INVADERS FROM MARS

THERE ARE MANY REALLY SUPER SC-FI FILMS FROM THE 50S, THE GOLDEN AGE FOR THIS GENRE, TO DATE ANYWAY, AND ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE, A MOVIE THAT REALLY STAYS WITH YOU AND HAUNTS YOUR DREAMS EVEN IS INVADERS FROM MARS. THOUGH MADE ON THE MOST MINUSCULE OF BUDGETS, YOU'D NEVER KNOW IT. DIRECTOR, WILLIAM CAMERON MENZIES--NOTED FOR HIS WORK ON "GONE WITH THE WIND" USES HIS IMAGINATION AND FULL COMPLEMENT OF ARTISTIC SENSES IN INCREDIBLE WAYS TO PRESENT THIS DREAM LIKE (NIGHTMARE?) FILM. A LITTLE BOY SEES A FLYING SAUCER LAND...OR DID HE? NO ONE REALLY BELIEVES HIM UNTIL SOME VERY STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN. UNLIKE "DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL," WHERE THE ALIENS WERE POSITIVELY BENEVOLENT, THE MARTIANS HERE ARE DEFINITELY NOT AN EARTHLING'S FRIEND. THE VARIED CAST OF PROS ENTERS INTO THE FULL SPIRIT OF THIS NARRATIVE. HILLARY BROOKE, SO GOOD IN MANY ICE QUEEN ROLES, GETS TO PLAY THAT ROLE HERE PART OF TIME ALTERNATING WITH A RARE ROLE FOR HER, A LOVING MOTHER. DEPENDABLE LEIF ERICKSON IS THE FATHER AND HELENA CARTER--A BEAUTY, WHO MADE TOO FEW FILMS, AND B-REGULAR, ARTHUR FRANZ, GIVE STEADY SUPPORT. JIMMY HUNT, NOT A GREAT CHILD ACTOR, BUT VERY NATURAL, IS THE LITTLE BOY. AND, OF COURSE, FEW SC-FI FILMS OF THE 50S WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT GOOD OLD MORRIS ANKRUM, HERE AS HIS USUAL AUTHORITY FIGURE SELF. THERE IS ALSO AN APPEARANCE BY MILBURN STONE ,NOT LONG BEFORE HE WOULD PLAY DOC ON THE TV SERIES, "GUNSMOKE". INVADERS IS A FILM THAT CLINGS LIKE GLUE TO THE MEMORY.IN MANY WAYS, IT IS A UNIQUE MOVIE EXPERIENCE.