Customer Reviews

Cosmic Man [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a GREAT BARGAIN PACK of Image 1950's sci-fi dvds...The transfers are wonderful! COSMIC MAN looks just like it did when I saw it at the theater eons ago!!!...& it is my favorite of the three. FLYING SAUCER is a little slow with not much happening, but this is a VERY EARLY entry into the sci-fi genre & STRANGER FROM VENUS is kind of a remake/take-off on THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, as is COSMIC MAN!...So if you want to see some very good invader-friendly 1950's message oriented films in beautiful condition then this is your ticket! The source material is exceptional!!! & you couldn't get a better introduction to 1950's sci-fi.
BUY THIS.

Actually saw this in a theater in the early 1960's...Loved it, as any reader of FAMOUS MONSTERS magazine would...Bought the dvd & it brought back past memories, especially the FLOATING ALIEN SPACE_SPHERE (GLOBE/BALL?)...whatever.
Good sci-fi entry in the mode of THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, enjoyable & family watchable!!!...Recommemded for fans of this sort of stuff (...like me).

This collection of movies are cool..for many reasons...they show a different world than ours today and the characters have mindsets reflecting the times in which they were made.The obvious remakes of "The Day The Earth Stood Still"...the "Cosmic Man" and "Stranger From Venus" have the cold war mentality and fear that was present we had as Americans then..The last movie "The Flying Saucer" has the same approach to cold war thinking and spies around every corner mentality with the the flying saucer finally being seen up close(stationary actually) as opposed to a few people watching it flash by...To my surprise,It appears to be a confiscated Horten 229 jetfighter(outer shell only) designed and flew by Germany during WW2...You see enough to recognize it..check it out..what do you think?

Cosmic Man exists in that netherworld of zero-budget SF schlock (e.g., Astounding She Monster, Teenagers from Outer Space, Beast of Yucca Flats) wherein the lack of funds precludes any real special effects or exciting action, yet somehow a uniquely warped atmosphere is established that invites contemplation by dedicated bad-film fanatics. This was the freshman screenplay of cheesy-SF writer Arthur C. Pierce, who later penned mostly-boring 1960s "sci-fi" duds Destination Inner Space, Cyborg 2087, Dimension 5, etc., and also directed the far more interesting if even schlockier Navy vs. the Night Monsters, Women of the Prehistoric Planet, and Las Vegas Hillbillys. The plot steals shamelessly from The Day the Earth Stood Still, adapting the latter's ambitious `peacenik scientists vs. military hawks' thematics to accomodate shoestring production values. Second-and-last-time director Herbert Greene had been assistant director on Invisible Invaders, The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake, and the Lone Ranger TV series. Lyn Osborn (Invasion of the Saucer Men, Space Patrol) and Ken Clayton (Johnnie in Lost Lonely and Vicious) both play Air Force sergeants here. Their radar station, while already tracking a UFO, receives a report of an 8-foot diameter silver hovering metallic sphere ("looks like a satellite") from forest rangers in nearby Stone Canyon. Astrophysicist Dr. Sorensen (Bruce Bennett, AKA Herman Brix, former 1930s Tarzan) is called in from the Pacific Technical Institute by slimy Colonel Mathews (Paul Langton; The Snow Creature, Incredible Shrinking Man, Invisible Invaders) to figure out exactly what to do with the big shiny golf ball. They use as their base of operations a nearby lodge (housing a beautiful Rock-Ola jukebox) owned by war-widow Kathy Grant (Angela Greene; Night of the Blood Beast, Tickle Me) whose wheelchair-bound son Kenny just happens to have read all of Dr. Sorensen's books ("he discovered omicron radiation!") and is an aspiring astrophysicist himself. Lots of meaningless technobabble concerning antigravity ensues, and the Colonel tries to put the make on Mrs. Grant, ick! The cosmic man (John Carradine) shows up (as basically a black, nearly featureless shadow) and proceeds to wreak havoc, accompanied by enigmatic silent vignettes, stock footage of police cars, and even some half-baked cheesecake. Then, in a bit seemingly borrowed from The Invisible Man, he shows up in humanoid form, bundled up in a parka, alpine hat, and weird X-Ray Spex-ish glasses, checks into the lodge right under everyone's noses, and hangs out playing chess with little Kenny in his bedroom! Meanwhile, the military men and scientists can't budge the floating ball, so Colonel Mathews, Dr. Sorensen, and Kenny (!?) have a lengthy debate on how to catch the cosmic man, brush up on some basic astronomical trivia, and discuss Dr. Sorensen's guilt over contributing to the bombing of Hiroshima (!!). It all winds up at Bronson Canyon, as these things often do, for the miraculous and hokey denouement. Not exactly a laugh-a-minute bad-film atrocity, Cosmic Man still has the twisted logic, awkward pacing, and strange, Woodian dialogue ("Here, Colonel, have a mint") that trash film junkies crave. Kind of like an "SF" episode of Father Knows Best, or a really poverty-stricken companion piece to Invaders from Mars or perhaps Giant Gila Monster (try it!). Mainstream movie fans beware!
Yet another entry in Image's Wade Williams Collection, Cosmic Man looks terrific on DVD. Apparently transferred from a British release print (it opens with the BBFC certificate and Associated British Pathe logo) the film looks virtually pristine, with excellent black level, contrast, brightness, sharpness, and shadow/highlight detail. Physical damage is limited to only some very light speckling and blemishing. I haven't a clue what the negative reviewer below is complaining about, unless Image actually dug up a far superior print and remastered the disc within the last two years (which seems unlikely). It really looks beautiful overall, especially for such a no-budget stinker. The included Cosmic Man trailer (narrated by Paul Frees) is also pretty crisp, with very good tonal values, but exhibiting some light scratching, lining, speckling, and blemishing. Twelve chapter stops and five bonus WWC trailers are the only other extras, but for bad-cinema lovers this is a pretty solid set for the money. "Goodbye, cosmic man."

I agree that this isn't Day the Earth stood Still but not every movie is a big budget
studio movie either. Of course these b-movies arent' perfect but they are well made.
My favoirte Stranger from Venus. Well made british movie that is very much like Earth
Stood Still. Patrica Neal is in it too. The acting is better than most b-movies and
I think almost as good. This is a great set for sci-fi, mystery or horror fans.

Cosmic Man

This 1958 thriller starred John Carradine, famous actor and father of David, Keith, etc., of the Carradine family of actors also known as "The Voice" due to his deep baritone, which vibrates nicely in this film.

Also the screenwriter Arthur C. Pierce is also known for his horror film scripts such as Women of the Prehistoric Planet in the 1960s and some Fantasy Island TV scripts in the 1970s and many horror film scripts The Navy vs. the Night Monsters (1966) (uncredited) ; The Las Vegas Hillbillys (1966); Mutiny in Outer Space (1965) (uncredited); The Human Duplicators (1965) (uncredited), etc. etc.!

Herbert Greene directed, and per IMDB seems it is the only film he did direct. He had worked as an associate director with William Castle on Strait Jacket (1964) with Joan Crawford as an axe murderess (on Netflix!).

The cool black & white "so bad it's good" British-made film starts out with a certificate from the British Board of Film Censors. Relief!

And then we have a rooster crowing to the words Association of British Pathe, distributors! (This was a funny reminiscence of MGM's lion.)

Anyway, a UFO is being tracked by radar. Suddenly, a giant beach ball has settled in the valley, floating on its own.

Scientist (Carl Sorenson) is interesting in the knowledge it will bring. Colonel Matthews though is interested in the military advantages and snickers behind his back, "You know how these civilians are!" Oh, brother.

Strange things start happening around town as the Cosmic Man floats around checking out the town. Scantily clad women scream at the sight. Fat men call the cops and cars are zipping everywhere. This is a good photographic point here, the black & white at night, no dialogue and melodramatic music. Cool stuff.

There is a bit of mild soap opera that is quickly dropped, no doubt due to the wooden acting of Angela Greene, who at times reacts little and other times overreacts. Quite odd. Her little boy is disabled and may not live a year.

As the story progresses, we learn of the military's plan to knock off the Cosmic Man and his beach ball. CM then presents himself (without the earlier disguise -- he's also a guest at the motel-- ) and states his purpose, to check out the humans and urge them to change their murderous ways before they can become one with the intergalactic community.

The general there thinks this is a bunch of hooey; his pals come out with guns blazing -- women scream! as CM laughs at bullets. CM also warns that no one should try to stop him upon departure.

Later that night, while Scientist urgently works towards helping out CM, CM dons his human disguise and plays chess with our little boy. He's no Will Robinson (Billy Mumy) and has none of that "gee whiz" air, though he tries hard enough.

And the story goes. Very similar in many respects to Day the Earth Stood Still.

Recommended. Another fine B-Film gem.

This is a great set of some of the earliest flying saucer films ever made, and the prints and transfers look terrific in this set. Stranger from Venus was my favorite of the 3, I found it really transfixing and watched it several times. If you are a fan of the original Outer Limits, War of the Worlds, The Day the Earth Stood Still, this set is for you, it is like looking back to the beginning of Hollywood UFO films with 3 great early examples.

I believe that this film does have a significant message even for people in the early part of the 21st century. Destruction of what you do not understand is not in the best interest of society. Listen to what other people of various races and cultures have to teach. We can all learn something from other people and cultures. The message that war is destructive to all societies is never an old message.

I like old sci-fi movies and ordered this one and very suprised it had three different movies in the package, all of which played perfectly.

Stranger From Venus is a good print with no real problems. The Cosmic Man is a quite good print presented in a full-screen version. The Flying Saucer is a rather beat-up print with splices. Overall nice set.