I know some of you will disagree mightily, but I feel The Man From Planet X was one of the best of the 1950's sci-fi. When the townspeople sneak up on the space ship to peak inside the window and the alien sudden appears there to LOOK AT THEM, it is one of the great sci-fi scares of the 1950's. And to think this movie was made for approximately $43,000, even in 1951, next to impossible to produce a movie of this quality.
shareI agree with you completely. This was one of the earlest films I ever saw on TV as a kid, and it's become one of my favorites of any kind of film.
It's unpretentious, exceptionally atmospheric, with the most nuanced and unusual alien in any sci-fi movie, and of course it's extremely well directed and staged, especially considering its tiny budget. Even its locale is unique and appropriately eerie. I think all concerned did a great job on this "Gothic science-fiction film", as Robert Clarke called it in his autobiography. The New York Times DVD reviewer called this film "a gem".
One correction if I may: it's not "townspeople" who sneak up on the spacecraft and see the man from Planet X, it's just Margaret Field...which made for a far scarier scene than would have been the case with many people suddenly seeing the alien.
Agreed. This film was very well done. Director Edgar G. Ulmer did a bang-up job creating an eerie atmosphere on a tight budget.
I'm a totally bitchin' bio writer from Mars!
This is a gem of a movie. Vastly under appreciated, which have been rightly heralded by others here. I must admit that the dialogue of the local Scots' from the village has become the stuff of legend for me- and that's no clapperclaw!
shareI agree. I watched this because I loved Ulmer's Detour so much. Definitely 8/10 for me, and I'd love to see all of his films.
shareI can't say it's the best of the 50's Sci-Fi films, that takes in a lot classic movies. But it is very well done and atmospheric considering the very low budget. One of my favorites.
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