This Island Earth

1955
Approved
1h 26m

IMDb RATING

5.9/10

11K

YOUR RATING

Faith Domergue, Jeff Morrow, and Rex Reason in This Island Earth (1955)

Play trailer2:18

1 Video

99+ Photos

Alien Invasion Space Sci-Fi Horror Mystery Sci-Fi

Aliens come to Earth seeking scientists to help them in their war.Aliens come to Earth seeking scientists to help them in their war.Aliens come to Earth seeking scientists to help them in their war.

Directors
- Joseph M. Newman
- Jack Arnold
Writers
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.9/10

11K

YOUR RATING

Directors
- Joseph M. Newman
- Jack Arnold
Writers
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination

Top cast23

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Jeff Morrow

Exeter

Faith Domergue

Dr. Ruth Adams

Rex Reason

Dr. Cal Meacham

Lance Fuller

Brack

Russell Johnson

Dr. Steve Carlson

Douglas Spencer

The Monitor

Robert Nichols

Joe Wilson

Karl Ludwig Lindt

Dr. Adolph Engelborg
(as Karl L. Lindt)

Charlotte Alpert

Metaluna Woman at Decompression Console
(uncredited)

Jack Byron

Photographer
(uncredited)

Spencer Chan

Dr. Hu Ling Tang
(uncredited)

Richard Deacon

Pilot
(uncredited)

Coleman Francis

Express Deliveryman
(uncredited)

Marc Hamilton

Metaluna Inhabitant
(uncredited)

Edward Hearn

Reporter
(uncredited)

Edward Ingram

Photographer
(uncredited)

Orangey

Neutron--Cat
(uncredited)

Regis Parton

Mutant
(uncredited)

Directors
- Joseph M. Newman
- Jack Arnold
Writers
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
In a magazine article, the special effects department admitted that the "mutant" costume originally had legs that matched the upper body. They had so much trouble making the legs look and work properly they were forced by studio deadline to have the mutant wear a pair of trousers. Movie posters show the mutant as it was supposed to appear.

Goofs
When Faith Domergue and Rex Reason first enter their new lab and see the orange cat, Faith tells Rex the cat is named "Neutron" because "he's so positive". Any scientist, especially a nuclear fission expert, should know that the proton that is positive; a neutron has no charge.

Quotes
Dr. Cal Meacham: I feel like a new toothbrush.
[after being enclosed in a clear tube]

Alternate versions
When originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts to secure a 'U' rating. All cuts were waived in 1987 when the film was granted a 'PG' certificate for home video.

Connections
Edited into War of the Planets (1958)

Soundtracks
Eine kleine Nachtmusik: 2nd Movement
(uncredited)
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Guess I'll have to watch MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: THE MOVIE to find out what is so bad about THIS ISLAND EARTH. The film is intriguingly plotted, beautifully photographed, and has excellent (even by contemporary standards) art direction, costume design and special effects. So what if Rex Reason sounds as if he was dubbed (he always sounds that way), and some of the other performances seem a bit stilted. The Metaluna Mutant was the most memorable outer space monster until ALIEN.

I can only recall one technical error in the film. After the interociter (communicator) has been reduced to molten metal, Rex Reason picks up a Geiger counter and says, "It's no longer radioactive." There IS no set up for this (i.e., when it proved to be radioactive).

I'd certainly rate this film in the top ten of the best science fiction films of the fifties (probably in the top five). It's philosophical, exciting and well made.