'IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE' (1953)
- A review by Richard Harrison (2020)
Looking back, it's astonishing just how many good sci-fi films were
made in the 1950s- a decade that saw Man's fascination with the
solar system, the stars and the potential of alien life reach epic
proportions. It Came From Outer Space was just one of the
many, but it's also as good a place as any to start for those
unfamiliar with the genre. The poetic opening- small town America
where an unidentified craft lands- is liberally laced with drama and
intrigue, which does continue throughout the film. It is almost more
about reaction than action , as John Putnam
(played by Richard Carlson- a familiar face in movies such as these)
is the sole witness to the spaceship's existence, and, therefore,
not believed. "This may be the biggest thing that ever happened"
Putnam states, which sounds somewhat lame and vague considering the
circumstances- but he's written off as a "publicity-seeking
astronomer" in any case, though he is trusted by Ellen
(Barbara Rush). The idea of trust- and who can be trusted- is
central to the film, as Putnam has to convince those around him
(including the gung-ho Sheriff Warren) into giving the invaders
time, but this (and patience) are running out.
It is interesting that, aside from some genuinely terrifying
moments, the film doesn't actually have much in the way of violence-
and the aliens have actually come in peace, a marked change from
many other sci-fi films made in the 1950s where the aliens are the
obvious aggressor, thereby drawing easy parallels to the Communists
of Russia. If anything, this pacifist alien 'invasion' makes It
Came From Outer Space even more intriguing, as its
resolution is less predictable than, say, a film featuring a hostile
alien life-form (who are logically dispatched in the final reel so
that the Earth shall remain in peace). "It wasn't the right time for
us to meet" declares Putnam as the film ends, suggesting that the
belief in extra-terrestrial life is ever-present in 1950s sci-fi.
The print on this newly-issued DVD is crisp monochrome, the sound
excellent. The cinematography (by the respected Clifford Stine) is
superb, and the quality of this print enables the aestheticism of
the shots to be seen in all their glory. The extras: a photograph
and poster gallery, the theatrical trailer, an original documentary
and a feature-length commentary from film historian Tom Weaver. This
is colloquial and informative- and packs a wealth of trivia and
information into its time. It Came From Outer Space is one
of the most respected films in its genre from a very special decade,
but it's still nice to see it given such lovely treatment. One can
only hope for more releases of this fine quality to descend upon our
shop shelves, for that would truly be an invasion worth celebrating.
It Came From Outer Space is available on both DVD and
Blu-Ray from Fabulous Films.
Fabulous Films website
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