Unearthly Stranger

Unearthly Stranger
Directed by John Krish
Produced by Albert Fennelll
Executive
Julian Wintle
Leslie Parkyn
Written by Rex Carlton
Based on an idea by Jeffrey Stone
Starring John Neville
Music by Edward Williams
Cinematography Reg Wyer
Edited by Tom Priestley
Production
company
Distributed by Anglo-Amalgamated (UK)
American International Pictures
Release dates
 1964
Running time
 78 min.
Country United Kingdom
Language English

Unearthly Stranger is a low-budget British sci-fi film, directed by John Krish for producers Julian Wintle and Leslie Parkyn, and released in the UK by Independent Artists (Production) Limited in 1964.[1]

The film was written by Rex Carlton based on an idea by Jeffrey Stone.[2] Its US release was in April 1964.

Plot

Dr. Mark Davidson (John Neville), the narrator, is in fear for his life. His predecessor died under mysterious circumstances just after making a major breakthrough. The cause of death ("an explosion inside his brain") is being withheld by Secret Service agent Major Clarke (Patrick Newell). The scientists are working on a project involving spaceflight by the power of mental concentration.

Dr. Mark Davidson has a new Swiss wife, Julie (played by Gabriella Licudi), in whom Maj. Clarke takes an interest. Julie has a number of unusual characteristics, such as sleeping with her eyes open, never blinking and having no pulse, which makes her husband suspect she is an alien. She also frightens children and can handle very hot objects with her bare hands. After frightening a whole schoolyard of children, though, it emerges she can cry, though the tears burn her cheeks. Maj. Clarke does a background check and finds she never existed before her life with the doctor. As a precaution, Dr. Mark Davidson is relieved of his lab duties. With nothing else to do he works on the problem his precessor had figured out. He is able to successfully recover the lost formula. For security reasons, Maj. Clarke confiscates the notes but is struck dead in the same mysterious way.

Eventually, Julia confesses that she is an alien sent to kill her husband and that she must leave because she has failed, as she has fallen in love with him. Despite his pleas, she vanishes, leaving only an empty dress. He rushes into his office and makes the tape which narrates the film, warning that aliens want to prevent the breakthrough. He is then interrupted by his secretary, who announces she is also an alien and she is there to finish the assignment. A scuffle ensues, and she is pushed out of a window, but with only an empty dress landing on the pavement below. The scientists rush downstairs and are quietly surrounded by a crowd of grim-faced women, all of whom seem to be aliens.

Cast

References

  1. ↑ John Hamilton, The British Independent Horror Film 1951-70 Hemlock Books 2013 p 107-111
  2. ↑ "Jeffrey Stone, 85, was model for Prince Charming". Big Cartoon Forum. 2012-08-24. Retrieved 2012-09-21.

External links