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:

psychotronic film | 

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Taglines:

SEE The Rocket Man Battle the "Robot from Outer Space"!

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The lead character's name was changed from Commando Cody to Larry Martin for contractual reasons so as not to conflict with Republic's using the character for an NBC science-fiction series of the same name.

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Alternate Versions

Also available in a colorized version.

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Connections

Edited from Mysterious Doctor Satan (1940)

User Reviews

I'm missing the zombies!

Okay, so this is corny to the max. But I get a kick out of this stuff anyway.

I can't figure out why they called this "Zombies" as there aren't any zombies (except maybe the robot built by the guys from Mars). Zombies aren't even mentioned except in the last episode.

I do know most everybody in the cast had to get wet at some time or other in this production. They had the entrance to the bad guys hideout go thru an underwater tunnel. Sorta goofy eh!. Speaking of goofy---Larry Martin's rocket pack never fired (although he flew in it a lot---maybe it's invisible rocket blast).

The story is really simple: Guys from Mars want to set off a big H-bomb to deflect Earth out of its orbit so they can put Mars where the Earth was---to warm it up more I guess. They go thru all sorts of contortions to get materials for this project with Larry Martin foiling them at every stage. Lots of cars, boats, trains get wrecked in the process too---Usually at the end of each chapter. Many gunfights occur, along with the usual hokey fist fights in which everyone involved gets up and walks off with no bruises, blood, or even rumpled clothing.

Oh yeah. Mr. Spock was in this, but he didn't do much of anything except say "Yes, sir" to the big shot Martian goon. I think he attacked Larry Martin a couple of times in the underwater passage. Or maybe it was the other goon. It was sorta hard to tell with the goofy, sparkly costumes on that covered most of their heads.

Luckily I didn't have to buy this as I downloaded it from that www.archive.org site (I think all their movies are copyright expired or something so it's legal to download from there). Actually a friend referred me to that site saying "This stuff is your style." I think I'm getting a bad rep here! But I do watch a lot of this old, corny stuff. It amuses me and that's what I watch movies for.

Don't dis this too bad as it's good for a laugh or two. Outlandish costumes and goofy electronic gear will make you chuckle.