Need to crash, readers, look after yourselves this afternoon … might be coming down with alien fever or earth lurgy. Here’s the supposedly worst cinematic release ever in many critics’ estimation … a review first, then the film …
“What are all these people moaning about? I’ve rarely had more fun while watching a movie as I had with Ed Wood’s Plan 9 from Outer Space. Besides, most criticism goes out to the lousy scenery and the goofy decors.
Well, excuse Mr. Wood for not (having available) a huge budget or funds! He did what he could and sure, the jet cockpit looks amateurish and the Pentagon-offices have the (appearance) of being buil(t) by a kindergarten-crew but so what? I have a lot more respect and sympathy for this film than for those over-budgeted, uninspired blockbusters!
(As) in ALL of his films, Ed Wood proves that he’s full of good intentions, creativity and a strong will to proceed and pur(sue) his dreams. The only thing you can reproach him (for)here is the silly and pointless screenplay.
Aliens are desperately seeking contact with humanity and in their ninth attempt to achieve this, they even resurrect the dead. Why?!? To make humans aware of their existence and to figure as prophets with a message. This is where the silliness comes in. But it all remains pure fun, all the time!
What also makes this film legendary is the fact that it contains the last on-screen appearance by Bela Lugosi. Lugosi died during filming and another guy in a Dracula outfit who constantly hides his face behind a cape (!) replaces him. Am I the only one who thinks this subtle cast-change is absolutely charming and nicely tried?
Vampiria and Tor Johnson are credited as main performances but all the(y) have to do is stumble around and look ghoulish (…) not a difficult thing to do if you have the posture of Tor Johnson. Overall, Plan 9 from Outer Space remains the absolute top-recommendation to watch with a group of people when there’s beer and snacks.”
(Prize for the worst written review ever as well.) And me? Sleep!
My fave actor in this “film” was Tor Johnson (the Inspector):
“Tor Johnson was a big man, with a big heart, who was born October 19, 1903, in Sweden.
Most of his adult life, he was a professional wrestler. Tor started appearing (uncredited, or in bit parts) in movies as early as 1934. He was in 31 movies, usually as “Weightlifter” or “Strongman.”
Later, he got larger roles with character names. Tor was in the Bing Crosby – Bob Hope movie Road to Rio (1947) as Samson; and had a part in Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion (1950) as Abou Ben.
Contrary to how it was depicted in the semi-documentary “Ed Wood,” that Ed approached Tor and asked him if he ever fancied the notion of becoming an actor (and starting his film career), Ed worked with Tor towards the end of his movie career. Ed Wood got Tor to portray Lobo in Bride of the Monster (1955).
After appearing in 3 other movies, Ed Wood cast Tor in Plan 9 from Outer Space (1958).
Then Ed had Tor reprise his role of Lobo for Night of the Ghouls (1959) — in that movie, Paul Marco (Kelton the Cop) had a full load in the prop gun he fired at Tor where sparks hit Tor’s arms, which by reflex hit Paul, knocking him unconscious in real life; Tor felt bad about that, but everybody knew it was just a case of the big guy not knowing his own strength.
A friend and cohort of Ed’s (and also a writer, director and producer in his own right), was Anthony Cardoza. Ed lived in an apartment on Yucca Street (nicknamed “Yucca Flats”), and in 1961, Anthony cast Tor Johnson in a starring role in his low budget movie The Beast of Yucca Flats (1961). This movie was filmed silent, had dubbed-in sound effects, voiced-over narration, and killed off Tor’s movie career once and for all (for which Tor was paid only $300).
However, Tor had somewhat of a TV career in the 1960s, appearing on “You Bet Your Life” with Groucho Marx, several appearances on “The Red Skelton Show,” and even doing a number of TV commercials.
Costars spoke fondly of Tor, remembering, “Tor had such warmth! He was so cooperative– just a lovely man. As you know, he was a former wrestler … he would go and have drinks with his opponents after a wrestling match.”
And, he lived large. Friends spoke of his gracious wife Greta who made great Swedish dinners, along with desserts consisting of her homemade ice cream with strawberries, bananas, coconut and whipped cream.
Little wonder his son, Karl, grew up to be big and strong, and became a Lieutenant with the San Fernando Police Department. And, some friends would chuckle as they recalled that, as big as he was, Tor drove a midget foreign car which was “not much bigger than he was.”
Tor Johnson died on May 12, 1971, in San Fernando, CA, due to a heart ailment; he was 67.”
– IMDb mini biography by: kdhaisch@aol.com
Awwww, shucks. And now a song based on the air hostess in the film … making me realise I need a 50s lady like her:
Oh give me a home where the women all roam,
In that 50ish dress style so gay,
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
As I work for m’best gal all day.
Home, home at the grange,
Where pattering feet they do play,
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
Coz at work, I’ve got me away.
Cast off from the bank, my best gal I thank,
Rowing leisurely down that ole stream;
Like a gracious white swan we go gliding along,
She’s a maid in a heavenly dream.
Oh I would not exchange my home at the grange,
Where the deer and the antelope play;
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And my best gal is 50s all day.
