Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957)

Evil aliens attack Earth and set their terrible "Plan 9" into action. As the aliens resurrect the dead of the Earth, the lives of the living are in danger.

Director:

Edward D. Wood Jr.

Writer:

Edward D. Wood Jr.

Stars:

Gregory Walcott, Tom Keene, Mona McKinnon

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gregory Walcott	...	Jeff Trent
Mona McKinnon	...	Paula Trent
Duke Moore	...	Lieutenant Harper
Tom Keene	...	Colonel Edwards
Carl Anthony	...	Patrolman Larry
Paul Marco	...	Patrolman Kelton
Tor Johnson	...	Inspector Clay
Dudley Manlove	...	Eros
Joanna Lee	...	Tanna
John Breckinridge	...	Ruler
Lyle Talbot	...	General Roberts
David De Mering	...	Danny
Norma McCarty	...	Edith
Bill Ash	...	Captain
Lynn Lemon	...	Reverend (as Reverend Lynn Lemon)

Storyline

In California, an old man (Bela Lugosi) grieves the loss of his wife (Vampira) and on the next day he also dies. However, the space soldier Eros and his mate Tanna use an electric device to resurrect them both and the strong Inspector Clay who was murdered by the couple. Their intention is not to conquer Earth but to stop mankind from developing the powerful bomb "Solaranite" that would threaten the universe. When the population of Hollywood and Washington DC sees flying saucers in the sky, a colonel, a police lieutenant, a commercial pilot, his wife and a policeman try to stop the aliens.

---

Plot Keywords:

camp | bad acting | unintentionally funny | stock footage | wobbly sets | 

---

Taglines:

The worst movie of all time is finally available on video for more laughs than you got from Monty Python![video release]

---

Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

---

Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The colorization and restoration processes of later prints was conducted by Legend Films. The later added 3D process was conducted by Clint Hickman Productions.

---

Goofs

"Scientific" equipment used as controls for the spaceship, used by Eros, is seen again at Space Station 7, as communication equipment for The Ruler.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Criswell: Greetings, my friend. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future. You are interested in the unknown, the mysterious, the unexplainable. That is why you are here. And now, for the first time, we are bringing to you the full story of what happened on that fateful day. We are bringing you all the evidence, based only on the secret testimony ...

---

Alternate Versions

The film was colorized by Legend Films in 2005.

---

Connections

Referenced in Reaction & Review: The Room (2011)

---

Soundtracks

Desolate Village
(uncredited)
Music by Bruce Campbell

User Reviews

Yes, It's Terrible, But Not As Bad As I Had Hoped!

Well, at least I finally this "famous" movie. It took me a long time but so many people have said "it was so bad that it was good" I finally gave it a shot. Previously, I settled for enjoying the Tim Burton "Ed Wood" film, which is very good and tells the story of the making of this movie.

Well, I agree "Plan 9" is bad and, yes, perhaps, "the worst movie of all time" as many label it, but I'm sure there are worse ones out there. Really! I've seen worse (usually the "B" sci-fi movies of the '50s, too!)

I loved the first third of this film. I laughed many times at the hokey flying saucers, the walking "dead" and the corny dialog. I thought, "Wow, this was a bad (meaning good) as advertised," but then I found the film starting to lag at the 35-40-minute mark and recovered a little bit in the end, but not enough to make me want to watch this again. It got too talking and too preachy. Holy cow, this movie is nothing but preaching for everyone to take "flying saucers" seriously. Then we got more preaching at the end about the usual how- violent-mankind-is" blah, blah, blah. The writers here obviously took themselves too seriously. They should have just kept it as sci-fi/horror flick without all the heavy-handed preaching.

Highlights included Tor Johnson's face, the many lines of ridiculous dialog, Vampira's zombie walk with her outstretched hand, and Criswell's incredible speeches and the beginning and end of the movie! All of the above made me laugh almost every time!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 July 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

Plan 9 from Outer Space

Filming Locations:

15129 Lakeside Street, Sylmar, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$60,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Reynolds Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1