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They Came from Beyond Space (1967)


Cast:

Robert Hutton is Dr. Curtis Temple
Michael "Batman's trusty butler Alfred" Gough is Master of the Moon
Diana King is Mrs. Trethowan


What the box says:

Based on the science fiction novel The Gods Hate Kansas, the story focuses on a group of unlucky aliens who have crashed their spaceship on the moon. They attempt to use mind control to coerce a team of scientists from earth to make the necessary repairs. However, one of the scientists has a steel plate in his head and is immune to their efforts.


Plot:

People hear a noise and see something crash into a nearby field.

Stock footage of the radio telescope ensues. Lee meets with Dr. Curtis Temple and his assistant Alan. Apparently, the boss wants them to investigate the data of a meteor crash. However, Temple’s medical doctor refuses to let him go because of the silver plate in his head.

Scientific study ensues at the crash site. Let the techno-babble fly fast and often.

Back at the lab, Temple and Alan are studying the data and discover the velocity and impact mean the meteors came from the Moon?

Back at the field, some guy chips a meteor when strange yellow radiation floods the area. Lee and the others are possessed. Now, they can begin their plan.

She drives into the nearby town. At the bank, she writes a check for a million pounds. The bank officer is possessed to ensure they get the money.

Temple cannot get a hold of Lee. One of the possessed scientists arrives at the lab and offers to take Temple and Alan to the site to examine something very interesting. In the car, a meteor takes over Alan but not Temple. Temple is knocked out and the alien possessors drive away.

Temple’s boss tells him about the strange requisitions at the meteor site like shotguns, pistols, etc. Temple decides it is time to go there to see what is going on.

The Beverly Hillbillies car was quite popular in England.
The Beverly Hillbillies car was quite popular in England

Temple reaches the site but gun wielding guards won’t let him enter.

The Welcome Wagon is a bit surly today.
The Welcome Wagon is a bit surly today.
Temple threatens to crash the gate unless he talks to Lee. He spots divers in a pond. Lee arrives and won’t explain anything and threatens him should he return.

In town, Temple tries forcing Arden to tell him what is going on.

From a distance, Temple spies on the site.

Temple forces Lee’s car off the road and tries talking to her again when she users a phaser on him.

Temple awakens at a gas station, the saucy blonde chick found him in the road. Temple leaves.

A man talks with Temple. Stillwell, internal security, tells him how the scientists are acting strange since the meteor was opened. In town, right before Stillwell can get permission to tell him everything. Stillwell collapses dead. The doctor who examines him collapses. Various townsfolk collapse.

A news report announces the plague. There has never been a disease like it.

Williams, from internal security, meets Temple. He demands that he leave the area, leaves the site alone, etc. No explanation. Temple sees that Williams drives away with the saucy blonde chick.

The next day, at the gas station, the English equivalent of rednecks threaten Temple and claim no girl has ever worked there.

At the site, Temple pulls up outside. The guards shoot around him to drive him away. He leaves and spies from a distance. A rocket gantry emerges from the pond. A rocket launches. Temple calculates the launch trajectory.

News reporter updates that the plague is still virulent. Temple is still working on the data.

That night, he snipes at the generator until it explodes. Temple commando style shorts out the electric fence. He scales the unpowered fence.

The guards are on red alert. Temple finds a large cylindrical elevator when one of the scientists gets the drop on him. Fight ensues. Temple heads into the alien base. The guards are searching for him. Temple hides in a cold room and finds the plague victims including saucy blonde. Arden phasers Temple.

Temple awakens in a prison cell. Arden stops by and explains he is to be kept from interfering in the work. The rockets are taking the plague victims to the moon to be buried. The meteor brought the plague, and the aliens are saving humanity. Temple thinks that explanation and bull are quite common.

Temple discovers a tracking device on his jacket.

Arden reports to Lee. She wants Temple killed.

Arden goes back to the cell and can’t find Temple. Entering the cell, Temple emerges from under his cot and bushwhacks Arden. The guards chase him.

Reaching the control room, Temple knocks Lee out and phasers some guy.

Temple manages to sneak Lee out of the base but busts through the guard fence.

The alien possessed Lee is complaining. Temple will stop them or else. He visits with his friend Forgne. After convincing him to melting his silver loving cups for a protective helmet.

The newest ultra-swanky fashion in geek headgear preventing alien possession.
The newest ultra-swanky fashion in geek headgear preventing alien possession.
Alien can’t switch bodies from Lee to Forgne. Temple and his friend start building an alien detector and study Lee.
It's true, these goggles do let me see through clothes.
It's true, these goggles do let me see through clothes.

That night, Lee has a nightmare that Temple and Forgne phaser her. However, in the morning, she awakens herself. Cosmic rayblaster will exorcise the aliens from their hosts. Lee doesn’t remember a thing about when she was possessed. They plan to attack the site.

Lee returns to the farm. However, the guards won’t let him enter. Alan checks the jeep. Phasering aliens ensues.

Down the elevator, into the base, the aliens are about to launch the rocket. The intrepid trio storms the rocket to keep it from launching to no avail. High gees ensue. Arden and the others get the drop on the humans. They will meet the Master of the Moon, and Temple has data the aliens need.

On the Moon, Forgne scuffles with an alien. Temple gets a blaster and has it pointed at the Master of the Moon who apparently is without his Torgo. The Master explains that humans are so primitive compared to them being the pinnacle of evolution into pure mental energy. They crashed on the moon and needed scientists to build a rocket. The plague victims are the workers. The government contributed by sending people. They will return the workers. Temple lowers his gun and gets phasered. Forgne escapes.

The aliens prepare to operate on Temple by replacing the silver plate in his head with a metal that won’t prevent possession.

Forgne skulks about knocking an alien down. The workers start attacking the aliens. He leads them and breaks into the operating room. Temple is freed. The Master is sure the aliens will die here. Earth would have helped them had they only asked. If the Master releases his body, Temple will get Earth the help.

The Master’s host introduces himself to Temple.


What I say:

They Came From Beyond Space is based on a science fiction novel, The Gods Hate Kansas obviously pre-intelligent design debate era...Well, I have no idea how close to the source it is. A movie that has the Greek gods attacking Kansas would be far more entertaining than this movie. Hercules Versus Wichita, the Titans Take Topeka...Though the book title makes me think it was set in Kansas rather than in England. I'm guessing Kansas didn't want any part of the movie. That was a very smart move on their part. Notice, how I'm trying not to mention the movie which always shows how interested I am in this week's review...

Invasion of the Body Snatchers showed us to be afraid of how people can be easily replaced. I'm ignoring the communism "us and them" undertone discussion. What can be said when most of the actors are talking like pod people? Is it to be considered a mark against it or for the aliens to be emotionally cold when possessing the humans? At least the power of love wasn't what brought any of the possessed humans back..The humans when possessed talk in a monotone sort of like that biology teacher in college. Children of the Damned besides having really creepy children almost on par with the Kennys from kaiju movies.

What do you do when meteors crash on Earth and start possessing people? If the answer is hope a scientist is the early 1960s equivalent to a super spy with a bit of a science background. You're fairly close. Temple is the perfect definition of the TWO-FISTED MAN of SCIENCE and could only be any cooler if his name were Bond, James Bond. This is a physicist who's got a woman with a red beehive glued to her head and has saucy blonde tart chasing him like asdog after a pork chop. Those women almost dislocate their backs out by throwing themselves at him. He is also a commando/sniper. Unfortunately, we missed getting to see him use his kung fu grip to thoroughly thrash the aliens.

Why have a movie where the aliens can possess humans? Cheaper makeup effects and less monsters. Possessed humans can be done interestingly like in the . Any movie with an stripper possessed alien wielding a machine gun deserves respect. It was nowhere as present, understandable, or as good in the sequel, Hidden 2. Even the remake of remake of Body Snatchers featuring the pod people taking over the military base had the feeling of Invasion of the Body Snatchers which is understandable.

This movie just plays it so dead straight you almost think that everyone there just learned their uncles died. Many sci-fi movies don't really have any comedy and are serious but still not dull. However, They Came From Beyond Space isn't one of them...This movie is slightly less dryer than Masterpiece Theater. However, any alien that can be stopped by wearing a silver plated collander you drain the hot water out of spaghetti needles with really isn't that intimidating in a serious movie or any movie for that matter. The metal plate that prevents aliens from controlling people has been used in far more popular novels like Stephen King's The Tommyknockers.

Everyone has their ideas what makes a movie terrible. For me, a movie being boring is its unforgiveable, unpardonable crime. Well, the director didn't mean to make it dull. There is no excuse to justify it. Somehow, making aliens possessing scientists seem dry and dull is wrong. Really, the movie could almost be turned into a spy movie with little effort. Figuring a way to throw in a bikini clad hot Russian chick would definitely improve this movie. Mysterious overlord brainwashes scientists for a secret plan. Unfortunately, the process is uneffective on one scientist who desperately tries to free the others and stop the nefarious scheme from coming to fruition. When a movie has me developing at least 2 ways to be more interesting without phrases like "Jessica Alba and Jessica Biel taking showers and playing beach volleyball" you know those are ideas not fantasies. Well, hopefully such a volleyball idea will be a good enough sign off...

The alien possess people and in the end learn all they needed to do was ask for help. I'm sure that has to be some sort of British moral.


2 NINJAS

Quotable Dialogue

"Have you ever known meteors to land in a perfect formation?"
"The brain of these primitives seem quite suitable for our purposes. "
"I will not have sentiment involving in our vital work."
"You can believe what you please."
"Slaves do not speak without permission in the presence of the Master of the Moon."


Morals of the Story

Scientists office floors must have solar system carpet motifs.
Humans possessed by aliens must talk in an emotionless monotone.
Electric fences must be charged to fatal electrocution levels.
Ponds spontaneously bubble.
Alien bases must have livestock.
Silver is opaque to ultraviolet radiation.
Rockets need spiral staircases.
Staircases don't need hand rails.
Alien operating tables are 6 pointed stars.
Scientists carry hand grenades.


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