Invasion of the Neptune Men (1961)

Clumsy invaders from Neptune are thwarted by hero Space Chief and a nondescript group of microshort-wearing Japanese kids.

Director:

Kôji Ohta (as Koji Ota)

Writers:

Shin Morita, Akihiro Watanabe (story)

Stars:

Shin'ichi Chiba, Ryûko Minakami, Mitsue Komiya

Cast

Credited cast:
Shin'ichi Chiba	...	Tachibana - Scientist / Space Chief (as Sonny Chiba)
Ryûko Minakami	...	Tanigawa Yoko
Mitsue Komiya	...	Saito - Scientist
Seiichirô Kameishi	...	Yamagata Yukichi
Rin'ichi Yamamoto	...	Colonel Fujimoto
Kappei Matsumoto	...	Dr. Tanigawa
Takashi Kanda	...	Defence Chief Takita
Shirô Okamoto	...	Eiji Shindo
Junji Masuda	...	Dr. Tamiya
Hidemichi Ishikawa	...	Dr. Yoshimoto
Shinjirô Ebara	...	Yanagida - Scientist (as Shinjirô Ehara)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Harold Conway	...	Washington Broadcast Station Chief
Genji Kawai	...	The Guard
Masazumi Okabe	...	Railway worker
Kôsaku Okano	...	Reporter A

Storyline

(English version) Slow-moving aliens from the planet Neptune, wearing nosecone-shaped space helmets, attempt to invade Earth in a winged rocketship. But they are thwarted by a mysterious superhero called Space Chief who flies around in a rocket-propelled car.

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Plot Keywords:

tokusatsu | alien superhero | japanese boy | alien invasion | neptune | 

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Many of the invasion scenes in Tokyo were edited from World War III Breaks Out (1960). The appearance of a giant billboard of Adolf Hitler has led some viewers to believe that the stock footage is taken from documentary footage of World War II Japan.

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Connections

Referenced in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

User Reviews

"Please Mike, give me some more panties!"

I can't talk long, I've picked up a case of Roji Pantie Complex after watching this horrible abortion of a film and I'm very weak. Mike is administering panties to me, but my body can only absorb so many at a time.

In this alleged movie, a group of boring alien invaders decide to cause random acts of violence on Earth in an attempt to take over the planet, but their schemes are constantly thwarted by Space Chief, strange visitor from another galaxy whose flying car shoots laser beams. A group of small Japanese children are also on hand at every major incident, and who seemingly are the nation's greatest natural resource as they have the power to discover valuable information and run really fast all over the place without ever getting tired.

Yes sir, the scientists and military are helpless against an alien race that flies around in giant Pringles can with wings, but the day it ultimately saved thanks to a dork in a flying car and six of the most annoying children you'll ever meet. God bless Japan for making this movie.

Once again, a horrible film is almost saved from being completely unwatchable thanks to the wonderful running commentary of Mike and the 'bots from "Mystery Science Theater 3000." But I do stress almost -- there are times when ever the mighty ones on the Satellite of Love can't withstand the boredom and non-action of "Uchu Kaisoku-sen" (aka "Invasion of the Neptune Men"), and you do have to despise a film that has the nerve to introduce an intergalactic "hero" like Space Chief but then have him suspiciously absent through most of the film.

The stock footage explosions are the most insulting, of course. Someone should feel very ashamed for including the "Hitler Building" in the explosion stock footage. Very dishonorable, Mr. Editor. Hang your head in shame.

2 out 10 stars. Japan should be tried for war crimes for producing this motion picture. P.S. Come back, "Prince of Space!" All is forgiven!

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

19 July 1961 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Invasion of the Neptune Men

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Toei, Toei Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

69 min (Dark Sky DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1