Search - Phantom From Space (1953) (B&W) on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 12/31/2021...

Really bad quality video and cheesy plotline if you are into these kinds of movies!

Half "Invisible Man", Half "Radar Secret Service"

Robert I. Hedges | 06/27/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

""The Phantom From Space" is a sci-fi cheapie from 1953. The first half is pretty boring, as most of the action involves driving around in ridiculous old cars with ludicrous antennae on their roofs looking for disturbances. This takes place in California, so there are some other wacky things going on, but just to make sure we understand, the bulk of the first half hour or so is narrated. As the narrator drones on over the scenes of stock footage, and the cars drive around endlessly, something finally happens! A murder by a guy in a diving suit happens, to be specific, but unfortunately for the audience, all that results for our entertainment is some really tough (not!) interrogation of the prime suspect. Ultimately a couple of people get killed and a refinery gets set on fire. As the movie gets over the hump and starts picking up steam, we see some silly police foot chases of the diving-suit being that go on a bit too long, but ultimately corner the guy in a lab with a pretty female scientist. To evade capture the being takes off his suit and turns out to be invisible unless exposed to ultraviolet light. They chase him around until he needs to put his helmet back on while he practices Morse code with the lady scientist. She figures out that he needs to breathe methane (hence his attraction to the refinery...see how it all makes sense) but thanks to the comic relief newspaper reporter who is forever screwing everything up (at least they got that part right) he drops and breaks his helmet. Eventually we see him shriek and burn up in what I believe may be the Griffith Park Observatory, his mission having utterly failed. This film is a borderline two or three star movie, but I decided to go with three as it was quite well made considering that it was from 1953. I liked that the film didn't attempt to make the invader from space into a killing machine, and that in the end actually made the audience feel sympathy for him. The special effects are not so special by the standards of today, but remember this was made 51 years ago, and I think was a pretty credible effort for the time. The acting is average, and the script is too. The biggest weaknesses were pacing and the whole silliness with the cars with ridiculous antennae. The second half is entertaining, and the creature actually looks good when we finally get to see him. If you can get past the first half, this is better than average for mid 1950s sci-fi."

It's about time

stan c. | N. D. U.S.A. | 12/02/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It's about time somebody finally but out a decent print of "Phantom from space". I've been so sick and tired of finding copies that always have blurred images in them. Case in point is when a car goes by and the headlights leave a streak across the screen. I've been looking for a good copy of this film for quite awhile now and i have finally found it. I thought the picture quality was very good and the sound quality excellant. Other copy's I've seen left a lot to be desired. I've always wondered how some company"s can but out a product of inferior quality and dumb it on the general public when it come from and inferior source. I feel I am being ripped off. But Legend Films has out done them selfs with this film. Good picture and good sound. In my book this one is worth the money. I have not watched the colorized version of the film since I have no interest in faked color film. The color always looks unatural and I prefer my films in there original Black and White and aspect ratios."

"Phantom from Space (1953) ... W. Lee Wilder ... Legend Film

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 12/10/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Legend Films presents "PHANTOM FROM SPACE" (15 May 1953) (73 mins) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- now in COLOR and Glorious Black and White --- An alien being with the power of invisibility lands in Santa Monica --- Killing two people who attacked him due to the menacing appearance of his space suit, the creature takes it off while being pursued by government authorities --- And check out that cool space suit! --- The ending tops all, thought, with a really cool effect that finally lets the viewer see the man behind the mask --- Each scene is gripping within the story line from director W. Lee Wilder (brother of director Billy Wilder).

Under the production staff of:
W. Lee Wilder - Director / Producer
Bill Raynor - Screenwriter
Myles Wilder - Screenwriter
William H. Clothier - Cinematographer
William Lava - Composer (Music Score)
George Gale - Editor
Jane Huizenga - Production Designer
Howard A. Anderson - Special Effects
Alex C. Weldon - Special Effects
David D. Martin - Technical Director

Story line and plot, 'The Phantom from Space' was a refreshingly different early 50s sci-fi film worth seeing --- this is not a typical "monster" from space story --- Instead the alien was a misunderstood sympathetic character stranded on earth and needing help --- He tried to communicate with humans but failed. I like to think that the more technologically advanced a race is, the less violent they might become or need to be --- find a film like this much more believable than a typical 50s "monster from space" film like 'The Thing from Another World' (1951), was an excellent film, but the advanced alien in it acted like a killer maniac. Hard to believe he could have built a ship able to travel millions of light years --- This alien in 'Phantom from Space' was also stranded here, but wanted to find a way to communicate and survive in our atmosphere, not kill --- this is refreshingly different from other 50s sci-fi films. In some ways this film reminded me of 'The Man From Planet X' maybe it was the role an unusual looking space suit played in making the alien seem more menacing then he actually was and adding a weird unearthly atmosphere to the film --- The special effects were primitive by todays standards, but got the job done nicely --- all of this just added to my enjoyment of the film.

the cast includes:
Ted Cooper ... Lt. Hazen
Tom Daly ... Charlie [Agent Charlie]
Steve Acton ... Mobile Center Dispatcher
Burt Wenland ... Agent Joe (Mobile 7)
Lela Nelson ... Betty Evans
Harry Landers ... Lt. Bowers
Burt Arnold ... Darrow
Sandy Sanders ... First Policeman
Harry Strang ... Neighbor
Jim Bannon ... Desk Sgt. Jim
Jack Daly ... Joe Wakeman
Michael Mark ... Refinery Watchman
Rudolph Anders ... Dr. Wyatt
James Seay ... Maj. Andrews
Noreen Nash ... Barbara Randall
Steve Clark ... Bill Randall
Dick Sands ... The Phantom

BIOS:
1. W. Lee Wilder (Director)
Date of Birth: 22 August 1904 - Sucha, Galicia, Austria-Hungary [now Sucha Beskidzka, Poland]
Date of Death: 14 February 1982 - Los Angeles, California

SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. Legend Films Trailers

The complete print was restored and colorized by Legend Films, using the latest technology --- Although the Legend Films release was advertised under its reissue title, both the color and black and white prints featured the original title and opening credits --- Legend Films can restore, colorize and release many of the classic earliest black and white films --- a patented coloring and remastering process makes each film picture perfect plus more vivd than ever --- no one can resist collecting every title that Legend Films releases.

Hats off and thanks to Barry B. Sandrew Ph.D. (Founder, COO & CTO) and his Legend Films Staff --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage era of the '20s, '30s & '40s --- order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out Legend Films where they are experts in releasing long forgotten films and treasures to the collector.

Total Time: 73 mins on DVD ~ Legend Films. ~ (10/21/2008)"