''A mysterious UFO crashes near Los Angeles and unleashes an invisible alien from an unknown planet. "The Phantom" goes on an unwitting rampage of death and destruction as it struggles for survival in a strange new world. A group of valiant scientists race against the clock to find the creature before further disaster ensues. This remarkably serious film noir documentary-styled science-fiction epic was directed by W. Lee Wilder (Billy's brother) who was also responsible for such similarly sober "masterpieces" as The Snow Creature (1954) and Killers From Space (1954).
Starring: Rudolph Anders
Produced by: W. Lee Wilder
Music by: William Lava
Cinematography by: William H. Clothier
Directed by: W. Lee Wilder
Screenplay by: William Raynor & Myles Wilder
DVD Details:
- Run Time: 72 minutes
- Number of Discs: 1
- Originally Released in 1953
- Black & White
- No region encoding; For global distribution.
Packaging: DVD STYLE BOX Operating System: DVD MOVIE Weight: .450000 PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS AND COMPATABILITY PRIOR TO PURCHASING THIS ITEM. THERE ARE NO RETURNS OR EXCHANGES UNLESS IT IS DEFECTIVE.''
Product DescriptionSpecifically regarding the DVD released by Alpha Video. The source print was poor and the DVD picture quality ranges from substandard to fair but the entire film has a soft image which is some segments is very soft with much surface noise. Dark scenes are very noisy and soft which is very distracting as they look like as if transferred from a worn VHS videocassette.
So, only purchase if you are willing to watch a substandard image and don't bother buying if you have an HD screen.
August 7, 2008this was great older movie showing the old cars of 1950s and how americans talk , the story is great the ending well what ever, it good for kids and all ages
May 25, 2008 |  | Starts Out as 1 Star: Finishes as 2 |  |
In PHANTOM FROM SPACE, director W. L. Wilder presents a typical Alien From Space film. For most of the first half, the pacing is slow and laborious. In the popular pseudo-documentary style that characterized many post WWII movies, the narrator informs the viewer that a UFO has appeared over the west coast. There are several montages of jets taking off to intercept. After the craft lands, we see that the alien is wearing a space suit that contains what we later learn is a methane-based atmosphere. At first, the alien is presented as a killer since he causes the deaths of two men. It is not until later that director Wilder tries something novel--he pictures the alien in a sympathetic light as one who was first attacked by men and he merely responded in kind. This alien is no blood-drinking carrot monster from THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD. Here, the alien is marooned on earth and seeks only to survive. There are the usual military types, cops, pretty girls, and goofy cameramen involved in the chase. Towards the end, we tend to see things from the vantage of the alien. Except for his unusual lung requirements, he is pretty much like anyone else. What THE PHANTOM FROM SPACE depicts on an admittedly loony level is a movie that contains a subtext not often found in the monster-alien films of the period: namely that the real dramatic center of any movie lies solidly in just how much the audience learns to care about the protagonist. In this case, the interest was there, even if scripting, pacing, and dialogue were not.
February 23, 2008 | | Guilty until proven innocent | |
This film stats out with the standard and fun 50's sci-fi formula. We ar treated to a thesis on the use of radar. Something foreign approaches Santa Monica (a beautiful beach community off the cost of southern California.) Then we are confronted by a stranger in a diving suite with pipes coming out of his helmet. It is only human nature that we should beat the snot out of him. But wait he defends himself. Could this deadly stranger have anything to do with the UFO? As he is tracked down and cornered by the authorities, he ditches his fancy suite and we are in for a surprise.
Not as much of a shootemup as it is a study of physiology.
October 23, 2006| | | One man's menace is another man's martyr... | |
Strange, and kinda sad, flick about an invisible alien who crashes his ship into the Pacific Ocean and finds Californians attacking him left and right for being, well, an alien. Now, I've been to California, and while they usually don't greet aliens with warmth and friendship, I've never seen people swinging or shooting at them. I mean, who would watch their rich yuppie brats or cook their food? Then again, I never saw an invisible alien during my time there. But wait, how could I? He'd be invisible...I'm giving myself a headache. Anyway, this alien kills some people in defense, gets hunted around, has his space helmet stolen...which is pretty mean since he needs it to live...tries vainly to communicate with humans.,,this guy just wants to go home. After spending 26 years on this planet, I can understand why. The scientists and feds chasing the alien corner him up inside of a room with a giant telescope, and he finally suffocates to death, therby becoming visible for a few moments before evaporating. Sad, sad movie. Reminds me of those old 60s Marvel monster comics I used to buy at Fat Jacks Comic Crypt as a kid for pennies on the dollar to their value today. You know, the ones where the alien comes peacefully to Earth, but the stupid humans get scared and kill him? Outsiders identify with each other I guess. Cop the Mills Creek 50 Sci-Fi Classics package. PFS is in there, along with Teenagers From Outer Space (my fav), Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, Mesa of Lost Women, Eegah and a gaggle of bad European space flicks. You know you want it.
June 23, 2006More reviews at Amazon.com ...
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