They Came from Beyond Space (1967)

Scientists investigating an unusual meteor shower in a rural field are possessed by an alien force bent on an ulterior purpose.

Director:

Freddie Francis

Writers:

Milton Subotsky (screenplay), Joseph Millard (novel)

Stars:

Robert Hutton, Jennifer Jayne, Zia Mohyeddin

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Hutton	...	Dr. Curtis Temple
Jennifer Jayne	...	Lee Mason
Zia Mohyeddin	...	Farge
Bernard Kay	...	Richard Arden
Michael Gough	...	Master of the Moon
Maurice Good	...	Stilwell
John Harvey	...	Bill Trethowan
Hedger Wallace	...	Alan Mullane (as Geoffrey Wallace)
Luanshya Greer	...	Girl Attendant
Diana King	...	Mrs. Trethowan
Paul Bacon	...	Dr. Rogers
Christopher Banks	...	Doctor - Street
Dermot Cathie	...	Peterson
Norman Claridge	...	Dr. Frederick Andrews
James Donnelly	...	Guard

Storyline

Astronomers investigate a mysterious meteorite shower in a rural English farm field. The rocks which fell, landed in a V-formation. Dr. Richard Arden, preeminent in the field of extraterrestrial study, is not permitted to accompany his colleagues, including his girlfriend Lee Mason, because he is still recovering from the effects of a recent motor accident. The scientists are summarily taken over by some alien force, and others in the area are dying from a mysterious "crimson plague," which covers their bodies with drops of blood. Temple seems the only person immune to both maladies, so if he can discover the reason for this immunity, he may yet foil the alien plan to take earthlings back to the moon for their own sinister purposes.

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Plot Keywords:

silver | alien | farm | plague | alien possession | 

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Taglines:

The Battle for Power Has Begun

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Genres:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

Eles Vieram do Espaço Exterior

Filming Locations:

Cookham, Berkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amicus Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

To save costs, the production used many sets and props from the Amicus movie Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (1966) filmed earlier.

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Goofs

After the aliens land on Earth and start taking over human bodies it would take great resources and a lot of time, perhaps a decade or more, to construct the underground installation and moon rocket. However the characters show no sign of aging, nor is there evidence of construction at the farm.

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Quotes

Lee Mason: Sentiment! I will not have sentiment interfering with our vital work!

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Connections

Featured in Movie Macabre: They Came from Beyond Space (1983)

User Reviews

Remake, or not?

In looking at this movie, it seemed to me that this was pretty close in concept to It Came from Outer Space, the sci-fi classic starring Richard Carlson and Barbara Rush. It was later remade as Night Slaves, a TV movie in 1990.

However, it was good seeing Robert Hutton, a perennial favorite in sci-fi films.

On the negative side, the editing seemed rather haphazard, with cuts and clips not blending together to add coherence and continuity. Also, the film lacked any of the background characters who were so good in what have turned out to be sci-fi classics. Made in England, They Came from Beyond Space has the location, but not the interest of the Quatermass movies.