WAR OF THE SATELLITES-1958- After 10
failed manned missions to the Sigma Barrier, Dr. Pol Van Ponder
(Richard Devon) decides to take number 11 up himself. His assistants
Dave Boyer (Dick Miller) and Sybil Carrington (Susan Cabot) plan to
go with him. His scientist friend Hotch (Robert Shayne) supports him
but Jason ibn Akad (Michael Fox), LeMoine (Bruno VeSota) and others
don't. Just when it looks like the project will be shut down, it's
announced Van Ponder is killed in a car accident. No sooner is this
declared and the doctor shows up! However it's no miracle. He’s
been taken over by an alien being (who caused the crash). Now he can
split into two people and repair his hand after it’s charred
by a blow torch. He also can’t deter the efforts to send more
rockets into space so the aliens make their presence known and create
natural disasters around the world (stock footage). The alien as
doctor declares an end to the project but when he sends Boyer to
deliver the news, Boyer instead convinces the UN reps that Earth
should fight the aliens. This makes the possessed doctor not happy.
Boyer becomes suspicious when he notices some bruises on Devon arms.
They all go into space and Boyer tries to convince the crew of the
truth while Van Ponder acts weird and kills. It's said this sci-fi
space film (perhaps director Roger Corman’s weakest '50's effort)
was rushed into production after the 1957 Sputnik launch. There's not
much action but it's nice to see usual supporting actors Miller &
Devon in the lead roles. And I love those reclining space.chairs!
With the death of Miller in late 2018 I believe the last living cast
member of WOTS is Corman who has a small role as a rocket operator.
Strangely this was the only movie Miller made in 1958! He starred in
A BUCKET OF BLOOD the next year. Cabot starred in THE WASP WOMAN the
next year. They had both been in CARNIVAL ROCK for Corman in 1957.
She and Richard Devon were in Corman's MACHINE GUN KELLY the same
year as WOTS.
Thanks for reading!
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