Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956)

Blast off into orbit with this classic Sci-Fi Alien-Invasion Flick, featuring some truly remarkable flying saucer effects courtesy of Ray Harryhausen.EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS pits puny, little earthlings against mighty alien humanoids in a violent battle for Earth's survival.When the robot-like aliens arrive at a U.S. Army base in search of help for their dying planet, they attempt to make friendly contact with scientist Dr. Russ Marvin. But the military gets into the act and greets their fleet of saucers with non-stop gunfire, and so, the aliens are automatically forced to retaliate.Can Dr. Marvin invent the ultimate weapon in order to counter their terrible attack of mass destruction and save the human race in this deadly game of beat-the-clock? Well, buckle up and hold onto your seats, space fans, 'cause you're in for an intergalactic joyride of pure Sci-Fi/Fantasy fun, 1950s-style! Shot mainly on location in Washington, DC, this picture would be best described as being a cross between Independence Day and Mars Attacks! (on a considerably smaller scale, of course). It's quite easy to imagine both Directors Emmerich and Burton being inspired by this film for their respective pictures.

*Spoiler/plot- Earth vs Flying Saucers, 1956. A rocket scientist and his new wife get contacted by extra Terrestrial beings but don't realize it until too late. This starts a war of conquest between the U.S. and saucer people.*Special Stars- Hugh Marlowe, Joan Taylor, Donald Curtis, Morris Ankrum.*Theme- The Govt is your friend dealing with alien invasions.*Trivia/location/goofs- B & W. Ray Harryhausen's EFX are excellent here. LA's Hyperion Water treatment plant, Ray Harryhausen developed the flying saucers. A saucer attacking jets is actually based on news footage of an air race crash with P-51 Mustangs.*Emotion- Outstanding and well written script that keeps moving in pacing. One of the iconic 50's sci-fi films of the era. Well worth your time to experience it.*Based On- The Cold War invasion and rocket exploration fears.

Fred F. Sears directed this Science Fiction story that stars Hugh Marlowe as Dr. Russell Marvin, who, along with his new wife Carol(played by Joan Taylor) is driving back to the rocket ship program he is working on, when he encounters a flying saucer overhead, and manages to record it. His project, Operation Skyhook, has run into problems, and it is revealed that aliens are not only shooting down the rockets, but plan on a full-scale invasion, forcing the scientific and military communities to team up to try to stop the attacks, which are devastating the world. Lots of action here to keep the kids happy, but for some reason, the story lacks any depth to it, and people are like photographic stick figures lost among the destruction, taking the viewer out of the film altogether.

My sister took me to this movie in 1956 when I was 8. It shocked me. For two weeks I was afraid to go to sleep at night for fear of nightmares. Some years ago I bought a 16mm print and studied it. It has all the right elements for a nerdy kid with glasses: Beautiful Joan Taylor and serious Hugh Marlowe work well together. The lonely laboratory at night is a wonderful location, frightening when attacked. Dr. Russell A. Marvin removing the helmet from the alien is particularly creepy. We know so much more now about outer space, so to appreciate this you have to suspend disbelief and travel back in time when comic books were 10¢. Soon after seeing this movie I was bitten by the movie bug which resulted in a lifelong passion for films and animation, which I have to credit to the intense effect that Earth Vs the Flying Saucers had on my young mind. I still watch this film several times a year and never get tired of seeing it.