Space Master X-7 (1958)

A fungus brought from space threatens to grow and spread, devouring everyone in its path.

Director:

Edward Bernds

Writers:

George Worthing Yates (original screenplay), Daniel Mainwaring (original screenplay)

Stars:

Bill Williams, Lyn Thomas, Robert Ellis

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bill Williams	...	John Hand
Lyn Thomas	...	Laura Greeling
Robert Ellis	...	Pvt. Joe Rattigan
Paul Frees	...	Dr. Charles T. Pommer / Train-Station Announcer
Rhoda Williams	...	Stewardess Archer
Joan Barry	...	Jean Meyers - brunet
Carol Varga	...	Elaine Frohman
Thomas Browne Henry	...	Prof. West
Thomas Wilde	...	Collins
Fred Sherman	...	Mr. Morse - Hotel Manager
Gregg Martell	...	Jim Dale - plane engineer
Jess Kirkpatrick	...	Pilot Vaccarino
Court Shepard	...	Hendry - Battalion Fire Chief
Moe Howard	...	Retlinger - Cab Driver
Al Baffert	...	Plane passenger

Storyline

A space probe returns to Earth covered with a strange fungus. The fungus is accidentally tinged with human blood and is transformed into an ever-growing pile of space rust, dubbed "Blood Rust". It is up to John Hand and Joe Rattigan to find the one woman who can stop the rust from spreading and taking over the world.

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Plot Keywords:

fungus | blood rust | stock footage | belly landing | stewardess | 

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Taglines:

Satellite Terror Strikes The Earth!

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

June 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

Doomsday

Filming Locations:

Union Station - 800 N. Alameda Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$125,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Regal Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

71 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Over the years, some sources have regarded this as a "lost" film. A 35mm RegalScope print is maintained by UCLA.

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Goofs

Laura moves the TV unit in the hotel room a bit when she turns it off, but the picture on the TV doesn't move at all, as it was inserted afterward.

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Quotes

Pvt. Joe Rattigan: [to the stewardess] Are there any other brunettes on this flight wearing tweed coarts?

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Connections

Featured in Aweful Movies with Deadly Earnest: Space Master X-7 (1971)

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Soundtracks

Lost Atlantis
(uncredited)
Music by Richard DuPage
Blue Heaven Productions

User Reviews

Worth it for Paul Frees and Moe Howard fans

I can't give this film more than five stars, because it's just a standard, low-budget 50s horror flick featuring the usual gimmicks:

1. Phony narrator claiming this is a "true story" 2. Manmade spacecraft returning to earth with deadly virus/creature 3. Desperate attempt to control spreading of virus 4. Scientist who dies attempting #3

And really, it's not outstanding in its genre, because it has a clunky ending and it tends to veer from true SF to being a chase picture. Most of the middle of the picture has nothing to do with the evil spores from outer space.

BUT...where have you ever seen Paul Frees on camera before? I didn't see his name in the credits, but when Prof. Pommer started talking, I shouted, "That's Paul Frees!" Here's a man with hundreds of credits (and many uncredited roles) but they've almost always been for his voice. Even in this pic, he also "appears" as the announcer voice in the bus station. Space Master X-7 gives him a good reel or more almost by himself, as a scientist attempting to figure out what the virus is. He's not matinée idol material, but the film shows that he could act with more than his lungs.

AND...a couple of scenes with Moe Howard, down on his luck between the demise of Columbia's short film division, and the amazing comeback of the Stooges in the early 60s. When I saw the names Bernds and Maurer in the credits, I almost wondered if the film was going to be a parody, since they're the pair that did most of the Stooges' 60s features. Maurer kindly gave his father-in-law Moe a decent part as a cabby who helps police find the missing (spore-infected) woman.

It was fun to find this film on TV, since it had disappeared for decades. For fans of SF schlock, it's a must. But definitely for fans of Moe and Paul (Boris Badenov) Frees!