The Body Stealers (1969)

A British military paratrooper disappears in mid-air during a jump from an army plane. Two investigators, Patrick Allen and Neil Connery, try to unravel how this happened. What they uncover... See full summary »

Director:

Gerry Levy

Writers:

Gerry Levy (additional material), Michael St. Clair

Stars:

George Sanders, Maurice Evans, Patrick Allen

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Sanders	...	General Armstrong
Maurice Evans	...	Dr. Matthews / Alien
Patrick Allen	...	Bob Megan
Neil Connery	...	Jim Radford
Hilary Heath	...	Julie Slade (as Hilary Dwyer)
Robert Flemyng	...	W.C. Baldwin
Lorna Wilde	...	Lorna
Allan Cuthbertson	...	Hindsmith
Michael Culver	...	Lieutenant Bailes
Sally Faulkner	...	Joanna
Shelagh Fraser	...	Mrs. Thatcher
Carl Rigg	...	Briggs
Carol Hawkins	...	Paula
Dixon Adams	...	David
Derek Pollitt	...	Davies

Storyline

A British military paratrooper disappears in mid-air during a jump from an army plane. Two investigators, Patrick Allen and Neil Connery, try to unravel how this happened. What they uncover is an alien plot to steal the bodies of earthlings by snatching them out of the air.

---

Plot Keywords:

alien | paratrooper | military | skydiving | missing person | 

---

Taglines:

Can the Earth survive against the aliens from outer space?

---

Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

April 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

Galaxy Horror

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sagittarius Productions, Tigon Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Towards the end of the film, when the alien's leave, Bob's cardigan is buttoned up as he passes through the door it becomes undone, it is buttoned up again when he goes back into the house.

---

Connections

References Daleks' Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D. (1966)

User Reviews

Dreadful slice of science fiction.

The Body Stealers (a.k.a Thin Air) is truly one of the most dreadful movies you'll ever have the misfortune to see. Simply because there are some notable names on the cast list, you mustn't think that it is remotely good. Everyone in this movie must have needed some fast cash to clear their debts. How else can you explain such a strong cast being lured into such an obvious bomb? OK, that's a bit cynical - nobody actually sets out to make a bad film

• but whatever the original intentions were, the resulting film is an utter

loss.

It's a science fiction story in which the military investigates several cases of parachutists vanishing in mid-air. For the first ten minutes, the peculiar mystery promises to build up to an intriguing resolution, but the promise rapidly evaporates as it becomes apparent that the answers are going to be childish rather than ingenious.

This is hilariously bad, to such an extent that it makes even the worst episode of Doctor Who look like it had high production values! You'd have to be a disturbed eight year old to figure out what the hell is going on as the solution draws close. Still, why worry about it when clearly the actors involved don't look interested either? One interesting thing about the film is the inclusion of Neil Connery (Sean's brother) in a significant role... believe me when I say this guy is no actor!