Thu 13 Jul 2017
A Sci-Fi Movie Review: IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (1953).
Posted by Steve under Reviews , SF & Fantasy films[5] Comments
IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE. Universal International, 1953. Richard Carlson, Barbara Rush, Charles Drake, Joe Sawyer, Russell Johnson, Kathleen Hughes. Screenplay by Harry Essex, based on a story treatment by Ray Bradbury. Director: Jack Arnold.
When an amateur astronomer named John Putnam (Richard Carlson) and his girl friend (Barbara Rush) see a giant fireball fall from the sky and land nearby, they rush to investigate. As one of the first two on the scene, Putnam goes down into the hole alone and so is the only one to see a huge metallic spaceship that has crashed deep into the earth. He then escapes before the ground crumbles around it and covers it up.
Is he believed when he tells his story to the first responders, including the local sheriff (Charles Drake)? In a word, no. Not until a series of strange events begins to occur, including people disappearing only to return walking around as if in a daze.
Originally filmed in 3-D, the first such for Universal, not even the unusual camera work (designed to show off the medium and no other reason), makes this movie anything more than slow-moving. It may have been extremely innovative at the time — including the fact that the aliens turn out not to be hostile — but I’m sorry to say that I found it a yawner today.
July 13th, 2017 at 8:03 pm
This movie looks magnificent in 3-D. Watching it in 3-D mode is a great experience.
Oddly, I’ve never seen it “flat”, and don’t know what it is like in that format.
July 13th, 2017 at 8:39 pm
I think flat is a good word to describe it. Besides the extra dimension, I think that watching in 3-D might even add some energy to the film. I think that movies ought to be seen the way they were meant to be seen, and since I didn’t have the chance to do so, anyone reading my review should feel free to discount my comments accordingly.
July 13th, 2017 at 9:28 pm
It has grown on me through multiple viewings, but I admitI found it flat on first viewing.
July 13th, 2017 at 11:32 pm
This movie has been shown a couple of times in Metro Detroit in 3-D. You wear those 1950’s glasses and the 3-D springs to life.
It’s hard to evaluate it as a story. Because the photography is so vivid.
July 17th, 2017 at 5:34 pm
Slow moving? yes. A yawner? No. One of the great science fiction movies of the 50s.