THE MAN FROM PLANET X

Margaret Field and Robert Clarke

THE MAN FROM PLANET X (1951). Director: Edgar G. Ulmer. 

A cosmic body known only as "Planet X" is approaching the earth. Reporter John Lawrence (Robert Clarke) travels to an isolated Scottish island to consult with Professor Elliot (Raymond Bond) and the sinister Dr. Mears (William Schallert), while romancing Elliot's daughter, Enid (Margaret Field). One late evening Enid comes across a strange vehicle out on the moors, and gets a shock when she sees its inhabitant, a grotesque-looking alien in a helmet. The question for our cast is if this alien is friendly or not, and if his attitude toward us will be changed by the selfish motivations of Dr. Mears. Before long, people are being mind-controlled even as Planet X comes closer and closer to Earth. 

The alien appears to earthlings

The science of The Man from Planet X is about on a 1950's comic book level, so the viewer has to suspend disbelief to get into the movie, which has its eerie moments on the moors and is modestly entertaining. The acting is solid, with the normally genial William Schallert essaying a distinctly negative character and doing it very well. Roy Engel is also effective as the constable, who is up against something he never thought he'd have to face in his career. The production makes the most of its low budget. This is one of director Ulmer's [Daughter of Dr. Jekyll] better-regarded pictures, possibly because one can never be sure about how the alien feels about earthlings, and the pace of the film is reasonably swift. Clarke, Field and Schallert all appeared together in the bizarre Captive Women. 

Verdict: Has a certain minor charm. **3/4.