MovieChat Forums > The Man from Planet X (1951) Discussion > A Review of "The Man from Planet X"

A Review of "The Man from Planet X"

posted 10 years ago by Crazyhorse30
5 replies | jump to latest

“The WEIRDEST Visitor the Earth has ever seen!” If the definition of insanity is, “doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results”, then call me insane. Last month, I reviewed Beyond the Time Barrier, starring Robert Clarke and directed by Edward G. Ulmer. It was terrible. So yesterday, knowing full well that this actor-director duo is nothing but pure schlock, I decided to give it another go with The Man from Planet X. Admittedly, it was not as bad, but in the first half hour, close to nothing happens. I was completely lost, trying to figure out if this was mystery-noir or the science fiction film as advertised. It ended up being the latter, but very weakly so. Set in Scotland, a rare astronomical phenomena involving a newly discovered Planet X is about to occur, where this planet is coming close to earth. Two doctors (Raymond Bond and William Schallert) are worried about what effects this may have on Earth, and at the same time, a space-ship crashes nearby, and lo and behold, the passenger is an alien from Planet X. Initially friendly, one of the doctors then tries to use the creature’s power for his own gains, and it manages to escape and hold random people in the town hostage. Clarke is a “newspaper man” seeking to land a good story and investigate further. The only comparison I could make with this film is a hamster on a wheel chasing something stationary, not being intelligent enough to realize it will never reach what it aims for. That’s what this movie is. The creature’s mask/costume/makeup is reminiscent of a cheap Party City Halloween costume. The acting is not horrible, and the atmosphere, setting, and dark cinematography is effective, but the overall story is so stretched out that there is nothing left to go around. What little charm is left is barely enough to save it from my worst ratings category. Production notes state that filming of this picture took six days to complete. Why am I not surprised? Also starring Margaret Field. Final Verdict: So Bad Its Good.

Shared from: https://pictureinparagraph.wordpress.com/2015/03/11/review-the-man-fro m-planet-x-1951/

[–] jacksflicks 10 years ago

If you're going to play film critic, then you should learn how to write English grammatically. Otherwise, you come off as a long-winded twit.

Others get far more out of the film than you, dismissive as you are by what you call "the creature's [sic] mask/costume/makeup" which contributed to one of the scariest moments in sci-Fi movie history. You really aren't very perceptive.

[–] hobnob53 9 years ago

Well said, jacksflicks. The OP's poor English and faulty descriptions of the movie aside, it's clear he's clueless about the nature of low-budget filmmaking and the talent required to overcome limited sets and short filming schedules. He writes as though he were reviewing a film made on a Star Wars budget and with modern effects techniques. What Edgar Ulmer achieved in this film, melding elements of both Gothic horror and science fiction, is proof of his talents. The movie is highly regarded enough that the Library of Congress has preserved it.

The Man From Planet X has been called a "gem" by some modern critics. It's original in its concept, depicts a surprisingly complex alien, and is one of the most atmospheric sci-fi films ever made. While it was well-received on its premiere in 1951, it's little wonder it's steadily risen in critical esteem over these past 64 years (and counting).

Everyone is entitled to his opinion but one should have the facts and some knowledge before inflicting their unrequested "reviews" upon the rest of us.

[–] jacksflicks 9 years ago

Yeah, I know, the grammar police.... Seems petty, but I've found, in a life of reading, that people who don't write well don't think well, despite their pretensions.

And thanks for the great insights.

[–] hobnob53 9 years ago

I agree with you, which is why I always resented that "grammar police" crack. Words do matter...even if they're only in the form of harmonic sounds from the weirdest visitor Earth has ever seen.

[–] nunojason 8 years ago

I'm 40 years old and just saw this film for the first time in my life a few months back. It instantly became my favorite classic sci-if movie. I get it. The atmospherics, music, and mood of the film is wholly unique. I love the way it rides the line between an old Universal foggy horror flick and the age of the scifi genre. LOVE this film!