Film Snail

6.0

Earth vs. the Flying Saucers

NR·1956·83m

Action

Science Fiction

Action

Science Fiction

Summary

Test space rockets exploding at liftoff and increased reporting of UFO sightings culminate in a direct attempt by alien survivors of a dead, extra-galactic civilization to invade Earth from impervious flying saucers, using ray-weapons of mass destruction.

Cast

Hugh Marlowe

Dr. Russell A. Marvin

Joan Taylor

Carol Marvin

Donald Curtis

Maj. Huglin

Morris Ankrum

Brig. Gen. John Hanley

Thomas Browne Henry

Vice Adm. Enright

Grandon Rhodes

Gen. Edmunds

John Zaremba

Prof. Kanter

Paul Frees

Alien (voice)

Frank Wilcox

Alfred Cassidy

Sydney Mason

Frank the garage man

Larry J. Blake

Motorcycle cop

Bert Stevens

Air Intelligence Command Officer

Forbes Murray

Military Officer at Experiment

Arthur Tovey

Officer/Civilian at Military Conference

Alan Wells

Major Kimberly

Nicky Blair

Military Officer at Experiment (uncredited)

Jimmy Cross

Military Messenger (uncredited)

Jack Deery

Military Officer (uncredited)

Charles Evans

Dr. Alberts (uncredited)

Raoul Freeman

Military Official (uncredited)

Paul Frees

Alien (voice) (uncredited)

James Gonzalez

Military Official (uncredited)

Duke Green

Minor Role (uncredited)

Ed Haskett

Military Official (uncredited)

Clark Howat

Sgt. Nash (uncredited)

Harry Lauter

Cutting - Generator Technician (uncredited)

Don Marlowe

Minor Role (uncredited)

William Meader

Worker in Control Tower (uncredited)

Sol Murgi

Plane Passenger (uncredited)

Forbes Murray

Military Officer at Experiment (uncredited)

William J. O'Brien

Radio Listener (archive footage) (uncredited)

Murray Pollack

Plane Passenger (uncredited)

Mike Ragan

Tank Commander (uncredited)

Alan Reynolds

Maj. Kimberly (uncredited)

Dale Van Sickel

Man Crushed Beneath Wall (uncredited)

Guy Way

Civilian Observing Saucer Attack (uncredited)

Bob Whitney

Plane Passenger (uncredited)

Frank Wilcox

Alfred Cassidy (uncredited)

Beal Wong

Chinese Radio Listener (uncredited)

William Woodson

Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Fred F. Sears

Novel

Donald E. Keyhoe

Screenplay

George Worthing Yates

Screenplay

Bernard Gordon

Screenstory

Curt Siodmak

Reviews

John Chard

September 6, 2014

Restrained but still an effective piece of sci-fi pie.

Reports of flying saucers start coming in thick and fast until sure enough alien invaders begin to attack the Earth. Focal point of their attack is the U.S. Space Programe, can hero in waiting Russel Marvin conjure up a defence weapon to save the day?

Obviously a template for many an alien invader film since its release, Earth Vs The Flying Saucers never quite reaches the heights that perhaps it should have. Bogged down by maudlin scripting and restricted by its budget, it often hints at what a great picture it could have been. The lead cast are poor and this hurts the film even more, Hugh Marlowe as Russell Marvin bores us with the scientific speak when really he should be fascinating us, whilst scream queen duties fall to poor Joan Greenwood who forgets that she is actually supposed to emit some sort of terror when the alien hordes attack! However, on the plus side the aliens themselves are certainly creepy enough to grab your notice, Ray Harryhausen's flying saucers animation is of course top dollar for its time, whilst the final battle across Washington DC is classic gold, an all buzzing assault with splurges of death rays at every turn.

An important film in the pantheon of the genre for sure, but it's just a tad too restrained for its own good. 6/10