One of the things that has bothered me over the years is how you can say something is your "favorite" and people take it to mean you're saying it's the "best". So let me say I consider THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL the best science fiction film of the 50s. Just my opinion.But my favorite sci-flick of the 50s is INVADERS FROM MARS.
The movie was produced independently by Edward L.Alperson and directed by William Cameron Menzies.It starred Jimmy Hunt as the young hero David McLean and stunning Helena Carter as Dr.Patricia Blake. With Arthur Franz,Leif Ericson and Hillary Brooke and a number of other 50s television supporting actors.
The screenplay is by Richard Blake from a story by John Tucker Battle and the film has a surrealistic,nightmarish quality that makes it almost a horror film.I know the Martians gave me nightmares for years.And one of the cool things about this film is that you don't see the "invaders from Mars" until about an hour into the picture. And they're well worth the wait.They're like something out of a sci-fi pulp. As is Helena Carter as Dr.Blake. In the movie's climax with her torn dress high heels and seamed stockings she looks like a pulp heroine come to life.
There really should have been a comic book adaptation of INVADERS FROM MARS.I'm imagining one with art by either Wood or Schaffenberger.
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