They Came from Beyond Space * (1967, Robert Hutton, Jennifer Jayne, Zia Mohyeddin, Bernard Kay, Michael Gough) – Classic Movie Review 4,406

Robert Hutton stars in director Freddie Francis’s cheap, daft and unconvincing 1967 British sci-ci chiller film They Came from Beyond Space as Dr Curtis Temple, an astro-physicist who, it turns out, can save the world.

American actor Robert Hutton stars in director Freddie Francis’s cheap, daft and unconvincing 1967 British sci-ci chiller film They Came from Beyond Space as Dr Curtis Temple, an astro-physicist who, it turns out, can save the world. It also stars Bernard Kay as extraterrestrial expert Dr Richard Arden, Jennifer Jayne as his girlfriend Lee Mason, Michael Gough as Master of the Moon, and Zia Mohyeddin as Farge.

British scientists investigating a meteor shower in a field are possessed by an alien force that also starts taking over the residents of Cornwall to use them as slaves to repair their broken-down spaceship. But, luckily, Hutton’s Dr Temple is safe because he has a metal plate in his head that protects him from the insidious monsters.

Robert Hutton stars.

Written and produced by Milton Subotsky for Amicus Productions, this is a poor effort with cheap costumes, plastic wigs, micro-budget effects and paper scenery.

Director Francis, esteemed veteran of several excellent British horror movies, hits a career low point with this one. He said Amicus had spent all its budget on The Terrornauts (1967), leaving nothing for his film. To cut costs, it re-uses many of the sets and props from Daleks – Invasion Earth 2150 AD (1966). It was released in a double bill with The Terrornauts. Two bad films for the price of one. It wasn’t much of a bargain. And, unsurprisingly, the double bill flopped.

The release poster for They Came From Beyond Space.

Also in the cast are Geoffrey [Hedger] Wallace, Maurice Good, newsreader Kenneth Kendall, Luanshya [Pamela] Greer, John Harvey, Diana King, Paul Bacon, Christopher Banks, Dermot Cathie, Norman Claridge, James Donnelly, Frank Forsyth, Leonard Grahame, Michael Hawkins, Jack Lambert, Robin Parkinson, Edward Rees, and Katy Wild.

They Came from Beyond Space is shot at Twickenham Film Studios, Middlesex, UK, with exteriors shot on Cookham High Street in Berkshire.

Subotsky’s screenplay is based on the 1941 novel The Gods Hate Kansas by Joseph Millard.

They Came from Beyond Space is directed by Freddie Francis, is made by Amicus Productions, is distributed by Anglo Embassy (UK) and Embassy Pictures (US), runs 85 minutes, is written by Milton Subotsky, based on the novel The Gods Hate Kansas by Joseph Millard, is shot in Eastman Color by Norman Warwick, is produced by Milton Subotsky and Max J Rosenberg, is scored by James Stevens, is edited by Peter Musgrave, and is designed by Bill Constable.

It was released on 1 May 1967.

It was cut to 83 minutes to receive an A-Certificate by the British Board of Film Censors. The Embassy Pictures US release is the original 85 minutes.

StudioCanal released a video of the film in the UK in 2012 with a PG rating from the BBFC running 82 minutes, a minute shorter than the UK cinema release. VNF released a DVD in the U.S. in January 2017.

The cast are Robert Hutton as Dr Curtis Temple, Jennifer Jayne as Lee Mason, Zia Mohyeddin as Farge, Bernard Kay as Richard Arden, Michael Gough as Master of the Moon (Arnold Grey), Geoffrey Wallace as Alan Mullane, Maurice Good as Agent Stillwell, Luanshya Greer as female petrol station attendant, John Harvey as Bill Trethowan, Diana King as Mrs. Trethowan, Paul Bacon as Dr. Rogers, Christopher Banks as doctor on street, Dermot Cathie as Peterson, Norman Claridge as Dr. Frederick Andrews, James Donnelly as Farm gate guard, Frank Forsyth as Mr. Blake, Leonard Grahame as McCabe, Michael Hawkins as Williams, Jack Lambert as doctor in office, Robin Parkinson as Dr. Maitland, Edward Rees as Bank Manager, Katy Wild as girl in stree, Kenneth Kendall (credited as Kenneth Kandall) as TV commentator.

Yes, they even managed to misspell Kenneth Kendall’s name in the end credits. There are so many misspellings in film credits. They just can’t be bothered. Actors really are cattle.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4,406

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