They Came from Beyond Space (1967)

Director:

Freddie Francis

Writers:

Milton Subotsky (screenplay)
Joseph Millard (novel)

Release Date:

May 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The Battle for Power Has Begun

Plot:

Scientists investigating an unusual meteor shower in a rural field are possessed by an alien force bent on an ulterior purpose.

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Plague | Meteorite | Farm | V Formation

Cast

Robert Hutton	...	Dr. Curtis Temple
Jennifer Jayne	...	Lee Mason
Zia Mohyeddin	...	Farge
Bernard Kay	...	Richard Arden
Michael Gough	...	Master of the Moon
Geoffrey Wallace	...	Alan Mullane
Maurice Good	...	Stilwell
Luanshya Greer	...	Girl Attendant
John Harvey	...	Bill Trethowan
Diana King	...	Mrs. Trethowan
Paul Bacon	...	Dr. Rogers
Christopher Banks	...	Doctor - Street
Dermot Cathie	...	Peterson
Norman Claridge	...	Dr. Frederick Andrews
James Donnelly	...	Guard
Frank Forsyth	...	Blake
Leonard Grahame	...	McCabe
Michael Hawkins	...	Williams
Jack Lambert	...	Doctor - Office
Robin Parkinson	...	Maitland
Edward Rees	...	Bank Manager
Katy Wild	...	Girl in Street
Kenneth Kendall	...	Commentator
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
S. Newton Anderson	...	Peter (uncredited)

Directed by
Freddie Francis

Writing credits
Milton Subotsky		(screenplay)
Joseph Millard		(novel "The Gods Hate Kansas")

Produced by
Max Rosenberg	....	producer (as Max J. Rosenberg)
Milton Subotsky	....	producer

Original Music by
James Stevens

Cinematography by
Norman Warwick		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Peter Musgrave

Production Design by
Bill Constable

Art Direction by
Don Mingaye
Scott Slimon

Makeup Department
Bunty Phillips	....	makeup artist
Ann Rogers	....	hairdresser

Production Management
Ted Wallis	....	production supervisor
Tony Wallis	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ray Corbett	....	assistant director

Art Department
Jimmy James	....	property buyer

Sound Department
Margaret Dickinson	....	assistant sound editor
Gerry Humphreys	....	sound
Clive Smith	....	sound editor
George Stephenson	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Les Bowie	....	special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
David Harcourt	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eileen Welch	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
David Lewis	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Philip Martell	....	conductor

Other crew
Francis Rodker	....	titles
Barbara Rowland	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Amicus Productions

Distributors

• Embassy Pictures Corporation (1967) (USA) (theatrical)
• International Film Distributors (1967) (Canada) (theatrical)
• BCI Eclipse (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Shout! Factory (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Anglo Embassy (1967) (UK) (theatrical)
• Charter Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Bowie Films (models made and photographed at)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Twickenham Film Studios, St Margarets, Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK

Company:

Amicus Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: Temple is examining charts in his office when Arden comes in to invite him back to the farm where the meteors fell. When the wall is shown again, a large new chart of the moon has appeared.

Quotes:

Lee Mason:Sentiment! I will not have sentiment interfering with our vital work!

Movie Connections:

Featured in 42nd Street Forever: Blu-ray Edition (2012) (V)

Nice film, except for the fight music

Considering that this film was obviously shot on a tight budget, it worked out to be an enjoyable film nonetheless. I haven't seen many Hutton films, but I like his Style of thinking, cerebral hero who reasons first, shoots later.

This film must have been very inspirational to Stephen King, as the plot of his book "The Tommyknockers" was nearly identical to the plot of this movie - right down to the hero with a metal plate in his head.

Of course, the only real down side to this film is the fight music. All it consists of is Someone pounding on a snare drum. they could have done better here.

All in all, it's an enjoyable film of it's era, and one I Will probably watch again.