|
|
Review
Archives
1
| 2 | 3
|
|
Today's
Date is:
|
|
It
Came From Outer Space
|
|
Reviewed
by: |
David
Litton |
| Genre: |
Science
Fiction |
| Video: |
1.33:1
fullframe |
| Audio: |
Dolby
3.0 Stereo |
| Language: |
English
|
| Subtitle: |
English
|
| Length: |
81
min |
| Rating: |
G
|
| Release
Date: |
05/21/2002
|
| Studio: |
Universal
Pictures |
| Commentary:
|
Feature commentary
with film historian Tom Weaton |
| Documentaries:
|
See below
|
| Featurettes:
|
"The Universe According
to Universal" |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
Yes |
|
Interviews: |
Yes |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
Trailer |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
None |
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other:
|
Production
notes, poster and photo galleries |
| Cast
and Crew: |
Richard
Carlson, Barbara Rush, Charles Drake, Joe Sawyer, Russell Johnson
|
| Screenplay
by: |
Written by:
Harry Essex |
| Produced
by: |
William Alland |
| Directed
By: |
Jack Arnold
|
| Music: |
Irving Gertz,
Henry Mancini, Herman Stein |
| The
Review: |
"It Came From Outer Space" is one
of the few science fiction films of the 1950's to go against
the tactics of the genre by reversing the process by which
we view incoming intruders from above and beyond. Unlike other
films, this story profiles the mistaken arrival of a foreign
life form that crash-lands on Earth, and goes on to take on
the identity of several townsfolk from a small Arizona town.
Intent on uncovering the truth behind the belief that a mere
meteor struck Earth is scientist John Putnam, (Richard Carlson),
who is joined by schoolteacher Ellen Fields (Barbara Rush)
in his quest to find the new arrivals. Once he begins uncovering
clues and making discoveries, he finds out something interesting:
they're not here for trouble, they just want to leave. ***
Director Jack Arnold, producer
William Alland, and writer Harry Essex use this to cast the
angry local townspeople into the negative light, something
other creature features with Anti-communism pedigrees wouldn't
dare touch. It also presents us human beings with a very credible
question: Why are we so afraid of that which we do not understand?
The special effects are dated, yes, and the acting is par
for the course as always, but "It Came From Outer Space" puts
a different spin on an oft-told tale, and for that it deserves
some credit.
|
| Image
and Sound |
A
pretty good transfer, commendable enough at least for those
who enjoy films of this sort. The image is framed at 1.33:1
fullframe, and for the most part, the distractions from the
original print have been removed. The black-and-white image
is solid overall, exhibiting minor moments of grain and noise.
The sound is mastered in Dolby 3.0 Stereo, and while none of
the surrounds are engaged, it's interesting how the sound matches
the screen in the front channels. |
| The
Extras |
The
featurette "The Universe According to Universal" features interviews
and discussions with various film historians and followers concerning
the Cold War and its effect on cinema. There is also a poster
and photo gallery, the film's theatrical trailer, production
notes and cast and crew information. Not special edition material,
but an improvement over other lackluster releases of dated films
just the same. |
| Commentary |
The
audio commentary with film historian Tom Weaver is practically
loaded with tidbits and factoids about the film and its history,
and while Weaver's discussion sounds more like a written speech
than just regular conversation, it's nonetheless engaging. |
| Final
Words: |
Considering
the age of "It Came From Outer Space," it's nice to see Universal
Pictures revisit this quaint 50's science fiction film with
at least half of the attention it devotes to DVD releases of
today's films. |
|
|
|
