I
MARRIED A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE (1958)Director: Gene Fowler, Jr.
Paramount
I
MARRIED A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE (1958)Boasting
one of the most notorious and campy titles in motion picture history, I MARRIED
A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE is a quintessential 1950s creature feature flick that
fans can now add to their DVD collection. Basically a take on themes explored
in films like INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, its leading lady, Gloria Talbott,
is also known to monster movie fans for appearances in THE CYCLOPS, DAUGHTER OF
DR. JEKYLL and THE LEECH WOMAN. The male lead, Tom Tyron, later became a novelist
who also penned the screenplay for another chiller, THE OTHER (1972).
On the eve of his wedding following a binge with his drinking buddies in a bar, Bill Farrell (Tyron) takes off in his car. In the middle of the road, his car collides with a dummy dressed in a business suit, and he gets out to investigate. He is then permeated by a foggy substance and apparently abducted by a very ugly alien. Bill marries his pretty wife Marge (Talbott) the next day, but a year later she feels that this is not the same man she wed, as he is very stiff an emotionless, even killing a pet dog meant as an anniversary gift. One night she follows him into the woods and sees an alien exiting Bill's human form and entering a well-hidden saucer. Marge attempts to alert the authorities, but soon discovers that most of the town's males (including half the police force) have also been taken over. It turns out that these invaders came from a dying planet whose women have all been rendered sterile, and they are now marrying earth women to re-populate their race. This is sort of a work in progress, since the alien fellows never fully understand how to love or get anyone pregnant for that matter.
A
film that may give viewers second thoughts about getting hitched, I MARRIED A
MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE is well-paced, if not overly-stylish B-movie fun from
the director of I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF. Shot in glorious black and white and
centered around the common 50s "communist scare" guise, Talbott is genuinely
appealing in these sorts of films, while Tyron is as wooden as his alien persona
should be. The intergalactic creatures are pretty frightening, with extended arms,
fish-like claws and mutated faces that sport trunk-like breathing apparatuses--some
if which are ripped open by angry German Shepherds, allowing the ooze to flow
in some of the more creepier scenes. More effective moments arrive when a flash
of light on the face reveals a quick glimpse of the repulsive being inhabiting
the body of those thought to be human. Character great Ken Lynch ("…and
thanks, fer nuthin'!") also star as the no-nonsense town doctor who sets
up his own rebellion against the pesty aliens, and ex-boxer Maxie Rosenbloom is
a punchy bartender who gets offended when they don't drink his booze!
Paramount has released I MARRIED A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE on DVD in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio with anamorphic enhancement. Although the compositions now look stronger due to the letterboxing, and the image is generally sharp and well-detailed (with some rather soft spots), the transfer does have its fair share of flaws. For the black and white film, white levels appear too bright, and although black levels are much better, the whole show looks overly gray. The worst problem is the abundant amount of blemishes found on the print source, especially white speckling which plagues nearly every single shot. At about 39 minutes into the film, the images changes and looks incredibly grainy and dupey, but luckily this only lasts about a minute or so. The Dolby Digital Mono is fine with clear dialog and music. Not only is the transfer a bit of the letdown, but no trailer either! (George R. Reis)