Trama

A strange missile from outer space circles the Earth at low altitudes, destroying everything in its path.

The appearance of an unknown "missile-like" object in nearby space leads a European nation to fire a rocket at it. Though the rocket intercepts the unidentified object, the explosion only diverts the missile into an orbit around the Earth. Racing five miles above the earth, its passage causes widespread devastation of the land below.

The movie opens with a note of appreciation to the Department of Defense, Army, Navy and Air Force from the producers. The Title and Credits follow. [Note: The Continental Air Defense Command-CONAD was active from 1954 until 1975.]

The narrator (Lawrence Dobkin) tells us, "The world is one minute away from the start of a hydrogen war." What follows is a great deal of stock footage. A Soviet military official directs radar operations in a bunker in the Soviet Union. "At 12:01 North Europe time, a blazing unidentified missile-like object appears on a foreign sky search TV screen. Origin unknown. Countdown on their hunter-type rocket. This rocket is designed to track, find, destroy." The UFO enters the earth's atmosphere. The Soviet missile is launched. The explosion of the launched missile has bumped the UFO into very low orbit around the Earth. It streaks above the Earth at 5 miles in altitude. It burns a track of destruction 5 miles wide.

It is morning in New York, a busy spring morning. Just outside the city is Havenbrook Atomic Laboratory. "Top military research is conducted here, a 5-Billion Volt atom smasher is the heart of Havenbrook." In his office we meet Dr. David Loring (Robert Loggia) and his assistant, Joan Wood (Ellen Parker). This is their wedding day. He holds a model of the Job, "a solid fuel rocket built to carry a hydrogen warhead-mightiest weapon in the world." Joan is a little resentful that each wedding day in the past was postponed because of some new project at the lab. She declares an ultimatum-"get married today or not at all." Before David can answer, Dr. Joe Freed (Phillip Pine) enters Dave's office. Joe is supposed to be best man, but tells David he can't leave the lab. He explains, "The big brass from the Pentagon are in with the boss right now." Joan and David leave the lab.

The Soviet military stands down on launch of their own missiles when they realize the UFO is not American. A guy on a dog sled is killed by the UFO. At a DEW [Distant Early Warning] line station in Canada, a radar operator spots the UFO and orders a patrol aircraft to investigate. The object is moving at 4000 miles per hour. David and Joan are at a jewelry store picking out rings. They have a little argument and Joan announces that there will be no wedding and she is quitting her job, "You'll have to find someone else for both marriages."

At the headquarters of the Continental Air Defense Command [CONAD] two military officers are processing incoming reports. The Major (John McNamara) contacts the Canadian Air Forces to investigate the UFO per the 3-Star General's (Mike Steele) order. All are unaware of the million degree heat the UFO is generating. After the DEW radar station is destroyed, the Joint Chiefs of Staff meet at the Pentagon.

At the lab, Joe informs Dave that something is wrong. An alarm is ringing, and all assume it is a drill. Joe tells Dave that he is to keep an open line to the Joint Chiefs. Dave informs Joe that the marriage is off. Despite her pronouncement, Joan returns to the lab. Joe explains to Joan that his wife is due to deliver their child that very day. Ella Freed (Marilee Early) is at home packing her suitcase for the hospital stay. Her mother (Kitty Kelly) is helping. Ella is having contractions, and they are now five minutes apart. Meanwhile, back at Havenbrook, David tells Joan that as a safety precaution the atomic pile and the atomic warhead must be disassembled. Dave leaves for a briefing, and Joe explains to Joan that he must leave for the hospital but Havenbrook is on lockdown. All senior personnel are called to a conference. General Barr (Larry Kerr) tells the scientists that the missile will pass over New York in 63 minutes. He closes by telling them that their job is to destroy the UFO.

We are then treated to a lot of stock footage of B-36, B-52 and B-47 aircraft launching. At the State Department, the Secretary of State (Selmer Jackson) meets with his assistant. They review various cables from foreign governments all claiming the UFO is not theirs. The President calls to inform the Secretary of State that he has talked to the Soviet Premier. The Premier claims that the UFO is not theirs. As the UFO approaches New York a subtle panic starts to set in amongst the population. All flights out of LaGuardia airport are cancelled. The Civil Defense force is alerted and mobilized. The Red Cross is notified that they should be prepared to supply four million pints of blood. Havenbrook Lab is evacuated. Dave confronts General Barr as he tries to board his Bell 47 helicopter. He explains that he can have the Job missile and warhead ready in 20 minutes and get to the launch site in 20 minutes more. He convinces Barr of his plan. The Canadian interceptor jets approach the target UFO and fire their ordinance, but are all destroyed by the UFO. CONAD is updated on the progress of the missile and project it will pass over Ottawa, Canada and New York City. The citizens of Ottawa are warned to take shelter. American interceptor aircraft are scrambled from land bases and carriers at sea.

At the TV station a singer (Fred Engelberg) is performing live. He is interrupted mid-performance to introduce the governor. The New York Governor (J. Anthony Hughes) declares Martial Law in the state. Children are loaded onto busses and evacuated out of the city.

The narrator informs us, "At Havenbrook Laboratory David Loring is preparing the baby warhead. These metal fingers reach for the man-made element Plutonium. Its radiation is the deadliest known." Ella and her mother join the other tenants of their building sheltering in the basement. At Havenbrook the warhead is being moved out. Joe confronts David about his revelation about the Lost Missile. He proclaims it is an interplanetary conveyance with possible occupants and it should not be destroyed. He vows to stop its destruction. Dave and Joan board a jeep along with the warhead, safely packed in a lead lined case. They drive to the launch site. The American interceptor aircraft are unsuccessful in stopping the UFO. The second phase is the launching of hunter missiles but they are also unsuccessful. A sports car causes General Barr to crash his jeep, but Dave and Joan continue their mission to reach the launch facility with the warhead. The women in the basement help Ella's mother deliver a healthy baby boy. Joe arrives to greet his wife and new son.

A group of teenagers with a disabled vehicle try to stop Dave and Joan. They steal the jeep and drive away. Joan and Dave start walking and encounter a driver in a sports car who gives them a lift. The top of the warhead case was removed and released deadly radiation killing the car-jacking teens. David wraps the bomb in a coat and knowing he has received a lethal dose of radiation transports the warhead to the launch site.

The city of Ottawa is destroyed. The narrator tells us, "Ottawa is gone. Boiling cauldrons of steam, molten lava, twisted girders, desolation. New York has five minutes." David arrives at the launch site and is hoisted up to install the warhead in the Job missile. He succeeds in placing the warhead, but collapses on the platform as it is being lowered. The Job missile is launched on an intercept course with the UFO. The warhead is launched which results in a huge atomic explosion. It was successful and New York City is safe. We close with a shot of the streets of New York busy again.