This Island Earth (1955)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Joseph M. Newman

Writers:

Raymond F. Jones (story)
Franklin Coen (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

1 June 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The supreme excitement of our time!

Plot:

Aliens come to Earth seeking scientists to help them in their war.

Plot Keywords:

Scientist | Alien | Kidnapped | Flying Saucer | Doctor

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Jeff Morrow	...	Exeter
Faith Domergue	...	Dr. Ruth Adams
Rex Reason	...	Dr. Cal Meacham
Lance Fuller	...	Brack
Russell Johnson	...	Steve Carlson
Douglas Spencer	...	The Monitor of Metaluna
Robert Nichols	...	Joe Wilson
Karl Ludwig Lindt	...	Dr. Adolph Engelborg (as Karl L. Lindt)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charlotte Lander	...	Metaluna woman at decompression console

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.00 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Perspecta Sound encoding) (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | West Germany:12 | UK:PG

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

In August 1957, this film was being shown on a double bill with Invaders from Mars (1953).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Cal flies back from Washington D.C. the numerals on the airplane are backwards. The film has been flipped.

Quotes:

Joe Wilson: There isn't any reason around here.

Movie Connections:

Featured in E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Soundtrack:

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Movement 2)

not as bad as reputed to be

Boy I never imagined I would be in the minority of those who thoroughly enjoyed this sci-fi effort. Sure,it doesn't have the greatest visual effects,but I always thought it was creative with what it had. The film was made quite a long time ago and I respect the makers for trying to create an imaginative little exercise in the vast genre of science fiction. It does have pretty good acting though the aliens are stiff,but were they meant to be lively? The film isn't poetry,but I love these type of cheesy sci-fi films and think this one is an A-class B-picture. ****/*****