It Came from Outer Space (1953)

Richard Carlson: John Putnam

Photos 

Quotes 

• [last lines] 

  Sheriff Matt Warren : [three-shot, characters gazing toward sky into which meteor-spaceship has rocketed]  Well, they've gone.

  Ellen Fields : For good, John?

  John Putnam : No. Just for now. It wasn't the right time for us to meet. But there'll be other nights, other stars for us to watch. They'll be back.

• [first lines] 

  John Putnam : [off-screen]  This is Sand Rock, Arizona, of a late evening in early spring. It's a nice town, knowing its past and sure of its future, as it makes ready for the night, and the predictable morning. The desert blankets the earth, cooling, resting for the fight with tomorrow's sun. And in my house near the town, we're also sure of the future. So very sure.

• John Putnam : [John is arguing with Dr. Snell about what he saw]  I don't know what's odd and what isn't anymore. But I do know that I expected you to be more open to the idea than the others, you're a man of science!

  Dr. Snell : Therefore less inclined to witchcraft, John.

  John Putnam : Not witchcraft Dr. Snell, imagination. Willingness to believe that there are lots of things that we don't know anything about. Look, there was a time when people though that the Earth was a level plain, between two mountains that were set there to hold up the sky! And that the stars were lamps hung from that sky! Then a better idea came along and people were willing to listen!

• John Putnam : [View of Putnam from inside the mine shaft. He's outside peering into the darkness, speaking to the alien]  Show yourself! Let me see you as you truly are!

  Alien : [Voice from off screen]  No.

• John Putnam : [Describing the spaceship]  I tell you from its size and its appearance this thing come from outer space. I even have reason to believe that there's some form of life in it.

• John Putnam : John Putnam:

  [to Sheriff Warren] 

  John Putnam : When are you going to stop being a badge and become a human being?

• John Putnam : [Overlooking the desert searching for the alien]  It's alive.

  Ellen Fields : And yet it looks so dead out there.

  John Putnam : Oh, no. It's alive and waiting for you. Ready to kill you if you go too far. The sun will get you... the cold at night. A thousand ways the desert can kill. Where are you? What do you look like? What am I suupposed to be looking for? I know you are out there hiding in the desert. Maybe I'm looking right at you and don't even see you. Come on out!

• Alien : We have a long way to go. By nightfall, we will have left your Earth. You will not see us until it is time.

  John Putnam : Time for what? Time to kill? Time to take over?

  Alien : We have souls and minds, and we are good.

  John Putnam : Then why are you hiding?

  Alien : We are not yet ready to meet in friendship.

  John Putnam : Why not?

  Alien : Because you would be horrified at the sight of us. Had you fallen on our world, it might have been different. We understand more.