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{{Short description|1954 science fiction film}}
{{Infobox film {{Infobox film
| name = Target Earth | name = Target Earth
| image = File:Target Earth poster 1954.jpg | image = Target Earth poster 1954.jpg
| caption = ] | caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Sherman A. Rose | director = Sherman A. Rose
| producer = Herman Cohen | producer = ]
| screenplay = {{plainlist|
| writer = Paul W. Fairman<br>James H. Nicholson<br>Wyott Ordung<br>William Raynor
* James H. Nicholson
| starring = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>Robert Roark<br>Mort Marshall
* Wyott Ordung
* William Raynor
}}
| story = ]
| starring = {{plainlist|
* ]
⚫ * ]
* ]
* ]
* Robert Roark
* Mort Marshall
}}
| music = Paul Dunlap | music = Paul Dunlap
| cinematography = Guy Roe | cinematography = Guy Roe
Line 12: Line 25:
| studio = Abtcon Pictures, Inc. | studio = Abtcon Pictures, Inc.
| distributor = ] | distributor = ]
| released = {{Film date|1954|11|07|U.S.}} | released = {{Film date|1954|11|07}}
| runtime = 75 minutes | runtime = 75 minutes
| country = United States | country = United States
| language = English | language = English
| budget = $85,000<ref name="TCM review">Stafford, Jeff. ''Turner Classic Movies''. Retrieved: April 7, 2015.</ref>
| budget = $100,000
}} }}
'''''Target Earth''''' is an independently made 1954 ] produced by Herman Cohen, directed by Sherman A. Rose, starring ], ], ], and ]. The film was distributed by ] '''''Target Earth''''' is a 1954 ] American ] ], produced by ], directed by Sherman A. Rose, that stars ], ], ], and ]. The film was distributed by ]. It is based on the ] novel ''Deadly City''.


''Target Earth'' tells the story of a deserted ] and a small group of people who have been overlooked during a mass evacuation of "the city that never sleeps" because of a sudden invasion by hostile robotic beings from the planet ]. Set in a large, deserted city, the film's storyline follows a small group of people overlooked during the city's mass evacuation, carried out because of a sudden invasion by hostile robotic beings believed to be from the planet ].
{{TOC limit|limit=2}}


==Plot== ==Plot==
<!--Per WP:FILMPLOT, this section should always run 400-700 words long.-->
⚫ After an attempt at suicide, Nora King regains consciousness and discovers that her building has no electricity or water, so she wanders into the now quiet, empty streets of her city. Stumbling over the body of a dead woman, who has been killed, she encounters Frank Brooks, who has just recently revived after being beaten unconscious in an overnight robbery.


⚫ They join forces to find others in the deserted city. Hearing piano music coming from a nearby cocktail lounge, they come upon a couple, Jim Wilson and Vicki Harris, who are drinking. They were drunkenly incapable of joining the evacuation of the population that took place. Proceeding together as a group, they continue to search the deserted streets, coming upon a car that will not start. Another survivor, Charles Otis, sees them and tells them that the same applies to all the other cars he has tried.
⚫ After a suicide attempt, Nora King (Kathleen Crowley) revives and discovers that her building has no electricity or water. When she wanders out into the street, she realizes that she is in a deserted city. Stumbling over a dead women in the street, she encounters Frank Brooks (Richard Denning), another individual who has just recently come to his senses after being beaten in a robbery.


⚫ A growing apprehension takes hold as they begin to appreciate that they are alone and must face an unknown menace that has caused the city's evacuation. Charles finds a newspaper in a hotel lobby that proclaims that a "mystery army" is attacking the city from the north. In a panic, he runs outside and is killed by a death ray emitted from an alien robot in the street.
⚫ With her new companion, Nora continues to try to find others in the abandoned city. Hearing music from a restaurant, they come upon a couple, Jim Wilson (Richard Reeves) and Vicki Harris (Virginia Grey) who are drunk and admit they were not able to be evacuated with the rest of the city. The group then continues to search the streets, coming upon a car that will not start. Another survivor, Charles Otis (Mort Marshall) sees then at the car, and reveals that all the cars he has tried, have been disabled.


While attempting to defend the city, a military force, led by Lt. Gen. Wood, sets up a command post. After ] fighters and bombers are quickly destroyed by the advancing invaders, the use of ] is considered as a serious option. A group of scientists, including their chief research scientist, finally get their hands on a damaged robot to discover its vulnerabilities.
⚫ A growing apprehension takes over as the group begins to realize that they are alone with an unknown menace that has caused everyone to run away. Charles finds a newspaper in a hotel that proclaims that a "mystery army" is attacking the city, and in a panic, runs out into the street only to be killed by a death ray from a robot.


The small band is joined by Davis, a psychotic killer, who has his own plans for survival. The survivors quickly realize they now have an armed enemy within their small group, as well as the invaders from outer space to deal with. Davis shoots and kills Vicki when she stands up to Davis. Jim then kills Davis as Davis attempts to shoot him. Jim is later killed by one of the invading robots. Army units later arrive in the streets, now fully equipped with a special sonic weapon transmitter that easily dispatches the invading robots, halting their invasion.

While attempting to defend the city, the military led by Lt. General Wood (Arthur Space]] sets up a command post and although bombers are easily brought down, the use of atomic weapons are contemplated. A group of scientists including the chief research scientist (Whit Bissell) finally work on a captured robot to find out how to fight back. In trying to escape the robot attackers, the small group is joined by Davis (Robert Roark), a psychotic killer that has his own plans for survival. With danger all around, the group realizes that the enemy is both within their group and from outer space. Some deaths occur as the tiny band of survivors flee for their lives before an army unit arrives that can deal with the deadly robots.


==Cast== ==Cast==
{{div col}}
⚫ * ] as Nora King
* ] as Frank Brooks * ] as Frank Brooks
* ] as Jim Wilson * ] as Nora King
* ] as Vicki Harris * ] as Vicki Harris
* ] as Jim Wilson
* Robert Roark as Davis * Robert Roark as Davis
* ] as Tom, Chief research scientist * ] as Tom, Chief research scientist
Line 44: Line 58:
* ] as Colonel * ] as Colonel
* Mort Marshall as Charles Otis * Mort Marshall as Charles Otis
* Steve Pendleton as Colonel
* House Peters Jr. as Technician * House Peters Jr. as Technician
* Steve Calvert as the Robot
{{div col end}}


==Production== ==Production==
⚫ The screenplay for ''Target Earth'' is based on the 1953 science fiction short story "Deadly City" by ], which first appeared in the March 1953 issue of '']'' magazine under Fairman's pseudonym, "Ivar Jorgensen".<ref name="TCM review"/>
''Target Earth'', while set in Chicago, was actually filmed in ]. Empty street scenes were filmed during early morning hours before normal traffic began. Principal photography began mid-July 1954 at Kling Studios, for a shooting schedule of a tight seven days.


Principal photography began in mid-July 1954 at Kling Studios, for a tight seven-day shooting schedule that also included outdoor shooting. While the story is set in Chicago, ''Target Earth'' was actually filmed in Los Angeles. Empty street scenes were filmed during early morning hours before normal traffic began.<ref> ''Turner Classic Movies''. Retrieved: April 7, 2015.</ref>
Even though a "robot army" is mentioned several times during the film, only one robot was constructed for the production, which was then used in all scenes to depict the invasion.

⚫ The screenplay is based on the 1953 science fiction short story "Deadly City" by ], which first appeared in the March 1953 issue of ''If'' magazine under Fairman's pseudonym, "Ivar Jorgensen".


===Casting=== ===Casting===
Actor Robert Roark was given a role because his father was a large investor in the film. Actor Robert Roark was given a role because his father was a large investor in ''Target Earth''.<ref name="TCM review"/>


Even though a "robot army" is mentioned several times during the film, only one robot was constructed for the production, which was then used in all scenes to depict the invasion. When actor Steve Calvert, who played the robot, was not working on ], he regularly worked as a bartender at ] on the ]. He also played the apes in '']'' (1951) and '']'' (1952).<ref name="TCM review"/>
⚫ ==Reception==
''Target Earth'' was a typical product of the Sci-Fi craze of the 1950s but could never rise above its low budget underpinnings. One of the few notable aspects of the production was that the film was one of the first to explore the sub-genre of alien invasions, following the success of ] (1953). ''Target Earth'' was also produced by Herman Cohen, who would become one of the most prominent B movie producers of the 1960s.


⚫ ===Reception===
In a later review by critic Dennis Schwartz in ''Ozus' World Movie Reviews'', he noted: "It's a modest film for those sci-fi connoisseurs who flip out over paranoiac Cold War flicks about outsiders as dangerous foes." He further explained that: "Filled with banal dialogue, cheesy looking tin robots that are hardly scary, and an unexciting storyline that never builds on tension, the film is played on a flat one-note scale."<ref>Schwartz, Dennis. ''Ozus' World Movie Reviews'', February 5, 2004.</ref>
''Target Earth'' was a typical product of 1950s-filmed science fiction but could never rise above its low budget underpinnings.<ref>Weaver 1994, p. 69.</ref> One of the few notable aspects of the production was that the film was one of the first to explore the subgenre of alien invasions, following the successes of ]'s ] (1953) and ]' '']'' (1953). ''Target Earth'' was also produced by ], making his producing debut, who would become one of the most prominent B movie producers of the 1960s.<ref>Walker 1997, p. 94.</ref> Director Sherman A. Rose, who was a prolific editor in both television and film, would go on to make only two other films.<ref name="TV Guide"/>{{#tag:ref|Rose would direct ''Magnificent Roughnecks '' (1956) and '']'' (1958).<ref> ''Turner Classic Movies''. Retrieved: April 16, 2015.</ref>|group=Note}}

'']'' later rated the film 1/4 stars, writing, "The robots are just plain disappointing".<ref name="TV Guide"> '']''. Retrieved: April 9, 2015.</ref> David Maine of ] rated it 6/10 stars and called it "a tight, engaging little thriller that focuses more on character than special effects".<ref>Maine, David. '']'', March 7, 2013. Retrieved: April 9, 2015.</ref>


==References== ==References==

'''Notes''' ===Notes===
⚫ {{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|group=Note}}

===Citations===
⚫ {{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* Walker, John, ed. ''Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies'' (14th ed.). New York: HarperResource, 1997. {{ISBN|0-06-093507-3}}.
* ]. ''Keep Watching The Skies, American Science Fiction Movies of the Fifties, Vol I: 1950–1957''. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 1982. {{ISBN|0-89950-032-3}}.
* Weaver, Tom. "Herman Cohen Interview". ''Attack of the Monster Movie Makers: Interviews With 20 Genre Giants''. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 1994. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-9574-0}}.
{{Refend}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
⚫ * {{TCMDb title|92356|Target Earth}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0047559|title=Target Earth}} * {{IMDb title|id=0047559|title=Target Earth}}
⚫ * {{Amg movie|112696|Target Earth}}


] ]
⚫ ]
⚫ ]
] ]
]
] ]
]

]
{{sf-film-stub}}
]
⚫ ]
⚫ ]
]
]

Latest revision as of 07:14, 22 December 2024

1954 science fiction film
Target Earth
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySherman A. Rose
Screenplay by
  • James H. Nicholson
  • Wyott Ordung
  • William Raynor
Story byPaul W. Fairman
Produced byHerman Cohen
Starring
CinematographyGuy Roe
Edited bySherman A. Rose
Music byPaul Dunlap
Production
companies		Abtcon Pictures, Inc.
Distributed byAllied Artists Pictures Corporation
Release date
  • November 7, 1954 (1954-11-07)
Running time75 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$85,000

Target Earth is a 1954 independently made American black-and-white science fiction film, produced by Herman Cohen, directed by Sherman A. Rose, that stars Richard Denning, Kathleen Crowley, Virginia Grey, and Whit Bissell. The film was distributed by Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. It is based on the Paul W. Fairman novel Deadly City.

Set in a large, deserted city, the film's storyline follows a small group of people overlooked during the city's mass evacuation, carried out because of a sudden invasion by hostile robotic beings believed to be from the planet Venus.

Plot

After an attempt at suicide, Nora King regains consciousness and discovers that her building has no electricity or water, so she wanders into the now quiet, empty streets of her city. Stumbling over the body of a dead woman, who has been killed, she encounters Frank Brooks, who has just recently revived after being beaten unconscious in an overnight robbery.

They join forces to find others in the deserted city. Hearing piano music coming from a nearby cocktail lounge, they come upon a couple, Jim Wilson and Vicki Harris, who are drinking. They were drunkenly incapable of joining the evacuation of the population that took place. Proceeding together as a group, they continue to search the deserted streets, coming upon a car that will not start. Another survivor, Charles Otis, sees them and tells them that the same applies to all the other cars he has tried.

A growing apprehension takes hold as they begin to appreciate that they are alone and must face an unknown menace that has caused the city's evacuation. Charles finds a newspaper in a hotel lobby that proclaims that a "mystery army" is attacking the city from the north. In a panic, he runs outside and is killed by a death ray emitted from an alien robot in the street.

While attempting to defend the city, a military force, led by Lt. Gen. Wood, sets up a command post. After Air Force fighters and bombers are quickly destroyed by the advancing invaders, the use of atomic weapons is considered as a serious option. A group of scientists, including their chief research scientist, finally get their hands on a damaged robot to discover its vulnerabilities.

The small band is joined by Davis, a psychotic killer, who has his own plans for survival. The survivors quickly realize they now have an armed enemy within their small group, as well as the invaders from outer space to deal with. Davis shoots and kills Vicki when she stands up to Davis. Jim then kills Davis as Davis attempts to shoot him. Jim is later killed by one of the invading robots. Army units later arrive in the streets, now fully equipped with a special sonic weapon transmitter that easily dispatches the invading robots, halting their invasion.

Cast

Production

The screenplay for Target Earth is based on the 1953 science fiction short story "Deadly City" by Paul W. Fairman, which first appeared in the March 1953 issue of If magazine under Fairman's pseudonym, "Ivar Jorgensen".

Principal photography began in mid-July 1954 at Kling Studios, for a tight seven-day shooting schedule that also included outdoor shooting. While the story is set in Chicago, Target Earth was actually filmed in Los Angeles. Empty street scenes were filmed during early morning hours before normal traffic began.

Casting

Actor Robert Roark was given a role because his father was a large investor in Target Earth.

Even though a "robot army" is mentioned several times during the film, only one robot was constructed for the production, which was then used in all scenes to depict the invasion. When actor Steve Calvert, who played the robot, was not working on B films, he regularly worked as a bartender at Ciro's on the Sunset Strip. He also played the apes in Bride of the Gorilla (1951) and Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (1952).

Reception

Target Earth was a typical product of 1950s-filmed science fiction but could never rise above its low budget underpinnings. One of the few notable aspects of the production was that the film was one of the first to explore the subgenre of alien invasions, following the successes of George Pal's The War of the Worlds (1953) and William Cameron Menzies' Invaders from Mars (1953). Target Earth was also produced by Herman Cohen, making his producing debut, who would become one of the most prominent B movie producers of the 1960s. Director Sherman A. Rose, who was a prolific editor in both television and film, would go on to make only two other films.

TV Guide later rated the film 1/4 stars, writing, "The robots are just plain disappointing". David Maine of PopMatters rated it 6/10 stars and called it "a tight, engaging little thriller that focuses more on character than special effects".

References

Notes

  1. Rose would direct Magnificent Roughnecks (1956) and Tank Battalion (1958).

Citations

  1. ^ Stafford, Jeff. "Video Reviews: 'Target Earth'." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: April 7, 2015.
  2. "Original print information: 'Target Earth'." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: April 7, 2015.
  3. Weaver 1994, p. 69.
  4. Walker 1997, p. 94.
  5. ^ "Target Earth." TV Guide. Retrieved: April 9, 2015.
  6. "Sherman A. Rose." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: April 16, 2015.
  7. Maine, David. "Don’t Open That Door! #33: 'Target Earth' (1954)." PopMatters, March 7, 2013. Retrieved: April 9, 2015.

Bibliography

  • Walker, John, ed. Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies (14th ed.). New York: HarperResource, 1997. ISBN 0-06-093507-3.
  • Warren, Bill. Keep Watching The Skies, American Science Fiction Movies of the Fifties, Vol I: 1950–1957. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 1982. ISBN 0-89950-032-3.
  • Weaver, Tom. "Herman Cohen Interview". Attack of the Monster Movie Makers: Interviews With 20 Genre Giants. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 1994. ISBN 978-0-7864-9574-0.

External links

Categories: