Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

· by · in 1956. ·

Synopsis:

In a small California town, Dr. Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy, A Big Hand for the Little Lady) is confused by a common complaint among his patients: they insist that their relatives and friends are impostors. At first, Bennell thinks this is a case of mass hysteria, but he soon realizes that something more nefarious is at play here.

Reaction & Thoughts:

“You are next!”

This is probably where modern horror begins: from this point forward, no place was safe, not even a quant rural town. Don Siegel’s sci-fi horror classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers took horror out of old castles in Transylvania and dropped it in the middle of a pretty as a picture Norman Rockwell-esque American town.

Tautly directed by Siegel (Dirty Harry) from a screenplay by Daniel Mainwaring (Atlantis, the Lost Continent), based on Jack Finney’s 1955 novel The Body Snatchers, Invasion of the Body Snatchers was originally conceived as nothing but a bargain-priced drive-in fodder, but today it’s considered one of the key movies of the 1950s. 

The movie has been the subject of endless analysis because of its supposedly anti-McCarthyism message. It should be noted that both author Finney and director Siegel denied having any political agenda. Regardless of whether the film was intended to have a political message or not, this is a disturbing nail-biter. For me, at least, the movie is a cautionary tale about the dangers of complacency. 

The flashback framework was imposed by the studio. I’ve seen the movie without these scenes and it is even scarier that way. The studio wanted a more hopeful resolution — money people never like depressing stories. However, no matter what version you see, the movie works marvelously well despite its shoestring budget.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers moves very fast, so there is a sense of urgency that enhances the atmosphere of paranoia. The practical effects — the gooey doubles are icky! — still have the power to spook you. I also loved Ellsworth Fredericks’s (Sayonara and Seven Days in May) expressionistic camera work and Carmen Dragon’s (Dishonored Lady and Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye) edgy music score.

The acting is good too. Kevin McCarthy is terrific as the small town physician who slow uncovers a vast conspiracy — the actor conveys convincingly the proper amount of anxiety. Dana Wynter (Airport) and Carolyn Jones (Morticia, TV’s Addams Family) are excellent scream queens. By the way, filmmaker Sam Peckinpah, of The Wild Bunch (1969) and Straw Dogs (1971) fame, has a bit as a gas man.

Conclusions & Final Thoughts:

Invasion of the Body Snatchers is one of those movies I like to revisit from time to time — it’s a fantastic little movie to watch late at night with the lights out. Remade three times, so far: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Body Snatchers (1993), and The Invasion (2007). B&W, 80 minutes, Not Rated.

Theatrical Trailer:

22 responses to “Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)”

  1. A top film that appeals to all kinds of viewers, not just sci-fi fans. The tension and paranoia are palpable and, as should be the case, it works equally well even if one is unaware of the allegorical political message.

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  3. A good account of a great movie — many thanks. I’ve quite often seen this listed as a film noir, but I’ve never been able to understand that, myself.

    The 2007 remake is painful, but the 1978 version is creditable. Heresy though it is to say this, possibly my favorite of them all is Abel Ferrara’s 1993 outing — at least in part because of Gabrielle Anwar’s spectacular rendition of a teenage brat, but there’s more to it than that.

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  5. I am in Paris and i have a theater near where I live, so every Thursday they show a cult film this was one one them so I got to see it on the big screen. I have it in my collection I saw it 3 times and it is still great of course. I taped it when it was on TCM before I left the state. Seeing it on the big screen was the coolest thing.

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  6. I’ve never seen this version (and I call myself a classic movie blogger – sheesh!), and your fab post has made me realize I’m missing out on a cult classic.

    I did see the later version with Donald Sutherland in weird permed hair. I think the 1956 version would be a better choice.

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  8. My wide reminded me that there’s yet another adaptation, albeit an uncredited one: the Simon Pegg/Nick Frost comedy The World’s End (2013). Leaving aside the comedy aspect (we kept falling off the couch when we watched it this evening, but I can imagine many might not do so), I’d say it’s a better adaptation than Invasion,

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    • You know, I saw the trailer (for The World’s End), and I said to myself, “this looks familiar.” I couldn’t put my finger on it. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but what you say makes sense. BTW, I thought Hot Fuzz was a loose remake of the 1973 horror movie The Wicker Man. And, of course, Shaun of Dead is a homage to Romero’s zombie films. The boys clearly love old horror movies!

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