The Aliens Are Coming (1980) (TV)

Director:

Harvey Hart

Writer:

Robert W. Lenski (writer)

Release Date:

2 March 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Plot:

An alien mother ship hovering in Earth's atmosphere is the base for an attempted alien invasion of Earth. |

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Extraterrestrial | Desert | Spacecraft | Colonization

Cast

Tom Mason	...	Dr. Scott Dryden
Eric Braeden	...	Leonard Nero
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Laurie Beach	...	Girl Student
Hank Brandt	...	Lt. Col. John Sebastian
Curtis Credel	...	Frank Foley
Melinda O. Fee	...	Gwendolyn 'Gwen' O'Brien (as Melinda Fee)
Max Gail	...	Russ Garner
John Gilgreen	...	Floyd
Sean G. Griffin	...	Doctor
Laurence Haddon	...	Bert Fowler
Fawne Harriman	...	Joyce Cummings
Ed Harris	...	Chuck Polchek
William Kerwin	...	Professor Reeve
Matthew Laborteaux	...	Timmy Garner
Richard Lockmiller	...	Patrolman Strong
Tom Lowell	...	Intern
Ron Masak	...	Harve Nelson
Gerald McRaney	...	Patrolman Ashley
Caroline McWilliams	...	Sue Garner
John Milford	...	Eldon Gates
Chris O'Brien	...	Technician
Dirk Olthof	...	Waiter
Tom Pittman	...	Security guard
Nancy Priddy	...	Teacher
Peter Schuck	...	Male nurse
Lorna Thayer	...	Waitress

Also Known As:

Alien Force (USA) (working title)
The Aliens (USA) (working title)
The New Invaders (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Hoover Dam, Arizona-Nevada Border, USA

Company:

Quinn Martin Productions (QM)

Trivia:

Was meant to be pilot for a TV series never released and thus has unusual plot-holes.

Movie Connections:

Follows "The Invaders" (1967)

It's "A QUINN MARTIN PRODUCTION" and looks like it too.

The only thing missing is the typical voice at the beginning announcing the fact that this is a QM production. They even have William Conrad (Cannon) in a voice over near the end saying, "The nightmare is just beginning!" which was probably lifted from some other production, but at least they got that great voice of his for a bit. This is obviously a failed pilot episode where our brave scientist tracks down the invading aliens week after week. Sound familiar? It was done better as THE INVADERS in the 60s. But still a fun TV film to watch if only for the enjoyment of seeing the late 70s period paraphernalia, and to muse about the formulaic production of these types of TV pilots/movies. It's always a great thrill to get to the point of the TV commercial cutaway, and not have a commercial come in! Full of lots of cheesy but nifty TV production special effect leftovers and plastico robotic creatures from Galactica and Buck Rogers, unfortunately without the beautiful Erin Grey, though. If you can find it, it's worth a look.