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IMDbPro

War of the Satellites

  • 19581958
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 6m
IMDb RATING
5.1/10
946
YOUR RATING
War of the Satellites (1958)
  • Horror
  • Sci-Fi
An "unknown force" declares war against planet Earth when the United Nations disobeys warnings to cease and desist in its attempts at assembling the first satellite in the atmosphere.An "unknown force" declares war against planet Earth when the United Nations disobeys warnings to cease and desist in its attempts at assembling the first satellite in the atmosphere.An "unknown force" declares war against planet Earth when the United Nations disobeys warnings to cease and desist in its attempts at assembling the first satellite in the atmosphere.
IMDb RATING
5.1/10
946
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Roger Corman
  • Writers
    • Irving Block(story)
    • Lawrence L. Goldman
    • Jack Rabin(story)
  • Stars
    • Dick Miller
    • Susan Cabot
    • Richard Devon
Top credits
  • Director
    • Roger Corman
  • Writers
    • Irving Block(story)
    • Lawrence L. Goldman
    • Jack Rabin(story)
  • Stars
    • Dick Miller
    • Susan Cabot
    • Richard Devon
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 34User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos12

    Richard Devon and Dick Miller in War of the Satellites (1958)
    Susan Cabot and Dick Miller in War of the Satellites (1958)
    Richard Devon in War of the Satellites (1958)
    John Brinkley and Richard Devon in War of the Satellites (1958)
    Richard Devon in War of the Satellites (1958)
    Susan Cabot, Richard Devon, and Dick Miller in War of the Satellites (1958)
    Michael Fox and Dick Miller in War of the Satellites (1958)
    Richard Devon in War of the Satellites (1958)
    War of the Satellites (1958)
    War of the Satellites (1958)
    War of the Satellites (1958)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dick Miller
    Dick Miller
    • Dave Boyeras Dave Boyer
    Susan Cabot
    Susan Cabot
    • Sybil Carringtonas Sybil Carrington
    Richard Devon
    Richard Devon
    • Dr. Pol Van Ponderas Dr. Pol Van Ponder
    Eric Sinclair
    • Dr. Howard Lazaras Dr. Howard Lazar
    Michael Fox
    Michael Fox
    • Jason ibn Akadas Jason ibn Akad
    Robert Shayne
    Robert Shayne
    • Cole Hotchkissas Cole Hotchkiss
    Jered Barclay
    • John Compoas John Compo
    • (as Jerry Barclay)
    John Brinkley
    • Crew Memberas Crew Member
    Tony Miller
    Bruno VeSota
    Bruno VeSota
    • Mr. LeMoineas Mr. LeMoine
    Jay Sayer
    • Jayas Jay
    Mitzi McCall
    Mitzi McCall
    • Mitzias Mitzi
    Roy Gordon
    Roy Gordon
    • The Presidentas The President
    Beach Dickerson
    Beach Dickerson
    • Crewman with Gunas Crewman with Gun
    Jim Knight
      Ursula Herwig
      Ursula Herwig
      • Nancyas Nancy
      Klaus Kindler
      Klaus Kindler
      • Larry Scottas Larry Scott
      Eberhard Mondry
      • Glennas Glenn
      • Director
        • Roger Corman
      • Writers
        • Irving Block(story)
        • Lawrence L. Goldman
        • Jack Rabin(story)
      • All cast & crew
      • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        From the time this movie was conceived, it was reportedly only eight weeks later that the completed movie was playing in theatres.
      • Goofs
        Most of the action seems to take place in New York, the home of the United Nations (and also based in views of the car license plates). But whenever a newspaper is flashed on the screen, it is always based in either Los Angeles or San Francisco. Further, all satellite launches in the 1950s were from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
      • Quotes

        Dr. Pol Van Ponder: There's an old saying. "If you just want something, send someone for it. But if you really want it, go yourself".

      • Connections
        Edited into Night of the Blood Beast (1958)

      User reviews34

      Review
      Top review
      5/10
      Typically Corman sci-fi cheapie - incomprehensible but oddly watchable
      Famously concocted in 8 weeks after director Roger Corman promised Allied Artists a "satellite' movie in time to cash in on America's fascination with (or fear of ) Sputnik, 'War of the Satellites' really has nothing to do with the cold war or the Russian space program or, for that matter, any other reality. Briefly, Earth's attempts to put people in orbit are met with disaster when the ships approach a mysterious barrier and we are warned by the "Masters of the Spiral Nebula Ghana" that humans have been prohibited from exploring space. To ensure our compliance, the aliens kill the head of the space program, Dr. Van Ponder (Richard Devon), and replace him with a sinister doppelganger. Astronomer David Boyer's (Corman perennial Dick Miller) suspicions concerning his new boss leads to a show-down in outer space, the outcome of which could determine the future of humanity. There are some adequate special effects shots, such as the rocket base or the in-orbit assembly of a space station but other than these, the film is strictly a dime-store production, especially the interiors the space ships (featuring recliner lounges with seatbelts) or the flimsy looking control panel manned by none other than Corman himself). The plot/script makes little sense and, other than Miller and Devon, the acting is underwhelming. Typical for a Corman picture, 'War of the Satellites' turned a profit and remains watchable today (half a century after Sputnik fell out of the sky) in a chintzy sort of way.
      helpful•4
      1
      • jamesrupert2014
      • May 21, 2019

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • May 18, 1958 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • United States
      • Language
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Planet der toten Seelen
      • Production companies
        • Allied Artists Pictures
        • Santa Cruz Productions Inc.
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

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      • Budget
        • $70,000 (estimated)
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Technical specs

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      • Runtime
        1 hour 6 minutes
      • Color
        • Black and White
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.37 : 1

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