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7
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10 |
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10
= Highest Rating |
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This
thoughtful, prototypical film was Universal's initial foray
into science fiction during the 1950s. While technically not
the first sci-fi movie to explore the theme of benevolent
aliens threatened by the ignorant, knee-jerk hostility of
humans, it more or less set the standard for those that followed.
Most of the credit for this belongs to a story treatment by
SF legend Ray Bradbury, the surehanded direction of Jack Arnold
(who would go on to helm most of Universal's top drawer genre
flicks of the decade), and a fine performance by lead Richard
Carlson.
Carlson
(Creature From The Black Lagoon)
plays John Putnam, an astronomer living in the small town
of Sand Rock, Arizona. While stargazing one night with his
girlfriend Ellen (Barbara Rush), the couple witnesses the
fiery crash of a blazing meteor. The impact gouges a gigantic
crater in the desert. First on the scene, Putnam climbs down
into the smoldering pit to investigate. At the bottom he's
astonished to discover the half-buried hull of a weird, sphere-shaped
alien spacecraft. But before anyone else can see it a rockslide
buries the exposed portion of the ship under tons of earth.
Putnam barely escapes becoming entombed himself. When he begins
telling people about what he saw the local media label him
a publicity-seeking crackpot. No one except Ellen believes
him. Then strange things begin happening out in the desert.
Residents of Sand Rock start to mysteriously disappear...
Originally filmed in 3D, It Came From
Outer Space has its share of B-movie thrills but is
primarily a work of mood and atmosphere. The isolated desert
setting is used to good effect in this regard. Certainly more
literate than most sci-fi pics of the day, it explores the
(then fresh) concept of just how humans would react when confronted
by technologically advanced — yet physically repulsive — beings
from another world. In the Putnam character, the human race
is ultimately championed by a good, kindhearted soul who places
self-examination and intellectual curiosity above suspicion
and fear. (Even though at one point he's forced to kill a
mistrusting alien in self-defense.) Carlson, who pretty much
forged the template for '50s sci-fi movie scientists, conveys
this beautifully.
Despite
some incongruities in the script — for supposedly "peaceful"
extraterrestrials the visitors do a number of highly
suspicious things — overexposure of the aliens' appearance
remains the film's chief weakness. While not at all bad in
comparison to other movie monsters of the period, the creatures'
likeness is revealed much too early on. I disagree that the
aliens should never have been shown at all (as Bradbury intended),
but the first really good glimpse shouldn't come until Putnam
meets one of them at the entrance to the mine.
Even with these flaws It
Came From Outer Space remains the real deal, a genuine
genre classic. It's easily one of the best science fiction
films of the '50s.
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The
Universal DVD is an exceptional value considering the relatively
low price. While it's disappointing that the film isn't presented
in 3D (likely impossible now), the "2D" video transfer used
looks very good. (That the movie didn't go overboard on a slew
of ostentatious 3D effects in the first place renders it effective
in any "dimension".) A Dolby 3.0 stereo sound mix is a surprising
boon — unlike virtually every other film from this period released
on DVD, it's not in mono. This greatly enhances It
Came's theramin-flavored music score. (Parts of which
were cannibalized again and again for a host of the studio's
later sci-fi pics, including 1955's Tarantula.)
The
disc's extras are a real treat. In addition to the theatrical
trailer and a substantial still gallery/promotional materials
montage, a 30-minute documentary feature, The Universe According
To Universal, is included. Produced by David J. Skal, it's
very much in the spirit of the terrific documentaries created
for the Universal Classic Monsters Collection DVDs. Though
the making of It Came From Outer Space
is examined, it also looks at other '50s-era science fiction
films released by the studio. Given its broader mandate, the
doc is by necessity not as focused or detailed as those for
the Classic Monsters discs but is highly enjoyable nonetheless,
chock full of great film clips.
By far the best aspect
of the DVD is the full-length audio commentary provided by film
historian Tom Weaver. As with his exemplary work for the Creature
From The Black Lagoon disc, his discussion of It
Came is a veritable gold mine of film lore, trivia, and
fascinating anecdotes. In his rapid-fire style Weaver covers
virtually every aspect of the film —
no "dead air" here, folks! He recounts the convoluted
tale behind Bradbury's screen treatment (explaining how the
celebrated author received only a "story by" credit
despite penning some 80% of the script), the film's production
as a 3D vehicle, the cast, the locations, the score, the special
effects, the unusual "double" premiere... everything.
As with Video Watchdog editor Tim Lucas, Weaver never
fails to deliver the best possible commentaries one could hope
for. 6/25/02 |
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