Il pianeta degli uomini spenti (1961)

Director:

Antonio Margheriti

Writers:

Ennio De Concini (story)
Ennio De Concini (screenplay)

Release Date:

March 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Plot:

A runaway asteroid dubbed "The Outsider" mysteriously begins orbiting the Earth and threatens it with lethal flying saucers.

Plot Keywords:

Flying Saucer | Asteroid | Mars | Calculus | Scientist

Cast

Claude Rains	...	Professor Benson
Bill Carter	...	Cmdr. Bob Cole
Umberto Orsini	...	Dr. Fred Steele
Maya Brent	...	Eve Barnett
Jacqueline Derval	...	Mrs. Collins
Renzo Palmer	...	Barrington
Carlo D'Angelo	...	General Varreck (as Carlo d'Angelo)
Carol Danell	...	Cathy Cole
Jim Dolen	...	Boyd
Joe Pollini	...	Pat (as Joseph Pollini)
John Stacy	...	Dr. Cornfield
Aldo D'Ambrosio	...	United Commission Member
Massimo Righi	...	Lewis Boyd
Giuliano Gemma	...	Moran
Annamaria Mustari		(as Anna Maria Mustari)

Also Known As:

Battle of the Worlds (USA) (dubbed version)
Guerre planetarie (Italy) (reissue title)
Planet of the Lifeless Men

Runtime:

USA:84 min | Italy:93 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Unrated

Company:

Ultra Film

Goofs:

Continuity: When the astronauts walk on the surface of "The Outsider" in a location shot, they are seen from behind and none of them are wearing a blue helmet. When they are inside the cave, an obvious studio shot, the commander is seen wearing a vivid blue helmet. When they leave the cave and the story cuts back to the return trip back to the space ship, the blue helmet has again disappeared.

Quotes:

Eve Barnett: [Speaking of "The Outsider"] Professor, you act as if it's your personal property.
Cmdr. Robert Cole: Science is nobody's personal property!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Boys Don't Cry (1999)

I Never Quite Got the Politics

What a low point for the man from "Casablanca" and "The Invisible Man." He plays a testy old guy who seems to strike fear into all those around him. He is an astronomer who is aware that some odd thing is going on, having to do with a planet/asteroid that is approaching the Earth. Apparently, it is a screening device for flying saucers, set to attack and destroy the earth. It's another one of those movies where everyone understands the science, but the viewer has not a clue what they are talking about. Rains keeps talking about the Bigwigs in the government. Apparently, there is some kind of federation that sets up roadblocks and whom he must answer to. He wants total control of the efforts to get rid of the invaders. He banters and intimidates. He almost has a glow on him when he appears in different places. There are lots of explosions and few explanations. Rains becomes possessed and will listen to no one. It's just not very good.