Beachhead

'Beachhead' is a pilot episode of classic science-fiction series 'The Invaders'. Not the best episode of the series, but it beautifully builds up the tension and mood for the rest of the series. Paranoid, sometimes claustrophobic atmosphere that creates the sense that anyone can be the enemy.

When architect David Vincent (Roy Thinnes) is too tired to drive on he takes a rest near closed down roadside diner. In the middle of the night he witnesses the landing of space ship. Nobody believes his story, but Vincent is relentless enough to make the police investigate the landing site. With no evidence found, his story is not taken seriously. Vincent starts to dig deeper himself and discovers that aliens can take human form.

Good episode that keeps viewer interested and curious enough to go and see the following episodes. As 'The Invaders' is TV show from the '60s one can't expect the special effects stand out much, but they are good enough to not laugh at them. The writing is good, story interesting and acting superb.

My 1st time seeing this classic series. Wow what a pilot episode! I'm hooked already! Just started to see this one. Roy Thinnes was the perfect casting for this role of "David Vincent" He has this weird but perfect look about him so naturally "normal" people look at him like he's crazy! Nice intro and the music is right on target! Great score by Dominic Frontiere. Excellent narration by Dick Wesson(A Quinn Martin production's common narrator)

Nice guest stars also. This one had a young Diane Baker(who so looked like a young Debra Winger it's uncanny!) the late great J.D. Cannon, the late great Ellen Corby aka "Grandma Walton", the late great Vaughn Taylor and last but not least the late great Dabbs Greer.

After driving for more than ten hours, architect David Vincent is lost after taking a shortcut and finds a place to have some coffee. However, Bud's Diner is derelict and closed, and Vincent decides to take a nap. Soon he wakes up with a glow and sees a spaceship landing on the nearby field. Vincent drives to the Sheriff Lou Carver's office and reports the events to the Sheriff and Police Lt. Ben Holman. His friend and partner Alan Landers also arrives at the station, and Vincent convinces them to go with him to the spot. However, the place now indicates "Kelly's Diner" and they find two campers, the couple Brandon in honeymoon, that contradict Vincent. He notes that their small finger is longer. The police discredit Vincent's statement and he returns to the place to question Brandon. They fight, Vincent is knocked out and awakes in a mental institution, where a group of nurses try to kill him. However, Lt. Holman and Landers arrive and take him home. When his house is arson, Vincent receives from Landers the address of the Brandons in Kinney. He heads to the small town with a hydro-electric plant, where he meets the widow hotel keeper Kathy Adams. Now he will search evidence of the alien invasion.

"Beachhead" is the pilot of "The Invaders" series, with the beginning of the saga of David Vincent to prove that the aliens are among us. I saw this series when I was a boy broadcast in black-and-white television, and I recall that the series was very engaging. Now I bought the DVD box to see the series again. The plot is a tale of obsession and paranoid of a man that searches for the truth about an alien invasion. Roy Thinnes makes the presentation of this first episode, and the show is in color. In this pilot, the architect David Vince travels to Kinney, where he finds evidence of the dangerous alien invasion. However, all apparatuses are removed, and his partner and friend Alan Landers die after witnessing the strange tubes in the hydro-electric plant. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Cabeça de Praia" ("Beachhead")

The series that blew all us kids away back in the day, and yes, inspired by the FUGITIVE.

The similarities are there; Dr. Kimble, a desperate man all alone, was chased by the police from one community to the next, all the while David Vincent (Roy Thinnes) was chased by aliens. A weird, creepy Twilight Zone-ish setup. For sci fi completists, creator Larry Cohen, likely was inspired by INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, because the aliens could take on human form. Mind games to the MAX.

How it all began; Vincent getting lost late at night, driving to a closed diner in the middle of nowhere -- then a life changing experience. A spaceship lands in a nearby field and he reports the incident to police. The biggest mistake of his life. The Invaders proceed to hunt him down and silence him, and in some of the most bizarro ways. And there's nobody he could trust, much like Dr. Kimble. Top writing, this first episode written by Anthony Wilson, behind scores of tv dramas.

The cast is worth repeating; Diane Baker plays Kathy, JD Cannon (McCLOUD) as Lt. Holman, James Daly (soon to co-star on MEDICAL CENTER). Ellen Corby, who was everywhere on tv, plays Aunt Sara, and veteran actor Vaughn Taylor guest stars. WHO here is a friend and WHO is an enemy?

Applause to actor Roy Thinnes, who like David Janssen, was our hero of heroes.

Directed by Joseph Sargent, known for the TAKING OF PELHAM ONE, TWO, THREE and MacARTHUR. Originally narrated by William Woodson, host and narrator of several films, later narrated by producer, director and actor William Conrad, who also narrated the FUGITIVE. Another Quinn Martin production.

Notes; complete series is available on dvd. 12 dvds. Released 2018. SEASON 1 released 2008. 5 dvds. Two truly classic box sets for collectors. Thanks much to METV for bringing this legendary series back. And in color.

Empty city with power plant shut down--and alien contraptions inside.

"Beachhead" is the first episode of "The Invaders", a short-lived Quinn-Martin series about aliens who are among us. However, the description on IMDB doesn't exactly match the show I saw...and you really don't see much of the ship and it landing. Instead, most of the show is about the small town of Kinney...one which is depopulated and those left are part of the alien conspiracy.

The show is exciting and paranoid....and in many ways plays like another QM production, "The Fugitive" (with very similar narration)...but with aliens! Well written and never dull. My only complaint is some of the close up camerawork is a bit blurry....not the result of time degradation but just bad camerawork.