This Island Earth [1955] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
A mysterious, pilotless plane carries scientist Rex Reason to a colony of America's best and brightest minds. They have been kidnapped by a dying alien race, the Metalunians, to repair their defence shield before their enemies destroy their world completely, and are to be found toiling under their spying eyes and futuristic security cameras (two-way TVs that dominate every room). Jeff Morrow, under a raised forehead, bronze tan, and snow-white hair, philosophises as Exeter, the thoughtful Metalunian torn between his duty and his morals as he forces the plucky humans to labour in his race's defence. The moody mystery of the first half turns to pure pulp adventure when the humans are transported across the galaxy to the battle-scarred world of Metaluna, under the threatening watch of a monstrous bug-eyed monster with a giant brain for a head and massive claws for hands. There is a genuine sense of wonder to Joseph Newman's intergalactic adventure, one of the most ambitious science fiction films of the 1950s. The story is simple space opera, but the futuristic designs of glass and metal, the marvellous alien makeup, and grand-standing special effects invest the film with a Technicolor splendour. Faith Domergue co-stars as a nuclear physicist and Gilligan's Island's Russell Johnson makes his first professorial appearance as a scientist. Science-fiction auteur Jack Arnold was an unbilled co-director. --Sean Axmaker

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-01-22 rating:
Good God....its the Metaluna Mutant!!!!
Thisn Island Earth has to have the greatest alien creature of the whole 50's sci-fi era, which is....the Metaluna Mutant! I remember watching a sci-fi clip show when I was about six, and seeing the mutant straight after a clip of a man eating pizza, I still love it now.

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review by: date: 2008-01-05 rating:
See That Glow
One of my favourite sci-fi classics. Rex Reason is brilliant in this. I first watched this when I was 7 or 8 and have loved it ever since. One of the all-time classics of the genre.

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review by: date: 2006-02-27 rating:
a memory of many years and movies ago
I was 9 years old when I saw this film in a little cinema of Rome, with a little screen and a sound that was...something near to a sound, but I was astonished the same.The emotional impact is really great, some scenes like the green-lighted UFO that captures the aeroplane are worth of a cinema anthology. I am sorry that this film is not available in zone 2 DVD and don't understand the reason, because it is a little masterpiece !

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review by: Chicken Hat Theater Improv date: 2004-07-28 rating:
The planet Metaluna needs help from Earth scientists...
The best part of Franklin Coen and Edward G. O'Callaghan's screenplay for "This Island Earth" comes from Raymond F. Jone's story "The Alien Machine." Dr. Cal Meacham (Rex Reason) and his colleagues are given a catalog offering such fun items as an Iterociter incorporating planetary generator. Unable to resist the challenge, the eggheads order some parts and go at it. The alien machine turns out to be a communication device that allows the scientists to communicate with the inhabitants of the planet Metaluna and their leader, Exeter (Jeff Morrow), who need help saving their dying planet (it was a test!). Of course, you are wondering why they would come to us, but stroking the egos of the Earth scientists is but another part of the equation.

"This Island Earth" has a good set up but the payoff is nothing special, especially when the film's "monster" shows up. Visually the film does seem to do its best to incorporate elements from every science fiction magazine pulp cover for the preceding two decades, but that is actually one of the endearing aspects of the film. The acting is rather wooden, with Morrow, Reason, Faith Domergue and the rest of the cast trying to think deep thoughts worthy of interstellar communication. Most people get excited when they recognize Russell Johnson ("Gilligan's Island") as the manly Steve Carlson, but I like seeing Douglas Spencer (from "The Thing From Another World!") as the Monitor of Metaluna. A disappointing film, yes, but it has some interesting elements and if you are a student of science fiction films then you need to check this one out at least once.


review by: date: 2004-07-12 rating:
One of the best Sci-Fi films ever made
This is a great movie as it captures your immagination on every turn. Like Forbidden Planet it has a very good story ashamed it is not available in PAL standard. I remember going to a friends place when I was 13 years old to watch Sci-Fi shows every Friday night. One movie, this movie, is where the jet aircraft turned green as it was taken over by some strange unknown force. Looking back now the aircraft couldnt have been green as I watched this movie on B&W television!
The acting is superb. The special effects great.
John

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Similar categories

Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Action & Adventure . All Action & Adventure
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Classics . Horror & Suspense
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Classics . Science Fiction & Fantasy
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Science Fiction & Fantasy . Fantasy & Futuristic
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Science Fiction & Fantasy . All Science Fiction & Fantasy
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Science Fiction & Fantasy . Science Fiction
Video . DVD & VHS . Special Features . Region 1
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . DVD
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Editions (feature_two_browse-bin) . Standard Edition
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Region(feature_browse-bin) . Region 1
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 1950 - 1959
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Language (theme_browse-bin) . English

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