Prince of Space (1959)
"Yûsei ôji" (original title)

When an alien force tries to invade Earth to steal a powerful new rocket fuel, a mysterious hero intervenes.

Director:

Eijirô Wakabayashi

Writers:

Masaru Igami (story), Shin Morita

Stars:

Tatsuo Umemiya, Ushio Skashi, Joji Oka

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Cast

Credited cast:
Tatsuo Umemiya	...	Yûsei ôji / Waku-san
Ushio Skashi
Joji Oka	...	Maboroshi taishi (as Jôji Oka)
Hiroko Mine
Takashi Kanda
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jack Curtis	...	Additional Voices (voice) (unconfirmed)
Ken Sudoh
Nobu Yatsuna

Storyline

A Group of space men from the planet Krankor who resemble chickens are led by their leader, Phantom to invade Earth. But a strange superhero named Prince of Space (actually a bootblack in disguise) arrives to defeat the spacemen. Although the weapons of the aliens cannot harm the Prince of Space, the Phantom continues to fight, and many plot twists (including capturing a group of elderly scientists) ensue. Watch out for the Giant!

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Plot Keywords:

space | alien | prince | superhero | first of two parts | 

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

19 March 1959 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Invaders from the Spaceship

Company Credits

Production Co:

Toei Company, Toei Tokyo

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min 85 min (DVD) 57 min (part 1) 64 min (part 2)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Like Shintoho's Super Giant/Starman series, this Toei production was released to theaters as a sort of mini-serial with two approximately hour long episodes. In the United States this was edited into a single feature film running less than 90 minutes.

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Goofs

The wires suspending the space ships are frequently visible.

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Quotes

Phantom of Krankor: Attention, people of Earth: I am Ambassador Phantom, from the planet Krankor! I am rapidly approaching your planet... in the warship, which you have just seen.
Broadcaster: It's overloading every channel! What a powerful beam he must have! Look at that modulation!
Phantom of Krankor: I will arrive tomorrow night at precisely eight o'clock. At that time I shall make my wishes known to you. You will obey them... or die! Have a pleasant night's sleep... HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!

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Connections

Featured in It Came from Hollywood (1982)

User Reviews

Prince of So-Bad-They're-Good Movies

Thoughts and comments on "Prince of Space":

~This movie tends to put me in mind of the "Sailor Moon" series. Both feature heros in silly costumes fighting villians in even sillier costumes, cheesy dialogue, half-baked schemes for world domination, and some very unconvincing secret identities. The difference is that "Sailor Moon" a) is in easier to take half-hour instalments, b) has better dubbing and c) has the additional attraction of pondering just how the heroine gets her hair to do that pom-pom thing. All we can ponder in "Prince of Space" is the aliens' lack of dance belt technology, the less said of which the better.

~Regarding those aliens, the beak-nosed men of the planet Krankor. A scientist-type fellow tells us they've come to Earth because they want a new rocket fuel he (the scientist) has developed. A reporter points out, rather logically, that the Krankorites (Krankorians? Krankish?) have already developed deep-space travel; why do they need our technology? The scientist helpfully explains that the Krankian fuel industry is well behind our own. How they manage space travel at all with second-rate fuel is anyone's guess.

~Then again, the Krankor mothership makes about four round trips to Earth in the course of the film. Maybe if they conserved gas, they wouldn't need our help.

~Both the Prince of Space (our, he-hem, "hero") and Phantom of Krankor (the leader of the aliens) seem to be wearing one of those vinyl capes you can get at Wal-Mart for five bucks. Both men also seem to be competing for the title of the World's Dumbest Laugh. Krankor's "Penguin from the old Batman series with asthma" imitation probably wins, but PoS's "I'm saying 'ha, ha, ha!' because that's exactly what's written in the script" is a noble effort.

~Speaking of voices, someone in the dubbing studio wasn't paying attention to pronunciation. The main scientist's name is pronounced at various times Makken, Macon, Marken, and Mackie.

~Much has been made of PoS' constant reminders to the Krankies that their weapons won't work against him. What gets me, though, is the point at which the Prince declares, "Your weapons are useless, let's try bare hands now!" Since the Kranks are perfectly happy firing their ineffective weapons, why challenge them to a fistfight? Not that it matters, as their melee skills are just as bad as their range weaponry.

~One of the kidnapped scientists bears a remarkable resemblance to Arthur Sullivan, except in one scene where the spirit gum has clearly worn off on one of his sideburns.

I realize that I have now, of course, put far more thought into "Prince of Space" than anybody in the cast or crew ever did. I know; it worries me too.