The Angry Red Planet (1959)

One of only two survivors from a Martian expedition is so traumatized she doesn't remember the circumstances of the trip.

Director:

Ib Melchior

Writers:

Ib Melchior (screenplay), Sidney W. Pink (screenplay) (as Sid Pink)

Stars:

Gerald Mohr, Nora Hayden, Les Tremayne

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gerald Mohr	...	Col. Thomas O'Bannion
Nora Hayden	...	Dr. Iris 'Irish' Ryan
Les Tremayne	...	Prof. Theodore Gettell
Jack Kruschen	...	CWO Sam Jacobs
Paul Hahn	...	Maj. Gen. George Treegar
J. Edward McKinley	...	Prof. Paul Weiner
Tom Daly	...	Dr. Frank Gordon
Don Lamond	...	TV Newscaster / Narrator / Martian (voice)
Edward Innes	...	Brig. Gen. Alan Prescott
Gordon Barnes	...	Maj. Lyman Ross
Jack Haddock	...	Lt. Col. Davis
Brandy Bryan	...	Nurse Hayes
Joan Patrick	...	Nurse Dixon (as Joan Fitzpatrick)
Duke Norton	...	Dr. Muller
William Remick	...	Dr. Hawley (as Wm. Remick)

Storyline

The first spaceship to Mars, presumed lost, is found in space and brought back to Earth by remote control. Only two from an initial crew of four are still alive, but one is unconscious due to an attached alien growth, while the other is traumatized, blocking out all memory of what happened. In hopes to save the unconscious crewman, the amnesiac is interrogated back into remembering. Those in charge thereby learn of the terrible dangers awaiting anyone venturing into the spooky, ruddy stillness of the very alien Martian ecosystem.

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Plot Keywords:

martian | psychotronic film | no title at beginning | bare chested male | hairy chest | 

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Taglines:

In magnificent color. (Ad cuts).

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Genres:

Adventure | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The much-touted Cinemagic process which was used for the scenes set on Mars was actually the result of a film-developing mistake. The budget was slashed mid-production so the producers considered turning the film into black and white to keep costs down. However, one reel became accidentally double-exposed which produced a shimmering, vaguely psychedelic glare that director Ib Melchior latched onto, thinking it would suit his purposes for the Mars scenes. (It also helped to camouflage the cheap Martian monsters and scenery.)

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Goofs

Early in the film, it's said that there is a communications lag with Earth of just a couple seconds, adding "just wait until it's a couple hours!" But at their greatest separation, the radio lag between Earth and Mars would only be about 22 minutes.

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Quotes

Col. Thomas O'Bannion: Pretty soon people will be just as sure of space travel as I was of my dog... as I'd like to be of you.

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Crazy Credits

The main title, cast and credits do not appear until the end of the film.

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Connections

Referenced in Crash and Burn (1990)

User Reviews

A personal comment on an admittedly awful film

This generation produced many B films in the horror/science fiction genre. This particular one was broadcast on tv when I was nine years old, and it frightened me so much that I had to sleep with the radio on as my security blanket for about five nights. This is basically a monster movie, and the worst one, oddly, was not the most menacing, but the depiction of the intelligent Martian with a very distorted face. He didn't look worse than a Klingon, but what is a nine-year-old never exposed to Star Trek supposed to know. (I had the same problem with the brief portrayal of the Yeti in The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas starring Forrest Tucker). If there is a lesson in this, it is to be careful about what young people see. I was in fact frightened half to death by many of the poor quality s.f. movies I saw on tv before the age of 11. Why did I watch them? Not much else on tv. Good thing I didn't see "Alien" back then.

Oddly, Angry Red Planet was broadcast not too long ago, and it did seem strange to view it after almost 40 years and recollect an almost traumatic childhood experience. Oh yeah, check out "The House on Haunted Hill," too.

Details

Official Sites:

MGM Studios [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 November 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

Invasion of Mars

Filming Locations:

Hal Roach Studios - 8822 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$190,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sino Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1