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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)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:18
1 Video
99+ Photos
Alien InvasionSpace Sci-FiHorrorMysterySci-Fi

An alien flies scientists to warring Metaluna.An alien flies scientists to warring Metaluna.An alien flies scientists to warring Metaluna.

  • Directors
    • Joseph M. Newman
    • Jack Arnold
  • Writers
    • Franklin Coen
    • George Callahan
    • Raymond F. Jones
  • Stars
    • Jeff Morrow
    • Faith Domergue
    • Rex Reason
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    11K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Joseph M. Newman
      • Jack Arnold
    • Writers
      • Franklin Coen
      • George Callahan
      • Raymond F. Jones
    • Stars
      • Jeff Morrow
      • Faith Domergue
      • Rex Reason
    • 166User reviews
    • 68Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    This Island Earth
    Trailer 2:18
    This Island Earth

    Photos1112

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    Top cast23

    Edit
    Jeff Morrow
    Jeff Morrow
    • Exeter
    Faith Domergue
    Faith Domergue
    • Dr. Ruth Adams
    Rex Reason
    Rex Reason
    • Dr. Cal Meacham
    Lance Fuller
    Lance Fuller
    • Brack
    Russell Johnson
    Russell Johnson
    • Dr. Steve Carlson
    Douglas Spencer
    Douglas Spencer
    • The Monitor
    Robert Nichols
    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
    Spencer Chan
    • Dr. Hu Ling Tang
    • (uncredited)
    Richard Deacon
    Richard Deacon
    • Pilot
    • (uncredited)
    Coleman Francis
    • Express Deliveryman
    • (uncredited)
    Marc Hamilton
    • Metaluna Inhabitant
    • (uncredited)
    Edward Hearn
    Edward Hearn
    • Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    Edward Ingram
    • Photographer
    • (uncredited)
    Orangey
    Orangey
    • Neutron--Cat
    • (uncredited)
    Regis Parton
    Regis Parton
    • Mutant
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Joseph M. Newman
      • Jack Arnold
    • Writers
      • Franklin Coen
      • George Callahan
      • Raymond F. Jones
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews166

    5.911.1K
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    Featured reviews

    6claudio_carvalho

    Entertaining Sci-Fi from the 50's

    The electronic engineer Dr. Cal Meacham (Rex Reason) is a prominent scientist that is studying industrial application of nuclear energy and also a great pilot. One day, he receives a different condenser and soon his assistant Joe Wilson (Robert Nichols) receives a manual instruction and several components of a sophisticated machine. Carl and Joe build a communication apparatus and a man called Exeter (Jeff Morrow) contacts Carl. He tells that Carl has passed the test assembling the Interocitor and invites him to join his research. The intrigued Carl decides to travel to meet Exeter that sends an unmanned airplane to bring him to an isolated facility in Georgia. He is welcomed by Dr. Ruth Adams (Faith Domergue) but she mysteriously does not recall their love affair in the past. They team-up with Dr. Steve Carlson (Russell Johnson) and they note that the other scientists in the facility have been transformed, having a weird behavior. They decide to flee in a car, but they are attacked by rays and Steve dies. Carl and Ruth also witness the facility blowing-up and they escape in an airplane. However they are pulled up into a flying saucer and realize that Exeter is an alien. Whal is the objective of the aliens?

    "This Island Earth" is an entertaining sci-fi from the 50's, with a story of aliens that need help from the Earthling scientists in their war against another planet. For a film made sixty years ago, the special effects, the monster, sets and scenarios are great. My vote is six.

    Title (Brazil): "Guerra Entre Planetas" ("War Between Planets")

    Note: On 17 November 2017 I saw this film again.
    6ma-cortes

    Classic and strange piece of imaginative science-fiction with primitive but enjoyable effects

    The planet Metaluna is desperate need of Uranium to power its defense . As Aliens led by Exeter , Jeff Morrow , come to Earth seeking scientists to help them against enemy invaders . Two scientific , Rex Reason Faith Domergue , are deceived , menaced , abducted and transported from earth to a weird and ruined planet where occurs explosion and destruction.As our heroes are theatened by unknown forces .

    Acceptable Scifi movie has thrills , intricate gadgetry , emotion , FX ahead of their time and super mutant monsters .This classic and rare Sci-Fi is considered to be the first serious film about interplanetary escapades .It contains primitive special effects and abundant matte painting . Including passable effects of a flying saucer based on a famous picture of an unidenfitied flying object UFO . Mediocre interpretation by an average cast. Starred by little known actors as Rex Reason as a nuclear scientist , Jeff Morrow as the rare alien , and the beautiful Faith Domergue as a nuclear fission expert who screams lustily . Other secondaries are given little to do such as Lance Fuller , Russell Johnson , Douglas Spencer and Richard Deacon . Here stands out the decent makeup by Bud Westmore creating pulsating cranium FX makeup on a gigantic and ugly Alien monster. Although some reviewers felt that the mutant utterly ruined an otherwise acceptable film . It was shown in US drive-in on a double bill with another classic Scfi titled Forfidden planet .

    Strange but appropriate musical score from Herman Stein , Hans J Salter and Henry Mancini . Colorful cinematography in brilliant technicolor , by Clifford Stine , as technical details are presented in convincing enough fashion , being the only technicolor scifi movie Universal-International ever made .This genuine and decent science fiction was well produced by Willian Alland and professionally directed by Joseph M Newman . He was a prolific craftsman who made all kinds of genres as drama , gangster movie , Film Noir , adventure , such as : Tarzan ,Jungle patrol , The king of the roaring 20s the story of Arnold Rothstein , Love nest , Great Dan Patch and , of course , Science Fiction with this vintage film of the fifties titled This island earth. Rating : 6/10 , decent movie . Essential and indispensable watching for SciFi buffs . Well worth seeing.
    Hank Lay

    Loved it at age 11; still find it great at 56.

    When it came out, I thought this was the most fantastic movie I'd ever seen. It was easy to identify with the lead character and to share his fascination with the technology that the aliens used to capture his attention and recruit his talents. I particularly remember being entranced by the special effects; the use of vivid color was outstanding among sci-fi offerings of the time. 45 years later, it's still my favorite of the era. I enjoy watching the movie on video and recalling the thrill of seeing it on the big screen for the first time.
    MickeyHSr

    This is a great treat from a wonderful era of Sci-Fi.

    This is a great treat from a wonderful era of Sci-Fi. Those who complain of the hardware aspects have no romance - an Earth scientist receives an unsolicited manual and roomful of parts to build a futuristic two-way TV, but the parts are a marvel and the pages of the manual aren't paper, but some manner of flexible metal. After constructing the "Interociter", our hero receives a broadcast from Exeter, a fellow scientist with a suspiciously prominent forehead, inviting him to join his research team of the world's greatest experts in their fields. What follows is a comic book come-to-life, and in vivid, 3-part Technicolor! This film is beautiful to look at, and apparently many of today's best Sci-Fi filmmakers did. Rex Reason is fine as our hero, Jeff Morrow is one of the most memorable aliens of the era, and Faith Domergue is a fine actress and is mysteriously one of the most unsung beauties ever. And as to the hardware, the special effects, etc - there is actually nothing to complain about at all...the spaceship, the planet Metaluna, aliens, etc, are not merely passable for the 50's, they are compelling by today's standards. If you have just a bit of imagination, this is one of the best Sci-Fi classics of it's time, and still makes many contemporary efforts pale in comparison.
    DC8284

    A masterpiece

    This 1955 science fiction flick in a nutshell? One word comes to mind: masterpiece. Masterpiece. When it comes to science fiction, the director of this edge-of-your-seat rollercoaster, Joe Newman is a master.

    With the brilliant performances of Jeff Morrow, Rex Reason, and leading lady Faith Domergue, this is a natural epic tale of the unparalleled interaction of aliens and humans.

    You don't like science fiction, you say? I didn't either before watching it. But I couldn't press the fast forward button on my VCR remote as I watched "This Island Earth."

    10 stars. Do yourself a favor and see this wonderful film.

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    Related interests

    Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith in Men in Black (1997)
    Alien Invasion
    Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner in Star Trek (1966)
    Space Sci-Fi
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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

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    FAQ17

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 15, 1955 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Más allá de la Tierra
    • Filming locations
      • Metropolitan Airport - 6590 Hayvenhurst Avenue, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal International Pictures (UI)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $800,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 26m(86 min)

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