It Came from Outer Space
It Came from Outer Space | |
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Universal-International | |
Release date |
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Running time | 80 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $800,000 |
Box office | $1.6 million (rentals) |
It Came from Outer Space is a 1953
It Came from Outer Space tells the story of an amateur astronomer and his fiancée who are stargazing in the desert when a large fiery object crashes to Earth. At the crash site, he discovers a round alien spaceship just before it is completely buried by a landslide. When he tells the local sheriff and newspaper editor what he saw, he is branded a crackpot. Before long, odd things begin to happen, and the disbelief turns hostile.
Plot
Author and amateur astronomer John Putnam and schoolteacher Ellen Fields watch a large meteorite crash near the small town of Sand Rock, Arizona. They awaken a neighbor, who has a helicopter, and all three fly to the crash site. Putnam climbs down into the crater and notices a partially buried round object in the crater's pit. He comes to the realization, after he sees a six-sided hatchway close, that this isn't a meteorite but a large alien spaceship. The hatchway's noise starts a landslide that completely buries the craft. Putnam's story is later scoffed at by Sand Rock's sheriff and the local news media.
Even Ellen Fields is unsure about what to believe but still agrees to assist Putnam in his investigation. Over the next several days, local people disappear; a few return, but they act distant or appear somewhat dazed and not their usual selves. Convinced by these and other odd events, Sheriff Warren comes to believe Putnam's story that the meteorite is actually a crashed spaceship with alien inhabitants; he then organizes a posse to hunt down the invaders at their crash site. Putnam, however, hopes to reach a peaceful solution to the looming crisis. Alone, he enters a nearby abandoned mine, which he hopes will eventually connect to the now buried spaceship and its alien occupants.
Putnam finally discovers the spaceship and learns from the alien leader that they crashed on Earth by accident; the aliens appear benign and only plan to stay on Earth just long enough to repair their damaged craft and then continue on their voyage. The aliens' real appearance, when finally revealed to Putnam, is entirely non-human: they are large, single-eyed, almost jellyfish-like beings that seem to glide across the ground, leaving a glistening trail that soon vanishes. They are also able to
Now that they have been discovered, the aliens have decided to destroy themselves and their spaceship. Putnam reasons with them at length and convinces the alien leader to instead finish the repairs while he, as a sign of the aliens' good faith, takes the captives outside to the sheriff. To protect the aliens from the sheriff and his advancing
Shortly afterwards the alien spaceship finally leaves Earth. Putnam's fiancée Ellen asks him if they are gone for good. He responds "No, just for now. It wasn't the right time for us to meet. But there will be other nights, other stars for us to watch. They'll be back".
Cast
- Richard Carlson as John Putnam
- Barbara Rush as Ellen Fields
- Charles Drake as Sheriff Matt Warren
- Joe Sawyer as Frank Daylon
- Russell Johnson as George
- Kathleen Hughes as Jane, George's girl
- Alan Dexter as Dave Loring
- Dave Willock as Pete Davis, the pilot
- Robert Carsonas Reporter Dugan
- George Eldredge as Dr. Snell
- Brad Jackson as Bob, Dr. Snell's assistant
- Warren MacGregor as Toby
- George Selk as Tom
- Edgar Dearing as Sam
- William Pullen as Deputy Reed
- Virginia Mullen as Mrs. Daylon
- Dick Pinner as Lober
- Whitey Haupt as Perry, a boy[3]
Production
The screenplay by Harry Essex, with input by Jack Arnold, was derived from an original and lengthy screen treatment by Ray Bradbury; screen legend says that Bradbury wrote the screenplay and Harry Essex merely changed the dialogue and took the credit.[4] Unusual among science fiction films of the era, the alien "invaders" were portrayed by Bradbury as creatures stranded on Earth and without malicious intent toward humanity. Bradbury said "I wanted to treat the invaders as beings who were not dangerous, and that was very unusual." He offered two story outlines to the studio, one with malicious aliens, the other with benign aliens. "The studio picked the right concept, and I stayed on."[5] In 2004 Bradbury published in one volume all four versions of his screen treatment for It Came From Outer Space.[6]
Filming took place on location in and around the California towns of Palmdale, Victorville, and the Mojave Desert,[2] as well as on Universal's sound stages.
The film's uncredited music score was composed by Irving Gertz, Henry Mancini, and Herman Stein.[7]
Universal's make-up department submitted two alien designs to studio executives for consideration; the rejected design was saved and later used as the "Metaluna Mutant" in Universal's 1955 science fiction film This Island Earth.[7]
The fiery special effects created for the crashing alien spacecraft consisted of a wire-mounted iron ball with dorsal fin, which had hollowed out "windows" all around for the burning magnesium inside.[7]
The Arizona setting and the alien abduction of a telephone
Urban legend has it that an extra in an Army staff sergeant's uniform seen at the "meteor" crash site is comedy writer-performer Morey Amsterdam.[7] While the briefly glimpsed extra does indeed resemble Amsterdam, no hard evidence (e.g., cast call bureau records, interviews with Amsterdam) has ever confirmed this is actually him. The most recent DVD re-release of It Came from Outer Space comes with a documentary, The Universe According to Universal. It was written and directed by David J. Skal and has audio commentary by Tom Weaver, in which Weaver notes the extra's resemblance to Morey Amsterdam.
Reception
It Came from Outer Space was released in June 1953;
Barbara Rush won the
The film was nominated for AFI's Top 10 Science Fiction Films list.[10]
Reviews
Film reviewer "Brog" in Variety wrote that "Direction by Jack Arnold whips up an air of suspense in putting the Harry Essex screenplay on film, and there is considerable atmosphere of reality created, which stands up well enough if the logic of it all is not examined too closely ... [the] story proves to be good science-fiction for the legion of film fans who like scare entertainment well done".[11] On the other hand, The New York Times review by A. H. Weiler noted "the adventure ... is merely mildly diverting, not stupendous. The space ship and its improbable crew, which keep the citizens of Sand Rock, Ariz., befuddled and terrified, should have the same effect on customers who are passionately devoted to king-sized flying saucers and gremlins".[12]
Since its original release, the critical response to It Came from Outer Space has evolved, becoming mostly positive. Critic and genre historian
Home media
Universal Studios digitally restored It Came From Outer Space, and in October 2016 released it on Blu-ray. The film is presented in its original 3D with three-track stereophonic sound. Also included is a non-3D "flat" version in mono sound and the 3D and flat theatrical release trailers. Rounding out the Blu-ray package is a documentary on Universal's 3D films and a "making of" voice-over commentary track.
Sequel
A
Writing for
In popular culture
- It Came from Outer Space is one of the classic films mentioned in the opening theme ("Science Fiction/Double Feature") of the 1973 musical The Rocky Horror Show and its 1975 film adaptation.[7]
- It is also referenced in the film Night of the Comet (1984).
- The narration in the Siouxsie and the Banshees song "92 Degrees" from the 1986 album Tinderbox contains dialog from the film.[20]
- In Metal Gear Solid 3, Para-Medic mentions the film in one of her conversations with Naked Snake when the player saves the game.
See also
- 1953 in film
- List of 3D films pre-2005
- List of science fiction films of the 1950s
References
Informational notes
- ^ "Rentals" refers to the distributor/studio's share of the box office gross, which, according to Gebert, is roughly half of the money generated by ticket sales.[9]
Citations
- ^ Arnold, Jack (1953-05-25), It Came from Outer Space, archived from the original on 2016-05-05, retrieved 2016-05-03
- ^ a b Stafford, Jeff. "Articles: 'It Came from Outer Space'." Archived 2013-10-22 at the Wayback Machine Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: January 10, 2015.
- ^ It Came from Outer Space at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
- ^ a b It Came From Outer Space DVD Commentary by film historian Tom Weaver
- ^ Weller 2005, p. 60.
- ^ Bradbury, 2004 (Gauntlet Press).
- ^ a b c d e f g h Warren 1982 [page needed]
- ^ "The Top Box Office Hits of 1953", Variety, January 13, 1954
- ^ a b Gebert 1996 [page needed]
- ^ "10 Greatest Science Fiction Films: The 50 Nominees." Archived 2011-11-12 at the Wayback Machine AFI. Retrieved: January 10, 2015.
- ^ Willis 1985 [page needed]
- ^ Weiler, A.H (A.W.). "It Came From Outer Space (1953) Look Out! The Space Boys Are Loose Again." Archived 2022-09-10 at the Wayback Machine The New York Times, June 15, 1953.
- ^ Rosenbaum, Jonathan. "'It Came From Outer Space' capsule review." Archived 2022-09-10 at the Wayback Machine jonathanrosenbaum.net. Retrieved: January 10, 2015.
- ISBN 0-87951-626-7p. 139.
- ^ "'It Came From Outer Space' (1953)." Archived 2020-03-05 at the Wayback Machine Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved: December 3, 2021.
- ^ Null, Christopher. "'It Came From Outer Space'." Archived 2008-12-05 at the Wayback Machine FilmCritic.com. Retrieved: January 10, 2015.
- ^ Alan Jones. "It Came from Outer Space II". The Radio Times. Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- ^ Leonard Maltin. "It Came from Outer Space". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- ISBN 9780786436149.
- ^ Coffelt, Kenneth. "Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies." Archived 2012-05-02 at the Wayback Machine Kennelco Film Diary. Retrieved: January 10, 2015.
Bibliography
- Bradbury, Ray. It Came From Outer Space. Edited by Donn Albright. Colorado Springs: Gauntlet Press, 2004. ISBN 978-1-887368-66-7.
- Gebert, Michael. The Encyclopedia of Movie Awards, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1996. ISBN 0-668-05308-9.
- Rux, Bruce. Hollywood Vs. the Aliens. Berkeley, California: Frog, Ltd. (North Atlantic Books), 1997. ISBN 1-883319-61-7.
- Strick, Philip. Science Fiction Movies. London: Octopus Books Limited, 1976. ISBN 0-7064-0470-X.
- ISBN 0-89950-032-3.
- Weller, Sam. The Bradbury Chronicles. New York: HarperCollins, 2005. ISBN 0-06-054581-X.
- Willis, Don, ed. Variety's Complete Science Fiction Reviews. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1985. ISBN 0-8240-6263-9.