Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers
Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers (1956)
It’s strange to think of a B-Movie in the fifties being considered an effects film, but I feel like that’s what Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers has become known for over time, in no uncertain terms due to the involvement of the legendary Ray Harryhausen and the iconic destruction of Washington.
I’m predisposed to enjoy any cheesy sci-fi from the fifties that has stop-motion, miniatures, rear projection, celebrated alien designs and more stock footage than an Ed Wood flick so it will come to no ones surprise that I enjoyed this one. It’s pretty thin on character, motivation, and well, plot, but who needs that when you can ray-gun everyone and toss bodies out off flying saucers.
You know you’re in for something a little wacky almost right away when the film starts with the flying saucers. It’s almost presented like a documentary retelling of War of the Worlds, but instead, it’s all happening in the present. Seeing the mixture of flying saucers blended with stock footage of different planes definitely sets the tone for what’s to come. Although, that is somewhat countered by everyone looking very blasé about the visitors from out of space.
The Aliens look great with thier protective suit, a design that has been imitated plenty down the years in various forms. The invasion plot itself is nothing new with the aforementioned War of the Worlds, but I do like that the aliens gave an ultimatum, even if it wasn’t much of one. “Let us take you over, or, let us take you over using force.”
The alien science was fun and a little different with all the time stuff (which didn’t come to anything) and using our sun against us (which came to loads and loads and loads of interesting stock footage) both being standout. I liked the mind nonsense too and zombifying the dad.
The best scene of the film (other than them tossing the two dead bodies out of the ship through sheer pettiness) was definitely the Washington Invasion at the end. Seeing the Flying Saucers blow up various monuments in full stop motion glory was amazing and something i’ll never grow tired off. Tim Burton clearly loved this scene for his Mars Attacks!
Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers may not be the best movie of the era, but it feels like a memorable and important one due to the effects and imagery. It’s been often duplicated which is always a good sign of somethings lasting quality. I’d recommend it for those things alone, but I do also think it has a decent pace and is an easy watch.
