Search - Watch the Skies! (The Cosmic Man / The Flying Saucer / Stranger From Venus) on DVD

COSMIC BARGAIN!!!

Richard J. Oravitz | 10/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a GREAT BARGAIN PACK of Image 1950's sci-fi dvds...The transfers are wonderful! COSMIC MAN looks just like it did when I saw it at the theater eons ago!!!...& it is my favorite of the three. FLYING SAUCER is a little slow with not much happening, but this is a VERY EARLY entry into the sci-fi genre & STRANGER FROM VENUS is kind of a remake/take-off on THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, as is COSMIC MAN!...So if you want to see some very good invader-friendly 1950's message oriented films in beautiful condition then this is your ticket! The source material is exceptional!!! & you couldn't get a better introduction to 1950's sci-fi.
BUY THIS."

COSMIC ENJOYMENT!!!

Richard J. Oravitz | 02/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Actually saw this in a theater in the early 1960's...Loved it, as any reader of FAMOUS MONSTERS magazine would...Bought the dvd & it brought back past memories, especially the FLOATING ALIEN SPACE_SPHERE (GLOBE/BALL?)...whatever.
Good sci-fi entry in the mode of THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, enjoyable & family watchable!!!...Recommemded for fans of this sort of stuff (...like me)."

More than meets the eye...

Bruce Joyner | 09/12/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This collection of movies are cool..for many reasons...they show a different world than ours today and the characters have mindsets reflecting the times in which they were made.The obvious remakes of "The Day The Earth Stood Still"...the "Cosmic Man" and "Stranger From Venus" have the cold war mentality and fear that was present we had as Americans then..The last movie "The Flying Saucer" has the same approach to cold war thinking and spies around every corner mentality with the the flying saucer finally being seen up close(stationary actually) as opposed to a few people watching it flash by...To my surprise,It appears to be a confiscated Horten 229 jetfighter(outer shell only) designed and flew by Germany during WW2...You see enough to recognize it..check it out..what do you think?
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"Day The Earth Stood Still" Wannabe - Well-Done Gem SciFi

Scotman | Mt. Shasta, CA | 06/17/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Cosmic Man

This 1958 thriller starred John Carradine, famous actor and father of David, Keith, etc., of the Carradine family of actors also known as "The Voice" due to his deep baritone, which vibrates nicely in this film.

Also the screenwriter Arthur C. Pierce is also known for his horror film scripts such as Women of the Prehistoric Planet in the 1960s and some Fantasy Island TV scripts in the 1970s and many horror film scripts The Navy vs. the Night Monsters (1966) (uncredited) ; The Las Vegas Hillbillys (1966); Mutiny in Outer Space (1965) (uncredited); The Human Duplicators (1965) (uncredited), etc. etc.!

Herbert Greene directed, and per IMDB seems it is the only film he did direct. He had worked as an associate director with William Castle on Strait Jacket (1964) with Joan Crawford as an axe murderess (on Netflix!).

The cool black & white "so bad it's good" British-made film starts out with a certificate from the British Board of Film Censors. Relief!

And then we have a rooster crowing to the words Association of British Pathe, distributors! (This was a funny reminiscence of MGM's lion.)

Anyway, a UFO is being tracked by radar. Suddenly, a giant beach ball has settled in the valley, floating on its own.

Scientist (Carl Sorenson) is interesting in the knowledge it will bring. Colonel Matthews though is interested in the military advantages and snickers behind his back, "You know how these civilians are!" Oh, brother.

Strange things start happening around town as the Cosmic Man floats around checking out the town. Scantily clad women scream at the sight. Fat men call the cops and cars are zipping everywhere. This is a good photographic point here, the black & white at night, no dialogue and melodramatic music. Cool stuff.

There is a bit of mild soap opera that is quickly dropped, no doubt due to the wooden acting of Angela Greene, who at times reacts little and other times overreacts. Quite odd. Her little boy is disabled and may not live a year.

As the story progresses, we learn of the military's plan to knock off the Cosmic Man and his beach ball. CM then presents himself (without the earlier disguise -- he's also a guest at the motel-- ) and states his purpose, to check out the humans and urge them to change their murderous ways before they can become one with the intergalactic community.

The general there thinks this is a bunch of hooey; his pals come out with guns blazing -- women scream! as CM laughs at bullets. CM also warns that no one should try to stop him upon departure.

Later that night, while Scientist urgently works towards helping out CM, CM dons his human disguise and plays chess with our little boy. He's no Will Robinson (Billy Mumy) and has none of that "gee whiz" air, though he tries hard enough.

And the story goes. Very similar in many respects to Day the Earth Stood Still.

Recommended. Another fine B-Film gem.

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