It Came from Outer Space (1953)

Director:

Jack Arnold

Writers:

Ray Bradbury (story)
Harry Essex (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 May 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Thrills That Almost Touch You! through the magic of 3-DIMENSION

Plot:

A spaceship from another world crashes in the Arizona desert, and only an amateur stargazer and a schoolteacher suspect alien influence when the local townsfolk begin to act strange.

Plot Keywords:

Desert | Arizona | Sheriff | Alien | Schoolteacher

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Richard Carlson	...	John Putnam
Barbara Rush	...	Ellen Fields
Charles Drake	...	Sheriff Matt Warren
Joe Sawyer	...	Frank Daylon
Russell Johnson	...	George
Kathleen Hughes	...	June
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ralph Brooks	...	Posseman (uncredited)
Robert Carson	...	Dugan (uncredited)
Ned Davenport	...	Man (uncredited)
Edgar Dearing	...	Sam (uncredited)
Alan Dexter	...	Dave Loring (uncredited)
George Eldredge	...	Dr. Snell (uncredited)
Whitey Haupt	...	Perry (uncredited)
Robert 'Buzz' Henry	...	Posseman (uncredited)
Bradford Jackson	...	Bob - Dr. Snell's Assistant (uncredited)
Warren MacGregor	...	Toby (uncredited)
Kermit Maynard	...	Posseman (uncredited)
Virginia Mullen	...	Mrs. Daylon (uncredited)
Dick Pinner	...	Lober (uncredited)
William Pullen	...	Deputy Reed (uncredited)
George Selk	...	Tom (uncredited)
Dave Willock	...	Pete Davis (uncredited)

Directed by
Jack Arnold

Writing credits
Ray Bradbury		(story)
Harry Essex		(screenplay)

Produced by
William Alland	....	producer

Original Music by
Irving Gertz		(uncredited)
Henry Mancini		(uncredited)
Herman Stein		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Clifford Stine

Film Editing by
Paul Weatherwax

Art Direction by
Robert F. Boyle		(as Robert Boyle)
Bernard Herzbrun

Set Decoration by
Russell A. Gausman
Ruby R. Levitt

Costume Design by
Rosemary Odell

Makeup Department
Joan St. Oegger	....	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist
Jack Kevan	....	makeup execution (uncredited)

Production Management
Mack D'Agostino	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joseph E. Kenney	....	assistant director

Art Department
Joseph Hurley	....	conceptual artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Glenn E. Anderson	....	sound
Leslie I. Carey	....	sound

Visual Effects by
David S. Horsley	....	special photography
Roswell A. Hoffmann	....	special photographic effects (uncredited)
Roswell A. Hoffmann	....	visual effects optical printing (uncredited)

Music Department
Joseph Gershenson	....	music supervisor
Samuel Hoffman	....	musician: theremin (uncredited)

Other crew
Milicent Patrick	....	xenomorph design (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal International Pictures (UI)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1953) (USA) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1953) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Filmiseppo (1954) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1972) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1993) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1993) (Finland) (TV)
• Cinema Classics (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• GoodTimes Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2004) (Finland) (TV)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Emerald (2013) (Argentina) (DVD) (Presentación Doble Grandes Monstruos) (Double feature with "It Came from Beneath the Sea" [1955])

Also Known As:

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

3 Channel Stereo (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1953) | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #16454) (original rating) | West Germany:12 (nf) | Australia:PG | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

The first 3-D film to be released by Universal Studios.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the posse shoots the alien Frank while driving the truck, he crashes head-on into the rock. But when the next shot shows the burning truck it is facing away from the rock.

Quotes:

[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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Galaxy High School: It Came from Earth (#1.13)" (1986)

One of the creepiest and best

It Came From Outer Space is possibly Universal's best 1950's sci-fi and one of the best of the decade.

It stars sci-fi regular Richard Carlson (Creature From the Black Lagoon) and Barbara Rush (When Worlds Collide) as his lover. They both play good parts.

This is also one of the creepiest sci-fi movies of the 1950's. The desert setting is very eerie, as is the score. Director Jack Arnold often used desert settings for his movies. The alien monster looks quite impressive and the special effects are good too.

I enjoyed this movie very much and is a must for 1950's sci-fi lovers. Enjoy!

Rating: 5 stars out of 5.