Invaders from Mars

• Directed by William Cameron Menzies
• April 9, 1953 (Detroit) / April 22, 1953 (US)

A young boy who witnesses a flying saucer behind his home one night realizes those around him are beginning to act strangely.

They do not make movies like Invaders from Mars anymore. At least not very often in this generally homogenized era filmmaking. It is as much style as it is great story and an example of the dominant thinking of the time. It is perhaps THE BEST of the Alien Invasion films of the 50s with a sense or paranoia derived the Cold War mixed with a burgeoning public interest in space. Add in a sprinkling of Red Scare in the people changing for nefarious purposes accompanied by surreal photography and you having something that is unique to this day.

The movie itself is filmed largely on sets making certain effects easier but also adding surreal elements to the visuals that could not be done with exteriors. Given the twist ending it drives home not only that reveal but the strangeness of the story. Bizarre angles and unusual lighting throughout only add some razzle dazzle.

Central boy character David MacLean (Jimmy Hunt who played the police chief in the ’86 remake) is dressed like any Caucasian kid from suburbia at the time but not annoyingly precocious or far more capable than for his age he should be. One night during a storm of sorts he sees a glowing saucer descend into some dunes.

As a character David received a level of intelligence appropriate for his age. He’s smart but not too smart. He gets the story rolling yet it’s the adults that take the important actions. He displays concern for his parents and seeks help because he can’t do it. He’s not going to save the day but does participate as much as a child can.

Slowly those around him become cold and distant in a very 50s way. Like in a way even a stranger should see an issue though in a somewhat of a contrivance adults ignore it because a little boy points it out. His dad (Leif Erickson) was the first he raised concerns over and the guy is definitely acting weird but it is all cool to less-than-helpful adults. Then again the aliens are moving fast in flipping people to their control.

Yet it is not all bleak for David. Called in by a kindly desk cop (Walter Sande) is Dr. Pat Blake (Helena Carter). Films from the 40s and 50s are known for making women little more than furniture or window dressing. It is a stereotype that did not always happen but when it did it was awful. She’s perhaps one of the more dynamic and engaging female characters not only from that era but in general. She’s a well-rounded and strong individual who gives as good as she gets possessing a combination of brains and wit. 

Smart or wise or fatherly was once quickly conveyed with a man smoking a pipe and we got that right here! Dr. Stuart Kelston (Arthur Franz) works at a local observatory and puffs on a pipe when Dr. Blake takes David to see him. He treats David as a child but given his (female) friend’s concern and her expertise in her field, he gives some credence to it all based on her evaluation. This was progressive. Not only is there a female doctor with cunning and intelligence but she has a male friend that treats her as an equal!

The telltale sign of being taken over is an ‘X’ scar on the back of the neck at the base of the skull where an implant is inserted. Given the hairstyles that abound in Invaders, this abrupt change to the flesh should have been very noticeable. This takes a dark turn to give a sense of danger when one implanted character keels right over because of a failure.

Each character contributes a little something which fits with who they are portrayed as. A little boy offers a warning, assorted adults call the right people that they know, scientists or military people offer up ideas or take actions that only they can. The woman uses her background to protect the boy when she sees something is up. No one character has all the answers or saves the day. It’s a team effort.

If there is a real hero of this it’s the desk cop who has the forethought to call a psychologist because he can tell when a kid is really scared of something and not just acting out. It wasn’t for him nobody would’ve taken steps soon enough to save the day. I can’t think of another instance in this film where someone could’ve taken over that part. Amazingly constructed movie for the time. 

It’s not a very long movie either. Invaders never wastes time on silliness or the extraneous. Problems and solutions arise organically. This gives just barely enough time for something to breathe before moving to the next thing generating a nervous and almost panicked feel in the viewer. Because everything is moving so quickly and almost chaotically, you really believe there’s a chance for failure and that’s why this movie works but that’s not the only reason.

It’s the ending. The ending says what the events you have just viewed are all a dream. Or were they? This closes much as it begins leaving the question of was this a vision of some future war or that of a fevered imagination? Given what the aliens were able to do, was it some kind of psychic probe even? Something to debate or discuss because good storytelling can also include pointing you in a direction but never answering all questions.

Despite moments where somebody is obviously possessed or under some influence it’s a well-acted and well-written movie. It touches on the Red Scare paranoia of the era in a visually unique movie with smart characters and excellent dialogue with it all keeping you hooked. With a short runtime it is jampacked with something every second.

Invaders from Mars is an excellent invasion film. With a great script and great acting and some surreal visuals, it’s like few other movies of the time or now.