- Actors: Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Larry Gates, King Donovan, Carolyn Jones
- Directors: Don Siegel
- Language English
- Classification: PG
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00008T6VB
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 22,307 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Something's wrong in the town of Santa Mira, California. At first, Dr. Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) is unconcerned when the townsfolk accuse their loved ones of acting like emotionless imposters. But soon the evidence is overwhelming--Santa Mira has been invaded by alien "pods" that are capable of replicating humans and taking possession of their identities. It's up to McCarthy to spread the word of warning, battling the alien invasion at the risk of his own life. Considered one of the best science fiction films of the 1950s and '60s, this classic paranoid thriller was widely interpreted as a criticism of the McCarthy era (that's Senator Joseph, not actor Kevin), which was characterised by anticommunist witch-hunts and fear of the dreaded blacklist. Some hailed it as an attack on the oppressive power of government as Big Brother. However viewers interpret it, this original 1956 version of Invaders of the Body Snatchers (based on Jack Finney's serialised novel The Body Snatchers) remains a milestone movie in its genre, directed by Don Siegel with an inventive intensity that continues to pack an entertaining wallop. Look closely and you'll find future director Sam Peckinpah (an uncredited cowriter of this film) making a cameo appearance as a meter reader!--Jeff Shannon
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Based on a Collier's Magazine serial by Jack Finney, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" is an intelligent, superb example of its era and genre, with excellent direction and cast. Director Don Siegel said that this was probably his best film, though he deplored that the film studio (United Artists) made him add a prologue and epilogue, and tell the story with narration as a flashback. Though this format would weaken the chilling effect of the story somewhat, it is nevertheless riveting and quite frightening. When Doctor Miles Bennell returns from a business trip, he finds his small town changed, with people saying that their loved ones are "no longer the same." Miles also finds that his sweetheart of many years ago, Becky Driscoll, has come home after a 5 year absence, and a divorce, and they make a marvelous duo, quoting Shakespeare to each other, and with some dialogue that in the mid 1950s would have been quite racy.
Kevin McCarthy is marvelous as Miles, who runs a race against time and sleep to fight the pod people, and Dana Wynter is beautiful as Becky. There are others in the above average cast that will be familiar to old time TV viewers, like Carolyn Jones (Morticia of "The Adams Family"), Virginia Christine (Mrs. Olsen of the Folger's Coffee commercials), and Richard Deacon (Mel Cooley of "The Dick Van Dyke Show"). Among the credits, the great Carmen Dragon did the soundtrack, Ellsworth Fredericks the cinematography, and Daniel Mainwaring the bright and clever script.
The premise as I see it (and I think every viewer will bring his own interpretation to this film depending on his viewpoint) is still valid, as conformity is still king, and pod people are ever present. The 1978 remake is one of the few that lives up to the original, and is also highly recommended. Total running time is 80 minutes.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a very clever, full on, classic sci-fi adventure that captures a style of film-making enbracing noir and expressionism in a delightfully morbid-sense of cinematic storytelling. So why 3 stars? Because this print (welcomed in widescreen) looks as if (at times) it has been transferred from a long defunct Nickleodean. Sloppy grainy presentation. Shame.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
One of the Best- Ever Si Fi/ Horror Movies. A Classic, much imitated by later film-makers. It stands the test if time, even though I know some people won't give old black and white movies a look, I cadjolled my 25 year son into watching it , and he thought it was way better and more scary than most modern day Slasher - Pics.
The sininster atmosphere conveyed, the casting, the special effects, , and actors still hold the power to chill the bones today,
The sininster atmosphere conveyed, the casting, the special effects, , and actors still hold the power to chill the bones today,
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
good stuff
what a bloody good film, and it is true, they really can't make them like this anymore..for oldies like me this is pure heaven, a good watch if not a bit cheesy, but hey it... Read more
Published 17 days ago by al
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean no-one's abducting you
The title calls to mind a landscape strewn with grave-robbing zombies but Don Siegel's 1956 film is an altogether more intellectual parable than most science fiction of the time. Read more
Published 6 months ago by O. Buxton
PLEASANTLY SUPRISED!
This film was one of 7 in 'THE CLASSIC SCI-FI COLLECTION' box set. I had never brought this film on it's own because of all the negative reviews I had read about the quality of the... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Graham
Awful transfer
As with many other reviewers here, I agree the film itself is an absolute classic. It frightened the tripe out of me as a kid and I can still see it's power now. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Bignose
A masterpiece of political allegory
This is amongst the greatest, and most important, sci-fi films of the 20th century. Made during the McCarthy era of american politics, this is a demonstration of the power of... Read more
Published 15 months ago by S. Meadows
Absolutely AWFUL quality DVD - Avoid!!!
Fantastic film - dreadful transfers!
Shame on Universal for releasing such a dreadful transfer of a cult masterpiece. Read more
Shame on Universal for releasing such a dreadful transfer of a cult masterpiece. Read more
Published 20 months ago by J. MAY
"Take two of these they will help you to stay awake."
you will definately stay awake for this one. Excellent film, from beginning to end, will stand up to repeated viewing, transfer on my copy not of the highest quality,scary concept,... Read more
Published 21 months ago by T. BARNES
Fine but buy the US release instead
Although I will admit to preferring the Abel Ferrara version (remake) from 1993, this Don Siegal original is just fine and creepy enough to still be watchable over 50 years since... Read more
Published on 30 Jun 2009 by L J Thomson
BEAUTIFUL, CLASSIC SCI-FI...................
The doctor in a small town is regarded as insane by his peers when he claims that the town has been taken over by aliens.
We know differently. Read more
We know differently. Read more
Published on 19 April 2009 by L. Hay
Cult classic, but cult for a reason...
A film which creates tension at times, though does uphold its continuity throughout. The motivation behind the otherworldly beings wanting to inhabit earth is never established,... Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2008 by Samuel J. Tunnicliffe
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