This Island Earth (1955)

Aliens come to Earth seeking scientists to help them in their war.

Directors:

Joseph M. Newman (as Joseph Newman), Jack Arnold (uncredited)

Writers:

Raymond F. Jones (story "The Alien Machine"), Franklin Coen (screenplay)

Stars:

Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex Reason

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jeff Morrow	...	Exeter
Faith Domergue	...	Dr. Ruth Adams
Rex Reason	...	Dr. Cal Meacham
Lance Fuller	...	Brack
Russell Johnson	...	Dr. Steve Carlson
Douglas Spencer	...	The Monitor
Robert Nichols	...	Joe Wilson
Karl Ludwig Lindt	...	Dr. Adolph Engelborg (as Karl L. Lindt)

Storyline

The electronic engineer Dr. Cal Meacham is a prominent scientist that is studying industrial application of nuclear energy and also a great pilot. One day, he receives a different condenser and soon his assistant Joe Wilson receives a manual instruction and several components of a sophisticated machine. Cal and Joe build a communication apparatus and a man called Exeter contacts Cal. He tells that Cal has passed the test assembling the Interocitor and invites him to join his research. The intrigued Cal decides to travel to meet Exeter that sends an unmanned airplane to bring him to an isolated facility in Georgia. He is welcomed by Dr. Ruth Adams but she mysteriously does not recall their love affair in the past. They team-up with Dr. Steve Carlson and they note that the other scientists in the facility have been transformed, having a weird behavior. They decide to flee in a car, but they are attacked by rays and Steve dies. Cal and Ruth also witness the facility blowing-up and they ...

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Plot Keywords:

scientist | science | alien | dying planet | alien planet | 

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Taglines:

2-1/2 YEARS IN THE MAKING ! ...to bring you sights of FANTASTIC AMAZEMENT never before possible on the motion picture screen!

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

In interviews to promote the film, actors Jeff Morrow and Rex Reason said that when scenes involving the mutant came up during the premiere, it took every ounce of restraint for them not to sneak out. They were extremely embarrassed by the mutant costume, which they likened to a giant bug. They felt that the mutant completely ruined an otherwise decent film.

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Goofs

Ruth is sent to pick Cal up on his arrival. As they drive off to leave she clearly does not reverse back far enough to enable the car to miss the aircraft as she then pulls forward. The scene is cut just as she would have reversed back a second time, or hit the plane.

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Quotes

Dr. Cal Meacham: Sun lamp?
Dr. Ruth Adams: That's what it looks like. Only instead of a suntan, you get your brain cells rearranged.

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Alternate Versions

When originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts to secure a 'U' rating. All cuts were waived in 1987 when the film was granted a 'PG' certificate for home video.

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Connections

Edited into War of the Planets (1958)

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Soundtracks

Eine kleine Nachtmusik: 2nd Movement
(uncredited)
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

User Reviews

A Nice Sci Fi Movie of the Fifties

"This Island Earth" is not the greatest science fiction movie of all time, but it deserves more respect than it is often granted. The boys at MST3K (whom I think are great) may have done this film a great disservice. In its day, it was thoughtful, imaginative, and the special effects were excellent. I disagree with those who say there is no plot. The cold war fears and xenophobia were once again at the center of this fifties effort. The alien as our "friend" was later used in many settings, including one of the best of the "Twilight Zone" episodes, "To Serve Man."

I was young when I first saw this in a movie theater, but even then I found the home planet, Metaluma, very striking and its fate frightening. I fear that often our smugness in criticizing older films, judging them by standards that they could not have hoped to approach because of the limitations of the technology, keeps us from acceptance of their good points and their contributions. I have an acquaintance who can't watch the Maltese Falcon because it is in black and white. What a loss. The sets are striking in this film. The aliens are a bit of a stretch, but I still like what they are. I saw this movie a couple times in a theatre (not the MST version). As people left they were captivated and involved. When we left, we had had fun (not from ridiculing but enjoying). Granted there are no computer morphs and no giant metal bugs sucking brains out, but it is still good stuff.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 June 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bloodlust in Outer Space

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$800,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1