Phantom from Space (1953)

An alien being with the power of invisibility lands in Santa Monica. Killing two people who attacked him due to the menacing appearance of his spacesuit, the creature takes it off while ... See full summary »

Director:

W. Lee Wilder

Writers:

William Raynor (screenplay) (as Bill Raynor), Myles Wilder (screenplay)

Stars:

Ted Cooper, Rudolph Anders, Noreen Nash

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ted Cooper	...	Hazen
Rudolph Anders	...	Dr. Wyatt
Noreen Nash	...	Barbara Randall
James Seay	...	Major Andrews
Harry Landers	...	Lieutenant Bowers
Jack Daly	...	Wakeman
Dick Sands	...	The Phantom
Lela Nelson	...	Betty Evans
Michael Mark	...	Watchman
Tom Daly	...	Charlie
Steve Acton	...	Operator
Burt Wenland	...	Joe
Bert Arnold	...	Darrow
Sandy Sanders	...	Policeman
Harry Strang	...	Neighbor

Storyline

An alien being with the power of invisibility lands in Santa Monica. Killing two people who attacked him due to the menacing appearance of his spacesuit, the creature takes it off while being pursued by government authorities.

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Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | laboratory | observatory | very large telescope | small dog | 

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Taglines:

His secret power menaced the world!

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Working with most of the same crew, this was one of several early 1950s films made by Wilder and son Myles on a financing-for-distribution basis with United Artists and, on occasion, RKO Radio Pictures.

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Goofs

In the lab, a pair of scissors becomes magnetically attached to the spacesuit, yet only a few moments earlier, when Major Andrews tried unsuccessfully to cut the suit using the scissors, there was no magnetic effect on them at all.

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Quotes

Maj. Andrews: Lieutenant, are you sure there were no traces of this saboteur - this X-man - found after the explosion in the oil fields?

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Crazy Credits

Apart from the film's title, all the cast, crew, additional credits and information appear in the closing credits.

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Alternate Versions

Also available in a colorized version.

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Connections

Featured in Horrible Horror (1986)

User Reviews

Can be enjoyed as juvenile entertainment.

United Artists sure had a mess on their hands when they distributed Phantom From Space in 1953. The story is of an alien spacecraft that seems to have crash landed somewhere near Santa Monica, and the humanoid alien that runs around. The alien gets involved with murdering a couple humans, and also causes an explosion. It is later learned the alien most likely killed because it was being attacked by the humans. A manhunt for the alien is then organized. The alien is cornered but escapes by taking off his helmet and radioactive suit, which makes him invisible to humans. The suit and helmet are taken to a lab (We know it's a lab because of the roughly made "lab" sign that can be seen.) It is guessed the alien will come to the lab for it's helmet, which it needs for breathing most of the time. The alien shows up and soon the crime investigators, the scientists, and a dog are running here, there, and everywhere looking for either the alien or the woman who has encountered the alien. There is so much running around in the lab building that it becomes humorous; like a Three Stooges comedy. It is also humorous during all this running to see people slipping on the slippery floor in the building's hall. These shots of people slipping slightly were either unnoticed while being filmed, or the director didn't want to do another take. Much of Phantom From Space screams "amateur." Some of the sci-fi elements in this movie are interesting (the invisible alien being viewed under ultra-violet light, the description of foreign gasses the alien breathes in its helmet) while other sci-fi elements do not seem likely. The movie seems more like a cops and criminal story than a science fiction thriller. Even the music sounds like a crime-drama score most of the time. There are several things in the movie which may cause unintended laughter; including the monotone narrator who begins the movie, and again speaks during other parts of the movie. Unintended laughter may also be brought about by some of the situations and dialogue in this movie, and by the acting. For the most part the acting is bad. Some actors display wooden acting. Other actors seem extremely amateur. The special effects are mostly bad when compared to other low-budget films from this era, and they may also lead to unintended snickers. Only near the end do the special effects seem better when the alien is seen under ultra-violet lighting. All the running around and silly situations make the movie seem more like a feature for children. The movie can be entertaining only if viewed with a juvenile frame of mind. Phantom From Space is a bad film, but may actually be a fun reminder of comic books and science fiction serials.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 May 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Phantom from Space

Filming Locations:

Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Planet Filmplays

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White (archive material) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1