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.

---

Plot Keywords:

silver | alien | farm | plague | alien possession | 

---

Taglines:

A Science-Fiction Thriller!

---

Genres:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

---

Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sie kamen von jenseits des Weltraums

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

Released on a double bill with The Terrornauts (1967). Director Freddie Francis claimed that the company had spent all their budget on that film, leaving nothing left for They Came from Beyond Space (1967).

---

Goofs

Temple is examining charts in his office when Arden comes in to invite him back to the farm where the meteors fell. When the wall is shown again, a large new chart of the moon has appeared.

---

Quotes

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

---

Alternate Versions

When originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts to secure a 'A' rating. All cuts were waived in 2012 when the film was granted a 'PG' certificate for its premiere DVD release (actually released 17 October 2011).

---

Connections

Featured in Summer of the Flying Saucer (2008)

User Reviews

The Organian Takeover

Any science fiction film that's got Michael Gough playing a character called The Master of the Moon has to be worthy of it being something less than outright awful. At that time in his career Gough was doing almost as many British horror films as Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

They Came From Beyond Space involves a race of aliens who are like the Organians from Star Trek totally incorporeal. But they sure have a lot of problems that the Organians don't seem to have. It's necessitated them taking over some earthly bodies as they come to earth hitchhiking on meteors.

Of course being as smart as the Organians they take over some scientists who operate in the United Kingdom. Except for expatriate American Robert Hutton who because he had a metal plate put in his head is somehow immune from takeover. But he sees all around him acting strangely including scientist girl friend Jennifer Jayne. That prompts him to take action.

For a guy who recently sustained a head injury Hutton certainly gets involved in a lot of fights, anyone of them could have done him in permanently. That is the nature of it for folks with plates in their heads. But that's just a minor point.

They Came From Beyond Space is poorly written, poorly edited, with amateurish special effects and a story that makes some of those Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers serials look believable. On the other hand it has Michael Gough hamming it up as The Master Of The Moon.

Gough might even convince you the Moon is made of green cheese and that's what the Organians eat.