Strange World of Planet X, The
Entry updated 16 February 2017. Tagged: Film, TV.
1. UK tv serial (1956). ATV. Produced by Arthur Lane. Directed by Quentin Lawrence. Teleplay René Ray. Cast includes Helen Cherry, Maudie Edwards, David Garth and William Lucas. Seven 25-minute episodes. Black and white.
Scientists discover a formula giving access to the fourth Dimension and, with others, are thereby transported to the abstractly arid Planet X. Ray novelized her own screenplay as The Strange World of Planet X (1957).
2. UK film (1958; vt The Cosmic Monster). Eros/DCA. Directed by Gilbert Gunn. Written by Paul Ryder, Joe Ambor, based on The Strange World of Planet X (1957) by René Ray. Cast includes Gaby André, Martin Benson, Wyndham Goldie and Forrest Tucker. 75 minutes. Black and white.
A Mad Scientist's magnetic experiments rupture Earth's ionosphere, thereby permitting the penetration of cosmic Rays (!), which create giant insects on an area of Earth 80 miles (130km) across. The creatures are eventually destroyed by a friendly Alien. The special effects were manifestly done on a tiny budget; the film is normally regarded as mediocre. Its immediate source was probably Ray's novelization of 1, rather than the series itself, since the plot-lines differ. In the film, Planet X is Earth and the Cosmic Monster is Man. [PN/JB]
links
- Internet Movie Database – 1956 tv series
- Internet Movie Database – 1958 film
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