Killers from Space

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Killers from Space
Directed by W. Lee Wilder
Produced by W. Lee Wilder
Written by William Raynor and Myles Wilder
Starring Peter Graves
Barbara Bestar
Steve Pendleton
Music by Manuel Compinsky
Cinematography William H. Clothier
Editing by William Faris
Distributed by RKO Radio Pictures
Release date(s) January 23, 1954
Language English
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

Killers from Space is a 1954 science fiction film, directed by W. Lee Wilder and starring Peter Graves.

The movie was shot on a very low budget with an unknown cast and crude special effects, and often appears on lists of the worst movies of all times. The director, W. Lee Wilder, was the brother of Billy Wilder. Killers from Space was featured in a 2004 documentary film, The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made.

The film is now in the public domain and can be downloaded from the Internet Archive.

In 2002, this movie was redubbed and turned into a parody movie called Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

[edit] Plot Summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Dr. Douglas Martin is a scientist working on an atomic energy project. While flying over Soledad Flats his plane crashes. He survives unhurt except for a strange scar on his chest.

At the hospital, he has amnesia does not remember what happened. He acts so strange that the doctors bring in the FBI, thinking he may be an imposter. He is cleared, but told to take some time off.

Dr. Martin reads in a newspaper about atomic tests at Soledad Flats. He steals some papers about the atomic test, goes back to Soledad Flats and puts them under a stone. He is chased by a guard, crashes the car, captured and given truth serum back at the hospital. He tells a story about being captured by space aliens from Astron Delta, who have giant bugs at their disposal. The aliens have big eyes like hard boiled eggs.

The ill-fated aliens of Killers From Space
The ill-fated aliens of Killers From Space

He remembers under the truth serum that one of the space aliens told him to steal the papers and "bring them to the stone." The doctors and military men think he is nuts.

Dr. Martin does some calculations and determines that if he shuts off the power to Soledad Flats for ten seconds it will destroy the aliens' equipment. So he goes to the electrical power plant serving the area and forces the attendant to turn off the power. This causes some kind of electrical problem that destroys the aliens and the monsters and saves the planet.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Cast

Peter Graves (left) receives instructions from an alien in Killers from Space.
Peter Graves (left) receives instructions from an alien in Killers from Space.

Peter Graves as Dr. Douglas Martin

James Seay as Col. Banks

Steve Pendleton as Briggs

Barbara Bestar as Ellen Martin

Shepard Menken as Major Clift

Jack Daly as Power House Guard

Ron Kennedy as Sgt. Powers, Sentry

Ben Welden as Tar Baby 2 Pilot

Burt Wenland as Sergeant Bandero

Lester Dorr as Gas Station Attendant

Robert Roark as Guard

Ruth Bennett as Miss Vincent

Mark Scott as Narrator

[edit] External links