A spaceship from another world crashes in the Arizona desert and only an amateur stargazer and a schoolteacher suspect alien influence when the local townsfolk begin to act strangely.A spaceship from another world crashes in the Arizona desert and only an amateur stargazer and a schoolteacher suspect alien influence when the local townsfolk begin to act strangely.A spaceship from another world crashes in the Arizona desert and only an amateur stargazer and a schoolteacher suspect alien influence when the local townsfolk begin to act strangely.
- Awards
- 1 win & 4 nominations
- Posseman
- (uncredited)
- Dugan
- (uncredited)
- Man
- (uncredited)
- Sam
- (uncredited)
- Dave Loring
- (uncredited)
- Dr. Snell
- (uncredited)
- Perry
- (uncredited)
- Posseman
- (uncredited)
- Bob - Dr. Snell's Assistant
- (uncredited)
- Toby
- (uncredited)
- Posseman
- (uncredited)
- Mrs. Daylon
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe Universal-International make-up department submitted two alien designs for consideration by the studio executives. The design that was rejected was saved and then later used as the Mutant in Universal-International's This Island Earth (1955).
- GoofsWhen Putnam and Ellen land back at the airport in the helicopter, Putnam is holding his pipe in his mouth upside down (bowl facing down). Pipe smokers sometimes have the bowl upside down, especially when it's raining. They tamp the tobacco tightly, light it, and then turn it upside down to keep the rain out of the bowl. Some pipe smokers will have them inverted even when it's not raining, possibly as an affectation, or simply habit.
- Quotes
Sheriff Matt Warren: Did you know, Putnam, more people are murdered at ninety-two degrees Fahrenheit than any other temperature? I read an article once - lower temperatures, people are easy-going. Over ninety two, it's too hot to move. But just ninety-two, people get irritable.
- Crazy creditsThe credits are at the end rather than at the beginning. They include shots of the characters with the cast names, and the pictures would mean nothing if seen before the film.
- Alternate versionsThere is an Italian edition of this film on DVD, distributed by DNA Srl: "IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE 3-D (1953) + L'UOMO DAL PIANETA X (1951)" (2 Films on a single DVD, with "Destinazione Terra!" in double version 2D and 3D), re-edited with the contribution of film historian Riccardo Cusin. This version is also available for streaming on some platforms.
- ConnectionsEdited into The Monolith Monsters (1957)
Likable, earnest Richard Carlson stars as John Putnam, an amateur astronomer in the small town of Sand Rock, Arizona. One night he (and others) witness a "meteor" violently crashing to Earth (in one of the most startling introductions to a film of this kind). The aliens on board stealthily go about abducting local citizens and altering their appearance to look like these people. All they really want is to be able to work on their ship in peace, and leave before too long, but naturally there are humans who don't want to get with the program, like hot tempered sheriff Matt Warren (Charles Drake).
Lovely Barbara Rush is Carlsons' appealing leading lady in this extremely well directed, succinct film with as much moody black & white atmosphere as one could ask from this kind of entertainment. One will notice that all we get at the beginning is the title; the cast and crew credits are all saved for the final few minutes - an interesting (but not THAT uncommon) innovation for an older film. There's fine use of stock music from such composers as Henry Mancini, and the cinematography by Clifford Stine is excellent. The aliens are effectively hideous looking in their natural guise, but they begin to be revealed perhaps a bit too soon into the story. The alien P.o.V. shots are pretty cool.
As was said, Rush is very appealing, but it's unfortunate that her role keeps requiring her to scream at things: a Joshua tree, a kid in a costume, an undisguised alien (well, at least that one is understandable). The supporting cast is impressive, right down the line: Drake, Russell Johnson, Joe Sawyer, George Eldredge, Bradford Jackson, Dave Willock.
Although originally filmed in 3-D, "It Came from Outer Space" works just as fine without it.
Seven out of 10.
- Hey_Sweden
- May 26, 2016
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $800,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $270
- Runtime1 hour 21 minutes
- Color