Invasion, U.S.A. (1952 film)
Invasion, U.S.A. | |
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Directed by | Alfred E. Green |
Written by |
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Based on | Story by Robert Smith Franz Spencer |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | John L. Russell |
Edited by | W. Donn Hayes |
Music by | Albert Glasser |
Production company | American Pictures Corp. |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 74 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $187,000[1] |
Box office | $1.2 million[2] |
Invasion, U.S.A. (sometimes stylized Invasion USA)
Plot
In a
Suddenly the news becomes worse. "The Enemy" is staging air attacks over
Meanwhile, the Americans at the bar scramble to return to their lives to do what they can against the enemy now that it is too late. Potter and Sanford fall for each other. He continues to broadcast while she volunteers to help run a blood drive. The industrialist and the rancher both return home to find themselves on the front lines. The former is caught in the battle for
Suddenly, the image of her falling body appears in Ohman's brandy snifter. All five suddenly find themselves back in the bar since they have just emerged from a hypnotic state that Ohman had induced. After reassuring themselves that the recent events, including their deaths, did not really happen, they hurry off to take measures to boost military preparedness. Potter and Sanford "resume" their romance.
Cast
- Gerald Mohr as Vince Potter
- Peggie Castle as Carla Sanford
- Dan O'Herlihy as Mr. Ohman
- Robert Bice as George Sylvester
- Tom Kennedy as Tim the Bartender
- Wade Crosby as Illinois Congressman Arthur V. Harroway
- Erik Blythe as Ed Mulfory
- Phyllis Coates as Mrs. Mulfory
- Aram Katcher as Factory Window Washer
- Knox Manning as himself
- Edward G. Robinson Jr. as Radio Dispatcher
- Noel Neill as Second Airline Ticket Agent
- Clarence A. Shoop as Army Major
- Joseph Granby as President of the United States (uncredited)
Production
Invasion, U.S.A. was the second film from American Pictures Corporation, who had just made their first film,
Harold Daniels was to direct but he was instead assigned to American Pictures Corporation's, Port Sinister, and Alfred E. Green replaced him. Ron Randell was meant to appear in the cast but had to pull out. William Schallert replaced Clete Roberts. Gerald Mohr replaced Michael O'Shea. Filming started 26 March 1952.[7]
Zugsmith said the film was made for a cash budget of $127,000 with $60,000 deferred. He called the movie the way that he really learned filmmaking, and he got an education from Al Green and Ralph Black in particular.[1]
"The Enemy" is never named but is clearly meant to be taken as the communist Soviet Union because of its approach through Alaska, pseudo-Slavic accents, and "People's Army" proclamations. Principal photography began in early April 1952 at Motion Picture Center Studios.[8]
Much of the film's running time is taken up with
On a philosophical level, Invasion, U.S.A. is also often viewed as humorously (and unintentionally) ironic, as the lesson it communicates encourages citizens to subordinate their individual needs and desires to that of the state to combat communism.[9]
Phyllis Coates and Noel Neill, two Lois Lane actresses, and William Schallert, a B-movie and TV stalwart, all have small parts in the film. O'Herlihy had the distinction of costarring in another Cold War drama climaxing with the nuclear destruction of New York, when he appeared in 1964's Fail Safe.
Reception and legacy
A contemporary review in Variety states: "This production imaginatively poses the situation of a foreign power invading the US with atom bombs. Startling aspects of the screenplay [from a story by Robert Smith and Franz Spencer] are further parlayed through effective use of war footage secured from the various armed services and the Atomic Energy Commission."[9]
The film was commercially successful and brought in net profits of about $1.2 million, according to Zugmsith.[1]
Invasion, U.S.A. was subsequently shown on television in the late 1960s but then was not widely viewed for a long time until in 1994, it was spoofed as Episode 602 on the movie-mocking television show Mystery Science Theater 3000 alongside the 1950 education short A Date with Your Family.[10]
In 1998, Invasion, U.S.A. was released on VHS, then on DVD in 2002.[11] A special edition in 2009 featured two original Civil Defense Department audio recordings on the alternate DVD audio track: The Complacent Americans and If the Bomb Falls: A Recorded Guide to Survival. The 1956 reissue theatrical trailer; and interviews with stars, Dan O'Herlihy, William Schallert and Noel Neill. The original and controversial "Red Scare" short Red Nightmare, narrated by Jack Webb, was also included in the bonus features.[12]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Flynn, Charles; McCarthy, Todd (1975). "Albert Zugmsith". In Flynn, Charles; McCarthy, Todd (eds.). Kings of the Bs : working within the Hollywood system : an anthology of film history and criticism. E. P. Dutton. p. 413.
- ^ "Top Grossing Films of 1950-1959." Top Grossing Films of 1950-1959. Retrieved: January 4, 2016.
- ^ All punctuation is missing in the actual title frame of the film but are present in the film's publicity materials.
- ^ A Short History of Film, Third Edition - Google Books (Hollywood and the Blacklist)
- ^ Schallert, Edwin (18 July 1951). "Lupino Company Comedy Rated Good for Forrest; Invasion Film Planned". Los Angeles Times. p. B9.
- ^ MOVIELAND BRIEFS Los Angeles Times 18 Feb 1952: B9.
- ^ Pine-Thomas Purchase Best Seller; 'Bonanza' Will Boost Newer Stars Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 25 Feb 1952: B9.
- ^ "Original print information: 'Invasion, U.S.A.' (1952)." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: December 8, 2015.
- ^ a b "Review: ‘Invasion U.S.A.’." Variety, December 31, 1951. Retrieved: December 8, 2015.
- ^ Beaulieu 1996, p. 117.
- ^ Erickson, Glenn. "Review: 'Invasion, USA; Atomic Special Edition." DVD Savant, 2007. Retrieved: December 8, 2015.
- ^ West, Peter. "DVD Review: 'Invasion U.S.A.' (50th Anniversary Special Edition)." Archived 2016-02-16 at the Wayback Machine horrortalk.com, April 24, 2009. Retrieved: December 8, 2015.
Bibliography
- Beaulieu, Trace. The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Amazing Colossal Episode Guide. New York: Bantam, 1996. ISBN 978-0-5533-7783-5.
External links
- Invasion USA on YouTube
- Production history of film at Conelrad.com
- Invasion USA at IMDb
- Invasion U.S.A. on MUBI
- MST3K treatment on ShoutFactoryTV