The Brain Eaters (1958)

The inhabitants of a small Illinois town begin disappearing after a strange cone is found sticking out of the ground nearby.

Director:

Bruno VeSota

Writer:

Gordon Urquhart (screenplay)

Stars:

Ed Nelson, Alan Jay Factor, Cornelius Keefe

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ed Nelson	...	Dr. Paul Kettering (as Edwin Nelson)
Alan Jay Factor	...	Glenn Cameron (as Alan Frost)
Cornelius Keefe	...	Senator Walter K. Powers (as Jack Hill)
Joanna Lee	...	Alice Summers
Jody Fair	...	Elaine Cameron
David Hughes	...	Dr. Wyler
Robert Ball	...	Dan Walker
Greigh Phillips	...	Sheriff
Orville Sherman	...	Mayor Cameron
Leonard Nimoy	...	Professor Cole (as Leonard Nemoy)
Doug Banks	...	Doctor
Henry Randolph	...	Telegrapher
Saul Bronson	...	Prof. Helsingman

Storyline

Strange things are happening in Riverdale, Illinois. A huge, seemingly alien structure has been found jutting out of the earth. Sent to investigate the origin of the mysterious object, Senator Walter Powers discovers that parasites from the center of the earth have infiltrated the town, taking control of the authorities and workers, making communication with the outside world impossible, and leaving the responsibility of stopping the invasion up to Powers and a small group of free individuals.

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Plot Keywords:

parasite | small town | mind control | based on novel | alien | 

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Taglines:

Crawling, slimy things terror-bent on destroying the world!

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Genres:

Sci-Fi | Horror

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

Keepers of the Earth

Filming Locations:

Pomona, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Corinthian Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

Producer Ed Nelson, who also stars, created the parasites himself using little wind-up toys covered with fur from an old coat and pipe cleaners for antennae.

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Goofs

When the doctor is about to crawl in to the ship he's handed a gun. When the camera angle changes he's shown wearing a holster on a belt with the gun in the holster.

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Quotes

Glenn Cameron: Will he live?
Dr. Paul Kettering: No, but he's going to, at least as long as science can make him

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Connections

Spoofed in Matinee (1993)

User Reviews

Brain Music

I read your post re: The Brain Eaters. I have done extensive research on the music and have also come to the conclusion that there never was a Tom Jonson. I have identified much of the score but the piece that eludes me is the Main Title. Does anyone have any idea what that's from? Your help would be greatly appreciated. It's driving me crazy.

In the meantime , this is a fun film (if derivative). The biggest mistake might be the Pipe Cleaner antennea on the little monsters. The idea the creatures are subterranian in nature was very different for the period. All in all a good fun romp. The classical score does add a weirdness that somehow compelling.