Earth vs the Flying Saucers (1956)

Brig. Gen. John Hanley: As you were, Sergeant.
Sgt. Nash: Unidentified Flying Object reported flying due West, sir. Probably a buzzard.

The first flying saucer movie was called The Flying saucer in 1950 and since then it spawned a collection of movies that contained saucers primarily as an alien spacecraft with the exception of Forbidden Planet where it was a man-made craft.  Whilst the name Earth vs the Flying Saucers sounds kinda cheap and cheesy, it would certainly sit in the top 10 flying saucer movies of all time alongside others such as Iron Sky, Forbidden Planet, This Island Earth, Battle in Outer Space, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Independence Day, The Day the Earth Stood Still.  As with many 50’s sci-fi films I have seen, it is quite serious in its approach yet many may find it a bit cheesy compared to today’s offerings.  The visual effects are done via stop animation so those desiring modern day effects would be disappointed and the budget was not there to shoot in colour so they had to make do with black and white, however recently the movie was colourized with quite pleasing results.  

The Bluray looks better than both examples below but this gives an idea of the modern colourisation process that is employed here.

Dr. Russell A. Marvin (Hugh Marlowe) and his wife Carol (Joan Taylor) are driving on a road in the desert toward the military base from where they intend to send their 11th rocket into space to orbit the earth to gather data for future space exploration.  Along the way Dr. Marvin is recording notes via a voice recorder when all of a sudden they get zoomed by a flying saucer the noise of which is captured on the reel to reel recording device.  After getting over their ordeal they get to the military base and send off the rocket but later find out that it crashed and was destroyed, just like the previous 10 before it.  By chance, as Dr Marvin was playing back his voice recording he noticed the sound of the flying saucer that zoomed him was captured on the audio recording and when the tape is slowed it is actually a voice from the aliens asking him to schedule a meeting with the world leaders in 56 days. He eventually finds out that the aliens intend to invade earth so he creates a device to counter the flying saucers ability to fly.

This is yet another 50’s sci-fi film that I really enjoyed and consider it among the essential sci-fi films to watch involving flying saucers and alien invasion.  The story is taken seriously and even shows some Foo Fighters which in real life some pilots claim to have sighted toward the end of WW2.  The aliens look real clumsy and silly initially but don’t be too discouraged at that as there is reason for it.  The flying saucers that invade earth are all done via stop animation by the very skilful Ray Harryhausen and by this stage had really got the art fine-tuned but its naturally still obvious, so don’t expect computer generated graphics quality but it is still very well done as the saucers crash into various government buildings within Washington (all stop animation of course).

The Bluray reviewed was imported from the UK which can be purchased for less than AUD15 + shipping (assuming stock has not depleated) and has the film in both the original black and white and colourised.  You are also able to switch from B&W to Colour on the fly by pressing the “Angle” button on your Bluray player remote (if it has one) which is a really great idea.  A few of Ray Harryhausens movies have had the modern colourisation treatment in recent years being 20 Million Miles from Earth, It Came from Beneath the Sea and this one.  

The image quality is really good in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio and comes with Dolby Digital True HD 5.1 audio that also sounds good though as is usual for these older movie don’t expect modern quality as it was mastered from the original mono soundtrack.  

On top of the two versions of the film, the disc also contains the following extras:

• Commentary by Harryhausen, Jeff Okum, Kan Ralston and Arnold Kunert
• Remembering Earth vs. The Flying Saucers featurette
• The Hollywood Blacklist and Bernard Gordon featurette
• Photo galleries
• Interview with Actress Joan Taylor
• The Colorization Process (10:55)

Overall highly recommended as a solid 50’s sci-fi.  I watched the film in the colourised version and thought it was really good with only a few spots that didn’t look quite right and I did flick between the two editions a few times to compare.  If you’re a fan of older sci-fi give it a go as you can also hire these on the major digital streaming services like Google Play and iTunes.  Like all stop animation, the effects may not be everyone’s cup of tea but as a movie I really enjoyed it and is highly recommended primarily for fans of 50’s sci-fi.

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