Today's post is an entry in the Monster Mash Blogathon. The Forgotten Classics of Yesteryear/Monster Mash icon will bring you to a world of movie mayhem. What follows is a chock-full-of-spoilers look at:
This Island Earth was brought to the screen by Universal in 1955. The director was Joseph M. Newman, who also gave us the noir drama 711 Ocean Drive, the adventure Red Skies of Montana, the somber western Fort Massacre and the matinee favourite of my youth, The Big Circus. The effects crew on This Island Earth is exemplary. The cinematographer was Clifford Stine whose work is seen in Written on the Wind, The Incredible Shrinking Man, Battle Hymn and Patton. The art direction team was led by 14 time Oscar nominee and 3 time winner, Alexander Golitzen. Those Oscar honoured pictures include Foreign Correspondent, Phantom of the Opera, Spartacus, To Kill a Mockingbird, Flower Drum Song and Airport. David S. Horsley worked on the special effects photography and the visual effects team was Roswell A. Hoffman and Frank Tipper. Their work is outstanding.
What is that thing? Why, that’s a Mutant. That is "Mutant". They have been breeding them on ages on Metaluna to do menial work. They are similar to some insect life on Earth, but larger and with a higher degree of intelligence. Would you like one to help out with those pesky chores? Too late. Metaluna is no more. The Metalunians struggled valiantly through years of war and even looked to Earth as a possible key to their energy problems, but all to no avail. Perhaps the real monster was they thought too much. All this was told by prolific science fiction storyteller Raymond F. Jones in three stories entitled The Alien Machine, The Shroud of Secrecy and The Greater Conflict, eventually novelized as This Island Earth.
Notice the green glow around the plane? In the movie it is also accompanied by an eerie whistling sound. Mere minutes before the glow appeared our pilot and he-man scientist Cal Meacham (Rex Reason) lost total control of the plane. Some unseen force helped him to land safely. He-men scientists always fly themselves back from conferences to their home lab.
Strange equipment has been making its way to the lab and fueled with the curiosity that makes good scientists, our boys take the packages that have been arriving from the Acme Space Depot and their handy dandy Allen key and before you know it they have themselves an interocitor.
Regrettable remark #1: When assistant Joe Wilson (Robert Nichols) mentions his wife wishes they would come up with some housekeeping devices, Cal responds that she’d only pack on the pounds if she didn’t have to work. Golly!
Building the interocitor was a test and the prize was communication with a fellow named Exeter (Jeff Morrow) and the chance to discover more incredible scientific advancement at an unspecified compound. Cal jumps at the chance. His assistant Joe is more cautious. Besides he has that wife to take care of.
There are other scientists at the compound. Girly-girl scientist Dr. Ruth Adams (Faith Domergue) and professorly type Steve Carlson (Russell Johnson) among them. Wouldn’t you know that Cal and Ruth have a past? The present and future isn’t looking too bright. Their fellow scientists seem to be under some sort of mind control, and our intrepid trio is getting a little fed up with the whole deal. The audience is let in on things in a conversation between Exeter and the Monitor (Douglas Spencer) of Metaluna. The home planet’s defences have been depleted and no matter the stage of the research being done on Earth, it is time for Exeter's return.
Our trio makes a break for the outside world. Carlson, the other scientists, and the entire compound, including a pet cat named Neutron are obliterated as Exeter has been ordered to leave no trace of Metaluna behind.
Cal and Ruth attempt to fly away from the destructive scene, but instead are pulled up into the spacecraft and on their way to the doomed planet.
On board the ship we are treated to regrettable remark #2 when Exeter asks Ruth if “as a woman” she isn’t curious about Metaluna. Geez!
Once on Metaluna, it is all too apparent that the end is near although the Monitor still holds out hope for colonization on Earth. Exeter has gained a knowledge of and fondness for his human companions and all three escape before the planet explodes. Unfortunately, a single-minded "Mutant" also finds his away aboard ship, mortally wounding Exeter and, in the way of all 50s movie monsters, does his best to terrorize pretty Dr. Ruth until he is destroyed. Whew!
Exeter knows his time is running out, but hangs on long enough to see his companions safely back to This Island Earth.
"Home"
This Island Earth drags at the beginning and is too rushed at the end. It has plot holes the size of bomb craters on Metaluna. Tragically, due to office politics, Edward Muhl fired effects wizard David S. Horsley when he fell behind schedule on the picture, leaving some effects worthy of applause and others lacking. On the plus side is the sensitive performance of Jeff Morrow as Exeter, the glorious Technicolor, the polished effects and stunning set design. While not good enough to be a classic, I think This Island Earth is a movie to cherish for its’ obvious design inspiration for future screen science fiction. It reached for the stars.