The Flying Saucer

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Movie
Original title The Flying Saucer
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1950
length 75 minutes
Rod
Director Mikel Conrad
script Howard Irving Young
Mikel Conrad
production Mikel Conrad for Colonial Productions, Inc.
music Darrell Chalker
camera Phillip Tannura
cut Robert Crandall
occupation

The Flying Saucer ( English for The Flying Saucer ) is an American science fiction film from 1950 and is the world's first feature film about the UFO phenomenon. The premiere took place on January 4, 1950 New York Rialto - cinema instead. In Spain and Venezuela , the production was performed under the titles El platillo volante and El disco volador / El platillo volador .

action

A flying saucer appears over several US cities, causing people to panic. As a result, playboy Mike Trent is invited to his father's office in Washington, DC by a friend of his father's, Hank Thorn, who works for an American secret service . Mike, who doesn't believe in flying saucers, is enlightened by Thorn. They really do exist and, as they could theoretically carry atomic bombs , pose a threat to the United States. According to agents from Juneau , Alaska , Soviet spies have already arrived there, who are also looking for the flying object, which is believed to be operating from Alaska.

Since Mike was born and raised in Alaska, he should quietly investigate the spies. He wants to decline at first, but when he is introduced to the attractive agent Vee Langley, who is supposed to accompany him on the mission, he accepts. The couple travel incognito; Mike as an alleged mental breakdown patient , Vee as his nurse.

They meet the new caretaker Hans in Mike's family's holiday home. Mike realizes that an unfamiliar object is indeed flying in the region. The flying saucer was designed by Dr. Lawton, an American scientist, constructed and hidden by the Twin Lakes. Lawton's assistant Turner, who sympathizes with communism , wants to sell the flying object to the Soviets for a million dollars. Mike and Vee learn that Hans is a member of the Soviet agent ring led by Colonel Marikoff. Marikoff intends to hijack the flying disc. Mike, Vee and Lawton are therefore captured by the Soviets and placed in an ice cave. However, they manage to escape from the cave while Turner starts the machine to escape to the USSR. But Lawton has installed a bomb on board that detonates the machine shortly after takeoff, presumably killing Turner.

Production notes

The film was shot at Hal Roach Studios from late September to early October 1949 . The exterior shots were taken in Alaska .

The Flying Saucer was the first feature film to address the UFO phenomenon, linked to the emerging Cold War and fear of communism . However, as early as 1949, the 15-part serial Bruce Gentry - Daredevil of the Skies featured a remote-controlled flying saucer that was to be used by an unknown foreign power to attack the Panama Canal .

To increase the authenticity of the film, the opening credits contained the following text:

"We gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of those in authority who made the release of the ' Flying Saucer ' film possible at this time."

Vought V173

The “flying saucer” bears a certain resemblance to the Chance Vought V-173 experimental aircraft , which was also known as the “flying pancake ”.

criticism

“[...] A film called ' The Flying Saucer ' flew into the Rialto yesterday and, except for some nice Alaskan scenery, it can go right on flying, for all we care. In fact, it is such a clumsy item that we doubt if it will go very far, and we hesitate, out of mercy, to fire even a critical shot at it ... ”

- Bosley Crowther : The New York Times, January 5, 1950

literature

Web links