This Island Earth
This Island Earth
Screenplay:
Franklin CoenCinematography:
Clifford StineCast:
Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex Reason, Lance Fuller, Russell Johnson, Douglas Spencer, Coleman Francis, Richard Deacon, Robert B. Williams, Edward Hearn (more)Plots(1)
A team of top nuclear scientists is assembled by the mysterious Exeter at a high-tech laboratory in Georgia. His mission, kept secret even from the researchers, is to develop new sources of atomic energy, which are needed to defend his home planet, Metaluna, from its interplanetary rival, Zagon. When two of the recruits begin to suspect Exeter's true identity and motive, they attempt to escape. But before the runaways can reach safety, the aliens intervene and carry them off in a last-ditch effort to save Metaluna. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (2)
Another one of those many charmingly naive Hollywood science fiction films from the golden era of the genre in the 1950s. The inhabitants of planet Metaluna invade Earth and, with the help of alien scientists, want to discover a new source of energy to help their planet avoid extinction. One of the scientists, Dr.Meacham, along with a promising female scientist, discovers the aliens' nefarious plans to take over Earth, and is abducted to Metaluna... Nothing much happens for the first 45 minutes, it's mostly conversational, but the kidnapping of the scientists really gets the film going. There are some really good visual effects scenes (for the time, of course): laser beams, a look inside a flying saucer, a hybernation cubicle, X-ray cuts through bodies, a small hint of a space battle, a look at the surface and the inside of Metaluna, charmingly naive futuristic buildings, drawings, models, frequent use of interludes. Aliens are distinguished from humans by their high foreheads and white wigs. There's even a fight with mutants. Everything is so incredibly silly and naive, but that's the beauty of it!
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Great sci-fi with excellent, simple, but fantastic effects, which also has a nice, B-movie story that works quite well and keeps you entertained. There are good characters here, even though they are archetypes, it doesn't matter at all because they will amuse you. And when it comes to masks, it's truly amazing. A beautiful naive B-movie, of which there were many being made at that time, but not all of them were as pleasantly crafted as this one.
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