Invasion of the Neptune Men (1961)
"Uchu Kaisoku-sen" (original title)

Clumsy invaders from Neptune are thwarted by hero Space Chief and a nondescript group of microshort-wearing Japanese kids.

Director:

Koji Ota

Writers:

Shin Morita, Akihiro Watanabe (story)

Stars:

Sonny Chiba, Kappei Matsumoto, Ryuko Mizukami

Cast

Credited cast:
Sonny Chiba	...	Tachibana - Scientist / Space Chief (as Shinichi Chiba)
Kappei Matsumoto	...	Tanigawa Hiroshi
Ryuko Mizukami	...	Tanigawa Yoko
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Harold Conway	...	Washington Broadcast Station Chief
Shinjiro Ebara	...	Yanigada - Scientist
Hidemichi Ishikawa	...	Yoshimoto Hiroshi
Seiichirô Kameishi	...	Yamagata Yukichi
Takashi Kanda	...	Defence Chief Takita
Genji Kawai	...	Morie
Mitsue Komiya	...	Saito - Scientist
Junji Masuda	...	Tamiya Hiroshi
Masazumi Okabe	...	Railway worker
Kôsaku Okano	...	Reporter
Koji Sahara	...	Garrison Chief Mikami
Shôken Sawa	...	Land Commander Inukai

Storyline

(English version) Slow-moving aliens from the planet Neptune, wearing nosecone-shaped space helmets, attempt to invade Earth in a winged rocketship. But they are thwarted by a mysterious superhero called Space Chief who flies around in a rocket-propelled car.

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Plot Keywords:

space | alien | flying car | superhero | children | 

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Genres:

Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

19 July 1961 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Space Greyhound

Company Credits

Production Co:

Toei Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

74 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the boys owns a toy Robbie the Robot from Forbidden Planet.

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Connections

Featured in E.T. and Friends: Magical Movie Visitors (1982)

User Reviews

Cheap rip-off of "Earth vs. the Flying Saucers"

This Japanese production (distributed state-wise by the immortal Medallion T.V.) is about some cone-headed aliens who land in Japan and attack nasal Japanese children. Why I say this is a rip-off of "Earth vs. the Flying Saucers" is for one thing, the aliens speak in slow-motion, and they even borrow stock footage from the rocket attack scene in that same film! And the dubbing! Those children will drive any sane person to suicide with all their shrieks and grunts. Some of the lines that come out of their mouths ("Nespa!" or "Hey! Those little chicks! Look!") are unintentionally hilarious. Oh, did I mention the superhero Space Chief (who never flies above 400 feet and is played by Street fighter Sonny Chiba)? Pitiful.

But the MST3K version of this is very funny indeed. Pop that version in one night when your tired and pour yourself a soda. Their comments ("The sewage plant is such a fun place to play!" or "It's a nauseating shorts detector!") Will have you rolling in the aisles. Enjoy.