The Space Children
| The Space Children | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Jack Arnold |
| Produced by | William Alland |
| Screenplay by | Bernard C. Schoenfeld |
| Story by | Tom Filer |
| Based on |
The Egg by Tom Filer[1] |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Van Cleave |
| Cinematography | Ernest Laszlo |
| Edited by | Terry O. Morse |
Production company |
|
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 69 minutes |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
The Space Children is a 1958 film directed by Jack Arnold. It was released in 1958 on a double bill with The Colossus of New York.[3]
The movie was featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000 in 1998 during season 9.
Plot
A brain from space visits earth and communicates telepathically with the children of scientists that are planning a nuclear war. The alien brain helps the children to sabotage the rockets and prevent the war.
Cast
The part of Eadie Johnson is portrayed by Sandy Descher. Descher had previous sci-fi movie experience when she played a catatonic child in Them! from 1954.[4]
- Michel Ray as Bud Brewster
- Adam Williams as Dave Brewster
- Peggy Webber as Anne Brewster
- Johnny Washbrook as Tim Gamble
- Jackie Coogan as Hank Johnson
- Richard Shannon as Lieutenant Colonel Alan Manley
- Raymond Bailey as Dr. Wahrman
- Sandy Descher as Eadie Johnson
- Larry Pennell as Major Thomas
- Peter Baldwin as Security Officer James
- Ty Hardin as Sentry
- Russell Johnson as Joe Gamble
- David Bair as Saul Wahrman
- Johnny Crawford as Ken Brewster
- Eilene Janssen as Phyllis Manley
- Jean Engstrom as Peg Gamble[5]
Production
The Space Children was William Alland's first picture with Paramount.[6] The film was based on The Egg, an unpublished story by Tom Filer, involving a girl with polio and was significantly different than the film.[1][2]
The alien brain was created by special effects artist Ivyl Burks and used $3,300 of neon lights to create the glowing effect.[7]
Release
The Space Children was first released to theaters on June 18, 1958[2] as part of a double bill, along with The Colossus of New York, which was also produced by William Alland.[8]
Home media
The Space Children was first released as a DVD in 2006 as part of the Lost Movie Classics Collection by RoDon Enterprises.[9] A second DVD release occurred in 2012[10] and was accompanied by a Blu-ray release[11] both by Olive Films.
Reception
Movie critic for The Commercial Appeal, John Beifuss, reviewed the film, stating;"while robust Wikipedia entries can be found for the other Arnold and Alland science-ficton films, "The Space Children" rates only these two sentences: 'The Space Children' is a 1958 film directed by Jack Arnold. The movie was featured on 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' in 1998 during season 9.".[12]
References
- 1 2 Warren, Bill (1982). Keep watching the skies!: American science fiction movies of the fifties (illustrated ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina, USA: McFarland & Company. ISBN 9780899501703. OCLC 7999158. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 AFI staff (2013). "The Space Children". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California, USA: American Film Institute. OCLC 772904208. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
- ↑ Weldon, Michael (1983). The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film (1st, reissue, illustrated ed.). New York City, New York, USA: Ballantine Books. ISBN 9780345343451. OCLC 10200446. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
- ↑ Parla, Paul; Mitchell, Charles P. (October 1, 2009). Screen Sirens Scream!: Interviews with 20 Actresses from Science Fiction, Horror, Film Noir and Mystery Movies, 1930s To 1960s (illustrated ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina, USA: McFarland & Company. p. 48. ISBN 9780786445875. OCLC 318421123. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
- ↑ "Movie – The Space Children (1958)". Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Retrieved November 9, 2013.
- ↑ Hopper, Hedda (October 5, 1957). "'Space Children' Set as Science-Fiction". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California, USA: Eddy Hartenstein. p. B2. ISSN 0458-3035. OCLC 3638237. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
- ↑ Johnson, John (1996). Cheap Tricks and Class Acts: Special Effects, Makeup and Stunts from the Fantastic Fifties (illustrated ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina, USA: McFarland & Company. p. 19. ISBN 9780786400935. OCLC 32430986. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
- ↑ Lucanio, Patrick (1987). Them or us: archetypal interpretations of the fifties alien invasion films (illustrated ed.). Indiana University Press. ISBN 9780253358714. OCLC 15055165. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
- ↑ WorldCat staff (2013). "The Space Children". WorldCat. Dublin, Ohio, USA: Online Computer Library Center. OCLC 696008721. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
- ↑ WorldCat staff (2013). "The Space Children". WorldCat. Dublin, Ohio, USA: Online Computer Library Center. OCLC 807233984. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
- ↑ WorldCat staff (2013). "The Space Children". WorldCat. Dublin, Ohio, USA: Online Computer Library Center. OCLC 800429909. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
- ↑ Beifuss, John (November 21, 2012). "'The Colossus of New York' Meets 'The Space Children'; or, Disembodied Brains, Cold War Kids and Bible Verses: The 13 Days of Halloween - Day Six". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee, USA: George Cogswell. ISSN 0745-4856. OCLC 9227552. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
Bibliography
- staff (July 26, 1958). "Actor 'Rocketing' Up". The Miami News. Miami, Florida, USA: Cox Enterprises. p. 7A. OCLC 10000467. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
Adam Williams, one of the industry's fastest-rising actors, portrays a rocket expert in Paramount's "The Space Children."
External links
- The Space Children at the Internet Movie Database
- The Space Children at the American Film Institute Catalog