The Strange World of Planet X

I once read an interesting theory from a famous British actor as to why so many American movies were so much successful with audiences than British movies. He claimed that many British movies were scripted as "illustrated radio" - with scripts that might play on radio, but wouldn't be appealing if filmed. This movie is strong evidence to that theory. The first two-thirds of the movie are extremely dull, with characters talking endlessly and there being virtually no action. The last third of the movie is slightly better than what happened beforehand, with some action and some special effects. But the fact that the giant bug effects are so obvious and so cheap (you almost never see a human in the same shot as one of the giant insects), it's not even good for some unintended laughs. You feel embarrassed for the filmmakers instead. If you want to see a giant bug movie, watch an American effort instead.

I have been a collector of the British cinema of the 1930's to the mid 60's for some years. One of my principle interests is in the backgrounds and 'business' behind the main story.

Science fiction films were difficult to produce at the time in Britain, as the budgets were low, even in comparison to US 'B' movies , and yet to earn export dollars they had to be pleasing to an American audience.

Fortunately for we viewers this film has avoided falling in to the trap of using wobbly scenery to subsidise special effects The setting for the story is an attractive but unremarkable village on the south coast conveniently close by train and coach to London.

There is the village pub, the police station, the school, Brierley woods and the discreet research centre.

These all provide authentic backdrops for the well constructed and well developed plot.

I suspect that the giant insect incident with its macro-photography and army documentary splices was 'shoe-horned' into the plot to make the film more saleable in the US.

The science of the fiction is not only of the same style as perhaps John Wyndham or Quatermass, but also Fred and Geoffrey Hoyle, its presentation laid out as stage play and a novel.

Watch this film with enjoyment, particularly if you can appreciate the difference in rank between a Hillman and a Singer car driver..!!!

I saw this movie recently on VHS. I was surprised at how compelling this film was. It took a while for the monsters to show but that's because great character development and a good plot outline was being established first. But when the monsters to show, there are some shocking scenes for even today.

The effects were very good as well as the acting, especially Forrest Tucker. They even managed to fit in a believable love triangle between the main characters. The logic of the plot pans out very well and was impressive. The movie flowed smoothly and the script well written. Overall it was a great 50s SF film.

In England, they produced many a B-Picture which if deemed suitable was shipped to America to entertain American Audiences. Among the more interesting is this entertaining Science Fiction movie entitled " The Strange World of Planet X, " in America it was renamed " Cosmic Monsters. " Whatever it was remembered as, it became a notable movie and a B-Picture Classic, primarily because of American Actor Forest Tucker. He plays Gil Graham a Electronic physicist working with a deranged Scientist who creates a powerful electromagnetic machine capable of upsetting not only the Earth's delicate magnetic field, it's insect population, but also the inter-galactic space-ships from Planet X. One notable star is Martin Benson who plays 'Smith' better remembered as the nervous gangster 'Mr.Solo' from the famous 'Goldfinger' movie. Despite it's modest budget and low-tech special effects, the story remains interesting and Tucker carries it through to a satisfying conclusion. A fun film for all. ***

Enjoyable sci-fi nostalgia with a British twist as a mad scientist in England first blows out the TV in the village pub, then inadvertently creates giant insects. The cliche-packed script never fails to amuse and the primitive special effects are a joy to behold.

Forrest Tucker mostly retains his dignity while stealing the heart of the French lady scientist, but the unconvincing romance doesn't interfere with the main order of business: lots of screaming females falling unconvincingly to the ground at the sight of a beetle or centipede crudely magnified to Godzilla-like proportions.

Bring popcorn and low expectations!