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Invasion Of The Body Snatchers [DVD] [1956]
 
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Invasion Of The Body Snatchers [DVD] [1956]

DVD ~ Kevin McCarthy
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
RRP: £9.99
Price: £4.88 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Frequently Bought Together

Invasion Of The Body Snatchers [DVD] [1956] + Invasion Of The Body Snatchers [DVD] [1978] + The Day The Earth Stood Still [DVD] [1951]
Total RRP: £35.97
Price For All Three: £14.54

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Product details

  • Actors: Kevin McCarthy, Jean Willes, Dana Wynter, King Donovan
  • Directors: Don Siegel
  • Format: Black & White, PAL
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: PG
  • Studio: Universal Pictures UK
  • DVD Release Date: 1 Oct 2007
  • Run Time: 85 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000KJT7VE
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 3,587 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

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


Synopsis

Don Siegel's cult masterpiece, interpreted as an allegory of both McCarthyism and Communism, is undoubtedly one of the screen's most disturbing evocations of paranoia. It stars Kevin McCarthy as Dr. Miles Binnell, a physician whose traumatized arrival in the emergency room of a San Francisco hospital leads the staff to believe he's lost his mind. In a series of flashbacks, he unwinds a bizarre account of his last few days. After his return from a trip to rural Santa Mira, his nurse, Sally (Jean Willes), explains that his office has been flooded with patients who have made appointments yet never appeared. Former girlfriend Becky Driscoll (Dana Wynter) tells him that she's unable to rid herself of the belief that the man claiming to be her uncle is an impostor. A hysterical young boy refuses to return home, claiming that his mother is not his mother. Miles's concern over this pattern of incidents, temporarily allayed by some jargon from the town psychiatrist, is newly aroused when he gets a phone call from friend Jack Belicec (King Donovan), who begs him to come over and take a look at the strange mannequin-like figure that's suddenly appeared on his pool table. This exceptionally well written and directed fable, the ultimate comment on the subtly coercive conformity of the 1950s, may be Siegel's best film, and it is undoubtedly one of the most exciting science fiction films ever made.

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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
5 star:
 (4)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Five stars for content. Two stars for the transfer, 4 Oct 2007
By AlanKS (Luton) - See all my reviews
First the good news. This film IS a classic of its kind and indispensible for fans of the genre. It is fascinating to watch it and compare it with the Donald Sutherland remake and see how the latter incorporates scenes from the first.

The bad news is that I agree with the previous reviewer. The picture is not exactly sharp and the sound quality equally poor in parts. The only extra is more of a curio; the colourised version.

I'm glad I have it, but a little disappointed to have no commentary or feature putting it into context.
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44 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars What a Disappointment, 25 Jul 2007
By Mr. David S. M. Weir "Silver Surfer" (Cheshire) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
No reflection on Amazon, but, I received my eagerly-awaited DVD of this film this morning. What a let-down! I get better film-quality recording movies "off-air" via the USB TV Stick - which I got from Amazon - on my computer.

It's no secret that this film is the one by which most other science-fiction films are judged, and, quite frankly, Universal hasn't delivered, and, let their loyal customers down.

Where is the Feature Length commentary? Where is the Theatrical Trailer? Where are all the other Featurettes and Extras that other film companies see fit to release with their Anniversary Editions? Last, but by no means least, where is the classic artwork available on the Region 1 release?

I have recent DVD's of "The Thing from another Planet", "Earth vs. the Flying Saucers", "Invaders from Mars", "The Day the Earth Stood Still", and, "It Came from Outer Space", and, watch them via Cyberlink's PowerDVD on my Pentium 4 pc. Without exception, their quality of transfer, and/or, "bundled extras", are far superior to this release.

If I didn't know any better, I would swear that Universal transferred an NTSC copy to PAL for this release, rather than transferring an original film copy to PAL.

It's a testament to the original production that it still shines through this travesty.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Invasion Of The Body Snatchers 1956, 5 Jun 2008
By Euni45 "Euni45" (Somerset England) - See all my reviews
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,
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars 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 4 months ago by Napolean

5.0 out of 5 stars 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
Published 6 months ago by L. Hay

3.0 out of 5 stars Rv1
A film which creates tension at times, though does uphold its continuity throughout. Lack of CGI obviously accepted, this plot nevertheless is full of holes. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Samuel J. Tunnicliffe

5.0 out of 5 stars A great and exciting sci-fi movie.

Definitely one of the most exciting sci-fi movies ever made!

This is one of those movies that can be watched over and over again and still be enthralling - no... Read more
Published 14 months ago by FAMOUS NAME

5.0 out of 5 stars Stick a fork in it and see if it is done.
What if one day you noticed your best friend or closest relative wasn't? What if paranoia struck a town and everyone started thinking that way? Read more
Published 22 months ago by bernie

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