The Strange World of Planet X (1958)

A friendly visitor from outer space warns against conducting experiments with the Earth's magnetic field, that could mutate insects into giant monsters.

Director:

Gilbert Gunn

Writers:

René Ray (original story), Paul Ryder (adaptation)

Stars:

Forrest Tucker, Gaby André, Martin Benson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Forrest Tucker	...	Gil Graham
Gaby André	...	Michele Dupont
Martin Benson	...	Smith
Wyndham Goldie	...	Brigadier Cartwright (as Wyndam Goldie)
Alec Mango	...	Dr. Laird
Hugh Latimer	...	Jimmy Murray
Geoffrey Chater	...	Gerard Wilson
Patricia Sinclair	...	Helen Forsyth
Dandy Nichols	...	Mrs. Tucker (as Dandy Nicholls)
Richard Warner	...	Insp. Burns
Hilda Fenemore	...	Mrs. Hale (as Hilda Fennemore)
Susan Redway	...	Jane Hale

Storyline

At a small, rural British lab, monomaniac Dr. Laird and his staff create ultra-intense magnetic fields. Inexplicably, the apparatus seems to be affecting distant objects, and to be drawing "extra power" from...somewhere. One night, after a "freak" storm, strange and deadly things start happening in Bryerly Woods, and a strange man from "a long way off" appears in the district...concerned about Laird's pulling down disaster from the skies.

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Plot Keywords:

magnetic field | storm | giant insect | woods | stranger | 

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Taglines:

Man and alien unite to combat the most insidious peril the universe has ever known!

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Horror

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 December 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cosmic Monsters

Filming Locations:

National Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Artistes Alliance Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Brig. General Cartwright: There's no one else available to operate this computer of yours.
Dr. Laird: But a... woman? This is preposterous. This is highly skilled work!

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Connections

Remake of The Strange World of Planet X (1956)

User Reviews

Remembered fondly after 40+ years

I saw this movie once - over 40 years ago - and I still remember it very well. Even as a kid, very few movie really scared me, but this one did. The resident mad scientist does something that let in lots of bad cosmic rays and the local insects become giants. The school is a one room affair set in the middle of a forest. The giant insects attack the school trapping the teacher & the kids. Most horror movie monsters looked hokey - but the monsters in this were extreme close-ups of real insects. It wasn't until Alien that I saw a movie monster as scary as those giant bugs.