The Donald Sutherland version was good but lacked the small town setting of "Santa Mira" which added to the story. Not only that but the dark visual elements of the remake hurt the story as well as being set in San Francisco. "Santa Mira" was the model of the 50's version of the perfect American town that was destroyed quietly and insidiously.
When Dana Wynter opens her eyes after being possessed it makes for a great moment. You know it's coming. There is a marvelous moment of subtle humor when Dr. Bennell talks about his 'bed side' manner. Great movie.
Good points. Thanks for putting to bed the idea of it having a Cold War message. Political messages do have their place but they often hurt a movie. It is a well made movie.
I bought a paperback copy of the novel when I was a kid. I had no idea it had been made into a film until later. Still have the paperback and of course a DVD of the film.
The other interesting thing about Dana Wynter, especially in the context of the film was that she was born in Germany to British parents and raised in England. She had a fairly noticeable English accent but in the 1960s and early 1970s made a career in the U.S. playing both English and American. Much like, say, Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet and Kate Beckinsale, she could feign an American accent fairly well. She hides it here but it slips out a few times and they paper it over by someone saying Becky 'studied in England.' (Becky Driscoll--how All-American does THAT sound??) But when Becky 'turns,' so to speak, she shuts off her American voice and goes full Brit. I wonder if that was an acting choice by Dana. To hear her suddenly sound English comes off as sinister in the context of the scene, no offense to British people.
I am 3 yrs late leaving a comment, but I just came across this content today! This film is the best version of this intriguing and frightening story! Imagine living in a reality/world where you're the only human being left, and are surrounded by evil and enigmatic beings whose intentions you're not aware of! Similar to Get Out, Us, Them, The Stepford Wives and other films! Who knows what the reality is behind everything! Maybe life is just a simulation, an experiment, a dream or who knows what else! Maybe one day we'll find out or maybe we wont! Now how existential is that?
Good stuff. I agree with your assessment. A few facts about Dana Wynter. For whatever reason, she pronounced it 'Donna,' not 'Dana,' as it's spelled. She was under contract to 20th Century Fox at the time and they loaned her out, so to speak, to do the film.
I like to add that like omega man I enjoy all the adaptations of the story. I’m disappointed there’s not a new one for every generation. I think each movie really has a lot to say about the period they were made I understand why you don’t like the other movies. But I think they all have merit
part of me believes the film is about conflicting views on love and communism really. the reason why i think part of it is a metaphor for communism is the line "they're after you, they're after all of us, our wives, our children, everyone." if im wrong tell me what else this could possibly mean? could this mean the spread of hopelessness could infect an entire generation into decadence and despair?
I think the theme of communism works perfectly for the movie, but it’s also not necessary for anyone to view that way. The themes are so great that they can be interpreted in any way that relates to you. I personally just wanted to watch it because this specific horror concept was always fascinating to me since I was a child, I saw my favorite TV shows had episodes with this same concept(inspired by this), I always loved it, I even had terrible nightmares about my family being replaced. I am glad I watched this so I finally see where the concept comes from. That being said, I grew up in communism, and I have to say it’s insane how chillingly relatable this was to me.
I'm so sorry you grew up in such a horrible time, unfortunately it hasn't gotten better, America is slowly succumbing to the vile ways of communism everyday, I'm probably one of the few of this dastardly generation that doesn't uphold Marxist beliefs as my own, god save us all...
@@AbrasiousProductions I agree with this. This is why the film stroke a cord with me. I am almost glad that I grew up where I did, otherwise I fear I probably would’ve been succumbed into supporting it, knowing how easy to influence I am. But having the experiences I had made me realize I never EVER wanna see that crap come to the US where I now live. Seeing how much more common it’s becoming is slowly feeling like a real life horror film. And whenever I try to tell people of my experiences they cast me aside and ignore me or call me a liar or insult me with lines so predictable that they almost feel programmed into their brain, sometimes I feel like the main character of the film in the last scene warning everyone but being ignored. Chilling
Great Review and one of my all time favourite movies, in fact this was the first movie i bought on VHS back in the early 1980s. My olny problem with the movie is no matter what format i have purchased the movie be it VHS DVD etc the print is always very grainy at first i thought this might have been a bad DVD transfer but no i own 3 copy's on DVD and they are al the same. Do yo know the reason for this ??
As a matter of fact, I do. As a way of highlighting the us-vs-them themes of the picture, the man behind the camera, Ellsworth Fredericks, deliberately shot it in an extremely high contrast, much greater than the norm, and that lends itself to a grainy image.
Very interesting interpretation. Thank you. I like the novel, including its ending, much better than you do. The writing and pacing of it are excellent.
I'm leaving this comment mid April 2024! It is one of my favorite films! I can relate to the theme and plot of this 🍿🎥 movie! The Pod People are like Dopplegangers from US or The Stepford Wives movie from the 1970's? Whose to say what's really going on! With so many people thinking and talking about alternate realities, possibly living in a simulation, glitches in the matrix, and other mind bending stuff! I guess no one really knows unless they really do?! Are we in the Rabbit Hole? And who is really behind the curtain? CURIOSER & CURIOSER!
I agree that the Your NEXT ending would have been more powerful, and frightening. I am also glad you pointed out that it is not a Red Scare film. It is always the way that people STRETCH a simple escapist film into something SIGNIFICANT that bores me. Sure, the remakes do become overtly political but this gem is just what it sets out to be. Time away from your daily concerns and a glimpse into what life MIGHT be like under these circumstances. Look at the TV film V and it's sequel V: The Final Battle. In the original it had parallels to Nazism, but it was first and foremost an escapist fantasy. What would people around you do if faced with a new rise of Socialism? At the time, we see people banding together to fight back--not so much today--and it makes for a World War story that is pretty good. The sequel, however relies too heavily on the political themes and thus it misses the SCI-FI escapist agenda of the first. I do believe that films which are made as allegories have their place and role to play, but not every film is conceived of to do that. Look at Coma, there is no allegory there. Just a flat out indictment of the Organ Black Market that COULD (and maybe does) take place within the Medical Establishment. That makes for good storytelling and leaves the viewer a bit suspect of exactly what is it that the doctor is injecting you with (hello CV Vaccine), and what is the TRUE purpose behind it. We actually see this plotline better spelled out in John Saul's God Project, so I think I veered a bit from the Coma Conspiracy model but I did so with nothing but good intentions. Also it gave me a chance to plug a great--quick read--in John Saul's God Project.
This is a case, I think, that the producer’s interference, produced a better movie. Without the tacked-on scenes at the beginning and end, with Dr. Miles Bennell arguing with a doctor from a mental clinic, and ending with “Your next”, the movie’s central tragedy would be the impeding doom of mankind. But with these two tack-on scenes, the central tragedy of the movie is on what it should be on, the death of Becky Driscoll. As Stalin once said, the death of one is a tragedy, of a million a statistic. Notice Dr. Bennell’s reaction when they finally start to accept the possibility that a space invasion is real, and the first steps are made to combat it. His face does not show relief. It shows anguish. Why? Because before, he could think that maybe the lost of Becky was for the best. Maybe his account is just too unbelievable. Maybe they are all doomed anyway. Maybe it was best Becky went sooner and didn’t have to suffer from fear for an extra day or two. Now, he realizes that perhaps they came so close to having both of them escape. It just makes the movie so much more poignant, having him grieving over Becky Driscoll, then it would be to have him grieving over all mankind. The director’s response to the producer’s interference, is a textbook example of, when life hands you lemon, make lemonade.
@@joeelliott2157 I sort of agree with this assessment. Where we differ is that the Dr. B scenes--especially the one where he is not looking 'relieved' after the military and the others seem to believe him--are important. By seeing his pensive look after the others begin to act on what he told them, he does not look 'relieved' because only now, that his duty to warn the authorities is complete, can he spare the time to 'feel' Becky's death. That is the look on his face you see. At the time this film was made there were set roles for men which were different from the roles of women. Men, at the time, understood their responsibility not just to themselves and those close to him, but to society. Today's people don't seem to understand responsibility at all, and we can see examples every day around us of people who don't even want to take responsibility for their own actions, much less for society.
Dang, Don Seagull and Walter Wanger predicted the coronavirus situation! Even though, it was just a coincidence. Note: I know the director’s name is actually Don Siegel, but I am gonna call him Don Seagull, cause that’s his last name is actually pronounced.
I don’t think any anti communist readings are incorrect. I think do to the time period it was inevitable that those themes crept in. Of course I believe it was by happenstance that people read those political themes into them. I think when you put a piece of work out there. It doesn’t belong to you exclusively.
Are you aware that the ostensible writer you credit for the screenplay, Mainwaring, was a well-known "Front" used to disguise the actual blacklisted writer, Paul Jarrico? I think you're insistence that this film had NOTHING to do with the McCarthy era is false. Finney may not have intended it, but the fact that his ending was changed is a testament to the allegory of McCarthyism the screenwriter intended.
Movie has NOTHING to do with Communism. It's just a scary monster movie, that's all it is And the only version I like. Couldn't stand the 1978 remake; too bleak.
The 1950s was the golden age of science fiction movies and this one ranks among the greatest of the decade.
Easily one of the all time greats. And it's still scary. The ending, brilliant. 👍👍
Absolutely !
Agreed.... 👍
This movie scared the willies out of me when I first saw it as a kid. A great movie. Great actors. The remake was not even close in any way.
Agree entirely
The Donald Sutherland version was good but lacked the small town setting of "Santa Mira" which added to the story. Not only that but the dark visual elements of the remake hurt the story as well as being set in San Francisco. "Santa Mira" was the model of the 50's version of the perfect American town that was destroyed quietly and insidiously.
When Dana Wynter opens her eyes after being possessed it makes for a great moment. You know it's coming. There is a marvelous moment of subtle humor when Dr. Bennell talks about his 'bed side' manner. Great movie.
I've tried to like the '78, but the original is still the best to me.
True... They Tend to bury the Originals with the Remakes & Copies... A few Remakes are cool but not All of them.
An absolute classic
I think Kevin McCarthy's performance was Oscar worthy!
Good points. Thanks for putting to bed the idea of it having a Cold War message. Political messages do have their place but they often hurt a movie. It is a well made movie.
Right.... Agree & True.. Political ish IS a factor. But it doesn't belong in everything. I've even moved away from Political Based Music & Convo.
I bought a paperback copy of the novel when I was a kid. I had no idea it had been made into a film until later. Still have the paperback and of course a DVD of the film.
The other interesting thing about Dana Wynter, especially in the context of the film was that she was born in Germany to British parents and raised in England. She had a fairly noticeable English accent but in the 1960s and early 1970s made a career in the U.S. playing both English and American. Much like, say, Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet and Kate Beckinsale, she could feign an American accent fairly well. She hides it here but it slips out a few times and they paper it over by someone saying Becky 'studied in England.' (Becky Driscoll--how All-American does THAT sound??) But when Becky 'turns,' so to speak, she shuts off her American voice and goes full Brit. I wonder if that was an acting choice by Dana. To hear her suddenly sound English comes off as sinister in the context of the scene, no offense to British people.
Thanks for pointing out something I did not catch in one of my favorite films.
I'll never forget the scene with the dog in the 1978 remake (no spoilers). The 90's Abel Ferrara version is also good.
I am 3 yrs late leaving a comment, but I just came across this content today!
This film is the best version of this intriguing and frightening story! Imagine living in a reality/world where you're the only human being left, and are surrounded by evil and enigmatic beings whose intentions you're not aware of!
Similar to Get Out, Us, Them, The Stepford Wives and other films!
Who knows what the reality is behind everything! Maybe life is just a simulation, an experiment, a dream or who knows what else! Maybe one day we'll find out or maybe we wont! Now how existential is that?
Good stuff. I agree with your assessment. A few facts about Dana Wynter. For whatever reason, she pronounced it 'Donna,' not 'Dana,' as it's spelled. She was under contract to 20th Century Fox at the time and they loaned her out, so to speak, to do the film.
quality review, learned a lot of stuff i didnt know about this movie
I'm glad that the ending was hopeful. It would've been so depressing if they just kept it where he runs on the highway and that's it.
Though he got no more than an anonymous one line walk-on, Sam Peckinpaw (the gasman) got screen credit although he was unknown at the time.
I did not know that!
very strange, one quick edit, I just looked at the credits. He's listed. Thanks for responding.. @@TheUnapologeticGeek
Good review of a classic gem.
I forgot Richard Deacon was in this. Been many hardcover I saw it.
I like to add that like omega man I enjoy all the adaptations of the story. I’m disappointed there’s not a new one for every generation. I think each movie really has a lot to say about the period they were made I understand why you don’t like the other movies. But I think they all have merit
What is the point of the clones if at the end Becky just becomes "infected" without the need of a clone replacing her???
part of me believes the film is about conflicting views on love and communism really. the reason why i think part of it is a metaphor for communism is the line "they're after you, they're after all of us, our wives, our children, everyone." if im wrong tell me what else this could possibly mean? could this mean the spread of hopelessness could infect an entire generation into decadence and despair?
I think the theme of communism works perfectly for the movie, but it’s also not necessary for anyone to view that way. The themes are so great that they can be interpreted in any way that relates to you.
I personally just wanted to watch it because this specific horror concept was always fascinating to me since I was a child, I saw my favorite TV shows had episodes with this same concept(inspired by this), I always loved it, I even had terrible nightmares about my family being replaced. I am glad I watched this so I finally see where the concept comes from.
That being said, I grew up in communism, and I have to say it’s insane how chillingly relatable this was to me.
I'm so sorry you grew up in such a horrible time, unfortunately it hasn't gotten better, America is slowly succumbing to the vile ways of communism everyday, I'm probably one of the few of this dastardly generation that doesn't uphold Marxist beliefs as my own, god save us all...
@@AbrasiousProductions I agree with this. This is why the film stroke a cord with me.
I am almost glad that I grew up where I did, otherwise I fear I probably would’ve been succumbed into supporting it, knowing how easy to influence I am. But having the experiences I had made me realize I never EVER wanna see that crap come to the US where I now live. Seeing how much more common it’s becoming is slowly feeling like a real life horror film. And whenever I try to tell people of my experiences they cast me aside and ignore me or call me a liar or insult me with lines so predictable that they almost feel programmed into their brain, sometimes I feel like the main character of the film in the last scene warning everyone but being ignored. Chilling
I feel the exact same way, we are kindred spirits
2:06 --> If they are that susceptible, it's because the story cuts too close even to the bone of Reality.
The REAL Body Snatchers; Donald Marchall : th-cam.com/video/xyrwrfDLVnQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=XivNTSVS1fDDtulJ 🙃
The 1993 version was pretty solid !
That's the one with Forest Whitacker, directed by Abel Ferer and set on an army base. That one is very good.
Great Review and one of my all time favourite movies, in fact this was the first movie i bought on VHS back in the early 1980s.
My olny problem with the movie is no matter what format i have purchased the movie be it VHS DVD etc the print is always very grainy at first i thought this might have been a bad DVD transfer but no i own 3 copy's on DVD and they are al the same.
Do yo know the reason for this ??
As a matter of fact, I do. As a way of highlighting the us-vs-them themes of the picture, the man behind the camera, Ellsworth Fredericks, deliberately shot it in an extremely high contrast, much greater than the norm, and that lends itself to a grainy image.
@@TheUnapologeticGeek Ah thank you (:
Very interesting interpretation. Thank you.
I like the novel, including its ending, much better than you do. The writing and pacing of it are excellent.
I'm leaving this comment mid April 2024! It is one of my favorite films! I can relate to the theme and plot of this 🍿🎥 movie! The Pod People are like Dopplegangers from US or The Stepford Wives movie from the 1970's? Whose to say what's really going on! With so many people thinking and talking about alternate realities, possibly living in a simulation, glitches in the matrix, and other mind bending stuff! I guess no one really knows unless they really do?! Are we in the Rabbit Hole? And who is really behind the curtain? CURIOSER & CURIOSER!
I agree that the Your NEXT ending would have been more powerful, and frightening. I am also glad you pointed out that it is not a Red Scare film. It is always the way that people STRETCH a simple escapist film into something SIGNIFICANT that bores me. Sure, the remakes do become overtly political but this gem is just what it sets out to be. Time away from your daily concerns and a glimpse into what life MIGHT be like under these circumstances. Look at the TV film V and it's sequel V: The Final Battle. In the original it had parallels to Nazism, but it was first and foremost an escapist fantasy. What would people around you do if faced with a new rise of Socialism? At the time, we see people banding together to fight back--not so much today--and it makes for a World War story that is pretty good. The sequel, however relies too heavily on the political themes and thus it misses the SCI-FI escapist agenda of the first. I do believe that films which are made as allegories have their place and role to play, but not every film is conceived of to do that. Look at Coma, there is no allegory there. Just a flat out indictment of the Organ Black Market that COULD (and maybe does) take place within the Medical Establishment. That makes for good storytelling and leaves the viewer a bit suspect of exactly what is it that the doctor is injecting you with (hello CV Vaccine), and what is the TRUE purpose behind it. We actually see this plotline better spelled out in John Saul's God Project, so I think I veered a bit from the Coma Conspiracy model but I did so with nothing but good intentions. Also it gave me a chance to plug a great--quick read--in John Saul's God Project.
This is a case, I think, that the producer’s interference, produced a better movie. Without the tacked-on scenes at the beginning and end, with Dr. Miles Bennell arguing with a doctor from a mental clinic, and ending with “Your next”, the movie’s central tragedy would be the impeding doom of mankind. But with these two tack-on scenes, the central tragedy of the movie is on what it should be on, the death of Becky Driscoll. As Stalin once said, the death of one is a tragedy, of a million a statistic.
Notice Dr. Bennell’s reaction when they finally start to accept the possibility that a space invasion is real, and the first steps are made to combat it. His face does not show relief. It shows anguish. Why? Because before, he could think that maybe the lost of Becky was for the best. Maybe his account is just too unbelievable. Maybe they are all doomed anyway. Maybe it was best Becky went sooner and didn’t have to suffer from fear for an extra day or two. Now, he realizes that perhaps they came so close to having both of them escape. It just makes the movie so much more poignant, having him grieving over Becky Driscoll, then it would be to have him grieving over all mankind.
The director’s response to the producer’s interference, is a textbook example of, when life hands you lemon, make lemonade.
@@joeelliott2157 I sort of agree with this assessment. Where we differ is that the Dr. B scenes--especially the one where he is not looking 'relieved' after the military and the others seem to believe him--are important. By seeing his pensive look after the others begin to act on what he told them, he does not look 'relieved' because only now, that his duty to warn the authorities is complete, can he spare the time to 'feel' Becky's death. That is the look on his face you see. At the time this film was made there were set roles for men which were different from the roles of women. Men, at the time, understood their responsibility not just to themselves and those close to him, but to society. Today's people don't seem to understand responsibility at all, and we can see examples every day around us of people who don't even want to take responsibility for their own actions, much less for society.
Dang, Don Seagull and Walter Wanger predicted the coronavirus situation! Even though, it was just a coincidence.
Note: I know the director’s name is actually Don Siegel, but I am gonna call him Don Seagull, cause that’s his last name is actually pronounced.
Dana A True Dream Girl !!!🤪
I don’t think any anti communist readings are incorrect. I think do to the time period it was inevitable that those themes crept in. Of course I believe it was by happenstance that people read those political themes into them. I think when you put a piece of work out there. It doesn’t belong to you exclusively.
Are you aware that the ostensible writer you credit for the screenplay, Mainwaring, was a well-known "Front" used to disguise the actual blacklisted writer, Paul Jarrico? I think you're insistence that this film had NOTHING to do with the McCarthy era is false. Finney may not have intended it, but the fact that his ending was changed is a testament to the allegory of McCarthyism the screenwriter intended.
Movie has NOTHING to do with Communism. It's just a scary monster movie, that's all it is And the only version I like.
Couldn't stand the 1978 remake; too bleak.
Having read the info on Wikipedia first, I didn't learn anything new from your 'review'.
Who cares just play the movie