Earth vs. The Flying Saucers

“Since biblical times, man has witnessed and recorded strange manifestations in the sky and speculated on the possibilities of … visitors from another world.” Amid dramatic music, an airborne military jet pilot is cruising as a flying saucer passes him by. A ticker-tape records, “UFO sighted 12,000 feet traveling at an excess of 2,000 miles per hour.”

The narrator continues: “The skies of California, the plains of Kansas, the rice patties of the Orient, the airplanes of the world have persistent reports of UFOs, unidentified flying objects, which we have come to know as flying saucers. In Daton, Ohio, the Air Intelligence Command gathers intelligence from all quarters of the globe; 97 percent of the objects prove to be of natural origin. But three percent still are listed as unknown. The Air Force is aware that the widely held belief is that these could be flying saucers from another planet. While there is nothing conclusive in the evidence, the investigation and analysis of information about UFOs continue unceasingly. As a result, the headquarters of the Hemispheric Defense Command in Colorado Springs issued an order: All military installations are to fire on sight at any flying objects not identifiable. But even as they did so, the military wondered if their scientific know-how and best weapons would be effective in any battle of The Earth vs. the Flying Saucers. Title and credits appear with rousing music.

An aerial shot shows a private vehicle cruising down a desert highway, passing a sign that reads: “You are approaching Operation Sky Hook, restricted area, Department of Defense.” Dr. Russell Marvin (Hugh Marlowe) and his wife, Carol (Joan Taylor) drive as Russell makes a recording using his personal recorder. “July 16: To Internal Security Commission, Re: Sky Hook, summary and progress report by project director Dr. Russell A. Marvin—” His wife smiles and adds, “And by Mrs. Russell A. Marvin,” adding several reasons why she was responsible for Russell getting the report finished. While she drives, the recently married Russell begins to nuzzle his wife. Russell continues with his taped report, saying how many rockets have recently been launched into space. Twelve rockets will be in orbit around the Earth. These rockets will prepare scientists to further explore outer space. So far, 10 satellites, also known as “birds,” have been launched.

Russell hears a strange whirling and looks around outside the car, while still driving. A flying saucer hovers near the car in the back, as more dramatic music plays. The saucer passes directly over the car, hovering directly in front of it. The saucer passes back directly over the car, almost colliding with the vehicle. The car pulls over to the side of the road as the couple spots the saucer pulling upward and away. The couple re-enters the car, Carol turning the tape recorder off. Russell, trying to remain calm, retrieves a cigarette for his wife and says, “We saw what appeared to be a flying saucer. That’s all we can say.”

Arriving at the Department of Defense, they descend into the bowels of an industrial military complex, which resembles a factory. In their office, they play the tape while working, and the saucer sound was recorded, hearing the loud whirl. Russell states, “Well, that’s one piece of concrete evidence.” Over the intercom, it is announced that rocket #11 will be launched in 20 minutes. They leave to get to the bunker.

General John Hanley (Morris Ankrum) reports in at the gate, in a hurry to speak to Dr. Russel Marvin, to get him to cancel the launch. Marvin is about to enter the short countdown and can’t possibly cancel the flight. Later, talking directly to General Hanley, he says, “I know how the designer feels, hearing a thing like this, but Project Sky Hook hasn’t worked out the way the Defense Department hoped.” The general asks how many “birds” you are in contact with today, and Marvin admits only the one that launched today.” The general calmly states, “The birds are no longer up there … it wasn’t a meteorite that fell on Panama, it was the burned remains of #7. I made sure of that myself … #1and 3 fell over Africa, #5 around the North Pole, and 9 and 10 along the Andes. The rest can be presumed to be lost somewhere at sea. Apparently, they blow up somewhere in outer space.”

Going outside for a barbecue, Russell makes a remark about something shooting the “birds” down, and the General asks him to explain. “ General, we saw a strange thing this afternoon. We saw what appeared to be a flying saucer,” Carol, the general’s daughter, says we have one piece of evidence, a recording of the saucer’s sound in flight. A soldier in a Jeep delivers a message to Marvin. Number 11 just lost contact with the lab. Against all reason, #12 is due to be launched tomorrow, but it is now equipped with a camera, allowing them to see what is happening to the rocket.

Five minutes before the launch, an unidentified flying object is reported due west. A call comes in that a flying saucer has been sighted. The vessel flies across the entire military compound, flying low to the ground. The saucer lands, and within a sort of force field, three robot-like aliens emerge. A military truck appears with a sort of Gatling gun, and they prepare to shoot at the aliens. The visitors within the force field aren’t harmed, but those who protrude beyond the electronic field fall. Another truck of armed soldiers arrives on the scene, and a death ray from the alien’s arm seems to make them vanish. Suddenly, looking outside to the launching pad, the rocket slowly falls over and catches fire. Then one alien uses its death ray to blow up buildings and storage silos. With the compound showing debris, fire, and dense smoke, the flying saucer takes off, its extended bottom hatch pulling up. The frazzled General Hanley has been blown unconscious and taken aboard the saucer. What appears to be a handkerchief made into a white flower extends downward from the high ceiling. "We are speaking to you through the translating device.” Then the side panels become transparent, revealing two aliens communicating. “Can you understand us? Perhaps you can explain why, after contacting Dr. Marvin, we were met with violence … we spoke with him.” General Hanly replies, “All he heard were meaningless sounds. The same kind of sounds I just heard.” Suddenly, a light ray focuses on General Hanly, exposing the interior of his brain.

Russell Marvin reports the alien events: “These are all the facts leading up to the rocket explosion at Operation Sky Hook. To the best of our knowledge, my wife and I are the only ones left alive, as we haven’t seen or heard anyone for hours. The air is becoming toxic. In the event of our death, this report, together with this recording, constitutes all the data we have available. The batteries are failing; the recorder’s not running up to speed. This is Dr. Russell A. Marvin.” Allowing the recorder to play at a slower speed, an alien voice says they want to meet at Operation Red Hook when the sun is directly overhead. In other words, the aliens wanted to meet, to talk. “If I’d only figured it out before, maybe we wouldn’t be trapped down here. The Los Angeles Times’ headline reveals that “Sky Hook Wiped Out!”…“Two survivors Were Rescued.”

Reporting to the Pentagon, Russell and Carol report to the Internal Security Commission and share the message from the tape recording. Marvin makes it clear that the aliens wanted a meeting with him. Marvin pleads to let him meet them, to find out what this is all about. After much red tape is dealt with, General Hanly will recommend that Marvin speak to the aliens via radio.

Once Russell Marvin arrives home and finds his wife sleeping, he uses his radio to try to contact the aliens. “We hear you, Dr. Marvin, and we understand you. Do you understand us? Listen, it is now 9:30 a.m. Earth-time. Granted, if you are ready on time, we will be waiting at 11 a.m. at the shore of the Chesapeake Bay, where the North Beach Road reaches the sea.” Russell tells them he can’t meet them, he’s under orders, at least for a couple of days.

He changes his mind and decides to meet them at the specified place and time, despite his wife’s protests. Russell punches out a soldier and finds his car, and Carol and another soldier follow him. Russell drives to the shore of Chesapeake Bay, a motorcycle and a car following him. Standing on the shore, a flying saucer hovers above. By now, the others have caught up to him. A voice bellows to come in, and who are his friends? The saucer raises up, lowering its entrance mechanism below. “Please come in, all of you.” Once again, the white flower translator lowers, while a monitor shows that they’re thousands of miles from Earth, all in seconds it seems. The alien voice continues: “You are many miles away from your planet, but not in a matter of seconds. Again, the side barrier becomes transparent, and two aliens appear. “Listen to your watch, Dr. Marvin.” Dr. Marvin answers, “It’s stuck, it must be anti-magnetic.” The alien explains, “We generate a magnetic field stronger than the gravitational field on your Earth. This is the principle by which we move through space. We have adjusted the magnetic field to compensate for the normal loss of gravitational effects and atmospheric pressure. But your watch hasn’t stopped. Feel your pulse. We operate in a very different time reference. You might say all this is happening between the ticks of your watch or the beats of your heart.

The aliens state they destroyed the 11 rockets because, “At that time, we had no way of knowing they were only primitive observation posts. We thought they might be weapons directed against us. Because of your leadership in exploring the field of outer space, we felt you could best understand that we are the survivors of a disintegrated solar system, that we are circling your globe. We are awaiting a signal to tell us where to land. They want to meet with world leaders in Washington. ‘We will show you how important it is to convince your world leaders.” With that comment, a saucer approaches a military vessel and uses its deadly light ray to destroy it. Three hundred men are instantly killed.

General Hanly’s voice answers a multitude of questions for the humans. The aliens are controlling the general’s mind, not General Hanly, who appears zombie-like behind them. Carol calls out for her father, but the alien says, “He will not recognize you. He has been subjected to a machine recalling indexed memory banks. We have transferred all knowledge from his brain to our machine … we can do this to as many as we like and learn whatever we must know.” A policeman shoots wildly, and his brain is exposed to the ray above. The alien saucermen demand a conference with the leaders of Washington, D.C., within 57 days.

Meeting with the generals and top military brass, Marvin has an idea for a new weapon, which he is rapidly advancing. The weapon, which stands on a tripod, features a metal shield and has a long probe extending forward. Carol says, “Well, instead of turning electrical frequencies into ultra-high frequency sounds, we nearly burned the place up about an hour ago. “Marvin wants to test the weapon on a cement block. Amid electrical sounds, the cement block first sparks and then explodes, smoke billowing. Then it is announced that the generator is fried, but the weapon worked. Marvin is disappointed, saying, “We don’t have the tools or materials to make it work. Maybe in 10 years, five years, maybe two …” They have only 27 days remaining to come up with something. Another scientist suggests the recent work of a doctor from New Delhi. We cease trying to duplicate the ultrasonic devices of our visitors; instead, we try to interrupt their … magnetic field by projecting an electrical field.” Dr. Marvin explains exactly how to innovate that theory, saying, “It can work!”

Marvin tests his new gizmo, and it does work. But a blue and white light appears in the secret laboratory, apparently spying. One of the men fires a pistol at it, knocking it out of the air. When exiting the lab and heading to Washington, a huge flying saucer crosses their path outside. When it lands outside the lab, Marvin exits the car to go inside and test his theory. Marvin tells an assistant to fire the generator and turns on the device. Lacking enough power, the saucer takes off, bobbing and weaving all the way. The one extraterrestrial that ventured outside fires its death ray at one of the men, disintegrating him and exploding one of the trucks. Before the alien fires the death ray again, a military official fires his rifle, felling the robot, apparently killing him. Removing his helmet, the alien is humanoid but reptilian, his suit serving as an ecto-skeleton.

Momentarily, another saucer confronts a military aircraft and destroys it within seconds. Then that second saucer uses its ray to destroy the secret lab, which explodes in flames. Finally, the saucer starts a massive forest fire and drops the two humans being held in the vessel, including General Hanly. Doris runs from a metal tunnel through the flames to find her father. The other two men follow her. She sees the two men ejected from the saucer crumpled on the ground, dead.

Meeting later with top military brass, Russell and Carol learn about the alien helmets. “It didn’t take too long to break this thing down. These helmets have a language-transmitting device in them.” Carol is asked to speak into the microphone, and translated gibberish comes out. “We recorded a number of their messages on tape. One of the messages seems to be a plan of attack. The rest were routine.” Their Dr. Marvin’s newly improved weapon seems to work beautifully, but its power drops off after 1500 yards. Trying on the helmet himself, Dr. Marvin says, “Just as we need glasses and hearing aids, these people need electronification of all their senses, especially sight and hearing. Does that suggest anything to you?” Vice Adm. Enright (Thomas B. Henry) suggests they have their weaknesses, too. Suddenly, an alien voice comes across the communication system, saying, "Look to your sun for a warning! Following eruptions on your sun, there will be eight days of meteorological convulsions. The same message, in different languages, is being broadcast all across the planet. Because of the resulting firestorm on the surface of the sun, for the next eight days, Earth can expect “heavy, tidal waves, and hurricanes.”

Russell momentarily comes home, passionately kissing Doris, saying she will fly down to Palm Springs while he stays in Washington to work on the project, hoping to meet his wife in Florida soon. Just as abruptly, Russell leaves, while Doris looks at the newspaper headlines of massive storms breaking out. Then a montage is shown of massive storms shutting down highways and airports. The world is tensely awaiting an invasion from outer space. Because of the storms, an evacuation of Washington could not be attempted until the ninth day. But by the 10th day, 60 percent of the people were still stranded in the metropolitan area.

Doris reports to Vice Adm. Enright, saying her flight was canceled before she could leave. While talking, a red alert siren sounds. Troops mobilize, and radar scanners work overtime. Missiles are launched, military weapons are prepared, and fighter jets take off. Suddenly, a saucer appears, flying in fast and destroying military aircraft within seconds. Missiles seem powerless against the saucers' force field. Soon, effects master Ray Harryhausen earns his pay as multiple saucers cross Washington’s skyline while mobs of people flee. Dr. Marvin’s weapon begins to be used as shaky saucers plunge to Earth. Buildings are hit with the death rays as more people run away. Doris, walking alone because the city has been evacuated, runs searching for her husband. Finally, she finds him, and they embrace. The flying saucers head for the White House and the Capitol. A saucer lands on the White House lawn and disintegrates two soldiers. Russell and Doris drive around, following the saucers, with the new weapon attached to the back of the truck. Many of the same kinds of weapons, blocking the magnetic field of the saucers, are scattered around Washington, slowly winning the war against the saucers. All the trucks carrying the new weapon are called to the White House. Besides the saucer on the White House lawn, aliens appear on the steps of the White House. Troops gather with weapons. One saucer crashes into the Capitol’s dome, exploding. The saucers continue falling from the sky, but soon, they are all gone. A voice over the loudspeaker announces, “The present danger has ended!”

Later, Russell and Doris Marvin are relaxing on the beach. Doris reads from a newspaper that Sky Hook will be rebuilt under the direction of Dr. Marvin, as well as he has been awarded a medal by the United Nations. Doris smiles with pride. Doris gets serious and asks if there are any more aliens and if they will return. Russell answers not on such a nice day, as they walk toward the ocean and skip in, as “The End” appears.

The year 1956 was caught in the middle of the flying saucer scare. Aliens were perceived as humanoid but decidedly non-human. In this instance, reptilian-like, wearing external suits, making them appear as robots (which also were in vogue during this time). It first appears that humans misunderstand the intentions of the visitors, that they are here to communicate with our leaders, but it soon becomes apparent that they are here for purposes of invasion and occupation. But would a Saturday feature be successful without some sort of alien conflict? A movie about a peaceful alien visitation would never satisfy the kiddies.

The success of the movie primarily fell on the shoulders of stop-motion effects master Ray Harryhausen, who was an innovator in featuring worldwide panic in movies such as The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms and 20 Million Miles to Earth. Harryhausen’s star was rising in 1956, and his very next film was his first masterpiece, The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, his first color film (and all remaining ones were in color as well). Harryhausen, working with producer Charles Schneer, was hampered by budget limitations. Primarily, the monster was illustrated through short sequences at the beginning of the film, or simply hinted at suspensefully, and then it was more dominantly displayed toward the end of the film.

But, unusual for Harryhausen, his flying saucers and aliens appeared almost from the very first scene of the movie. Of course, in the thrilling climax, the major battles between humans and aliens took place near the end, to build suspense. Anticipation was high for these battle sequences, and the film kept us waiting until the payoff. Interestingly, this was Harryhausen’s last black-and-white project. However, when it was released on Blu-ray, it was one of two films he approved and supervised for colorization. He said these two movies were meant to be in color, but at the time, his budget didn’t allow it. To be fair, the two colorized versions were done exceptionally well. Earth vs. The Flying Saucers stands out as one of the better early sci-fi films, featuring a cast of science fiction stars, impressive effects, an exciting script, and good direction and pacing under Fred F. Sears (who also directed The Giant Claw and The Werewolf). I believe that if Ray Harryhausen had handled the special effects for The Giant Claw, it would have been highly praised, since the concept and execution of the finished film were above average—only the marionette ruined it! But Earth vs. The Flying Saucers offers little in film analysis, yet as a Saturday afternoon matinee, it provides thrills and chills for kids and the young at heart. You couldn't ask for a more satisfying afternoon movie!

A JET FIGHTER CONFRONTS A FLYING SAUCER

AN ALIEN INVADER STANDS OVER THE SLUMPED FIGURE OF GENERAL HANLEY.