The Angry Red Planet (1959)

The one physically unharmed but traumatized crew-member to return from the first Mars space expedition is interrogated to find out what happened.

Director:

Ib Melchior

Writers:

Ib Melchior (screenplay), Sidney W. Pink (screenplay),

Stars:

Gerald Mohr, Naura Hayden, Les Tremayne

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gerald Mohr	...	Col. Thomas O'Bannion
Naura Hayden	...	Dr. Iris 'Irish' Ryan (as Nora Hayden)
Les Tremayne	...	Prof. Theodore Gettell
Jack Kruschen	...	CWO Sam Jacobs
Paul Hahn	...	Maj. Gen. George Treegar
J. Edward McKinley	...	Prof. Paul Weiner
Tom Daly	...	Dr. Frank Gordon
Don Lamond	...	TV Newscaster / Narrator / Martian (voice)
Edward Innes	...	Brig. Gen. Alan Prescott
Gordon Barnes	...	Maj. Lyman Ross
Jack Haddock	...	Lt. Col. Davis
Brandy Bryan	...	Nurse Hayes
Joan Fitzpatrick	...	Nurse Dixon
Duke Norton	...	Dr. Muller
William Remick	...	Dr. Hawley (as Wm. Remick)

Storyline

The first spaceship to Mars, presumed lost, is found in space and brought back to Earth by remote control. Only two from an initial crew of four are still alive, but one is unconscious due to an attached alien growth, while the other is traumatized, blocking out all memory of what happened. In hopes to save the unconscious crewman, the amnesiac is interrogated back into remembering. Those in charge thereby learn of the terrible dangers awaiting anyone venturing into the spooky, ruddy stillness of the very alien Martian ecosystem.

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Plot Keywords:

alien | martian | doctor | monster | astronaut | 

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Taglines:

Spectacular Adventure Beyond Time and Space ...

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Genres:

Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

MGM Studios [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 November 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

Invasion of Mars

Filming Locations:

Hal Roach Studios - 8822 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$190,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

American International Pictures (AIP), Sino

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sidney W. Pink wrote the screenplay at home on his kitchen table, recruiting his children in to act as critics. His initial draft was called "The Planet Mars" and included all sorts of strange creatures and an entire Martian city. Naturally, budgetary restraints precluded all that.

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Goofs

We are left to assume that four trained scientists - one of whom comments that its leg-shaped "trees" are at least 40 feet high - fail to notice the rat-bat-spider-crab monster standing in the midst of an otherwise empty plain.

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Quotes

Col. Thomas O'Bannion: See anything?
Dr. Iris 'Irish' Ryan: Nothing. Everything seems to be dead out there. It's like a nightmare of unending silence.
Col. Thomas O'Bannion: I know, we all feel it.
Dr. Iris 'Irish' Ryan: Then it isn't just me, because I'm a woman?
Col. Thomas O'Bannion: Oh-ho. Women don't have any monopoly on fear. Men are more afraid of being called cowards. Cowardice is one thing I guess we can never forgive ourselves.

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Crazy Credits

The main title, cast and credits do not appear until the end of the film.

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Connections

Referenced in Event Horizon (1997)

User Reviews

Wonderfully awful!

Fans of the "so-bad-it's good" style of film making will have a real hoot with this film. Contains virtually all of the prerequisites for cheeseball sci fi, i.e. really bad effects, cornball dialogue, comic relief, and sexual stereotypes and innuendos. What the film lacks in budget and execution it more than makes up for in pure spirit and fun. Sci Fi fans will remember Jack Kruschen from Abbott and Costello Go to Mars playing, what else, comic relief in this film as well. Red tinted Mars scenes are pretty cool and psychedelic looking. Marionette rat-spider is a scream.

Overall, a very entertaining way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon.