Before the Second World War, J. Edgar Hoover, and the “Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)“, kept track of all Communist activities within the United States. However, when the Soviet Union became an “ALLY“, during that war, of both the United States and the United Kingdom. For appearance, a leash was supposedly placed on the bureau’s actions against our “ALLY” for the American public’s consumption.
HOWEVER, during the same period of time, the United States Government kept telling American Citizens to consider the Soviet Union “OUR FRIENDS”.
ON SEPTEMBER 3, 1945, THAT ALL CHANGED! With the Japanese surrender ending the Second World War.
The “FBI”, and eventually “Congress”, were once again, “OFFICIALLY”, taking action against Communism. Especially, “The Communist Party, U.S.A. (CPUSA)”. Which during the war, many Americans joined, for no other reason than the United States Government told them to support “Our Ally the Soviet Union”.
This is a motion picture and television history blog.
Within Congress, two parties moved against real and perceived members of the “CPUSA” within the American Film Industry. One was Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy. The other was the “House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC)”. I look at all of this, in my other blog’s article, “MCCARTHYISM: LIGHTS, CAMERA, COMMUNISTS IN THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY”, to be read at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2025/08/mccarthyism-lights-camera-communists-in.html
This article is not about the “HUAC’S” search for “COMMUNISTS” within the American motion picture industry. My above linked article covers that issue. However, the “HUAC”S” actions during the 1950’s, frightened movie executives, because of the extreme power the “HUAC” held over their studio’s. These Executives moved their studios output to mainly what were considered “Safe Movie Genres”. Although, an occasional film slipped in, such as 1952’s, “High Noon”. Which to date, is still controversial over what was seen on-screen, and the motivations of “Blacklisted” screenplay writer Carl Foreman.
“Safe Movies” were Musicals, like 1951’s “An American in Paris”, and 1952’s “Singin’ in the Rain”, Westerns like 1953’s “Shane” and the 3-D, 1953 “Hondo”, or Biblical Epics such as 1953’s “Quo Vadas”, and 1956’s, “The Ten Commandments”.
What follows is a small look at the genre of “Science Fiction”. That was used to tell, somewhat, thought provoking stories to American’s during the “Second Red Scare”. Which, other than possible distribution of “Independently” made movies, the major studios were mostly afraid to be associated with.
The “Second Red Scare” was a “Real Fear” in 1950’s United States of a “Nuclear Attack” by the Soviet Union.Which caused, even in my elementary school, ‘Wilshire Crest”, 5241 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036 to have daily “Drop and Cover” drills. While we listened to the almost daily, testing of the “Civil Defense Air Raid Sirens“. Not to forget, those radio and television government spots about what to do, if the sirens really sounded for a pending attack. In those spots, American’s learned where to go, such as your backyard bomb shelter, a supervisor of mine still had his in 1973, but also warned American’s to be carful of your next-door-neighbor. Who might be a member of the “CPUSA” and a spy for the Soviet Union.
I begin with a motion picture that I have always enjoyed since it first came out. It has been called an excellent example of 1950’s paranoia, that:
“Depicts a realistic invasion of the US by an unnamed foreign enemy (implied USSR)”.
During the 1960’s, High Schools, and some Colleges, across the United States, actually used this motion picture in their “American History” classes. It was considered a very good teaching example of the fears in the United States during the “Second Red Scare”.
INVASION U. S. A. released on December 10, 1952
The story was by two writers.
Prague born, Franz Schutz had previously written screenplays starting in 1920 in the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. In 1933, like many Jewish participants in the film industry, with his family, Schultz left his homeland with the rise of Adolph Hitler. He immigrated first to England, and after the Second World War, immigrated with his family to the United States. Franz Schultz would use two pen names to try and cover his German sounding last name, Franz Spencer, and Franz Springer.
The second story writer, also wrote the screenplay. He was Robert Smith, who started screenplay writing in 1945, and immediately after this feature. Robert Smith was an uncredited screenplay writer on stop-motion-animator, Ray Harryhausen’s, 1953, “The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms”.
The motion picture was directed by Alfred E. Green. Part-time actor, Green, started directing in 1916. In 1950, Alfred E. Green directed baseball great, Jackie Robinson, in his fictional life story, “The Jackie Robinson Story”, co-starring Ruby Dee.
The Interesting Cast:
Gerald Mohr portrayed “Local Television News Caster, Vince Potter”. Fans of science fiction know Mohr for 1958’s, “My World Dies Screaming”, filmed in “Psycho-Rama”, and 1959’s, “The Angry Red Planet”, filmed in “Cinemagic”. My article is “GERALD MOHR: Radio, ‘B’ Movie and Television Character Actor” found at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2019/08/gerald-mohr-radio-b-movie-and.html
Peggie Castle portrayed “New York slumming socialite, Carla Sanford”. Fans of science fiction know Castle for 1957’s, “Beginning of the End”, and the “Bridey Murphy”, 1957, “Back from the Dead”. My article is “Peggy Castle, Allison Hayes, and Gloria Talbott and 1950’s Sci-Fi Movies” at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2015/04/peggie-castle-allison-hayes-and-gloria.html
Robert Bice portrayed “San Francisco based Tractor Manufacturer George Sylvester”. Bice started on-screen acting in 1943, and when the character actor finished his career in 1972, he had 247 roles to his credit.
Above left to right, Robert Bice, Peggy Castle, and Gerald Mohr
Dan O’Herlihy portrayed “Mr. Ohman, sitting away from the other bar patrons with his brandy snifter”. My reader may have recognized O’Herlihy as “The Old Man” in the original “RoboCop” series. You might know his voice as “Grig” in 1984’s, “The Last Straighter”, but he also was “Macduff” in Orson Welles’s production of William Shakespeare’s, 1948, “MacBeth”.
Wade Crosby portrayed “Illinois Congressman, Arthur V. Harrowway“. Like Robert Bice, Wade Crosby was a character actor. His face, but not his name, might be familiar to my older readers. Wade’s film career started in 1938 and ended with 95 roles in 1977.
Erik Blythe portrayed “Colorado Rancher, Ed Mulfory” (some sites list his name as “Mulford”. His film career consisted of three movies. “Invasion U.S.A.”, 1954’s, “King Richard and the Crusaders“, and 1954’s, “The Silver Chalice”. I could not locate any other information about Blythe.
Above left to right, Robert Bice, Wade Crosby, and Erik Blythe.
Phyllis Coates portrayed “Mrs. Mulfory”. Coates is best remembered for portraying “Lois Lane” for 24-episodes of television’s “The Adventures of Superman”.
Above, Phyllis Coats, and her character’s son, portrayed by the uncredited, Richard Eyer. He is best known as the genie in stop-motion-animator Ray Harryhausen’s, 1958, “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad”.
Tom Kennedy portrayed “Tim, the bartender”, far right below. He had co-starred with Glenda Farrell, and Barton MacLane, in the seven “Torchy Blaine” movies.
Above, six unrelated characters in the local bar, “Mr. Ohman”, is not in the still. .
Noel Neill portrayed the “Second Airline Ticket Taker”. Neill originated the role of “Lois Lane” on-screen in the Chapter Serial, 1948’s, “Superman”, and portrayed the role in 78 episodes of television’s “The Adventures of Superman”.
William Schallert portrayed the “Third Newscaster”. His third film was as a “Gas Station Attendant”, in 1949’s, “Mighty Joe Young”, His 8th on-screen role was the evil “Dr. Mears”, in 1951’s, “The Man from Planet X”, he was “Carver”, in 1952’s, “A Thousand Years from Now” aka: “Captive Woman”, in 1953, Schallert was “Ted Richardson”, the pilot of the hero’s rocket ship in the chapter serial, “Commando Cody: Sky Marshall of the Universe”. For 1954, William Schallert, was an ambulance driver in “THEM”. Schallert also was in seen in, 1954’s “Tobor the Great”, and “GOG”, 1957’s, “The Incredible Shrinking Man”, and of course he was the father on television’s “The Patty Duke Show”.
The above still of William Schallert portraying the “Third Newscaster”, was from a broadcast of the comedy television series, “Mystery Science Theater 3000‘s”.
Comedy, when done right, is always fun, and old movies are perfect targets.
However, “MST3K”, by the nature of their program, had taken “Invasion U. S. A.” out of the context of 1952 America and the “Second Red Scare”.
The Screenplay:
The setting is a typical New York City Bar, and the audience meets characters representing six different types of average 1952 Americans. There’s a major tractor manufacturer. Who sells his product across the United States. There’s a large rancher that supplies beef to the country from Colorado. Another character is a politician, a congressman that talks about what he and other members of the “House (HUAC?)” have done to keep America strong. You have a stereo-typical wealthy socialite. Whose life revolves around the groups she donate’s too, without really knowing who they are, and what they do. Then there is a television news anchor. Who is a major personality on a local New York City television station. Not to forget, the down to earth bar tender, and his judgment of people over his years at that bar.
Their talk in the bar is about lowering taxes, rejecting the idea of big business supporting government, and wanting a safe and secure America. There’s a major argument over military spending. While, all five bar patrons, and “Tim the Bartender”, do agree to their hatred of “Communism” and their love of American Democracy.
From his slightly hidden side of the bar, “Mr. Ohman” speaks up, as he drinks from his brandy snifter. He makes the observation that many American’s want safety and security, but do not want to sacrifice to make it happen.
Suddenly, the talk in the bar is stopped by a news story on the television set.
An unnamed enemy, (the Soviet Union ?), has just attacked both Seal Point, Alaska, and Nome (Approximately 2.5 miles from Russian Territory). Enemy paratroopers are reported on United States soil, and soon, the enemy’s plan of attack becomes clear. Civilian airfields are being captured for the enemies use, but military airfields are being destroyed by Atomic Bombs.
I know my reader may be laughing at the idea of multiple Atom Bombs being dropped on Alaska without any radioactive fallout and massive deaths. In December, 1952, the only people who truly understood the result of atomic bombs. Had experienced Hiroshima, August 6, 1945, and Nagasaki, August 8, 1945. They were our last Second World War enemy, the people’s of JAPAN!
A Break in the Screenplay for an Historical Event:
The Japanese, tuna fishing trawler, “The Lucky Dragon #5”, had been operating far outside of the “SAFE ZONE”. That the United States scientists and military had announced for the “Castle Bravo Nuclear Test“, on March 1, 1954.
However, after the conclusion of that first Hydrogen Bomb test. It appears, that no scientist, either assigned to “Castle Bravo”, or with the “United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)”, had understood the real force of an “H-Bomb”, or the size of the nuclear fallout spread, prior to the aftermath of March 1st.
I turn to my February 10, 2024 article, THE STORY OF THE 第五福龍丸, Daigo Fukuryū Maru #5, LUCKY DRAGON #5 For the following about Japanese physicist Dr. Nishiwaki, found at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2024/02/the-story-of-daigo-fukuryu-maru-5-lucky.html
According to a November 2015, article in the:
中國新間可heGhuugolu§himbum: https://www.hiroshimapeacemedia.jp/?p=53448
Reading about the incident in a newspaper ,on March 16, Dr. Nishiwaki took a night train from Osaka to Yaizu, Shizuoka Prefecture. The following day, he began collecting substances from the boat and the crew members and measuring their radiation levels.
After examining the tuna boat, he ordered that the “Lucky Dragon #5” be relocated it an isolated area.
Nishiwaki went to see the seven crew members. He discovered high levels of radiation in the men’s hair and ordered the hair be cut off. These crew members were ordered by Nishiwaki Yasushi, to be quarantined in “Yazizu North Hospital”, and their clothes buried on the hospital property.
Next, Nishiwaki Yasushi wrote a detailed letter, to the current head of the “United States Atomic Energy Commission” about the “Daigo Fukuryū Maru #5” incident, stating the seven crew members he examined, suffered from acute radiation sickness. He wanted to know how to treat them and the other members of the crew in Tokyo? Additionally, other Japanese scientists had sent letters asking the same. Not one letter writer received notification of the receipt of their letters from the “AEC”. However, two American medical students were sent to Japan.
End of article excerpt.
My point is that when the “American Pictures Corporation” feature, “Invasion U.S.A.” was released by “Colombia Pictures”, two years prior to “Castle Bravo”. Everyone in the United States was still unaware of what an atomic bomb could actually do, and that was left to the imagination of the science fiction screenplay writer. When, 1954’s, “THEM” was released, three-months after “Castle Bravo”. The idea of residual radiation, that affected the crew of the “Lucky Dragon #5”, was still not settled and was left to science fiction writers. In 1956, the stars, including John Wayne, Susan Hayward, Agnes Moorehead, and Pedro Armendariz, the director, actor Dick Powell, and crew, of producers Howard Hughes’s, “The Conqueror”, along with the American’s living down wind of the Nevada Test Site in St. George, Utah, developed cancer. This included the children of pregnant mothers, yet born, in St. George.
Returning to the Screenplay:
In the screenplay, the United States is fighting the enemy with Convair B-36 Peacemaker’s.
However, the “Enemy” is moving south into Washington State, and Oregon. Shipyards around Puget Sound were hit with atomic bombs that caused massive casualties.
Meanwhile, the patrons in “Tim’s” bar scramble to see what they can do against the enemy attack. “Vince” heads to the television studio, “Carla” suddenly realizes that her “Donations” had no meaning to her. “Carla” tells “Vince” that she’s going to make contact with her social friends and see what they can do to help the “Red Cross”. “Vince” and “Carla” seem to have formed a romantic relationship under the pressure of the events.
“George Sylvester” books a private plane back to San Francisco, and is joined by “Ed Mulfroy”.
Who is getting a lift by “Sylvester”, to a connecting plane in San Francisco, to take him to Colorado and his wife and son.
While, “Congressman Arthur Harroway” heads for Washington, D.C.
Next the audience finds out what happens to each person.
The “George” and “Ed” find out there are no planes leaving San Francisco anymore. So, “Ed” hires the cab to take him home.
After “Ed” leaves, “George” finds himself caught in the “Battle for San Francisco”, between enemy troops and American. In his office, “George Sylvester” is shot and killed by the enemy. Who later drop an Atomic Bomb on the city.
In Washington D.C., “Congressman Arthur V. Harroway” is killed along with the entire membership of the “House of Representatives” by enemy soldiers having overrun the capital.
Having returned to Colorado and refueled the cab. The cab now leaves with “Ed Mulfloy”, his wife, and son as passengers. The cab arrives at Boulder Dam, but the dam is hit by an Atomic Bomb, causing flood waters to cover the cab and its occupants.
Enemy soldiers dressed as American’s are patrolling the streets of New York City. They now find “Vince” and “Carla” in her apartment, and put the two under guard.
“Vince” is taken to the back wall of “Carla’s” apartment house and executed. While, she is left alone with two enemy soldiers who are deciding which one gets to rape “Carla” first.
Instead, she jumps out of an open wind to what should be her death, but – – – –
INSTEAD the picture starts to spin and she is superimposed on a background of brandy in “Mr. Ohman’s” brandy glass and everyone is back in “Tim’s” bar.
All five, “Vince”, “Carla”, “George”, “Ed”, and “Arthur”, had been hypnotized by “Mr. Ohman” to show them what might happen, IF THE COUNTRY DOES NOT IMPROVE THE STRENGTH OF OUR MILITARY. They all leave the bar deciding to do what they each can, and “Vince” and “Carla” will keep their new romance going.
The screenplay writers had used America’s fear of the “Second Red Scare” to subliminally preach to the audience to back bringing America’s1 military to its pre-Second World War levels. My reader must understand that the United States was still 7-months away from the end of the “United Nations Police Action” aka: “The Korean War”. When this feature film was released.
Between 1951 and 1952, three motion pictures were released. The three went one stop further than most other pieces of science fiction during the “Second Red Scare” and crossed into a motion picture taboo that was a product of the 1934, “Motion Picture Code” and enforced by Joseph Breen of the “Hays Censorship Office”.
These three movies asked the religious question:
WHAT IF GOD BECAME INVOLVED WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THE TOTAL NUCLEAR DESTRUCTION OF THE EARTH?
THE NEXT VOICE YOU HEAR premiered in New York City on June 29, 1950
The screenplay was bases upon George Summer Albee’s, 1948 short story in “Cosmopolitan Magazine”. The screenplay was written by Charles Schnee, he co-wrote Howard Hawks’s, 1948, “Red River”, and was the main writer on 1952’s, “Hollywood Expose”, “The Bad and the Beautiful”.
William “Wild Bill” Wellman directed, and had just made 1949’s, “Battleground”. Wellman was the first director to win the “Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences”,“Best Director, Oscar” for 1927’s, “Wings”. My article is “WILLIAM A. ‘WILD BILL’ WELLMAN: 3 with JOHN WAYNE: ‘ISLAND IN THE SKY’, ‘THE HIGH AND THE MIGHTY’, and ‘BLOOD ALLEY” at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2017/07/william-wild-bill-wellman-3-with-john.html
James Whitmore portrayed “Joe Smith, American”. Whitmore was two years away from the classic science fiction feature, “THEM!”. He had already appeared in director John Huston’s classic crime story, 1950’s, “The Asphalt Jungle”, and William Wellman’s, 1949, “Battleground”. My article is, “JAMES WHITMORE: World War 2, Film-Noir, Musicals, Science Fiction, Racial Prejudice, Westerns and President Harry Truman” found for your enjoyment all:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2021/05/james-whitmore-world-war-2-film-noir.html
Nancy Davis portrayed “Mrs. Mary Smith”. Actress Davis would be called to appear in front of the “HUAC”, but they had the wrong Nancy Davis. She went to the President of the “Screen Actors Guild” for help, and he wrote to the committee and straightened out her situation. In two-years, Nancy Davis married the “SAG President”, Ronald Reagan and eventually she would become “The First Lady of the United States”.
Gary Gray portrayed “Johnny Smith”. Gray’s first feature film was 1941’s, “A Woman’s Face”, he was five-years-old. His last appearance either on television or motion pictures was the forgotten Western, 1962’s “Terror at Black Falls”.
Lillian Bronson portrayed “Aunt Ethel”. Bronson was mainly an uncredited character actress in motion pictures. Her roles included the classic 1944, “Gaslight”, and the same years, “The Invisible Man’s Revenge”. While her credited role included “Aunt Addie” in the Judy Garland and Van Johnson, 1949, “In the Good Old Summertime”, and “Pepite” in 1951’s, “Sword of Monte Christo”. Not to forget her next to last role, and 187th, as “Mrs. Nussbaum”, on television’s “Happy Days”, in 1975.
Above left to right, James Whitmore, Nancy Davis, Gary Gray, and Lillian Bronson.
The Screenplay:
The audience now meets the perfect “President Harry Truman” American Family.
“Joe Smith” works in an aircraft factory, “Mary” is pregnant with their next child. An interesting biblical reference to “Joseph” and “Mary” in the “New Testament”.
The “Smith’s” life is idealistic Americana, as if there isn’t a “Second Red Scare”, or the civil defense drills that American’s were going through at the time.
Also, the Soviet Union, a major part of the original story, is not mentioned at all. In fact, all references to the political world situation from 1946 into 1950 is absent. Although both politics and the Kremlin were major aspects of the original story. I should mention that the “Korean War” started four-days after this movies release.
This was Producer Dore Schary’s, the chief of production at “Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer”, pet production. He was able to make it, by promising a very small budget to his bosses. That ended at $421,000, 1951 dollars, equal at this writing to $5,728, 2026 dollars.
One evening, at exactly 8:30 PM, “Joe Smith”, is listening to his radio. Suddenly, his regular radio program is interrupted by a voice. After listening to the voice, he goes and tells his wife, “Mary”, that he heard a voice on the radio claiming to be “GOD”!
She is at first skeptical of the idea that “God” would speak to her husband over their radio, but after she hears the voice, at exactly 8:30 PM, “Mary Smith” believes.
“Joe’s” atheist boss, “Fred Brannan”, portrayed by Art Smith, derides such nonsense of “Joe” hearing “God” over a kitchen table radio. However, the voice is next heard across the world in every language at exactly 8:30 PM.
“Joe” now experiences changes in his life, and recognizes what “God’s” message is to “Humanity”. We all need to “Slow Down”, and recognize the small miracles in people’s everyday life.
The film ends at “Joe’s” church, as the entire congregation awaits:
“THE NEXT VOICE YOU HEAR”- – – –
– – – – and another message on the radio, from”God”, at exactly 8:30 PM.
For the difference between what was seen on-screen, and what was read in “Cosmopolitan Magazine“. I turn to the following excerpt from a review, without a date, in the magazine. My reader will find this information on the “Wikipedia” page for the motion picture at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Next_Voice_You_Hear…
The review mentions that the story:
was published in the August 1948 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine. The story differs from the film in several key aspects, as it mainly focuses on the reaction of the general public rather than that of an ordinary American family. The story includes God’s exact words, which are not heard in the film. The resistance to believe in a divine source leads atheist organizations, university pro fessors and the Kremlin to loudly protest, with the Soviets accusing the West of a capitalist conspiracy. God responds by causing miracles to occur around the globe, each 50 miles apart. When some cynics continue to protest and refuse to believe, God performs the ultimate miracle by submerging Australia underwater for one minute.
A major studio, “20th Century Fox” would release the next motion picture I want to mention, but unknown to the audience, several important pieces of dialogue were removed related to the main character and the ending changed.
THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL premiered in New York City on September 18, 1951
In 1940, science fiction writer Harry Bates published his novelette, “Farewell to the Master”. The story is told from the viewpoint of a freelance photo journalist, “Cliff Sutherland”. He is present when a “curving ovoid” ships suddenly appears on the grounds of the United States capital in Washington, D. C. For two days it just sits there, and then two figures emerge. One is a “God-like” person “in Human Form”, and the other an 8-foot tall robot. The humanoid finally speaks:
“I AM, KLAATU AND THIS IS GNUT”
I will return to the Bates story at the end of the section.
Edmund H. North wrote the screenplay. Among his work is 1950’s, “Young Man with a Horn”, inspired by the life of Jazz cornetist Bix Beiderbecke, the historical Western, 1955’s, “The Far Horizons”, inspired by the Louis and Clarke expedition, 1960’s “Sink the Bismarck!”, the chase for the German battleship Bismarck, and 1970’s, “Patton”, the biography of General George Patton.
The motion picture was directed by Robert Wise. Wise had just filmed the overlooked film-noir crime mystery, 1951’s, “The House on Telegraph Hill”. I have two looks at the career of film editor and director Robert Wise for my reader.
My first article is “Orson Welles and Robert Wise: The Making of 1941’s ‘Citizen Kane’,. and 1942’s, “The Magnificent Ambersons” to read at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2025/09/orson-welles-and-robert-wise-making-of.html
My second article is “Director Robert Wise: Horror, Science Fiction and the Greek Homer” found at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2020/01/director-robert-wise-horror-science.html
Michael Rennie portrayed “Klaatu”. Rennie had just been in director Otto Preminger’s, 1951, “The 13th Letter”, co-starring with Linda Darnell, and Charles Boyer. He followed this feature film with the time-traveling fantasy, “The House in the Square” aka: “I’ll Never Forget You”, co-starring with Tyrone Power and Ann Blyth.
Patricia Neal portrayed “Helen Benson”. This was only Patricia Neal’s third year of on screen acting, but she had already co-starred with Ronald Reagan and Richard Todd, in the World War 2 drama, 1949’s, “The Hasty Heart”, and in the same year’s production of Ayn Rand’s, “The Fountainhead”, co-starring with Gary Cooper and Raymond Massey. In 1950, it was, “Bright Leaf”, again co-starring with Gary Cooper. Just prior to this role, Neal was 1951’s, “Operation Pacific”, co-starring with John Wayne.
Hugh Marlowe was “Tom Stevens”. Marlowe, like Michael Rennie, had been acting since 1936. Prior to this picture, some of his work included co-starring with Gregory Peck in the 1949 War drama “Twelve O’Clock High”, 1950’s, “All About Eve”, starring Bette Davis, Anne Baxter and George Sanders, and the 1951 Western “Rawhide” co-starring with Tyrone Power and Susan Hayward. After this film, Hugh Marlowe was in two very good 1956 Science Fiction motion pictures, “World Without End” and the “Earth vs the Flying Saucers”.
Sam Jaffee portrayed “Professor Jacob Barnhardt”. Jaffee had actually appeared in a 1916 silent short, but his acting career didn’t begin until 1934, in “The Scarlet Empress”, starring Marlene Dietrich. In 1937, the actor was the “High Lama” in director Frank Capra’s version of the James Hilton’s novel “Lost Horizon”, starring Ronald Coleman and Jane Wyatt. Sam Jaffee followed that film with director George Stevens’s, 1939, “Gunga Din”, in the title role. The film starred Cary Grant, Joan Fontaine, Victor McLagen and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. However, most of my generation knew Jaffee as “Dr. David Zorba” in 127 episodes of television’s “Ben Casey”, starring Vince Edwards.
Billy Gray portrayed “Bobby Benson”. Although he was seen in motion pictures since 1943. My generation knew Billy Gray as “Bud Anderson” as part of Robert Young and Jane Wyatt’s family on television’s “Father Knows Best” for 196 episodes.
An Overview of Screenplay
The basic story starts with reports of a flying saucer circling the Earth, and causing panic and fear in countries around the Earth. The saucer lands in Washington, D.C. and is immediately surrounded by the Army with tanks and foot soldiers with M-1 rifles, but the saucer just sits there and nothing happens for hours upon hours..
Meanwhile, the news media swarms around the soldiers with their equipment,, and seemingly thousands of people living in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding areas have come to stare at the flying saucer. The saucer just sits, doing absolutely nothing, for hours upon hours.
As people keep watching the flying saucer, and bored television and radio news crews interview them staring at the saucer. The crowd speculates about the OUTER SPACE VISITOR. The viewers are stunned, as a ramp starts to appear from the flying saucer’s side, that seemed solid without seams. This is followed by the appearance on a man in a space suit. He stands for a moment, and then starts down the ramp.
The space man brings his right hand up, and is holding an object. As he continues down the ramp with the object in his hand, and onto the grass area around the saucer. A shot, by a frightened soldier, is fired, and the alien falls to the ground breaking the object.
Suddenly, everyone notices a large robot standing at the saucer’s door like opening. The robot responds by shooting a ray that melts the tanks, and M-1 rifles in the frightened soldiers hands. The foot soldiers drop their weapons as others jump from their tanks. The alien speaks to the robot, it stops the ray, and just stands in one spot, immovable.
The alien tells a soldier that the broken object was a present for his President. It would have allowed him to:
study the life on other planets
The alien is taken to Walter Reed Hospital were his wound astounds doctors by immediately heals after he puts a slave, he has, on it. In his Army, top security, guarded room, the alien meets with a United States Government Official, and the audience learns that the alien is named “Klaatu” and the robot is “Gort”, not “Gnut”.
“Klaatu” wants to meet with all the World’s leaders to deliver a message. He is told that in the current “Second Red Scare/Cold War” environment in the United States, that is impossible, but it might be arranged for the “Visitor” to meet the President of the United States. After checking that the tight security of the alien’s room is in full place, the Government Official leaves, knowing the alien visitor cannot leave it.
The next scene is of “Klaatu”, dressed in American male Earth clothing, walking the streets of Washington, D.C. The top Army Security did not keep him in his room. “Klaatu” had noticed a name, “Carpenter”, on the suitcase he found in the hospital, that contained the clothing he is now wearing.
He next sees a sign for a room to rent at a boarding house. In the following morning, “Mr. Carpenter”, meets the other boarders at a political talk feast breakfast with many unsubstantiated theories.
“Klaatu” listens, as the other boarders discuss the flying saucer, and its escaped occupant. It is obvious “THEY KNEW” where the occupant really came from, with dialogue implying, without saying the country’s name, the Soviet Union. To these American’s, the alien is really a Russian agent. Later, “Mr. Carpenter” meets “Mrs. Benson” and her son “Bobby”.
“Tom Stevens”, “Helen Benson’s” boyfriend, arrives, and wants to take her out. The problem is, who will “Baby Sit Bobby”? “Mr. Carpenter” offers to do it, and after “Tom” tells “Helen” he thinks it should be fine. “Mr. Carpenter” and “Bobby Benson” leave for some sightseeing. As “Mr. Carpenter” has never been to Washington, D.C. “Bobby” takes “Klaatu” on a tour and the two visit Arlington National Cemetery. “Klaatu” is in disbelief at the amount of all the graves for the men who died in war, including “Bobby’s” father.
“Klaatu” needs Earth money to purchase things, and he gives “Bobby” diamonds for his dollars. “Bobby” wants to see the flying saucer, and the two go and visit the heavily surrounded craft. They notice that “Gort”, has not moved one inch, from the moment “Klaatu” had him stop destroying the army weapons.
“Klaatu” asks “Bobby”, whom he thinks is the greatest living person, and the boy replies “Professor Barnhardt”. Which is the view of his mother. The two go to “Barnhardt’s” house, and look in through a glass porch door. It appears locked to “Bobby”, but “Klaatu” just opens it. Inside, they find a very major mathematic formula on a blackboard that the Professor is working upon. After studying the equations, “Klaatu” says that “Professor Barnhardt” has it all wrong. “Klaatu” starts erasing some of the calculcations and replacing “Barnhardt’s” figures in some places, finishing the calculation. The housekeeper appears, and wants to erase the blackboard additions. However, “Klaatu” tells her not to do that, as “Professor Barnhardt” will want to meet him and gives her his address.
Everyone at the boarding house is surprised when a military officer comes to take their new boarder to see “Professor Barnhardt”. The military officer is waiting, as ordered, outside of “Barnhardt’s” room that contains the blackboard. “Klaatu” identifies himself, and the astounded Professor tells the military officer that he knows this man, and asks him to leave.
“Klaatu” tells “Barnhardt” of his mission, to give a message to the World’s leaders. Should they ignore him, then:
THE EARTH WILL BE ELIMINATED!
“Barnhardt” asks if such a power really exists? “Klaatu” calmly replies, “YES!”
The Professor next asks if a group of the World’s leading scientists, who happen to be meeting in Washington, D.C., would do instead of the World’s leaders? “Klaatu” agrees, but “Professor Barnhardt” says a demonstration needs to be done to get the Scientists attention, but not harm anyone. The alien thinks the Professor poses an interesting request, then tells hm, it will happen at noon in two days, and leaves the Professor’s home.
Now things move very fast.
While, “Klaatu” and “Barnhardt” were talking. Back at the boarding house, “Bobby” tells his mother, and “Tom”, about all he and “Mr. Carpenter” did that day. Then he tells them about exchanging dollars for diamonds. The two do not believe him, but after he shows them the diamonds. “Tom” believes the new boarder might be an international criminal and the military came to arrest him.
Meanwhile, “Klaatu” leaves the boarding house, unknowingly being followed by “Bobby”/ The boy watches “Klaatu” contact “Gort” with a flashlight and the door panel opens. “Klaatu”, next enters the open flying saucer to arrange the demonstration. To avoid being seen by “Mr. Carpenter”, “Bobby” runs back to the boarding house, and tells his disbelieving mother and “Tom” all he witnessed. Both tell “Bobby”, he must have been sleeping, and just had a realistic bad dream. However, ” Tom Stevens”, is now thinking of the diamonds, and how rich he could become by selling them.
Two days later, “Tom” takes the diamonds from “Bobby’s” room, and goes to a local jeweler for an appraisal. He learns that the diamonds are too perfect, and not known on Earth. Increasing “Tom’s” suspicions about the new boarder.
“Klaatu” goes to “Helen Benson’s” work, meets her, and suggests they take a service elevator, as he has something private to tell her.
They enter the elevator, and it starts down, “Suddenly”, it just stops and she pushes the first floor button again. Calmly, “Klaatu” asks “Helen” what time it is? She replies 12-noon.
He next informs her that they will be there for a short while, and replying to her questioning glance? “Klaatu”, reveals who he is, and asks for “Helen’s” help in carrying out his mission.
This is now, “THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL”, because “Klaatu’s” demonstration has cut off all of the electricity the World depends upon.
“Professor Jacob Barnhardt’s” had requested a non-harmful demonstration and “Helen” is told it will last for 30 minutes. Except that airplanes in flight, hospitals, and other emergency needed equipment will function normally.
After “Klaatu’s” mission is explained to “Helen”, and power is restored. She goes home, and unexpectedly, finds “Tom” at the boarding house.
“Tom” has called the authorities to report that he knows were they can find the alien. After telling “Helen”, how rich he will be, from the diamonds, and, how famous he will be, for helping capture “Klaatu”. She breaks up with him, and leaves the boarding house to warn “Klaatu”. As she walks out, he drives up in a cab.
“Helen” joins “Klaatu”, and the two leave in the cab for “Professor Barnhardt’s” meeting at the flying saucer.
In the cab, “Klaatu” tells “Helen” that should something happen to him. She must go to “Gort” and say that famous line:
GORT, KLAATU BARADA NITKO
Or, the robot will start destroying everything on Earth.
The cab driver notices a military jeep following him, and “Klaatu” gets out, and starts to run away, but is shot. The dying alien tells “Helen” to go to “Gort”.
“Helen” avoids the military guard, and goes to the robot, and says the words given to her by “Klaatu”. The robot, who was encased in some form of a clear restraining material, now comes alive, melts the material, picks her up, and enters the flying saucer. Next, the robot leaves “Helen” in the flying saucer, and goes to find the body of “Klaatu”. “Gort” returns to the saucer with the body, and using a machine, as “Helen” stands mystified, appears to have brought “Klaatu” back to life.
When questioned about being brought back to life. “Klaatu” explains this is only a temporary return.
“Professor Barnhart’s” colleagues have assembled at the flying saucer. As they watch, the door-like panel slides open, and “Gort”, Helen”, and “Klaatu” exit.
Standing on the saucer, “Klaatu” delivers his “WARNING TO THE PEOPLE OF THE PLANET EARTH!”
“Klaatu” proceeds to tell the assembled worldwide scientists, that the other planets have created a robotic police force, and “Gort” is one of them.
Adding:
IN MATTERS OF AGGRESSION, WE HAVE GIVEN THEM ABSOLUTE POWER OVER US.
He continues his warning and ends it with:
YOUR CHOICE IS SIMPLE: JOINS US AND LIVE IN PEACE, OR PURSUE YOUR PRESENT COURSE AND FACE OBLITERATION. WE SHAL BE WAITING FOR YOUR ANSWER.
“Gort”, and “Klaatu”, re-enter the flying saucer, and it takes off leaving those assembled to ponder the future of Earth,
According to a quote by Edmund H. North, in Melvin E. Matthews’s book: “Hostile Aliens, Hollywood and Today’s News: 1950s Science Fiction Films and 9/11“:
– – – – my private little joke. I never discussed this angle with Blaustein (the picture’s producer) or Wise because I didn’t want it expressed. I had originally hoped that the Christ comparison would be subliminal.”
That “Private Joke” was to turn “Klaatu” into The Second Coming of Jesus Christ?
In the original screenplay, “Klaatu” is portrayed as the “Biblical Second Coming of Jesus. However, the twist North used was to have nobody realize who he actually was, creating a problem for “Jesus” to deliver his MESSAGE OF PEACE TO THE ENTIRE WORLD.
North simply turned America’s “SECOND RED SCARE FEARS” against the “Biblical Jesus’s Return”. Causing American’s not to recognize him. This is really shown in the breakfast sequence at the boarding house.
Some clues as to who “Klaatu” really was:
“Klaatu” is mentioned, at one point, as not coming from “Outer Space“, but “THE HEAVENS“.
When he leaves Walter Reed Hospital, “Klaatu” takes the name of “ John Carpenter“, found on the suitcase he gets his clothes from. Jesus was a CARPENTER. JOHN was a disciple, and a little stretch in Edmund North’s joke. The initials for both Jesus Christ and John Carpenter are “J.C.”.
Like Jesus, “Klaatu” goes out among the multitude. In this case the other rooming house borders, who do not recognize him.
“Tom Stevens” is the “Judas” character in the film. Instead of pieces of silver to turn Jesus over to the Romans. We have diamonds to turn “Klaatu” over to the Army.
Like the Rabbi’s and Roman’s interpreting the actions of Jesus as a threat. The United States Government and the Army interpret the actions of “Klaatu” as a threat.
Then there’s “Klaatu” returning to life. That sequence as originally shot got to both Joseph Breen of the “Hayes Censorship Office”, and Darryl F. Zanuck, the head of “20th Century Fox”:
The impression was given that “Klaatu” had power over life and death. Similar to some “New Testament”references to Jesus’s acts, such as raising Lazarus from the dead. Robert Wise argued, against the rewrite and reshoot, but and lost.
That scene was re-shot at the request of the “Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)“. The new scene had “Helen” asking “Klaatu” IF “GORT” had unlimited power over life and death? To which “Klaatu” now responded to her question that:
THAT POWER IS RESERVED TO THE ALMIGHTY SPIRIT
Lastly, we can not overlook the set up for “Klaatu’s” warning to the gathered scientists. Robert Wise has Michael Rennie standing on the flying saucer looking down on the group. This is Robert Wise’s version of “The Sermon on the Mount”.
Once again, keeping in your mind the year and the fears of America, IF you’ve never thought of “The Day the Earth Stood Still” in this biblical way. Watch it again!
I said I would return to the novelette “Farewell to the Master”, SPOILER ALERT:
In the novel, “Klaatu” seems to have died and “Grut” is attempting to recreate him once more. As the space craft prepares to leave, and a new “Klaatu” is about to arise. “Sutherland” tells the robot, to tell his “Master”, “Klaatu”, that his original death was an accident. “Grut” informs “Sutherland” that he is wrong, because:
“I AM THE MASTER”, and the space craft leaves Earth.
Ever since English writer, Percy Greg wrote the first science fiction novel about the planet Mars, “Across the Zodiac”, published in 1880. That told the tale of the first space flight to the planet and a Martian War. People have been interested in the “Red Planet”. Probably the most known science fiction novel is still, Herbert George “H. G.” Wells’s, 1898, “War of the Worlds”. Although, American’s may be very familiar with Edgar Rice Burrough’s series of novels about Civil War Veteran, “John Carter”, started in 1917 with “Princes of Mars”, or Ray Bradbury’s, 1950, “The Martian Chronicles”.
However, I am not writing about Martian Invasions, or life, but the “Second Red Scare”, and the element of “God” in the tale.
THE RED PLANET MARS released May 15, 1952
John L. Balderston was both a playwright and a screenplay writer. Perhaps you’re familiar with some of his screenplays, 1931’s, “Dracula”, 1931’s, “Frankenstein”, and 1932’s, “The Mummy”? Balderson was a reporter and was there when “King Tut’s Tomb” was opened. In 1932, Balderston wrote a play entitled “The Red Planet”, and it opened on Broadway, at the “Cort Theatre”, December 17, 1932. What this original play was about, I could not find any description. However, he rewrote the play, that had originally been co-written by playwright John Hoare, into a “Red Scare” 1950’s screenplay with a few twists. My article is “John L. Balderston: Writing Classic Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction Screenplays” found at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2022/08/john-l-balderston-writing-classic.html
The motion picture was directed by Harry Horner, a two-time “Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Art Director Oscar” winner for director William Wyler’s, 1949, “The Heiress”, and director Robert Rosen’s, 1961, “The Hustler”. As a film director, this was Horner’s first motion picture.
Peter Graves portrayed “Chris Cronyn”. Graves had just been on the western, 1951’s, “Fort Defiance”, co-starring with Dane Clark and Ben Johnson. He followed this feature with two forgotten television appearances, but his next feature film was as the Nazi plant in a German World War 2 prisoner of war camp, in 1953’s, “Stalag 17”. In 1988, Peter Graves was first seen as “Jim Phelps”, in the first of 35-episodes of televisions, “Mission Impossible”.
Andrea King portrayed “Linda Cronyn”. Back in 1946, King co-starred with Robert Alda, and Peter Lorre, in writer Curt SIodmak’s, “The Beast with Five Fingers”. Otherwise, she turned to television appearances on a variety of program types.
Herbert Berghof portrayed “Franz Calder”. Austrian-Hungarian actor Berghof had just been seen in the excellent true spy story, 1952’s, “Five Fingers”, co-starring James Mason, and Michael Rennie. He followed this picture with the Tyrone Power and Patricia Neal, 1952, film-noir thriller, “Diplomatic Courier”.
Walter Sande portrayed “Admiral Bill Carey“. Character actor Sande, had just been seen in the 1952, historical drama, “Mutiny”, set during the “War of 1812”, starring Mark Stevens, Angela Lansbury, and Patrick Knowles. He followed this feature with the Audie Murphy and Faith Domergue western, 1952’s, “The Duel at Silver Creek”.
Marvin Miller portrayed “Arjenian”. The voice of “Robby the Robot” in 1956’s,”Forbidden Planet”, “Michael Anthony” for 206-episodes of television’s “The Millionaire”, 1955-1960, and 14-episodes of televisions “Space Patrol”, had just been in the Ronald Reagan, Rhonda Fleming, and Nigel Bruce, 1952. adventure, “Hong Kong”. My article is “Marvin Miller: The Actor Who Voice ‘Robby the Robot’, Japanese Science Fiction and More!” to read at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2020/11/marvin-miller-actor-who-voiced-robby.html
The Basic John Balderston Updated Story:
Using a hydrogen powered radio transmitter, based upon the work of Nazi scientist, “Franz Calder”, husband and wife astronomers, “Chris” and “Linda Cronyn” have been able to photograph the surface of the “Red Planet Mars”.
However, as they look at photographs taken on different days. The couple discovers what seems to be large-scale environmental changes to the planet’s surface. Which could only be caused by “Intelligent Life” farming the planet’s surface.
To the surprise of “Chris” and “Linda”, a message is received, but it was in some form of code. It took time for the two to figure out the code and apply it to that first message, but the two eventually do that. Next, the “Cronyn’s” attempt to communicate with whomever sent it. They start by asking the “sender” the value of “Pi”, and receive the correct answer. This is followed by other mathematical questions, and finally actual questions about life on “Mars” All leading to “Chris” and “Linda’s” realization that the “Martian’s” understand English perfectly.
They reveal their discoveries to other scientists, and that leads to United States government and military involvement.
This all leads to being told, by the “Martians”, that the planet is an “Utopia”, WITHOUT FEAR OF NUCLEAR WAR. (The main fear in the United States during the “Second Red Scare”).
This last “Martian” revelation shakes up the government and military of the United States, along with major industry and agriculture The result is both political and economic chaos in the entire Western Hemisphere and spilling into Europe and Asia.
As a government official responds to that message. This news has:
“done more to smash the democratic world in the last four weeks than the Russians have been able to do in eleven years”
(Note: 1952, the year of the movies release, minus 11-years, brings the audience back to 1941. When the United States had to appear to stop all “FBI” tracking of “Communist Activity” within the United States, because we were now “ALLIES” with the Soviet Union).
The “President of the United States” orders a complete NEWS BLACKOUT of any information related to “Mars” and the work of the “Croyn’s”. He also orders that all transmissions from the Earth to Mars to be stopped, OUT OF FEAR, that the Soviet Union is able to decode the “Martian Transmissions”.
Both “Executive Orders” are put into effect, UNTIL – – – –
Another message comes from “Mars”, is decoded, and shock reigns across the Earth:
THE EARTH IS CONDEMNED TO CONSTANT FEAR OF NUCLEAR WAR. AS PUNISHMENT FROM STRAYING FROM THE BIBLE!
Revolution sweeps the world, the Soviet Union is replace with a “Theocracy”, met with celebration in the streets of the United States, and the United Kingdom
Next, “Franz Calder” appears at “Chris” and “Linda’s” laboratory, produces a hand gun, and at gunpoint, informs them that all the messages from “Mars” have really come from him.
He had a laboratory high in the Andes mountains, funded by the Soviet Union. However, his transmitter was destroyed in an avalanche. To support what he is saying, “Calder” shows the two his transmission log.
“Linda’ raises the question of the religious messages, and “Calder” turns contemptuous. He says it was the United States government that forced him to send those, that they had made up. Which he decided to transmit, because he wanted to see the destruction of the Soviet Union.
What “Franz Calder” doesn’t know, is that “Chris” and “Linda” verified the religious message as not a hoax, but real from “Mars”. However, they also know that if “Calder’s” claim is heard, the whole world will believe him and the peace that now exists will be no more.
Unseen by “Calder”, “Chris” has opened the value to the hydrogen supply for the transmitter. He tells “Linda” to leave, but instead, she asks her husband for a cigarette.
“Chris” looks at “Linda”, and says that in all their years together, he has never seen her smoke. They both know that the tiny spark from lighting the cigarette will cause the entire laboratory to explode. However, before “Chris” can use his lighter, a message from “Mars” starts to come through. This further enrages “Franz Calder”, who fires his pistol at the transmitter/receiver screen, causing the hydrogen to explode killing all three.
Later, the “President of the United States” reads to the entire world that decoded unfinished message.
“YOU HAVE DONE WELL MY GOOD – – – -“
It is obvious to the entire religious world what the missing words are. Add them, and the message reads:
“YOU HAVE DONE WELL, MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANTS”
The last message is the “Parable of the Talents”, found in the “New Testament” in either “The Gospel of Mathew”, or “The Gospel of Luke”.
I move my article away from “Soviet Troops” on the streets of America, and American’s turning to religion for comfort during the “Second Red Scare”.
Between 1932 and 1949, he was known around the world for his short animated films featuring puppets. In 1950, he moved to “Politics” and the “Second Red Scare”.
I am speaking about “PRODUCER GEORGE PAL”.
My article is “A FAN REMEMBERS GEORGE PAL: From ‘Puppetoons’ to ‘Doc Savage, Man of Bronze”, at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2017/07/a-fan-remembers-george-pal-from.html
His first live action feature broke his 17-year-old mold:
DESTINATION MOON premiered in New York City on June 27, 1950
The screenplay was loosely based upon a novel by science fiction writer Robert Anson Heinlein. “Rocket Ship Gallieo”, was published on May 1, 1947. The author, revised and adapted the basic story into his screenplay for 1950’s, “Destination Moon”.
Alford Van Ronkel, billed as Rip Van Ronkel, was the first co-writer. This was his first screenplay, and his total output would only be 11-screenplays through 1973.
That was not the case with the third screenplay writer, James O’Hanion. O’Hanion would write, or co-write 40-screenplays between 1942 and 1969. His titles included the two musicals, 1945’s, “The Ziegfeld Follies”, and 1946’s, “The Harvey Girls”, both with Judy Garland. In 1953, it was the Doris Day and Howard Keel, musical, “Calamity Jane”. Not to say, O’Hanion didn’t do drama, among that work are 1952’s, “The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima”, and producer George Pal’s, 1955, “Conquest of Space”.
The motion picture was directed by Irving Pichel. Pichel was both an actor and director. His acting work included “Fagin” in the 1933 version of Charles Dickens’s, “Oliver Twist”, “Apollodorus” in Cecil B. DeMiles, 1934, “Cleopatra”, and “Sandor”, in 1936’s, “Dracula’s Daughter”. While his work as a director included producer Merian C. Cooper’s, 1932, “The Most Dangerous Game”, starring Joel McCrea, Fay Wray, and Leslie Banks, and, Merian C. Cooper’s, 1935 version of British author, H. Rider Haggard’s, “SHE”, starring Helen Gahagan, Randolph Scott, Helen Mack, and Nigel Bruce.
The Four Leading Roles:
John Archer portrayed “Jim Barnes”. Archer was a solid supporting actor, and at this time, he was married to actress Marjorie Lord. Who television audiences knew as Danny Thomas’s wife on “The Danny Thomas Show” aka: “Make Room for Daddy”, 1953-1964.
Warner Anderson portrayed “Dr. Carl Cargraves”. Anderson was another solid supporting actor, and among his films was the first motion picture about the making of the Atomic Bomb, 1947’s, “The Beginning or the End”.
Dick Wesson (Robert Lewis Wesson) portrayed “Joe Sweeney”. This was the first film for the comedian turned actor. Over his career he would appear in 33-movies, write 15, direct 3, and produce 5.
Above left to right, Warner Anderson, DickWesson, and John Archer.
Tom Powers portrayed “General Thayer”. Powers was another solid supporting actor. Powers had been seen on-screen since 1911 in the short western, “The Sheriff’s Friend”, he was the sheriff. He had just been seen in the Randolph Scott, Dorothy Malone, and Forest Tucker western, 1950’s, “The Nevadan”.,
Above left to right, John Archer, Tom Powers, and Warner Anderson.
The Pre-Screenplay:
First a quick look at Robert A. Heinlein’s “Rocket Ship Galileo”. This was the first of the author’s “Juvenile Science Fiction”. The story, set right after the Second World War, tells of three teenage rocket experimenters. One of the teen’s uncle, is “Dr. Cargraves”, a renowned physicist, who worked on “The Manhattan Project”.
He has the three rebuild and convert, with a nuclear engine, an old mail rocket. While building the rocket, there are enemy agents from an unnamed country trying to stop them. The three teens arrive on the moon and declare it for the “United Nations”, but as the story progresses. The boys discover there is already another base, one under a group of undefeated “Nazi’s”. That are responsible for the previous attacks on the three and their rocket ship. Later, they will discover evidence of a lunar civilization.
After this movie became a major science fiction hit. Robert A. Heinlein wrote a story based upon his 1950 motion picture screenplay, and that story, and another by him. Which he wrote for himself, about making the movie, were combined and published in 2013 as, “Destination Moon and Shooting Destination Moon”.
The Screenplay:
Which is a Reflection of the Politics of Robert A. Heinlein, at the time, and apparently George Pal‘s also.
The United States has a rocket program still going after the Second World War ended. However, when the latest test rocket fails. Congress cuts off funding, as such a project is deemed unnecessary. However, the Soviet Union, not mentioned by name, is still working on their own rocket program.
“Army General Thayer”, and rocket enthusiast, “Dr. Cargraves”, believe that the program is needed, not only for the United States, but the entire world against Communism. The two men believe that, IF the United States Government won’t fund rocket research, they will find another source, PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The two men go to aircraft magnate “Jim Barnes”, to pled their case. “Barnes” needs no convincing, but to raise the millions of dollars needed, requires other investors. “Barnes” calls for a fund raising meeting with major United States industrialist’s. He starts the meeting by showing a model of the proposed rocket ship. Which, “Barnes”, Cargrave”, and “Thayer actually want take to the moon.
In a smart segment, George Pal, got with his friend, animator Walter Lantz, to prepare a cartoon about space travel. In it, “Woody Woodpecker”, both educates the viewing audience on the theory of space exploration in 1950, but in the screenplay. “Woody” sells the other industrialists, at the meeting, on buying into the Moon Rocket project.
The following link will take my reader to the full 4-minutes-and-37-second segment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxMigUGxPJ0
Meanwhile, “General Thayer” and other military leaders are trying to get the United States government to back the project. He states that securing the moon for the United States is a strategic high ground, a military asset to protect Democracy against foreign actors. The Soviet Union is never mentioned, but any American viewer during the “2nd Red Scare”, and the early stages of the “Cold War”, didn’t need the “Communist Country” named.
The rocket ship is built, the crew will be “General Thayer”, “Dr. Cargraves”, “Jim Barnes”, and radio and radar operator, “Brown”, portrayed by the uncredited Ted Warde.
Then, some unknown group of people, start lying to the people living around, and on, the rocket ship’s base, or under its initial flight path about radioactive fallout. American’s start to panic over being exposed to atom bomb like fallout from the rocket ship’s engine, and getting radiation sickness. The newspapers pick it up, and some fearful politicians join in a move to get an injunction to stop the rocket ship. While, on the base, there is a fear of sabotage.
“General Thayer”, “Dr. Cargraves”, and “Jim Barnes”, meet.
They will launch tonight, ahead of schedule, as everything is ready. However, the unexpected happens, “Brown” has developed an appendicitis, and is reluctantly replaced by “Joe Sweeny”.
The rocket ship is given the code name, “LUNA”, and successfully launches into space.
Then, checking the system, it is discovered that the piloting antenna seems frozen. “Sweeny” doesn’t under why, as had “GREASED” it before take-off. In response, he’s informed that grease freezes in space. This means a space walk to free the antenna is needed.
Screenplay Break:
Before I land the rocket ship on the moon, a few words about its look. George Pal hired noted space exploration painter Chesley Bonestell, the 1940’s into 1970’s, to design the moon. The sets are based upon Bonestell’s drawings, and he would also design 1955’s, “Conquest of Space”. Although out dated, the “Smithsonian Museum”, has his award winning mural, seen below, entitled, “A LUNAR LANDSCAPE”, and dated March 28, 1957.
The following “LUNAR LANDSCAPE” was taken by the “Ranger 8, Space Craft, on February 20, 1965. Reality vs dreaming,
Continuing with the Screenplay:
The crew starts the decent to the Moon’s surface, but expedition leader “Jim Barnes” uses to much fuel during the decent. Safely on the Moon, “Barnes” and “Cargraves”, put on space suits, a ladder goes into place from “Luna”, and the two men leave the rocket ship for the “Lunar” surface
Urged by “Jim Barnes”, “Dr. Charles Cargraves” states:
By the grace of God, and in the name of the United States of America, I take possession of this planet on behalf of, and for the benefit of, all mankind
Next, all four crew members start exploration of the lunar surface. At a distance from their ship is a small lunar mountain range. “General Thayer” has been using a geiger counter and his readings indicate there may be uranium.
Events take a serious turn, as the crew discover that “Jim Barnes’s” use of fuel on the decent has made it impossible to lift off from the Moon’s surface. They radio Earth base and they run, rerun, and rerun the numbers. No matter how much equipment they have stripped the “Luna” of, the conclusion of the Earth base is always the same:
ONE MAN MUST STAY ON THE MOON!
They finally jettison the ship radio, there will be no more contact with the Earth. However, they have met the weight required for lift-off and with the crew of the “Luna” safe on-board. The lift-off takes place and the crew heads for home.
Instead of the traditional “The End” final shot, in now reads:
“This is THE END ……of the BEGINNING”
George Pal’s “Destination Moon” is considered the first motion picture to speak to a space race between the United States and the Soviet Union, but also whose military controls the Moon, controls the Earth.
A major “Second Red Scare Fear” of the United States Government and Military was reflected in George Orwell’s 1949 novel, “1984”, “Thought Control” aka: “Brain Washing”. A term that didn’t come into use until the “Korean War”, which started on June 25, 1950. ” American Democracy” was fighting “Communist Ideology”.
In that, “United Nations Police Action”, the enemies of Freedom were the North Koreans, allied to both the Soviet Union, and mainland China.
Science Fiction turned the three “Communist Countries” into “Aliens from Outer Space”. Found in two classic features, William Cameron Menzies, 1953, “Invaders from Mars”, or Don Siegel’s, 1956, “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”. However, the first such science fiction movie, predates both, and is normally overlooked, because of its obscurity to television audiences.
THE MAN FROM PLANET X premiered in San Francisco on March 9, 1951
The story and screenplay were by two writers. London born, Aubrey Wisberg started writing “B” screenplays in 1942, he had just co-written 1950’s, “Desert Hawk”, starring Yvonne DeCarlo, Richard Greene, and Jackie Gleason, he followed this feature with 1952’s, “At Swords Point”, starring Cornel Wilde and Maureen O’Hara.
The other writer was American newspaper man turned screenplay writer, Jack Pollexfen He had also just worked on the “Desert Hawk”, but followed this film with 1951’s, “Son of Dr. Jekyll”, starring Louis Hayward.
The motion picture was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer. Among his films since 1930 were 1934’s, “The Black Cat”, starring Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, 1944’s, “Bluebeard”, starring John Carradine, the classic film-noir, 1945’s, “Detour”, starring Tom Neal and Ann Savage, and 1952’s, “Babes in Bagdad”, starring Paulette Goddard and Gypsy Rose Lee.
The Main Cast:
Robert Clarke portrayed “John Lawrence”. Clarke was a solid “B” leading actor and among his early films was 1945’s, “The Body Snatcher” produced by Val Lewton, directed by Robert Wise, and starring Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and Henry Daniell, and the comedy 1946’s, “Zombies on Broadway”, starring Bela Lugosi. Clarke starred in a few other low budget science fictions, 1952’s, “1000 Years from Now (Captive Women)” on a double bill with “Invasion U.S.A.”, 1957’s, “The Astounding She-Monster”, 1958’s, “The Hideous Sun Demon”, and 1960’s, “Beyond the Time Barrier”.
Margaret Field portrayed “Enid Elliot”. Field was the mother of actress Sally Field, had been seen on-screen since 1945, but her first ten-roles were all uncredited parts. 60-of her approximate 104-roles were on television, among her other film roles was 1952’s, “1000 Years from Now (Captive Women)”, and 15th-billing in the psychological thriller, 1948’s, “Big Clock”, starring Ray Milland, Maureen O’Sullivan and Charles Laughton.
Raymond Bond portrayed “Professor Elliott”. Bond was a sometime playwright, and legitimate theatre actor. His 31-film roles were between 1913 and 1953, like Margaret Field, he did have an uncredited role in Cecil B. DeMille’s, 1949, “Samson and Delilah”.
William Schallert portrayed “Dr. Mears”. This was Schallert’s 8th motion picture, see my description of his career under 1952’s, “Invasion U. S. A.”.
Above left to right, William Schallert, Raymond Bond, Margaret Field, and Robert Clarke.
Pat Goldin portrayed “The Man From Planet X”. Odessa, Russia, born Goldin started to appear on-screen in 1946 and his final role, of 54, was in 1970.
Pat Godin above in this feature and below in another picture without the outer space make-up.
The Film’s Tone:
Unlike the Menzies and Siegel films, the Wisberg and Pollexfen screenplay turns the alien into the ultimate “Communist Spy” of the “Second Red Scare“. Something, even director John Frankenheimer’s 1962 classic, “The Manchurian Candidate” doesn’t come close to, and I’m speaking of Angela Lansbury’s role in that feature.
The setting appears to be the Scottish moors, turned into a copy of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Hound of the Baskervilles”. Except this moor is located not near “Baskerville Hall”, or Dartmoor in Devonshire, but an island off the Scottish coast, with a single village, and a old, one tower, “War Lord Castle”, that was turned into an observatory.
The picture is extremely low budget and obvious background paintings are used, but there is still a very eerie mood created by the cinematography of John L. Russell. Among Russell’s other work are Orson Welles’s, 1948, “Macbeth”, that has moor shots of its own. Later, Russell, was the director of photography on 1952’s, “Invasion U.S.A.”, the director of photography for Ray Harryhausen’s 1953, “The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms”, the cinematographer on both 1954’s, “Tobar the Great”, and “The Atomic Kid”, and not to forget, director Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho”.
The Basic Screenplay:
Unlike the above five motion pictures, with 1951’s, “The Man from Planet X”. I will be pointing out to my reader several, of the imbedded “Red Scare Elements” of this screenplay.
The movie opens with American reporter, “John Lawrence”, doing a voice over in what appears to be a tower room of some ancient Scottish castle. The voice over states that the audience is going to see:
”the most unbelievable story a newspaper man has ever written”
Next, the audience is shown International News Reporter “John Lawrence” meeting with “Dr. Robert. Blane”, portrayed by Gilbert Fallen, who informs him of reports of a n “Unknown (FOREIGN COUNTRY)” rogue planet heading toward the Earth. It is suggested that he needs to go to his old friend, “Professor Elliot”, living off the coast of Scotland on a small island for more details about the planet.
The movie switches to “Lawrence’s” arrival, as he meets several members of the only village on the island at the local pub. They include “Tommy, the Village Constable”, portrayed by Roy Engel. “Lawrence” is picked up there ,and driven to the observatory by “Enid Elliot”, the professor’s daughter.
“Professor Elliot”, chose this spot for his observatory, because of the clarity of the sky most of the year over the island. The Professor was the discoverer of the rogue planet he labeled “X”. He believes the planet will pass at its closest spot to the Earth over the island’s moor and his observatory. “Lawrence”, now meets the Professor’s assistant, “Dr. Mears”.
Later, a light is seen on the moor, and “Professor Elliot”, and “John Lawrence”, go out to investigate. They first discover a diving bell like space craft, and then a humanoid alien (A FOREIGNER) appears to them.
The two men cannot communicate with the alien, who actually seems harmless, and they leave it at its space craft. While the two figure out their own next move. However, the alien follows them back to the observatory. The FOREIGN MAN IS INFILTRATING THE OBSERVATORY. By his non-agressive, friendly actions, he has put both “Dr. Elliot” and “John Lawrence” at ease about him. While, the alien has gained access to an area he wants to explore, the inside of the observatory.
The audience now meets the ENEMY FROM WITHIN, not the FOREIGNER, but THE PERSON THE OTHERS TRUST, “DR. MEARS”.
“Mears” has discovered that he alien speaks in musical tones. The ambitious and unscrupulous “Mears”, believes he is now in control of the observatory’s “FOREIGN VISITOR”. As will be revealed, “Mears” is not, he is being used and manipulated by the alien.
However, “Mears” attempts to force the seemingly docile, and peaceful alien to give him the secret of his spacecraft’s metal. The alien refuses, and “Mears” cuts off its breathing equipment, leaving the alien for dead.
The problem is that when “John Lawrence” goes to see the alien, he doesn’t find him dead, but gone from the observatory. The question raised, is he a peaceful envoy from his planet, or the vanguard of an invasion by a FOREIGN POWER?
Meanwhile, “Enid’s” curiosity gets the better of her, she goes to see the space craft, but “The Man from Planet X” approaches her.
“John Lawrence” and her father find “Enid” missing, along with “Dr. Mears” and the alien. “John” goes to “Tommy”, and discovers that there are other villagers missing. He takes the constable to the site of the space craft, but it’s not there. This is followed by all the phones on the island going dead, but by using a heliograph to contact a passing freighter, word is sent to Scotland Yard. Meanwhile, it is clearly established that the Alien (Foreigner) is a threat to the Earth. After the missing people are discovered by “Lawrence” under “Mind Control” by the “Man from Planet X”.
“Scotland Yard Inspector, Porter”, portrayed by David Ormont, and police, “Sergeant Ferris”, portrayed by Frankyln Farum, arrive by helicopter, and are briefed. In typical “Red Scare” formula, after they arrive, it is decided that the military must destroy the space craft.
“John Lawrence” reminds everyone else, that there are people to be rescued. We now get a time table, according to “Professor Elliot”, the “Rouge Planet (Foreign Country)” will impact (attack) the Scottish Island at Midnight. “John Lawrence” is given until 11 PM to rescue the villagers, “Dr. Mears”, and his romantic interest, “Enid Elliot”.
The story returns to “John Lawrence” in the observatory’s tower preparing for his rescue attempt. Now he moves to the space craft, and the “Zombie-Like” villagers at work for the alien. This mirrored American’s paranoia over Communist Brain Washing they have been hearing about on both radio and television.
“Lawrence” is able to get “Dr. Mears” away from the space craft, and to snap out of the “Foreigner’s” mind control. “Mears” reveals that “Planet X” is a dying world and that the alien is the vanguard of an invasion force to move to Earth. “John” tells the other where to go to safety, and now works on each of the villagers as the “FOREIGN AGENT AND SABOTEUR” is inside his space craft in contact with the approaching planet. Finally, “Lawrence” gets “Enid”, and they make it to safety just at midnight. As “Dr. Mears”, suddenly, runs back to the space craft, and is killed with the alien by the military.
The film ends with “The RED (Communist) Planet X” passing harmlessly past the Earth, as “John” and “Enid” watch, into the solar system. Of course no one thought that the “Rogue Planet’s” passing was so close that it would have ripped our out of orbit on the final shots of its passing.
I conclude my article with a look at a motion picture that is connected to the “Second World War” and “Nuclear War”.
THIS ISLAND EARTH premiered in New York City on June 10, 1955
The Second World War:
The screenplay was based upon a revised story that became the 1952, novel “This Island Earth” by Raymond F. Jones.
The first part of a trilogy of novelettes, by Raymond Jones, that became the re-edited novel was entitled, “The Alien Machine”, and was published in June 1949, in the magazine, “Thrilling Wonder Stories”.
The second novelette, “The Shroud of Secrecy”, was published six-months later in December 1949.
The final novelette, “The Greater Conflict”, was published in February 1950.
Raymond Jones’s REAL “This Island Earth”, were the Philippine Islands during the Second World War. In his trilogy, Jones changed the Japanese into the evil alien invaders, “The Guarra”, and the Filipino freedom fighters, became “The Llanna”.
“THIS ISLAND EARTH” is a neutral planet to fight their war without endangering their own planets.
Three of the main characters of the novel are:
“Ryberg Instrument Corporation Engineer Cal Meacham, “”Psychologist Ruth Adams”, and the “Peace Engineers Chief Engineer, Mr. Jorgasnovara”.
The story opens with “Cal Meacham” ordering new condensers, but getting smaller bead-like devices the are even more powerful. This leads “Meacham” to an electronics catalogue from the “Peace Engineers”. He orders something that has intrigued him, called an . Assembling the machine, will eventually bring engineer, Cal Meacham, into the alien war, and meeting “Ruth Adams”.
The consolidated novel’s title came from a line in British poet Robert Ranke Graves’s, 1951, poem, “Darien”:
“It is a poet’s privilege and fate/To fall enamored of the one Muse/Who variously haunts this island earth”
The Motion Picture/the Second Red Scare/and President Reagan
The screenplay was written by two writers, Franklin Coen had just co-wrote the screenplay for Victor Mature’s, 1955, “Chief Crazy Horse“. He followed this feature with the Jack Palance, Barbara Rush, and Rex Reason’s, 1955, “Kiss of Fire”.
The second writer was George Callahan billed as Edward G. O’Callaghan. He had been writing episodes of television’s “The Cisco Kid”. Callahan followed this motion picture with 1956’s, “Flight to Hong Kong”, starring Rory Calhoun and Barbara Rush.
There were two directors on this film. The main director was Joseph M. Newman. He had just directed Gary Merrill, Jan Sterling, and Regis Toomey, in the 1954, film-noir, “The Human Jungle”. He followed this picture with 1955’s, “Kiss of Fire”.
The second director was the motion picture’s producer, Jack Arnold. My article is “Jack Arnold ‘It Came From Outer Space’ to ‘The Mouse That Roared’: His 1950’s Films” to explore at:
https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2022/09/jack-arnold-it-came-from-outer-space-to.html
Jeff Morrow portrayed “Exeter”. Morrow started as a television actor in 1950, in the first CinemaScope motion picture, 1953’s, “The Robe”, he played a Roman Soldier, in 1954’s,”Sign of the Pagan”, he played a Roman General, otherwise he was still making television appearances until this feature film. Then it was back to television until he starred in 1956’s, “The Creature Walks Among Us”. My article, “Jeff Morrow An Icon of 1950’s Science Fiction: This Island Earth, KRONOS and The Giant Claw”, will be found at:
http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2016/10/jeff-morrow-exeter-of-metaluna-icon-of.html
Faith Domergue portrayed “Dr. Ruth Adams”. She had started on-screen acting in 1941, in 1950 Domergue co-starred with Robert Mitchum and Claude Rains in the film-noir, “Where Danger Lives”, but she was basically appearing on different television shows until 1955. When she became associated with Science Fiction and Horror, my article about that year, “FAITH DOMERGUE: 1955 A.D.”, is available for reading at:
http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2019/09/faith-domergue-1955-ad.html
Rex Reason portrayed “Dr. Cal Meacham”. Reason started on-screen acting in 1952, and in 1953 portrayed Rock Hudson’s older brother in the Third-Dimension “Taza, Son of Cochise”. Otherwise, until this feature he was appearing on television, Rex Reason did co-star with Jeff Morrow in 1956’s, “The Creature Walks Among Us”. Like his look-a-like brother, Rhodes Reason, Rex’s work became confused by viewers. My article, “REX AND RHODES REASON: Acting Brothers Often Confused By the Audience”, can be unconfused at:
http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2018/10/rex-and-rhodes-reason-acting-brothers.html
Lance Fuller portrayed “Brack”. Fuller started his on-screen career as an uncredited”Vasarian Villager”, in 1943’s, “Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man”. That film was followed by another eight uncredited roles until he played, “Cavalry Lieutenant Willis”, in 1954’s, “Taza, Son of Cochise”. Fuller appeared in several more “B” Westerns, including director Roger Corman’s, 1955, “Apache Woman” co-starring with Lloyd Bridges and Joan Taylor. Following this motion picture was the 1956, “Bridey Murphy” variation, “The She-Creature”. Which was followed by 1957’s, “Voodoo Woman”, and 1958’s, “The Bride and the Beast”.
Russell Johnson portrayed “Dr. Steve Carlson”. The actor had just been in the “A” List Western, 1955’s, “Strange Lady in Town”, starring Greer Garson, Dana Andrews, and Cameron Mitchell.
The Basic Screenplay:
Only two characters remain from Raymond F. Jones’ novel, “Cal Meacham”, and “Ruth Adams”. There is an intergalactic war, but it is fought in space, and on the surface of a planet named “Metaluna”.
As to the Earth, it is only a source for scientists and development, not the battles that take place in the novel.
The screenplay is divided into three distinct parts.
Part One: Meet “Cal Meacham”
Electronics specialist “Cal Meacham”, who is on the verge of converting lead and uranium into a free energy source, leaves a conference, and starts to fly his military style jet plane to Los Angeles.
At the time, American’s were frightened of using uranium for anything. Testing at White Sands was visible from Las Vegas Hotel Rooms and actually brought in customers for the higher floors of the hotel’s for a better view.
As he is about to approach the private airfield, the jet loses all power, and “Cal” cannot get the engine fired. Just when he is about to eject, a green light appears around the jet, takes control, and safely lands him.
“Cal’s” assistant, “Joe Wilson”, played by Robert Nichols, witnessed the landing and now the two go to “Meacham’s” laboratory.
There “Joe” shows “Cal” red beads that he received instead of the normal condensers they use, “Cal” runs a test on them, and is stunned by how much more efficient the beads seem to be.
“Cal” asks “Joe” to call their supplier about the beads, the supplier claims they never sent them, or know of “Direct Electronics Services (The novel’s Peace Engineers)”, the name on the return address of the envelope the beads arrived in.
Next, a catalogue, with pages made from some new type of metal, arrives from “Direct Electronics Services” and “Cal” is intrigued by something called an “Interocitor”.. He orders it the same way “Joe” ordered the beads, and comes into his lab to find crates piled high with materials to make the “Interocitor”.
The two men succeed in building the device, plug it in, but “Cal Meacham” is puzzled what to do with a piece of some form of plastic in a circle with different colors on it.
Suddenly a voice speaks from the “Interocitor”. The voice tells “Cal” where the piece goes and how to use it to clear the image. “Cal Meachum” and “Joe Wilson” are starring at “Exeter”. Who congratulates “Cal” for passing his little test.
“Exeter” explains that he is part of a group of scientists and invites “Cal” to join them. Adding that a plane will arrive the next evening, land, wait a specified time, and then take-off, with, or without “Meacham” on it. Next, politely, “Exeter” asks both “Cal” and “Joe” to step back, away from the “Interocitor”. As they watch, the machine blows-up, changing into a mass of melted metal.
“Joe” has been concerned about who and what the mysterious “Exeter” represents, but “Cal” is convinced on going. The next night, the airstrip is fogged in, and “Joe” knows a pilot cannot land in it, and feels relieved. However, the sound of a plane’s motors is heard, and the plane lands. The first thing both men notice is that all the plane’s windows are blocked out, and there’s no pilot. The plane just sits on the airfield, waiting for “Cal Meacham” to take the single seat in it, or not. The plane starts up with the same green light that saved “Cal” before. His mind made up, and his curiosity at max, “Cal Meacham” takes the one seat in the aircraft, and as “Joe” watches takes off to where?
Part Two: The Mystery of Exeter and Brack
The pilotless plane makes a safe landing in Georgia and “Cal Meacham” is met by “Dr. Ruth Adams”. “Cal” immediately says how happy he is to see her again, but she replies he must be mistaking, as they’ve never met before.
“Ruth” brings “Cal” to the Georgia mansion, both are approached by “Dr. Steve Carson”, who out what they believe is hearing of “Meacham”, has a brief, coded exchange. Then they enter the mansion, and “Ruth Adams” introduces “Cal Meacham” to “Exeter”. Who states all the scientists assembled at the mansion are working in underground laboratories to find a quick way to produce atomic energy. It was “Meacham’s” research that brought him to the attention of the group.
The “Second Red Scare” has now been shown in three instances:
1. “Meachum” had a meeting about using uranium to make a new power source. The fear being that power source will be turned into military weapons.
2. “Exeter”, and those scientists working privately, without government sanction, with him, are actually developing a new source atomic energy.
3. The fear that American scientists are being approached by Foreign (aka: Soviet Union) agents. Who promise them more money and other benefits they want, resulting in these scientists are going over to the “Communists”.
After “Ruth” and “Cal” leave, a message from “The Monitor”, played by Douglas Spencer, the leader of “The Council”, is received on another “Interocitor”. He informs “Exeter” that the work must be completed immediately.
It is at this point that the “Friendly” “Metalunan’s”, on Earth, are revealed to be the allegorical Soviet Union agents of the “Second Red Scare”. Their purpose is to get Earth scientists to work on creating powerful nuclear weapons to be used in the war against “Zagon”.
That night a dinner takes place to introduce “Cal” to the other scientists from all over the world including the Soviet Union and Communist China. It seems obvious that some of the other scientist’s working in the underground laboratory are not completely there. After the dinner concludes, “Exeter” suggests “Ruth” take “Cal” to show him his new laboratory.
In his new laboratory, “Cal” and “Ruth” are joined by “Dr. Steve Carlson”. “Steve” and “Ruth” move a lead slab into position, between themselves and “Cal’s” own “Interocitor”. On the top of the slab, “Ruth” also places a pet cat, all confusing “Meacham”.
“Ruth” explains the slab is to prevent “Exeter”, or especially his assistance “Brack” seeing and hearing them. The cat is sensitive to the signal from the “Interocitor” and becomes a warning device. “Cal” wants to know why the two are so nervous and “Ruth” replies that other than “Cal”, “Steve” and her, are the only scientists who have not been brainwashed by “Exeter”. “Cal” finds that hard to accept, but agrees that the other scientists at dinner were not acting normal.
“Ruth” and “Steve” show “Cal” sketches of “Exeter” and “Brack”. They point out the same extremely large foreheads Adding, their speculative questions, who they really are, and from what country, if that’s the right word, that they both come from? “Ruth”, now admits to being the girl “Cal” met years ago, but said she and “Steve” were concerned that he had been brainwashed, or was working for “Exeter”. A clear reference to the “Second Red Scare”!
Suddenly the cat reacts ,and the three know that either “Exeter”, “Brack”, or both. attempted to spy on them. “Brack” wants the three brainwashed, but “Exeter” reminds them it takes away their initiative and that is needed to properly complete their assignment.
The next day, “Exeter” demonstrates a deadly “neutrino ray” to “Cal”, and asks that he not meet with either “Ruth”, or “Steve” again. A few days pass with “Cal” appearing to be ignoring the other two scientists, but in reality, they’re planning their escape. However, “The Monitor” contacts “Exeter” and tells him they must return now. He orders him to bring the two scientists, “Meacham” and “Adams”, but kill the others. Again, the “2nd Red Scare Fears” of 1950’s American‘s.
“Ruth”, “Cal”, and “Steve” steal the station wagon, and start to make their escape. However, “Brack” spots them, and starts using the “neutrino ray” to kill them.
“Ruth” and “Cal” jump from the car and into a deep flooded ditch beside the road, but “Steve”, to save the other two, keeps driving, and the ray destroys the station wagon with him inside.
Part Three: Metaluna:
“Cal” and “Ruth” make it to the air field, find a small plane, and take off in it. The hillside next to the mansion was hiding a flying saucer of tremendous size and it lifts off out of it. Next, a “neutrino ray” destroys the mansion and all who are in it.
As the small plane attempts to escape the area, another green beam of light surrounds it, and the plane, with “Cal” and “Ruth”,are brought into the flying saucer.
Now their suspicions become reality, as the two Earth people are asked to follow a guide to the main control room meeting”Exeter” and “Brack”.
“Exeter” warmly greets them, and explains that everyone on the flying saucer came from a planet called “Metaluna”. He takes “Ruth” and “Cal” to the main view screen. As they are watching the Earth shrink in size, “Exeter” explains that “Metaluna” has been at war for millennia with the planet “Zahgon”. His planet is dying, losing the war, and all their top scientists are dead. That is why he and “Brack” were sent to Earth, with YOUR NUCLEAR PROGRAMS to gather Earth’s top nuclear scientists to work for them and, if needed, use a little high-tech brain washing, but not to worry. He’ll protect them, as he’s grown to like Earthmen.
The air is getting hard to breathe, and “Exeter” explains that the ship is going through a change in atmospheres. Both “Cal” and “Ruth” are given clothes like the one’s everyone else is wearing to help in the new atmosphere. Next, the two are to enter special tubes to adjust their bodies to the atmospheric pressure change.
The flying saucer engages Zahgonian meteors, directed by small space craft, but the flying saucer, after small battle, finally arrives upon war torn “Metaluna”. Which was once a thriving planet, but now the result of “NUCLEAR WAR”.
Over the war torn surface of “Metaling”, “Exeter” escorts “Cal” and “Ruth” to “The Monitor”.
“The Monitor” tells the three that the people of “Metaluna” must leave shortly to the Earth, to live in peace with the people of that planet. “Cal” doubts that statement, and “The Monitor”, next speaks to the superior intelligence of “HIS PEOLPLE!, and that remark turns into a debate with “Cal”. Which is cut short by “The Monitor”, ordering “Exeter” to take the two scientists to the brain washing chamber.
The two attempt to escape from “Exeter”, but confused, run right to the entrance of the “Brain Washing” chamber. It is guarded by one of the many “Metulana Mutants”, half humanoid, half some form of alien insect.
A meteor hits the area, killing the mutant, “Exeter” insists that he wants to help “Cal” and “Ruth”, and directs them toward the flying saucer. The three reach the elevator, but another mutant appears, attacks, and injures “Exeter” The mutant is wounded by pieces of the falling roof from another meteor strike. “Cal” pulls the mutant off “Exeter”, the three enter the elevator, and then the flying saucer, but the mutant was able to also get inside the space craft. Another “Zahgon” meteor hits the surface killing “The Monitor”.
The three just escape, as a major “Zahgonian” strike hits, and destroys the planet once known as “Metaluna”.
The flying saucer is about to re-enter the atmospheric change zone and “Exeter” has “Ruth” and “Cal” enter the chambers. He sets the machine, and enters a chamber, himself. While the three watch helplessly, the injured mutant enters, and “Ruth’s” tube starts to open to free her.
“Ruth” is able to escape the mutant, who disintegrates from the change in the atmosphere. Upon reaching the Earth, “Exeter” says good-bye to “Cal” and “Ruth”, who had invited him to stay with them. Next, the two scientists enter the small plane and are released from the flying saucer. The film ends as “Exeter”, who told the other two that he wanted to become a space explorer, and the flying saucer crash into the Atlantic Ocean.
For those of my readers who are either interested in all the “Second Red Scare Motion Pictures”, or do not agree with my Seven Films. The following link, to the website for the “University of Washington” will open your minds to the “FEAR”, reflected on film, that the “Second Red Scare” caused the America I grew up in.
THE FILM MADNESS OF FRADKIN-STEIN 
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