Zombies of the Stratosphere (1952)

The invaders come to Earth to create an H-bomb to blast Earth out of orbit so that Mars can take its place.

Director:

Fred C. Brannon

Writer:

Ronald Davidson

Stars:

Judd Holdren, Aline Towne, Wilson Wood

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Judd Holdren	...	Larry Martin
Aline Towne	...	Sue Davis
Wilson Wood	...	Bob Wilson
Lane Bradford	...	Marex
Stanley Waxman	...	Dr. Harding
John Crawford	...	Roth
Craig Kelly	...	Mr. Steele
Ray Boyle	...	Shane
Leonard Nimoy	...	Narab
Tom Steele	...	Thug in Launch [Ch. 3] / Truck Driver [Ch. 8]
Dale Van Sickel	...	Peralta Junction Station Agent [Chs. 1, 10]
Roy Engel	...	Boat Charter Operator [Ch. 3]
Jack Harden	...	Kerr
Paul Stader	...	Dock Heavy [Ch. 7]
Gayle Kellogg	...	Dick the Rocketship Pilot

Storyline

Security agent Larry Martin, who can fly with an experimental rocket suit, investigates clandestine visits to earth by a Martian spaceship. Meanwhile, villainous Martians conspire with a traitorous atomic scientist to blast earth out of its orbit and replace it with Mars! Can Larry and his cohort Bob Wilson stop the Martians before they complete their dastardly project? Not a zombie in sight.

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Plot Keywords:

earth | martian | orbit | security | agent | 

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Taglines:

SEE "Rocket Patrol" Man fly into action!

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 July 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

Des Satans Satellit

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$176,357 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

167 min 167 min (12 chapters)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Chapter Titles:

• 1) The Zombie Vanguard
• 2) Battle of the Rockets
• 3)Undersea Agents
• 4) Contraband Cargo
• 5) The Iron Executioner
• 6) Murder Mine
• 7) Death on the Waterfront
• 8) Hostage for Murder
• 9) The Human Torpedo
• 10) Flying Gas Chamber
• 11) Man Vs. Monster
• 12) Tomb of the Traitors

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Connections

Edited into Satan's Satellites (1958)

User Reviews

Commando Cody got beat out of a TV episode.

The story/scenario for "Zombies of the Stratsophere" was originally written to be used as the fourth episode ( of the eventual twelve) of the Republic-produced "Commando Cody- Sky King of the Universe" syndicated television 1951-52 production season series. The studio unit that was doing the television series, under Associate Producer Franklin Adreon, was also doing the serials (for theatre distribution) and after the first three "Commando Cody" TV episodes were completed, then started production on "Zombies of the Stratosphere" prior to finishing the remaining nine Cody-TV episodes. On April 10, 1952, Adreon sent a memo to all Republic Pictures Corporation departments advising that certain character names in production number 133 (internal house number for the upcoming serial) have been changed as follows: Commando Cody becomes Larry Martin; Joan Gilbert becomes Sue Davis; Ted Richards becomes Bob Wilson; Mr. Henderson becomes Mr. Steele and Hank becomes Dick.

"Zombies" utilized stock footage from various Republic serials, features and one western; all of the 17 flying sequences of the airborn-wired dummy came straight from "King of the Rocket Men.", and the uranium-smuggling airplane sequence was lifted from the Roy Rogers western, "Bells of Coronado," which is why Clifton Young (as Ross)and Henry Rowland (Plane Heavy)show up in this serial. Larry Martin's space ship was recycled from "Radar Men from the Moon", while the Martians flew a new model (created for "Zombies")that featured a transparent bubble-gum turret housing a ray cannon atop the fuselage.

Republic contract-player Roy Barcroft is not seen in the serial but his voice was heard on the radio (chapters 1 and 11) and as dubs for Ross (chapter 4)and Tarner (chapter 7.) There was a fabricated "Introducing Leonard Nimoy" added to the opening cast-sheet when this film was colorized in the '90's, a bit of revisionism catering to Trekkies. Republic Pictures Corporation itself did not pass out "Introducing" credits to players listed ninth in the cast.

Filming started on April 4, 1952 and was completed on May 1, 1952. The budget (expected filming cost of the production) was $172,838 and the finished negative cost came in at $176,357, or slightly four thousand dollars over budget. These were the real numbers and, of course, do not fit the revisionist definitions of budget currently employed by some websites.