Shop Ireland

This Island Earth [VHS] [1955] starring: Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex Reason, Lance Fuller, Russell Johnson

More Product Details...

Review Pages: 1 2 3 4 Next »

Click here to add a review!

Average rating -

Rating: - See That Glow

One of my favourite sci-fi classics. Rex Reason is brilliant in this. I first watched this when I was 7 or 8 and have loved it ever since. One of the all-time classics of the genre.

Rating: - a memory of many years and movies ago

I was 9 years old when I saw this film in a little cinema of Rome, with a little screen and a sound that was...something near to a sound, but I was astonished the same.The emotional impact is really great, some scenes like the green-lighted UFO that captures the aeroplane are worth of a cinema anthology. I am sorry that this film is not available in zone 2 DVD and don't understand the reason, because it is a little masterpiece !

Rating: - The planet Metaluna needs help from Earth scientists...

The best part of Franklin Coen and Edward G. O'Callaghan's screenplay for "This Island Earth" comes from Raymond F. Jone's story "The Alien Machine." Dr. Cal Meacham (Rex Reason) and his colleagues are given a catalog offering such fun items as an Iterociter incorporating planetary generator. Unable to resist the challenge, the eggheads order some parts and go at it. The alien machine turns out to be a communication device that allows the scientists to communicate with the inhabitants of the planet Metaluna and their leader, Exeter (Jeff Morrow), who need help saving their dying planet (it was a test!). Of course, you are wondering why they would come to us, but stroking the egos of the Earth scientists is but another part of the equation.

"This Island Earth" has a good set up but the payoff is nothing special, especially when the film's "monster" shows up. Visually the film does seem to do its best to incorporate elements from every science fiction magazine pulp cover for the preceding two decades, but that is actually one of the endearing aspects of the film. The acting is rather wooden, with Morrow, Reason, Faith Domergue and the rest of the cast trying to think deep thoughts worthy of interstellar communication. Most people get excited when they recognize Russell Johnson ("Gilligan's Island") as the manly Steve Carlson, but I like seeing Douglas Spencer (from "The Thing From Another World!") as the Monitor of Metaluna. A disappointing film, yes, but it has some interesting elements and if you are a student of science fiction films then you need to check this one out at least once.

Rating: - One of the best Sci-Fi films ever made

This is a great movie as it captures your immagination on every turn. Like Forbidden Planet it has a very good story ashamed it is not available in PAL standard. I remember going to a friends place when I was 13 years old to watch Sci-Fi shows every Friday night. One movie, this movie, is where the jet aircraft turned green as it was taken over by some strange unknown force. Looking back now the aircraft couldnt have been green as I watched this movie on B&W television!
The acting is superb. The special effects great.
John

Rating: - 2.5 years in the making 86 minutes in the telling

It goes great with popcorn. It keeps cooking from the time the jet plane is saved from crashing on burn out, to the mysterious metal-paged catalog. Right up to the end. And notice that the cat could tell that they were being scanned. This was probably the original "CAT scan."

Russell Johnson has this thing for islands. First there is "This Island Earth" then there is "Gilligan's Island" and my favorite island with him on it is in "Attack of the Crab Monsters" (1957) where he gets his tubes ate.

After viewing the movie be sure to read the book for comparison." This Island Earth" (Forrest J Ackerman Presents)

Review Pages: 1 2 3 4 Next »