The Man from Planet X

1951
Approved
1h 11m

IMDb RATING

5.7/10

3.2K

YOUR RATING

Margaret Field and Pat Goldin in The Man from Planet X (1951)

Play trailer1:57

2 Videos

25 Photos

Alien Invasion Space Sci-Fi Horror Romance Sci-Fi Thriller

As a mysterious planet hurls itself toward Earth, an enigmatic extraterrestrial scout arrives on a remote Scottish island with unknown intentions.As a mysterious planet hurls itself toward Earth, an enigmatic extraterrestrial scout arrives on a remote Scottish island with unknown intentions.As a mysterious planet hurls itself toward Earth, an enigmatic extraterrestrial scout arrives on a remote Scottish island with unknown intentions.

Director
- Edgar G. Ulmer
Writers
- Aubrey Wisberg
- Jack Pollexfen
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.7/10

3.2K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Edgar G. Ulmer
Writers
- Aubrey Wisberg
- Jack Pollexfen
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
To stretch his meager budget, director Edgar G. Ulmer was able to use sets from Joan of Arc (1948).

Goofs
Enid's description of the spaceship as "...a glass ball with three metal bands around it..." is nothing like the spaceship miniature or full-size mock-up.

Quotes
[last lines]
Enid Elliot: You know, I think that creature was friendly. I wonder what would have happened if... if Dr. Mears hadn't frightened him.
John Lawrence: Who knows? Perhaps the greatest curse ever to befall the world, or perhaps the greatest blessing.

Crazy credits
The letters in the opening credits look like they are made of metal strips held together by rivets.

Alternate versions
There is an Italian edition of this film on DVD, distributed by DNA Srl: "IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE 3-D (1953) + L'UOMO DAL PIANETA X (1951)" (2 Films on a single DVD, with It Came from Outer Space (1953)/"Destinazione Terra!" in double version 2D and 3D), re-edited with the contribution of film historian Riccardo Cusin. This version is also available for streaming on some platforms.

Connections
Featured in Weirdo with Wadman: The Man From Planet X (1964)

User reviews72

Review

Featured review

Dr Who, where are you?!

Having caught this film quite by accident, i felt gripped not only its innate cheesiness but also several little gems of direction and production design. If you can get past the stereotypes (doddery professor, beautiful daughter, brash American newsman), and the awful accents (isn't that policeman Irish, rather than Scottish?!) The Man From Planet X is a very watchable b-movie. The alien reminded me of the last days of the Spirit comic strip and the lonely croft amongst the billowing fog was a very stark image. Add to this the beautifully sleek (although wholly impractical) spaceship, typically 50s in design, some great chiarascuro cinematography (the alley abduction scene), plus that low-pitched camera outside the dungeon, and you've got a very technically engaging movie.

Never mind that the plot's got more holes than a string vest (where did all those soldiers come from?) and the acting and script are as wooden as a Scots pine dresser, enjoy it on a technical level if you can't engage with the human drama. As with many films of this ilk, the denoument was a bit hurried but all in all, this watches as well as (or dare i say, better than) any episode of Dr Who - with which it shares many similarities.