Earth vs the Flying Saucers (5 Stars)

I like this film. In fact, I love this film, but I'm the first person to admit that it's a product of the 1950's. There's so much that happens that would never be shown in films today, unless it were intended as a parody.

A flying saucer lands in America, so what does the army do?

(a) It welcomes the aliens cordially and offers peace.
(b) It rings up the president and asks for advice.
(c) It rolls out the tanks and shoots at them.

The only possible answer is (c). They don't want aliens in the United States. Shoot first, ask questions later. Build a wall round the Earth to keep them out.

As the film progresses we find the reason for the flying saucers circling the Earth. They're the only survivors from a dead planet. They're looking for a new home. What does America have against refugees? If Germany can accept a million refugees in less than a year, I'm sure that America could take in a few hundred slow-walking creatures in tin suits. Just think of all the technical know-how they could share, giving the USA an advantage over the rest of the world. But no, the army never thought about that. Just shoot them aliens, we don't want them here!

Creepy looking dudes, aren't they?

As in all good films, from the 1950's to today, there's a human element that the audience can relate to. Dr. Russell Marvin, the leader of the United Stares space program, arrives at work two hours after marrying Carol Hanley, a high-ranking army general. Two hours? That hasn't left them much time for a honeymoon, or anything at all. No wonder Carol isn't smiling as she drives her husband to work.

The aliens already know who he is, and they want to speak with him. The army isn't happy about it. They order him to stay in a hotel room and let the politicians do the talking. Typical. The aliens want to talk peace, and they've already picked one of America's biggest geniuses as their negotiating partner, but he's not allowed to talk. Dr. Marvin could have used the free hotel room as a place to enjoy his honeymoon, but no... he sneaks out and has a rendezvous with a flying saucer on the beach. They tell him they want a meeting with all of the world's leaders in Washington after 56 days.

Tempers are frayed on both sides, but maybe a deal about peaceful cohabitation could still have been made. It was never to be. Dr. Marvin begins work on sonic cannons to attack the flying saucers. The aliens see what's happening and declare war on the human race.

These corny looking ray guns are the Earth's last defence. But they're not bad for something invented from scratch in less than eight weeks.

The film might seem comical, but it's not meant as a joke. Try to take it seriously. The 1950's were different times, and the cinema audiences had different expectations. Pretend you're your grandfather, sitting in a drive-in theatre with a king-size cup of Coca Cola in his hand. That's the only way you can enjoy the film.

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