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I looked for this hard-to-find movie for years in vain until last week when I found it on eBay. I really wanted it to add to my collection of '50's sci-fi films, although the joy was in the memory and not the actual re-viewing after so many years. Beginning with a rather odd female vocal of the title song, unique in itself, the story is basically about one space mission and the training and personal drama that leads up to three manned rockets being launched to try to capture a meteor in a scoop built into the nose of the rocket. If this mission sounds kind of suicidal, it actually is, in one explosive incident. The usual sci-fi characters are in this one, and although the electronic equipment is hopelessly dated and stock footage is used throughout, this rather rare movie is good enough to add to the sci-fi collectibles list. I gave it an "8" rating largely out of sentiment. It is closer to a seven because of its slow beginning, despite the talents of a pretty fair cast. ~~

That famous film phrase, actually incorrect by military terms, kind of sums up the way a lot of viewers must feel about this movie. The film isn't that bad in concept, but mistakes, goofs and continuity fluffs drag it down far more than it should be. The acting is standard for the genre. Agar is the predictable Air Force major, in yet another military and science versus the invaders epic. They're all there: the obligatory lead scientist, his beautiful daughter, the cowardly fiancée (who obviously eventually loses her to Agar), plastic commanding general and an assortment of dead brought to life to conquer the world ("Plan 9 From Outer Space" did this bit three years before but didn't get released in 1956 because Ed Wood ran out of money). The goofs include radioactive air that somehow can not get up under a loosely-fitting protective hood; a standard truck cabin that is somehow protected from radioactivity coming inside even when the door is opened and the driver is only wearing a suit; ropes that loop conveniently around a fallen invader lying at the bottom of a pit filled with acrylic; and, oh yes, film footage so old you will wonder which century these invaders came to earth anyway. So there you have it. Over and out. ~

TRIVIA: Three of the main players -- the male co-lead (Dick Purcell), the Admiral (Guy Usher) and the Mad Doctor (Henry Victor) all died within four years of making this 1941 mystery-comedy-voodoo film.

As for the movie itself, 65 years after it was made, and considering the social and political atmosphere of that day, it's hard to fault the writers or director for what was considered standard fare back then. The movie was assuredly cheaply made and was only held up by the comedy relief of Mantan Moreland. The treatment of servants and the demeaning stereotypes portrayed here chill us today, but were common and expected in an era where segregation was a way of life, people could actually smoke in hospital rooms, when drunkards were usually funny (especially when driving) and when seat belts were unheard of. We have indeed come a long way. ~~