Zombies of the Stratosphere (1952)

The invaders come to Earth to create an H-bomb to blast Earth out of orbit so that Mars can take its place.

Director:

Fred C. Brannon

Writer:

Ronald Davidson

Stars:

Judd Holdren, Aline Towne, Wilson Wood

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Judd Holdren	...	Larry Martin
Aline Towne	...	Sue Davis
Wilson Wood	...	Bob Wilson
Lane Bradford	...	Marex
Stanley Waxman	...	Dr. Harding
John Crawford	...	Roth
Craig Kelly	...	Mr. Steele
Ray Boyle	...	Shane
Leonard Nimoy	...	Narab
Tom Steele	...	Walker [Ch. 3] / Truck Driver [Ch. 8]
Dale Van Sickel	...	Telegrapher [Chs. 1, 10]
Roy Engel	...	Lawson - Boat Charter Operator [Ch. 3]
Jack Harden	...	Kerr
Paul Stader	...	Fisherman [Ch. 7]
Gayle Kellogg	...	Dick - Rocketship Pilot

Storyline

Security agent Larry Martin, who can fly with an experimental rocket suit, investigates clandestine visits to earth by a Martian spaceship. Meanwhile, villainous Martians conspire with a traitorous atomic scientist to blast earth out of its orbit and replace it with Mars! Can Larry and his cohort Bob Wilson stop the Martians before they complete their dastardly project? Not a zombie in sight.

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Plot Keywords:

double feature film | double cross | chapter play | cliffhanger | deadly ray gun | 

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Taglines:

YOU'LL SAY...AMAZING!...STARTLING!...UNBELIEVEABLE!...YET HOW FAR IS IT FROM THE TRUTH (original poster - all caps)

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Third Republic 12-chapter serial to feature the rocket-powered flying pack and helmet first introduced in King of the Rocket Men (1949).

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Alternate Versions

Also available in a colorized version.

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Connections

Referenced in Pioneers of Television: Science Fiction (2011)

User Reviews

One super duper H-bomb

This particular serial came out just about the time the H-bomb was in the theoretical stage. A year later it would and could not have been made. That's because the USA and the USSR made them and while they were titanic in their explosive power they did not do the damage they were said to in this Republic serial.

First of all there ain't no zombies in Zombies Of The Stratosphere. There are Martians however who with collaboration of a defector earth scientist are building one super duper hydrogen bomb that is intended to blow up the earth out of its orbit. Then one of these big guys is going to be exploded on Mars sending that planet into earth's orbit.

I'll leave it to the physics majors to explain all that's wrong with this plan. Three intrepid agents Judd Holdren, Aline Towne, and Wilson Wood are sent to stop this dastardly plot though they're never until the very knowing what exactly they are fighting. Veteran western heavy Lane Bradford is the mission leader of the Martians on earth and Leonard Nimoy is a henchmartian.

Holdren has a power pack like Commando Cody whom he played in a previous serial which enables him to fly and chase Martian rocketships. He's not as fast as Superman, but he gets the job done.

Fortunately our tastes have matured since these serials used to come out. One can only speculate on how ridiculous this whole business is.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 July 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

Des Satans Satellit

Filming Locations:

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park - 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Rd., Agua Dulce, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$176,357 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

167 min (12 chapters)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1