Search - Invasion USA on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1952 DVD Release: 05/07/2002 Format: DVD - Black and White SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 14 mins Studio: Synapse Video Members Wishing: 3 Genres: Science Fiction, Thriller, Propaganda Film, Paranoid Thriller

A handful of strangers are suddenly thrown together as America goes face-to-face against the Communist threat in this curious example of Cold War exploitation. A few people are enjoying drinks in a Manhattan cocktail lounge - television reporter Vince Potter (Gerald Mohr), vacationing tractor tycoon George Sylvester (Robert Bice), cattle baron Ed Mulfory (Erik Blythe), Congressman Arthur Harroway) (Wade Crosby), aimless party girl Carla Sandford (Peggie Castle), and cheerfully dunderheaded bartender Tim (Tom Kennedy). As they discuss the state of the world and their disinterest with U.S. defense and paying taxes, one Mr. Ohman (Dan O'Herlihy) begins swirling his brandy snifter, and before long the other patrons are lulled into a hypnotic state, where they're given a sneak preview of what to expect when an unnamed Communist nation invades the West Coast. Mulfory is able to return home just in time to see his ranch flooded by enemy sabotage, armed troops take over Sylvester's factory, the Congressman watches as Reds seize power, and the suddenly patriotic Carla falls in love with Vince as he covers the brave but futile resistance dished out by our ill-equipped and poorly-prepared military forces. Spectacularly paranoid and loaded with often tattered stock footage, Invasion USA was shot in a mere seven days on a budget of $127,000, and ended up earning its producers well over a million dollars upon its initial release in 1952. Superman fans take note: Phyllis Coates and Noel Neill, both of whom played Lois Lane in the 50's television series The Adventures of Superman, appear in Invasion USA's supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Gerald Mohr - Vince
Peggie Castle - Carla
Dan O'Herlihy - Mr. Ohman
Robert Bice - George Sylvester
Tom Kennedy - Bartender

A peek into a possible World War III is the backdrop for the 1952 classic Invasion U.S.A. The image for this film is presented in a black-and-white 1.33:1 full frame and shows many signs of wear and tear (including grain, nicks, and scratches on the print). The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono and is uniformly flat and lifeless. While most of the mix is free of hiss or distortion, overall the audio track on this disc is very thin. No alternate subtitles are available on this disc. The extra features on this DVD edition should please any fan of the film. First off, there is a weird short film titled Red Nightmare, which was a red scare classic made around 1962. "Atomic Audio" includes two strange commentary tracks that run the length of the film. Each audio track is from a spoken word record from the 1960s about nuclear war and what to do in case of an emergency. Interviews with three of the main cast members (Dan O'Herlihy, William Schallert, and Noel Neill) provide some insight into the making of the film and allows viewers to see what they look like 50 years after the film was made. Finally, there is a theatrical trailer for the film as well as a film encyclopedia featuring the 100 greatest atomic films ever made. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide