Target Earth (1954)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Sherman A. Rose

Writers:

Paul W. Fairman (story)
James H. Nicholson (writer)

Release Date:

7 November 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

You'll be paralyzed with fear!

Plot:

Giant robots from Venus invade Chicago. Stranded in the deserted city are Frank and Nora (who has recently attempted suicide) |

Plot Keywords:

Giant Robot | Robot | Ghost Town | Woman Shot | Extraterrestrial

Cast

Richard Denning	...	Frank Brooks
Kathleen Crowley	...	Nora King
Virginia Grey	...	Vicki Harris
Richard Reeves	...	Jim Wilson
Robert Roark	...	Davis, the Killer
Mort Marshall	...	Charles Otis
Arthur Space	...	Lt. General Wood
Whit Bissell	...	Tom, Chief research scientist
James Drake	...	Lieutenant (as Jim Drake)
Steve Pendleton	...	Colonel
House Peters Jr.	...	Technician

Runtime:

75 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Abtcon Pictures

Trivia:

The killer, (played by Robert Roark) got his part because his father, a doctor in LA would invest in the film if his son was given a part. After this part he went on to play in many movies and became a producer.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: As the robot ascends the hotel stairs, an electric cord attached to the robot is visible

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Mars Attacks! (1996)

Fabulous Fifties Flick

The fifties were the decade for the teenager. He/she had money and time to spend on just about anything. So Hollywood stepped in to fill part of the void.

I like the fifties an sixties sci-fi and horror flicks because, not like today where special effects and schmaltz are a major part of the movie, in the fifties and sixties, things were a lot simpler and people "really"(?) had to act even in B movies.

There wasn't that much gore as there is today. The black and white film added to the atmosphere. Just enough of a monster scene was shown for your mind to fill in the blanks.

We didn't have to see bodies being blown apart.

This film was filmed during the Cold War and UFO paranoia and people just gobbled it up. One thing I like about these type of films and that is that somehow the enemy, whoever he or she is, will always get it in the end and our hero or heroes will come out on top.

Need I say more. For an interesting evening, try to get this movie, you won't be disappointed.