,his daughter Enid and power crazes assistant Dr Mears are joined in their remote Scottish observatory by ace American reporter John Lawrence.Enter a somewhat whey faced alien who Mears wishes to exploit for commercial gain.Said alien can turn people into zombiefied creatures to do his bidding

Who will triumph in the end? Watch and find out-its 70 minutes reasonably well spent if you can tolerate cliche ,bad acting and stereotypical characterisation(not to mention some highly dubious Scottish accents)The quality of direction from a Poverty Roe specialist makes it all curiously watchable