INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS [1956 / 2021] [Blu-ray] [UK Release]
Walter Mirisch and Walter Wanger Creates The Ultimate in Science Fiction!
When multiple residents of a Californian backwater begin to suffer from identical frenzied delusions, Dr. Miles J. Bennell [Kevin McCarthy] suspects the town is in the grip of a new kind of epidemic. But his investigations soon reveal the terrifying truth, uncovering not a medical emergency but an extra-terrestrial invasion that threatens mankind’s very existence.
Directed by Don Siegel [‘Dirty Harry’], this 1950’s classic sci-fi film brings the fear of the unknown to the streets of America. A milestone of the science-fiction genre and a critique of post-war American society. ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ remains an enduring and suspenseful classic. Presented on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK, experience the thrills and horrors of this highly influential sci-fi film like never before.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1994 National Film Preservation Board, USA: Win: National Film Registry for the film ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS.’ 2010 Online Film & Television Association: Win: OFTA Film Hall of Fame for the ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ Motion Picture.
FILM FACT No.2: The slang expression “pod people” that arose in late 20th century U.S. culture refers to the emotionless duplicates seen in the film. ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ was selected in 1994 for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Jack Finney's novel ends with the extra-terrestrials, who have a life span of no more than five years, leaving Earth after they realize that humans are offering strong resistance, despite having little reasonable chance against the alien invasion. ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ was originally scheduled for a 24-day shoot and a budget of $454,864. The studio later asked Walter Wanger to cut the budget significantly. The producer proposed a shooting schedule of 20 days and a budget of $350,000. Initially, Walter Wanger considered Gig Young, Dick Powell, Joseph Cotten, and several others for the role of Dr. Miles J. Bennell. For Becky Driscoll, he considered casting Anne Bancroft, Donna Reed, Kim Hunter, Vera Miles and others. With the lower budget, however, he abandoned these choices and cast Richard Kiley, who had just starred in ‘The Phenix City Story’ [1955] for Allied Artists. Richard Kiley turned the role down and Walter Wanger cast two relative newcomers in the lead roles: Kevin McCarthy, who had just starred in Don Siegel's ‘An Annapolis Story’ [1955] and Dana Wynter, who had done several major dramatic roles on television. Future director Sam Peckinpah had a small part as Charlie, as the gas meter reader. Sam Peckinpah was a dialogue coach on five Don Siegel films in the mid-1950’s, and including this one.
Cast: Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Larry Gates, King Donovan, Carolyn Jones, Jean Willes, Ralph Dumke, Virginia Christine, Tom Fadden, Kenneth Patterson, Guy Way, Eileen Stevens, Beatrice Maude, Jean Andren, Bobby Clark, Everett Glass, Dabbs Greer, Pat O'Malley, Guy Rennie, Marie Selland, Sam Peckinpah, Harry J. Vejar, Whit Bissell (uncredited), Richard Deacon (uncredited), Frank Hagney (uncredited) and Robert Osterloh (uncredited)
Director: Don Siegel
Producers: Walter Mirisch (uncredited) and Walter Wanger (uncredited)
Screenplay: Daniel Mainwaring (screenplay), Jack Finney (Collier's magazine serial) and Richard Collins (uncredited)
Composer: Carmen Dragon
Cinematography: Ellsworth Fredericks, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Special Effects: Milt Rice
Image Resolution: 1080p (Black-and-White)
Aspect Ratio: 2.00:1 (SuperScope)
Audio: English: 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English
Running Time: 80 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Allied Artists Pictures / Paramount Pictures / British Film Institute
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ [1956] is the ultimate classic sci-fi film and the latest BFI approved print comes to Blu-ray. Dr. Miles J. Bennell [Kevin McCarthy] is a well-respected doctor, but after an experience he may never forget or even survive. Dr. Miles J. Bennell has to recount the story of the aliens who took over his town or else they may take over the country – or even the world!
At first, it’s believed that the observations of these emotionless clones may just be a side effect of mental illness, although on further inspection Dr. Miles J. Bennell and Becky Driscoll [Dana Wynter] soon uncover something far more sinister than they could ever have imagined. As the town gets slowly populated by more and more of the aliens, the pair fined it an increasingly desperate to escape as their paranoia gets the best of them.
Lauded at the time and even today as an allegory for the McCarthy Trials which saw many of Hollywood’s brightest and most influential stars accused of Communism and exiled from Hollywood, and the sci-fi film ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ is still as relevant today. The thoughts of people being accused of something at any time even today in our so-called cancel culture makes the film a different experience whereas back then.
Despite the film’s celebration and clever script, which many thought was a political commentary on the events of the time in America at the time of the film’s release; this was denied by director Don Siegel. However, it’s hard to deny the connections, and this is what makes it such a timeless subject for science fiction.
In an era of high concept science-fiction concerned with nuclear threat, giant bugs and flying saucers, Invasion remains a surprisingly mature entry for the time. Director Don Siegel constructs the film as a horror-noir, telling a bleak story where the odds are increasingly stacked against our heroes. The “pod people” are, at first, the antithesis of the monsters found in other sci-fi and horror pictures. They are calm, considered and almost welcoming – only when their way of life has been rejected does their underlying malevolence begin to show.
Though the Hays Code was still firmly in place at the time of the film’s release, the human characters are given a representation that is nothing short of bold for 1956. Dr. Miles J. Bennell and Becky Driscoll are both divorcees, a fact that they talk about it often, at a time where nuclear family conservatism reigned supreme. While their flirtatious interplay is akin to most hetero-couples onscreen at the time, Invasion goes one step further, none-too-shyly establishing that the couple have spent the night together. Though free thought was being suppressed onscreen, it seems progress was at least being made behind the camera.
There has perhaps been no other film in American cinema that has captured the sense of underlying paranoia and fear of the times as well as in the movie ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS.’ Quite what that fear was of has been debated constantly since the film’s release. Cold war and communism, bland American conformity, fascism and suppression of individualism – the beauty of Don Siegel’s film is that no matter how you choose to read it, the allegory fits, and the central fear remains the same: what if the people you know and love were not those people anymore?
Along with the feature film which has been lovingly restored and given the BFI stamp of approval, the Blu-ray comes with lots of special features as well which will delight fans of the film, sci-fi aficionados and film historians alike. With insights into Don Siegel himself and the film overall, it’s something that all fans of sci-fi films and the 1950’s cinema would be more than happy to add to their collection.
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Blu-ray Image Quality – Paramount Pictures and the British Film Institute presents us the amazing sci-fi film ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ with a wonderful Black-and-White 1080p image and is of course enhanced in its original SuperScope 2.00:1 aspect ratio. ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ was scanned and remastered at 4K resolution by Paramount Pictures from an original 35mm Fine Grain Duplicating Positive. Overall, this is a solid transfer with clean blends, tight element separation, consistent details, and, perhaps most importantly, good dynamic range to balance the clarity of the darkest sequences. There are artefacts strewn throughout, but most of them appear to be issues with the footage itself, such as slight edge haloes along the high contrast edges and fuzzy details, which I’m pretty sure are emulsion effects and the camera struggling to maintain focus. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Paramount Pictures and the British Film Institute brings us the amazing sci-fi film ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ with just one standard 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio experience and they did a really splendid job. It’s not a very audio aggressive sci-fi film, but the lack of compression still makes a notable difference, because it prevents hissing and distortion at high volume levels. The sound experience is very good and without causing many obvious noise-reduction side effects. Composer Carmen Dragon’s driving, super-insistent composed film score is the loudest element and it largely overcomes the limitations of a single channel arena, thanks to high dynamic ranges and, again, the lack of high-end distortion. We are informed that significant efforts were made to bring the film out with the original Perspecta Stereo audio, but unfortunately on this occasion it was not possible to do so.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
50th Anniversary Audio Commentary with Dana Wynter, Kevin McCarthy and Joe Dante [Audio only] [2006] [1080p] [2.00:1] [80:10] With this featurette, we get to hear the personal audio comments with the stars Dana Wynter with Kevin McCarthy and Gremlins director Joe Dante that was recorded in 2006. It is a fine combination of commentators with Joe Dante hosting. It’s mostly scene specific and there are lovely character moments. It’s clear that Kevin McCarthy still holds a torch for his co-star. As Dana Wynter brushes off the hyperbole of the advertising introducing her as “the sensational star discovery” and stating that “They can say anything they want…” Kevin McCarthy jumps in, so obviously smitten saying “Yes, they can say anything they want as long as it’s…” and he’s cut off with everyone jumping in at once. Pretty sure he wanted to end his sentence with the word “true.” Surprising to hear that ad libs were encouraged and especially humorous ones by director Don Siegel but frowned upon and largely edited out by the studio executives. Kevin McCarthy’s faux vanity is always fun. Another metaphor I’d not considered was the idea of conformity and how the advertising industry (the hidden persuaders) tried to make everyone smoke the same cigarette, and wash with the same soap etc. Kevin McCarthy tries and fails to show off his only remaining humorous ad-lib and reveals his Shakespearean start in the acting trade. Dana Wynter mentions how so many directors started as film editors, a fact that Joe Dante enthusiastically supports. Joe Dante points out the police car stock footage and having to be blown up to fill the ‘SuperScope’ 2.00:1 frame and shocks the leading players with the actual production budget figure. Dana Wynter is very funny, self-effacing and charming. “You said, “Don’t have anything for lunch, I have to carry you later…” Joes Dante wraps up saying “This has been 80 minutes of fun.” Please Note: Due to the amount of space I am allowed, unfortunately I can only give you a flavour of this particular audio commentary, so I hope it will not disappoint you, as at least you do get a flavour of what they are talking about the sci-fi movie ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS.’
Audio Commentary by Jim Hemphill [Audio only] [2021] [1080p] [2.00:1] [60:02] With this featurette, we get to hear the personal audio comments from Filmmaker and Film Historian Jim Hemphill and his audio commentary was recorded in 2021. Jim Hemphill’s audio commentary represents the flipside of the 50th anniversary commentary by director Joe Dante and the two leads Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter. There is some repetition of the facts in both audio commentaries but this one is the treasure trove of information on the film, its context, its origins and anything you may have always wanted to know about the sci-fi movie. I like the fact he namechecks the sexual aspect between the adults given the restrictive Production Code was still in place. To say that Hemphill has done his research is to state the startlingly obvious. There are very few gaps to let the movie’s sound cut in while Hemphill takes a breath. It’s sad to hear that Joe Dante’s audio commentaries guests from 2006 have passed away and Dana Wynter was 79 and Kevin McCarthy was 96. There’s a lovely insight at just past the hour mark that despite the compromise of the presentation especially with the pan and scanned TV showings of a film whose quality was already compromised by the technical aspect of shooting in SuperScope and there is something great about sci-fi movies that can transcend their technical limitations. Film Historian Jim Hemphill mentions the widescreen VHS version of the sci-fi film. Oh by the way, this was a definite five star audio commentary. Please Note: Due to the amount of space I am allowed, unfortunately I can only give you a flavour of this particular audio commentary, so I hope it will not disappoint you, as at least you do get a flavour of what they are talking about the sci-fi movie ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS.’
Special Feature: The John Player Lecture: Don Siegel [Audio only] [1973] [1080p] [2.00:1] [74:41] With this featurette, we get to hear Director Don Siegel looks over his career with film critic Barry Norman, in this special one off lecture at the prestigious BFI National Film Theatre. Due the age of and condition of the rare audio recording, the audio quality varies greatly, and some of the audiences questions were not picked up very well with the microphone, as there are brief inaudible sections. So the BFI hopes it does not spoil or detract from your enjoyment of this very special featurette and despite the audio recording, I personally recommend you crank up the sound to your maximum. As to the Director Don Siegel, Barry Norman says, “He was of course is the voice of film appreciation in my youth interviewing a favourite director.” There’s a caveat in the booklet that says the audience’s questions are always off mic and inaudible but this is no problem as Barry Norman paraphrases each one as we go along. Don Siegel talks about using humour to dissipate tension and his seven year stretch cutting montages for other people’s films. His two shorts garnered Academy awards which kick-started his directorial career. Don Siegel covers the idiocy of the studio that took out the humour from ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ and Don Siegel reveals that the film ‘The Beguiled’ was a favourite of his and its box office failure really hurt him. Don Siegel is a realist and understands the business part of “show business.” Don Siegel identifies as a “hack” director which Barry Norman immediately undercuts. Don Siegel’s villains are appraised as being more interesting than his heroes in his films and talks about encouraging Clint Eastwood’s ambition towards directing and revealing that two hundred hours of the TV show “Rawhide” taught Clint Eastwood a lot of technical information. Don Siegel takes a pot shot at certain auteur directors, and talks about his choice of favoured directors like Norman Jewison, John Schlesinger and John Cassavetes. Don Siegel shares his love for David Lean film ‘Brief Encounter’ and who could we disagree with and he also underlines the point, namely the director does not necessarily share the morality of the characters in his films. As you view this very rare featurette, you again get to view the film ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ and of course you only view the film right up to the end of this interview.
Special Feature: Sleep No More: ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ Revisited [2006] [480i] [1.37:1] [26:34] With this featurette, we take a look at the film ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ and its production history and includes clips from interviews with Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, John Landis, Mick Garris, and science fiction historian Bob Burns and pour their love and appreciation into the sci-fi film and amongst others. 1950’s censorship wanted ridiculous changes, where divorce was a no-no in Hollywood. There is some great behind-the-scenes photography including the efforts of the special effects people to make moulds of the cast and of the actual shoot. I still marvel at the size of the arc lights needed even on bright sunny days. It’s also nice to see ‘Buckaroo Banzai’ writer W. D. Richter weighing in on the film and making the great point that the “happy” ending may not be as happy as assumed. The studio even wrote an introduction and coda to be delivered by Orson Welles. Contributors include: Kevin Mc Carthy [Dr. Miles Bennel]; Dana Wynter [Becky Driscoll]; John Landis [Filmmaker]; Mick Garris [Filmmaker]; Bob Burns [Author/Science Fiction Historian]; Bill Warren [Author/Science Fiction Historian]; Stuart Kaminsky [Author/Former Assistant to Don Siegel]; Stuart Gordon [Co-screenwriter for the film ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’]; Leo Braudy [Cultural Historian at the University of Southern California] and W. D. Richter [Screenwriter for the film ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’].
Special Feature: The Fear and The Fiction: The Body Snatchers Phenomenon [2006] [408i] [1.37:1] [8:17] With this featurette, we have a very short film exploring the varies themes and interpreting of the sci-fi film ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ and what a great special feature and not just for the interesting insights from the contributors. We also get an interesting comment from director John Landis and quotes that “What Americans fear most is outside ideas is a total idiotic doozy.” Contributors include: Stuart Gordon [Co-screenwriter for the film ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’]; John Landis [Filmmaker]; Leo Braudy [Cultural Historian at the University of Southern California]; Kevin Mc Carthy [Dr. Miles Bennel]; Dana Wynter [Becky Driscoll]; Stuart Kaminsky [Author/Former Assistant to Don Siegel]; Mick Garris [Filmmaker] and W. D. Richter [Screenwriter for the film ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’].
Special Feature: What's in a Name? [2006] [1080p] [2.00:1 / 1.78:1] [2:14] With this featurette, we get to view a short video piece about how the title of the film ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ came about and also about some of the changes that were made to get it right.
Special Feature: Return to Santa Mira [2006] [1080p] [2.00:1 / 1.78:1] [12:44] With this featurette, we take a look at the filmed locations where key segments from ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ where the film was shot and it wasn’t shot on a soundstage and is a lot of fun. The key locations included the Town Square, Homes. Alleyways, Cave, Staircase, Overpass and Wrecking Ball. Adding to the idiosyncrasy of this featurette is a humorously scripted and very tongue in cheek humour that comes across like a 1950’s American TV commercial.
Special Feature: Theatrical Trailer [1956] [480i] [1.37:1] [2:16] With this featurette, we get to view the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS.’ Very strange, because it is presented in the 1.37:1 aspect ratio and the quality of the image is very poor, but despite this, this Original Theatrical Trailer is very good.
Special Feature: Trailers From Hell: ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ [2013] [1080p / 480i] [1.78:1] [2:47] With this featurette, ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ fan film director Joe Dante celebrates the sci-fi film that clearly is a massive fan of this sci-fi film classic. Joe Dante gives us a bit of background on some studio decisions and also provides a commentary on the Original Theatrical Trailer we view. Trailers From Hell is the premiere showcase for breath-taking eclectic assortment of trailers from classic era films both in their original form and punctuated with informative and amusing commentary by contemporary filmmakers.
Special Feature: Image Gallery: With this featurette, we get to view 1080p images relating to all different aspects to the 1956 film ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS.’
Special Feature: Archive Shorts: Here we get to view three classic black-and-white British propaganda featurette shorts and they are as follows:
Doorstep to Communism [1948] [480i] [1.37:1] [11:19] With this featurette, we get to view a 1948 Party Political broadcast by The Conservative and Unionist Films Association warning of the ever-lurking Red Menace, and an exposure of the curious claims of Socialism to the “bulwark against the communist menace.” “We don’t want that sort of thing here!” Oh, this is a right hoot, in showing the totalitarian excesses of Stalinism, the argument goes that Socialism is we cut to a doorstep or we cut to a car’s running board to Communism. The only answer to the Communist menace is Conservatism. It’s politics for three year-olds with added simplistic and deeply patronising animation. It is shown on behalf of the Conservative and Unionist Films Association. This campaigning film claims that well-meaning Labour politicians such as Prime Minister Clement Attlee are stepping stones to a communist state, and it is only the Conservative Party that can protect the UK from such a fate. An inventive animated sequence of a snake swallowing a trembling rabbit is used to demonstrate the manner in which communism feeds on socialism.
Secrets of Nature: Magic Myxies [1931] [480i] [1.37:1] [10:30] With this featurette, we are presented with a Mary Field and F. Percy Smith’s ground-breaking botanical cinematography documentary. “Notice how it quivers with delight after a good meal.” Stunning! I have no idea how the film lens technology of 1931 could possibly have shot this. It’s not animation. It’s time-lapse shows us the extremely small and frankly extraordinary life of plants. This exact and highfalutin “received pronunciation” of the narrator is a constant joy as it anthropomorphically compares all of these microscopic shenanigans with human behaviour. It’s utterly bonkers but not exactly pod-like. Anthropomorphising the natural world has always been frowned on by British wildlife filmmakers (not least Sir David Attenborough) and while we may enjoy the ebullient commentary – which certainly helps to sell a difficult subject – in the end, we probably have to agree with the verdict of the Science Committee.
Battle of the Plants [1926] [480i] [1.37:1] [10:20] With this featurette, here once again we are presented with F. Percy Smith and his ground-breaking botanical cinematography documentary. Oh goodness, a second hoot. The music score to this garden plant movie is horror-movie central casting. Is that a Theremin? And I’m only seconds in. I can’t tell you how things are going to work out but if you are going to dissolve from one text card to another, be aware of complete illegibility over the mix. OK, where now? Ah, a black velvet studio time lapses, and totally revolutionary for its time in 1926. The result is a conflict of indescribable intensity raging in the hedgerow . . . and in the garden.
PLUS: FIRST PRESSING ONLY: A beautiful collector’s illustrated 40 page booklet that includes anew writing by Dr Deborah Allison entitled THE DARK MIRROR: INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS. PARANOIA AND THE PODS AND archive piece by J Hoberman. DON SIEGEL [1912 – 1991] by Charlie Bligh. In-depth information about the special features and presentation. We also get a plethora of rare black-and-white promotional photographs.
Finally, arguably the best of all these sci-fi films is the film ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS.’ As conceived by producer Walter Wanger, director Don Siegel, and writer Daniel Mainwaring, the film was meant to end with Kevin McCarthy's frantic, hopeless ravings of “You're next!” and fading into black. Studio executives at Allied Artists, feeling that this ending was too downbeat, demanded a more hopeful one. Walter Wanger, Don Siegel, and Daniel Mainwaring reluctantly agreed to shoot a wraparound to mollify the bigwigs, resulting in the main story becoming a flashback. Even with the somewhat compromised ending, ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ still remains a classic sci-fi film of the 1950’s paranoia. The crisp back-and-white photography by Ellsworth Fredericks and the taut musical score by Carmen Dragon add immeasurably to the proceedings. The supporting cast, which included such familiar character actors as Larry Gates, Ralph Dumke. Virginia Christine, Richard Deacon, and Robert Osterloh, is excellent. Look for future superstar director Sam Peckinpah in a bit part as a meter reader who may be doing more in the basement than just reading the meter! Perhaps the greatest tribute ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ is the fact that both liberals and conservatives saw it as a political allegory that supported their views. Conservatives saw the zombie-like pod people as representing brain-washed victims of the Communist Conspiracy. Liberals, on the other hand, saw them as automatons, frightened into mindless conformity by right-wing witch hunters like Senator McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee, Whatever the filmmakers’ original intentions, ‘INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS’ was not the first or last film to take on a retroactive social message, but it is undoubtedly one of history’s most salient examples of the phenomenon. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
