This Island Earth (1955)

 

Aah, the 50s... Science fiction had a blast and a heyday back then. Sure, the output often outweighed the quality, but occasionally, you would discover gems and some of these films are still known and sometimes revered today. 'This Island Earth' also has some recognizable images, although as a film, it often gets a little ridiculed for certain choices, which I can certainly understand. This might not be science fiction 'Grand Cru' as you might think, but even though this one most definitely isn't to everyone's taste, I can't help but enjoy it immensely every time I watch it.

Rex Reason plays Dr Cal Meachum, an expert in the field of atomic energy. How is he an expert? No one knows and no one will explain. You'll get that a lot of that in this film. When his plane is about to crash, he is safely set aground thanks to a green light. Shortly thereafter, Meachum receives a bizarre catalogue with instructions to build something called an 'Interociter'. Because he's curious, he does so and is promptly contacted by a man named Exeter, who invites Meachum over to his house/laboratory to join other experts in the field. 

Why? No one knows.

Meachum quickly discovers that all the scientists gathered are experts in the field of atomic energy, but there is something fishy. Well, it's a little funny how no one seems to notice that Exeter and his assistant Brack have literal white hair and a very pronounced forehead. So if you guessed they are aliens, you are undoubtedly right. But our poor humans seem oblivious to this fact. Because Exeter is pushed by his superiors to bring Meachum and Dr Ruth Adams to the homeplanet, they blow up the mansion and everyone else in it. It turns out they are heading for Metaluna, a planet that is at war with Zagon, but their nuclear defense shield is failing and they need the Earthlings to help them solve this puzzle. However, the leader wants to colonize Earth and orders the humans to be mindwiped. Exeter has grown to love and respect humanity, so he can't go through with it and helps them escape, but he is mortally wounded by a worker mutant. 

Funny sidenote: it's pronounced 'Mute Ant', because they resemble insects. You might recognize the suit from posters of filmstills. It is pretty iconic, even though the poor actor inside obviously had very limited vision and mobility and it looks like a lumbering mess when you see it. A shame though, because the idea is cool.

Exeter manages to bring our leads back to Earth, but he then proceeds to destroy himself and his flying saucer, the end. 

I don't know why, but there is something about this film that always spoke to me. Maybe it's the vibrant colours, maybe it's the overall atmosphere: it's hard to put my finger on it. The acting varies. Rex Reason and Jeff Morrow (Exeter) are good, but Faith Domergue (Ruth Adams) does get a little hammy at times and Brack is a hilariously wooden character. The special effects look okay, but they are not mind-blowing. The paintings they made to represent the surface of Metaluna are gorgeous, but the alien design of the humongously high forehead and the white hair is so silly, you'll likely burst out laughing the first time you see it.

And still, for some reason, it works. The story in itself moves at a brisk pace and is suitably tragic. But after several viewings, I can conclude it is Jeff Morrow as Exeter who brings some much needed  humanity to the story. He is by far the best reason to see it. Even in his silly makeup, he evokes a feeling of sadness for the choices he is forced to make and his sacrifice in the end is touching. 

To be quite frank (or Dave, or Steve): this isn't a film for everyone. It's a bit of a mixed bag and you could hardly call it a classic. More of a cult classic, in any case. But who knows? If you find you can appreciate the bulk of 50s sci-fi and are willing to give this a chance, you might enjoy it more than you thought at first.