Beachhead

First seen on Romanian television (not yet free...), in black and white, when I was 9 years old. I was fascinated by the story, the direction, the acting of the actors, and especially the overwhelming music of Dominic Frontiere. I learned by heart (although I did not know English at that time...), all that the commentator in off is saying in the first few minutes... I fell in love with Diane Baker (she was only 29 years old...) I admired Roy Thinnes, who is very convincing. Reviewed, in color, on You-tube, me 59 years old. The film is impeccably fresh and current, I like it just as much like as a child. Diane Baker's same love, gorgeous woman, and Frontiere's music, just as charming. All the actors are top notch. "A Quinn Martin production!"

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")

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.

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.

The Invaders is one's of my favorite Sci-Fi series, masterminded by the legendary writer and director Larry Cohen made a huge worldwide success, this pilot gives a hint how our hero David Vincent on struggles not just with the aliens invaders neither with mainstream media, authorities and the people's disbelief mostly, hereinafter he left his salesman job to chase these menacing aliens whereby have planning size planet Earth's power thru political means.

On entering in a shortcut on a dark night led him randomly meet a bright flying saucer in the middle of nowhere, soon he realizes that such entities have a small distinction over the earthlings, somehow their little finger don't bend, it eases recognition for Vincent's strife, whenever he goes stumble with them, he finds out their first earth base in a deactivated power plant where they have assembling those required chambers addressed for alien restoration on human bodies.

This first chapter many famous guest stars came along, the great Diane Baker, the stone face J. D. Cannon, the bleak John Milford and the veteran Vaughn Taylor and the battle just began!

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 2013 / How many: 2 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.5.