Invaders From Mars (1953 Film)

Invaders From Mars (1953 Film)

Invaders From Mars (1953) is a science fiction film directed by William Cameron Menzies, taken from a scenario by Richard Blake, and based on a story treatment by John Tucker Battle who was inspired by a dream recounted by his wife. It was produced independently by Edward L. Alperson Jr. and starred Jimmy Hunt, Helena Carter, and Arthur Franz. After it was completed, Invaders was distributed by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp.

The film is notable for telling its story from the point of view of an older child in an adult world heading into crisis. An Eastmancolor negative was used for principal photography, with vivid SuperCinecolor prints struck for the film's initial release to provide an oddly striking and vivid look to the film's images. (Regular Eastmancolor prints were used thereafter for later releases.) The production also made use of subtle, imaginative set designs for certain scenes, and a unique, outre music score consisting of an ethereal, rhythmically wavering tonal composition sung in unison by a choir.

While some film sources have claimed that Invaders was designed for the early 3-D process (it was already in production before the breakthrough 3-D film, Bwana Devil, was released), it was not filmed in or released in 3-D. Despite being a quickly shot, low-budget 1950s feature, Invaders also uses occasional camera angles set lower or higher than usual to enhance the dramatic and visual impact of certain key scenes. Some of Menzies' set designs (notably those in the police station, the planetarium, and the interiors of the Martian flying saucer) also consist of elongated structures with stark, unadorned walls, sometimes much taller than necessary, adding touches of dreamlike surrealism.