Invisible Invaders / Journey to the Seventh Planet | 
| Directors: Edward L. Cahn, Sidney W. Pink
Actors: John Agar, Jean Byron, Philip Tonge, Robert Hutton, John Carradine
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $7.53
You Save: $7.45 (50%)
New (22) Used (7) Collectible (1) from $4.99
Rating:  26 reviews
Sales Rank: 19466
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Letterboxed, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 144 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.6
ISBN: 0792855280
UPC: 027616885531
EAN: 9780792855286
ASIN: B00008973H
Theatrical Release Date: May 15, 1959
Release Date: April 15, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW sealed shipped daily. International Shipping via Air Mail.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
An absolutely guileless piece of anti-nuclear agitprop, Invisible Invaders' unwavering single-mindedness and artful, bargain-basement effects have contributed to its deserved reputation as a early sci-fi classic. Essentially a didactic play of ideas--closer to Shaw than Spielberg--the story line follows a reluctant nuclear scientist (played with genuine sensitivity by Philip Tonge) whose conscience forces him out of the military-industrial complex. When a race of invisible aliens declares its intention to destroy Earth, Tonge must scramble to find their weakness. Veteran B-movie hunk John Agar lends support as a courageous army major who takes charge of the experimentation, and, in the process, supplies the film with its only shred of a subplot by romancing the scientist's daughter (spunky Jean Byron). Substantial newsreel footage and seemingly unrelated canned shots add to the creepy atmosphere, and the film's one real special effect--concentric circles representing sound waves--proves quite effective in its pure minimalism. Shot, apparently, on a budget of pocket change and bounced credit- union checks, Invisible Invaders stands as an inspiration to cash-poor indie filmmakers everywhere, and to anybody who understands that the true measure of a science-fiction narrative is not the force of its explosions, but of its ideas. --Miles Bethany
Description
INVISIBLE INVADERS JOURNEY TO THE SEVENTH PLANET
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| Customer Reviews: Read 21 more reviews...
This is one "Journey" I'll continue taking! November 13, 2008
Nick D., Jr (Tampa, FL USA)
Critics continue to bash "Journey" unmercifully but it's one of my childhood favorites. Many have described the plot in detail so I'll forego a plot description and instead describe the effect it had on me. I saw the film the first week it opened in 1962 at the 1200-seat Palace Theater which was packed, and hearing the audience reactions both during and after the film, many appeared to enjoy it. I was 11 at the time and that cyclops dinosaur creature scared the heck out of me! And judging by the screams it scared many others as well. The giant spider crushed by the falling boulder was a hoot! The film was mesmerizing and entertaining throughout. Even the romantic "Journey" ballad sung over the end credits is a treat. I enjoyed the film so much I followed it to the second run theaters, and then convinced my parents to take me when it opened at the drive-ins.
Its many critics fail to realize that it was basically aimed at the teen and pre-teen market which I believe it satisfied very well. It was certainly new and offbeat for its time with beautiful color, swirling psychedelic patterns, and that weird compelling music which suited the film perfectly (yes, I realize a good portion of the music wasn't composed for the film but was culled from various sources). When viewed today some of the acting (though not all of it) admittedly leaves a little to be desired, and the special effects and sets are not of the highest calibre. But none of this was apparent through the eyes of an 11-year-old in 1962 as the sets and effects were certainly ominous looking. Although even back then I did think it was strange when the actors spoke and their lips fit the words perfectly in some scenes but not in others.
Upon their first viewing of the film the honchos at American International deemed it "unreleasable" in the U.S. The entire film was redubbed, and scenes of the original Danish monsters were apparently so poor they were cut and replaced by two new creatures AIP considered more marketable for American audiences. The original music score was entirely replaced as well. Somewhere in some vault lies a print of the original uncut Danish version that I'd love to see.
I was lucky enough to meet John Agar at a Hollywood Autograph Show shortly before he passed away in 2002. I asked if he enjoyed making Journey to the Seventh Planet, and he said yes, very much so. He also mentioned he took the family along and they all had a great time vacationing in Denmark while he made the film.
Journey to the Seventh Planet should be enjoyed for what it is - a very low budget but imaginative and colorful space adventure. The print used for the DVD is a beauty with rich vivid colors and a sharp image. I haven't yet watched Invisible Invaders so I cannot offer a thumbs up or down on this one. But it does star the great John Agar!
 Tongue-in-cheek 1959 sci-fi cult film July 30, 2008
Patrick W. Crabtree (Lucasville, OH USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
The story: Earth's scientists are fooling around with the atom again and inhabitants of the Earth's Moon are quite unhappy about it. Of course, once atomic energy becomes a household word, the next thing you know, man will be on the Moon -- and the Moon Aliens plan to put the skids to THAT!
To prevent earthlings from exploring space, the "Invisible Invaders" (alien Moon residents) plan to attack, invade, and take over planet Earth, killing all the Earthlings in the process. Since these moon folks and their spacecraft are invisible it's clearly difficult to do battle with them. The invaders DO pre-warn Earth's residents to just give up the planet, but you know how stubborn Earthlings are. The Invisible Invaders can re-animate corpses so we end up with a sort of either "Night of the Living Dead" or "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" -type scenario as the battle for earth ensues.
As the situation deteriorates for the Earthlings a small band of Earth's scientists ultimately retreat to a secret military bunker where they attempt to devise a new weapon which will derail their alien attackers. It soon becomes apparent to these scientists that the only real weapon that the Moonsters (my word) have is invisibility itself. I'll have to stop there to avoid giving rise to a Spoiler!
The 1959 film, "Invisible Invaders" is shot in black-and-white and runs 67 minutes in duration. The aspect is full frame. Produced by Premium Films, the movie was directed by Edward L. Cahn and the big stars are John Carradine (superb!), John Agar, and Robert Hutton. The music was composed by Paul Dunlap (pretty good) and the special effects are by Roger George.
I'm a huge fan of this genre of period films and this one is okay - the actors played their roles quite well but both the story and the special effects are just a little too silly and absurd. Still, if you savor the old Drive-in Movie sci-fi flicks, "Invisible Invaders" might be right up your alley.
What's That Smell, oh it's this little piece of cheese from the past, that I really like April 18, 2007
John D. Page (usa)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Fond Memories of after school movies and rainy days flooded me as I watched these moldy oldies again. Sure they both stink and are bottom of the barrel sci-fi movies, but I happen to like the bottom of this barrel very much.
The feeling of being a kid again as I watched these with my sons was great and even though they said the fx's were bad, they had fun with the movie. Not for all taste, but if you grew up in the 60's and 70's or you are a young person looking for some cheesy fun you can stop looking and get this set.
Charming B-movie with potential April 5, 2007
D. Hansen (Denmark)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have currently only watched one half of the double feature: Journey to the seventh planet.
The movie has an actually exciting plot which, as in every other B-movie, is being totally neglected and drives on without any real building up to anything.
The movie is however interesting for all Danes as they can recognize all the famous and belowed Danish actors of the time in some higly unordinary situations.
ESPECIALLY the fact that the danish actor Ove Sprogoe - the Danish actor who has played the most movie roles in danish filmhistory - acording to legend for many years refused to have played the part Barry'o'Sullivan in this movie makes it more fun to watch.
enjoy
Great sci-fi double feature January 19, 2007
C. Nina Farley (Venice, Florida United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The clarity of both pictures where very good.One could see everything very clearly and of course I enjoyed both of them.Brought back "old times" for me.Anyone that is collecting "old sci-fi" movies on dvd will I am sure enjoy these two.
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