I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958)

Aliens arrive on Earth to possess the bodies of humans. One of their first victims is a young man, whose new wife soon realizes something is wrong with him.

Director:

Gene Fowler Jr.

Writer:

Louis Vittes

Stars:

Tom Tryon, Gloria Talbott, Peter Baldwin

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Tom Tryon	...	Bill Farrell
Gloria Talbott	...	Marge Bradley Farrell
Peter Baldwin	...	Officer Hank Swanson
Robert Ivers	...	Harry Phillips
Chuck Wassil	...	Ted Hanks
Valerie Allen	...	Francine - Hooker
Ty Hardin	...	Mac Brody (as Ty Hungerford)
Ken Lynch	...	Dr. Wayne
John Eldredge	...	Police Capt. H.B. Collins
Alan Dexter	...	Sam Benson
James Anderson	...	Weldon
Jean Carson	...	Helen Rhodes
Jack Orrison	...	Officer Schultz
Steve London	...	Charles Mason
Maxie Rosenbloom	...	Max Grady - Bartender

Storyline

In Norrisville, Bill Farrell leaves his bachelor party on the eve of his marriage with Marge Bradley. He is abducted by an alien that takes his shape and marries Marge on the next day. Marge feels something strange with Bill and one year later she realizes that he is a totally different man. One day, Marge follows Bill and he goes to the woods; she finds that he is an alien and sees his spacecraft. She tries to tell to Washington and to the FBI, but the aliens have dominated key people in town that do not allow any sort of communication with the exterior world. What is the intention of the alien invasion?

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Plot Keywords:

alien | marriage | planet | outer space | suspicion | 

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Taglines:

Shuddery things from beyond the stars, here to breed with human women!

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

Casei Com um Monstro Espacial

Filming Locations:

Malibou Lake, Agoura, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$175,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The dogs who attack the undisguised aliens near the end of the film were initially too scared to approach the costumed actors. The dogs were then acclimated to the presence of the suited actors - perhaps too well, for when the time came to shoot the scene of the dogs attacking the aliens, the dogs didn't attack the aliens, but jumped playfully around and on them instead. The dogs were then trained to go for the "breathing tubes" on the alien costumes. Apparently, the actors playing the aliens had to guide the dogs to attack the "breathing tubes."

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Goofs

After the newlyweds depart the church, they are driving down a country road. Just as they are about to pass a mysterious alien figure, the shadow of a boom mic can be briefly seen on the road as the camera traverses with the motion of the vehicle.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Woman in Bar: Those guys ain't even giving us a hard look.

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Connections

Referenced in Homicide: Life on the Street: See No Evil (1994)

User Reviews

A '50s Gem

Despite the fact that this film has a ridiculous title, it really is quite a little gem. During the 1950's the spread of Communism was the great fear in America and many films reflected this through the analogy of aliens infiltrating society. This movie is one of them....aliens taking over the population without being noticed....the guy next door may be a Communist (or a monster from outer space). Gloria Talbot,who appeared in a score of 50's movies (whatever happened to her?) does a good job as the suspicious wife but she wears one of the strangest pointed bras you've ever seen and even wears it in bed! Tom Tryon sleepwalks through the part of the husband, which in this film is appropriate for the role. He was a very bland actor and eventually went on to a sucessful career as a novelist. The black and white cinematography is well done and the film evokes a sense of impending doom. The special effects, which are limited, are not too bad...remember this was 1958. This film is a standout in a series of lower budget movies of the time but the awkward title may cause some to pass it by. Recommend it to a friend.