***
Another largely emotionless atomic age disaster movie, this time with flying saucers wreaking havoc on Washington and scientist Hugh Marlowe in charge of developing a weapon to defeat them. More ambitious, however, than most of its kind: along with the destruction of American landmarks, we see the ships inside and out, in flight and on the ground; mobile aliens in suits and one without its helmet; energy fields and death rays -- all admirably executed by Ray Harryhausen, whose stop-motion saucers are a highlight. Genuine science fiction, without the usual horror trappings. It's a pity the characters are so bland. Suggested by Donald Keyhoe's book Flying Saucers From Outer Space.
Another largely emotionless atomic age disaster movie, this time with flying saucers wreaking havoc on Washington and scientist Hugh Marlowe in charge of developing a weapon to defeat them. More ambitious, however, than most of its kind: along with the destruction of American landmarks, we see the ships inside and out, in flight and on the ground; mobile aliens in suits and one without its helmet; energy fields and death rays -- all admirably executed by Ray Harryhausen, whose stop-motion saucers are a highlight. Genuine science fiction, without the usual horror trappings. It's a pity the characters are so bland. Suggested by Donald Keyhoe's book Flying Saucers From Outer Space.
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