Invaders From Mars - Introduction

INVADERS FROM MARS is considered by many to be the scariest sci-fi movie of the early fifties. Thanks to the wonderful cinematography of William Cameron Menzies (director), most people who saw this movie as a child when it first came out still recall it to this day. The thing that is even more amazing is the love people have for such a film. Unfortunately, I have never been able to see it in it's original screen version, only video. You see, I am the youngest son of actor Jimmy Hunt, David MacLean. Thus, I wasn't around when the movie was created but as his son I have become very fond of this film. I have two copies of it and eventually want to get a reel copy of the film. But, enough with me, I want to use this introduction to talk more about Invaders From Mars, Jimmy Hunt and William Cameron Menzies.

First off, one must remember that this film was not created in the time of CG or highly improved special effects. Back in the fifties special effects were more of how you shot the sequence not the number of explosions involved. But, that is what set this film apart from many sci-fi movies of the fifties. It was masterfully filmed and directed by William Cameron Menzies (Academy award winner for Gone With The Wind). If you notice the whole film is filmed at the angle of a child. Special effects included things like oversized doors, long hallways, flat colors, no wall hangings, clocks that didn't change time, etc. Next time you watch this movie pay attention to these effects and you will see what I mean. The other thing that makes this movie so great is the genuine acting of Jimmy Hunt. After appearing in over 30 movies up to this time he was at his prime and ready for stardom, fortunately he didn't know that. Thus, you get the combination of an experienced actor yet a genuine person and it came out in his acting on this film.

I know there might be some of you out there that say, "what's the big deal, when I saw it I could see zippers on the Martians backs." This may be true, but by the time you see the zippers on the Martians backs it is too late, you have already been grasped by the story and the fact that David MacLean is on his own. No one will believe his story and what greater fear could a kid experience than to be on is own without is family or friends to believe him. The other part of this movie that makes it so enjoyable is the fact that they don't go out and try to create your fear, the movie takes your own fear of nightmares and incorporates it into the film. When you see the end and he wakes up to see the spaceship land and you realize it was a nightmare, but that nightmare is coming true!

The final thought I want to put into this introduction is the wonderful Mutants that were used for this film. Most sci-fi films of this era and any era use wild, outrageous, and even gruesome creations that push a person's imagination to the edge. This film uses Mutants which are nothing more than giant humans genetically engineered to be bigger, stronger and more fierce than we are. This sucks you in because it makes you believe they could be real. Why not if there is life somewhere else wouldn't they have the same features as we do.

I hope you enjoy this page, it's contents and it's images. If you have any suggestions, ideas or information that you think should be added please let me know, I am always grateful for any help in maintaining and upgrading this web site. It is your site as much as, if not more, it is mine.

Thanks again for visiting and once again please enjoy. Ron Hunt