Invaders from Mars (1953 film)

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Invaders From Mars
Promotional movie poster for the film
Directed by	William Cameron Menzies
Produced by	Edward L. Alperson
Written by	John Tucker Battle (story) Richard Blake
Starring	Helena Carter Arthur Franz Jimmy Hunt Leif Erickson Hillary Brooke
Music by	Raoul Kraushaar
Cinematography	John F. Seitz
Editing by	Arthur Roberts
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date(s)	April 22, 1953 (US)
Running time	78 min.
Country	USA
Language	English
IMDb profile

Invaders from Mars is a 1953 science fiction film. It was directed by William Cameron Menzies and stars Jimmy Hunt and Leif Erickson.

It is notable for its child's point of view as well as for its vivid color cinematography (color by Color Corporation of America). It is also notable for its surreal set designs and unique use of bizarre sound effects, including the use of multiple voices "singing" to indicate the ground opening up for the Martians. These elements put this film a notch above most other low budget science fiction films of the era and has since become a cult classic.

There was a 1986 remake using the same title. It was directed by Tobe Hooper and starred Karen Black.

[edit] Plot synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

One night, a small boy, David MacLean (Jimmy Hunt), sees a meteorite land near his home. His scientist father (Leif Erickson) goes to investigate; when he returns, there is an unusual mark on the back of his neck and he behaves in a different, sinister manner. Gradually, David realizes that there is a conspiracy in which the people of the town are one by one becoming cold and inhuman.

With the help of local astronomers, he traces the evil to the meteorite, which turns out to be a Martian flying saucer that has buried itself in a sand pit just outside of town. Inside is a Martian (who is mostly head with strange tentacles) encased in a glass-like sphere and its tall, green, silent "mutants", who are using cerebral implants to control the townsfolk (and kill them when they are of no further use) to sabotage the town's nuclear rocket experiments.

In the film's climax, the Army, scientists, and David flee from the sand pit as explosives hidden aboard the flying saucer count down their last remaining seconds. After the explosion, the scene shifts and David is back in his bed, awoken by thunder. His parents reassure him by telling him the whole thing was just a nightmare and send him back to bed. But as thunder awakens him again, he sees a familiar shape slowly land at the sand pit near his house...

An alternative ending was filmed for the reissue, eliminating the dream concept. This release also included an extended sequence of the planetarium scene. This sequence was filmed two years after the original release, and while the adult actors have not changed significantly, it is quite noticeable that Jimmy Hunt is a few years older.