THIS ISLAND EARTH

US, 1955, 87 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex Reason, Lance Fuller.
Directed by Joseph M. Newman.

This Island Earth was one of many B-budget science fiction features of the mid-1950s. It was the era of films like When Worlds Collide, It Came From Outer Space as well as creature movies like Creature from the Black Lagoon.

These films were considered B-pictures, generally support features rather than main features. However, they had a directness of storytelling, acceptance of the conventions of the genre which means that they are not stuck always in the time of their production but are plain and straightforward storytelling for all periods.

This film is a variation on The War of the Worlds. Aliens from the planet Metaluna come to Earth really to take it over but on the pretence of getting scientists to help it during its energy crisis. Needless to say, there is a sinister power who wants to trap the doctors and also to destroy Earth. Also needless to say, there is a happy ending with the destruction of Metaluna, the help of a friendly humanoid from the planet who helps the doctors back to Earth.

Jeff Morrow is the humanoid, Rex Reason is the rather stolid doctor and Faith Domergue his glamorous partner.

The film was directed by Joseph M. Newman who had directed numerous features from the 1930s. His heyday was perhaps at 20th Century-Fox? around 1950 where he did a number of bigger-budget films for them including The Outcasts of Poker Flat, Red Skies of Montana, Pony Soldier.

1. The quality of the science fiction, the appeal of science fiction: past interpretation of the present by the future? Insights into society and its crisis via science fiction?

2. How plausible is the plot? the choice of California, the experiences as in the 50's, now? Future? Audience identification?

3. The quality of the colour, the gadgets, the effects? the future? Audience response to the special effects?

4. The title, the emphasis on earth as an island, the other planets, and its effect? The interaction of the planets?

5. The energy crisis and its detail, the attack, a projection to space and the future? how well drawn out?

6. The choice of colour? Earth and the identification with earth and its crises? The melodramatics?

7. The presentation of aims, crises, deaths?

8. The details of the war and its affects, crises?

9. The building of the escape and all in its involvement in it?

10. The enjoyment of the film, the significance of its message?