Yusei oji (1959)

Director:

Eijirô Wakabayashi

Writers:

Masaru Igami (story)
Shin Morita (writer)

Release Date:

19 March 1959 (Japan)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Space | Alien | Superhero | Alien Invasion | B Movie

Cast

Tatsuo Umemiya	...	Wally / Prince of Space / Planet Prince (as Tatsuya Umemiya)
Ushio Skashi
Joji Oka	...	Phantom of Krankor (as Johji Oka)
Hiroko Mine
Takashi Kanda
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ken Sudoh
Nobu Yatsuna

Also Known As:

Invaders from the Spaceship (USA) (alternative title)
Prince of Space (USA)
The Star Prince (USA)

Runtime:

121 min | USA:85 min (DVD version) | 57 min (part 1) | 64 min (part 2)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Company:

Toei Company

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.

Goofs:

Continuity: The morning after Krankor warns the world of his arrival, Wally and the kids are at their shoe shining post, and Wally is reading the morning paper. Then a car pulls up, Wally's paper disappears, and he is then given the exact same paper "hot off the press".

Quotes:

Phantom of Krankor: I've got ya now, ya scum!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Diabolik (#11.13)" (1999)

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.