Earth vs. The Flying Saucers

UPC: 043396226197

Studio: Sony Pictures

MPAA Rating: NR   Contains:[Excellent For Children]

Summary: Anyone who's seen the 1996 science-fiction lampoon Mars Attacks may have trouble watching Earth vs. the Flying Saucers with a straight face. Hugh Marlowe plays scientist Russell Marvin, who is on-hand when an alien spacecraft lands on earth. The saucermen at first insist that they've come in peace, but Marvin suspects otherwise. Sure enough, the visitors eventually declare their intention to take over the earth within the next 60 days, adding that the military's weapons are useless against them. The two-month window gives Marvin and his cohorts plenty of time to build-up superweapon, and thus stave off the seven-saucer invasion force. Special effects maestro Ray Harryhausen does a nice job laying waste to Washington DC in the film's memorable finale. The supporting cast of Earth vs. the Flying Saucers includes those two sci-fi flick stalwarts of the 1950s, Morris Ankrum and Thomas Browne Henry. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Category: Science Fiction

Features: Disc One:
Feature available in original B&W and Color (ChromaChoice to toggle between B&W and color)
Audio commentary with Ray Harryhausen, visual effects artists Jeffrey Okun and Ken Ralston, and Arnold Kunert

Disc Two:
Remembering Earth vs. The Flying Saucers
The Hollywood Blacklist and Bernard Gordon
Tim Burton sits down with Ray Harryhausen
Interview with Joan Taylor
A present-day look at stop-motion
David Schecter on film music's unsung hero
Digital sneak peek of Flying Saucers vs. The Earth comic book
Original screenplay credits
Video photo galleries
Original Ad artwork
The Colorization process

Earth vs. The Flying Saucers

Format: DVD

Release Date: 01/15/2008

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Runtime: 83 Minutes

Sides: 2

Number of Discs: 2

Language(s) English,French,Spanish,Portuguese

Subtitles: English,French,Portuguese,Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Disc #1 -- Earth vs. The Flying Saucers
1. UFO Sighting [2:46]
2. Operation Sky Hook [2:46]
3. Stop and Evaluate [3:25]
4. Shot Down [3:25]
5. Special BBQ [4:32]
6. Rocket Number 12 [4:32]
7. UFO Landing [1:29]
8. Destroy and Capture [1:29]
9. Interstellar Conveyance [2:53]
10. The Message [2:53]
11. Calling the UFO [2:37]
12. Car Chase [2:37]
13. Boarding the UFO [2:48]
14. Between the Ticks [2:48]
15. Avoid Fighting [3:47]
16. New Weapon [3:47]
17. Function in Reality [3:03]
18. It Works [3:03]
19. Fire It Up [2:48]
20. Humanoid [2:48]
21. Decoding Their Language [3:07]
22. Super Powers [3:07]
23. Sun Spots [1:59]
24. Going Away Present [1:59]
25. Breaking Through [2:40]
26. Shot Down [2:40]
27. Falling From the Sky [3:20]
28. Present Danger Ended [3:20]

Mark Deming

While Earth vs. the Flying Saucers has been called the archetypal 1950s sci-fi movie (and with good reason), it's also a lot better than most of its competition. The story is not that different from dozens of similar movies of the era (evil aliens attack earth after lily-livered scientists refuse to believe that they're up to no good), but the leading actors (Hugh Marlowe and Joan Taylor) play the material with just the right balance of seriousness and gung-ho energy, and Fred F. Sears's direction maintains a snappy pace throughout. Ray Harryhausen's special effects alone make this movie worth a look; his flying saucers generate both dramatic tension and a "gee whiz" sense of wonder, and the climactic destruction of Washington D.C. beat Independence Day to the punch by 40 years and is also a lot more fun to watch. Earth vs. the Flying Saucers isn't much more than a B-budget science fiction story, but it's done with enough spunk, good humor, and solid craft to remind you how much fun a B-picture can be. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Paul H. Frees  Actor 
Mischa Bakaleinikoff  Composer (Music Score) 
Bernard Gordon  Screenwriter 
Sam Katzman  Executive Producer 
Charles H. Schneer  Producer 
Fred Sears  Director 
George Worthing Yates  Screenwriter 
Raymond T. Marcus  Screenwriter 
Hugh Marlowe  Actor 
Joan Taylor  Actor 
Donald Curtis  Actor 
Morris Ankrum  Actor 
John Zaremba  Actor 
Tom Browne Henry  Actor 
Grandon Rhodes  Actor 
Larry Blake  Actor 
Harry Lauter  Actor 
Charles Evans  Actor 
Clark Howat  Actor 
Frank Wilcox  Actor 
Alan Reynolds  Actor 

Country: USA