Invaders from Mars

1953
A
1h 23m

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

9.7K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer2:17

Alien Invasion Horror Sci-Fi

A young boy learns that space aliens are taking over the minds of earthlings.A young boy learns that space aliens are taking over the minds of earthlings.A young boy learns that space aliens are taking over the minds of earthlings.

Director
- William Cameron Menzies
Writers
- Richard Blake
- John Tucker Battle
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

9.7K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

1,301

9,349

Director
- William Cameron Menzies
Writers
- Richard Blake
- John Tucker Battle
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 3 wins & 1 nomination total

Top cast35

Edit

Helena Carter

Dr. Pat Blake

Arthur Franz

Dr. Stuart Kelston…

Jimmy Hunt

David MacLean

Leif Erickson

Mr. George MacLean

Hillary Brooke

Mrs. Mary MacLean

Morris Ankrum

Col. Fielding

Max Wagner

Sgt. Rinaldi

William Phipps

Sgt. Baker
(as Bill Phipps)

Milburn Stone

Capt. Roth

Janine Perreau

Kathy Wilson

Fay Baker

Mrs. Wilson
(uncredited)

Barbara Billingsley

Kelston's Secretary
(uncredited)

Peter Brocco

Brainard - Wilson's Aide
(uncredited)

Charles Cane

Old Cop Blaine Who Vanishes
(uncredited)

Tommy Cottonaro

Mutant
(uncredited)

Richard Deacon

MP
(uncredited)

Pete Dunn

Mutant
(uncredited)

John Eldredge

Mr. Turner
(uncredited)

Director
- William Cameron Menzies
Writers
- Richard Blake
- John Tucker Battle
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews164

Featured review

7/10

Unforgettable memory from my childhood

One of the most memorable SF films from the 50s. For anyone who was a kid in the 50s or 60s, just say "the movie where people are sucked into the sand", and everyone instantly knows which movie you mean. Those scenes are unforgettable, as are the scenes of the Martian Intelligence, and the image of the nurse about to receive the mind control device. And that haunting, otherworldly choral sound! Probably the most brilliantly eerie vocal sound ever made for a movie. Unfortunately, many people won't be able to look past the low budget 50s production values, but there's some great work here. William Cameron Menzies was a genius at production design. Check out the nightmarish forced perspective of the path leading to the sand pit, and the police station. A must see.

robert3750
Apr 17, 2017
Permalink

Trivia
In one scene, Dr. Kelston refers to the "Lubbock Lights" and to a "Captain Mantell." These were-real life U.F.O. events that created a nationwide sensation in their day. The photographs shown by Dr. Kelston are actual photographs of the Lubbock Lights that appeared in newspapers and magazines.

Goofs
The same shot of a soldier manning a searchlight on a tower beside the side of a building is used in both the scene at the rocket base of the attempt to blow up the rocket, and (three times) in scenes in the field where the Martians landed: this latter use is particularly ridiculous because there is no such building as is seen behind the light tower in that location.

Quotes
Mary MacLean: [waking up] What is it?
George MacLean: Well, ah, David says something landed in the field out back. It doesn't make sense, but he seems so convinced.
Mary MacLean: What do you mean "land"?
George MacLean: Well, he says he saw a bright light or something. He's not the type of boy that given to imagining things. After all the work at the plant is secret. And we have orders to report anything unusual. And there have been rumors.
Mary MacLean: Rumors?
George MacLean: Oh, Dear, you know I can't talk about it.

Alternate versions
The material added to the planetarium sequence for the British version includes a serious discussion of several American UFO incidents such as the Mantell case. Several UFO models, based on American UFO sightings, are also displayed and discussed.