MISSION MARS COLLECTION (DVD) (3DISCS) DVD

Flight to Mars
Flight to Mars is the second American film of the postwar era (after the previous year's Rocketship X-M) to depict a manned space trip to the Red Planet. Leading-man responsibilities are evenly divided between Arthur Franz as brilliant scientist Dr. Jim Barker and Cameron Mitchell as two-fisted reporter Steve Abbott. Both men make the journey to Mars, finding time along the way to battle over the affections of leading lady Virginia Huston. Upon landing on Mars, the earthlings learn that planetary leader, Ikron (Morris Ankrum, a fixture of 1950s sci-fi), intends to conquer the world. Fortunately a group of good Martians are on hand to lend moral and physical support to the heroes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Attack from Mars
Originally released under the title Midnight Movie Massacre, director Mark Stock's Attack From Mars pits a desperate band of moviegoers against a terrifying horde of space vampires from Mars. As a group of 1950 science fiction-loving teens munch on popcorn, a UFO descends, unleashing a fearsome plague of extraterrestrial bloodsuckers. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Invaders From Mars
Originating during the science-fiction/Red-Scare boom of the '50s, Invaders From Mars is an entertaining little picture that holds up reasonably well. David MacLean (Jimmy Hunt) is a 12-year-old astronomy buff who is stunned to see a flying saucer landing in the sand pit beyond his backyard. His father, George (Leif Erickson), ventures out to look the next morning and mysteriously disappears. David's mother, Mary (Hillary Brooke), worriedly calls police, but they are quickly swallowed up by the sand in the backyard. Later, George and the two cops return, but their personalities are markedly different having been taken over by the Martians. As David tries to find help, everyone around him comes under the frightening zombie-like spell. He finally encounters two believers in Dr. Blake (Helena Carter) and Dr. Kelston (Arthur Franz). Discovering David's shocking story to be true, the doctors call in the military setting up a confrontation that escalates when David and Dr. Blake are taken captive within the Martian craft. The soldiers race to save the pair from the green menace leading to an explosive finale that involves bullets, grenades, TNT, and a spectacular alien ray gun that can melt stone. ~ Patrick Legare, All Movie Guide

Cast Marguerite Chapman as Alita Cameron Mitchell as Steve Abbott Arthur Franz as Dr. Jim Barker Virginia Huston as Carol Stafford John Litel as Dr. Lane Richard Gaines as Prof. Jackson Morris Ankrum as Ikron Lucille Barkley as Terris Robert H. Barrat as Tillamar Edward Earle as Justin William Forrest as Gen. Archer Robert Clarke as Col Carlyle Ann Robinson as Dr. Van Buren John Kelly as Lori Davis as Andrew Goodman as Heidi Thomas as Helena Carter as Dr. Patricia Blake Arthur Franz as Dr. Stuart Kelston Jimmy Hunt as David Maclean Leif Erickson as George MacLean Hillary Brooke as Mary MacLean Morris Ankrum as Col. Fielding Max Wagner as Sgt. Rinaldi Janine Perreau as Kathy Wilson

Crew Boris Leven - Art Director Norma - Costume Designer William Cameron Menzies - Director Arthur Roberts - Editor Raoul Kraushaar - Composer (Music Score) Anatole Robbins - Makeup Gene Hibbs - Makeup William Cameron Menzies - Production Designer John F. Seitz - Cinematographer Edward L. Alperson, Jr. - Producer Howard Lydecker - Special Effects Jack R. Rabin - Special Effects Jack Cosgrove - Special Effects Irving A. Block - Special Effects William Cameron Menzies - Screenwriter Richard Blake - Screenwriter John Tucker Battle - Screenwriter Boris Leven - Art Director Norma - Costume Designer William Cameron Menzies - Director Arthur Roberts - Editor Raoul Kraushaar - Composer (Music Score) Anatole Robbins - Makeup Gene Hibbs - Makeup William Cameron Menzies - Production Designer John F. Seitz - Cinematographer Edward L. Alperson, Jr. - Producer Howard Lydecker - Special Effects Jack R. Rabin - Special Effects Jack Cosgrove - Special Effects Irving A. Block - Special Effects William Cameron Menzies - Screenwriter Richard Blake - Screenwriter John Tucker Battle - Screenwriter Boris Leven - Art Director Norma - Costume Designer William Cameron Menzies - Director Arthur Roberts - Editor Raoul Kraushaar - Composer (Music Score) Anatole Robbins - Makeup Gene Hibbs - Makeup William Cameron Menzies - Production Designer John F. Seitz - Cinematographer Edward L. Alperson, Jr. - Producer Howard Lydecker - Special Effects Jack R. Rabin - Special Effects Jack Cosgrove - Special Effects Irving A. Block - Special Effects William Cameron Menzies - Screenwriter Richard Blake - Screenwriter John Tucker Battle - Screenwriter

Flight to Mars
(not reviewed)
 

Attack from Mars
(not reviewed)
 

Invaders From Mars
Invaders From Mars is one of those films that many people fondly recall seeing as a child, but have to laugh at a bit when they see it as adults. But while the primitive effects, pajama-costumed Martians, and second-rate cast don't inspire the chills they did in 1953, they still make for an entertaining trip down memory lane, even if the film seems like a potential candidate for a Mystery Science Theater 3000 treatment. Director William Cameron Menzies (who helmed the 1936 classic Things to Come) keeps things flowing and his art direction is quite good considering what must have been an extremely low budget. The picture opens strong as young Jimmy Hunt watches as a strange force takes control of everyone around him. Unfortunately, once the troops are deployed, very little of consequence happens until they finally break into the Martians' underground lair. The screenplay by Richard Blake must have run out of steam by this point as Menzies heavily pads the film's final reels with repetitive footage of running Martians, running soldiers, and the occasional explosion. A surprise ending is rather amusing, but takes away from the film's overall impact. The cast also reflects the low budget and their performances are routine, although Hillary Brooke as the boy's mother registers a classic '50s line when she says, "He's been reading those trashy science fiction magazines. He's completely out of control!" The special effects are simple, but effective with top honors going to a Martian ray gun that turns rock to molten liquid. The Martians themselves look like men wearing pajamas with the feet in them, and their leader is a head with tentacles who is mounted in a fishbowl. The film was remade in 1986 by director Tobe Hooper and featured Hunt as a police chief. ~ Patrick Legare, All Movie Guide
 

(no awards)

General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: Sound Processing: DD2: Dolby Digital Stereo DD1: Dolby Digital Mono Additional Features: none specified DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1: Pre-1954 Standard MPAA Rating: NR DVD Discs Included: 3 DVD Sides: 3 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 240 min Part of Series: The Wade Williams Collection   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- Flight to Mars 1. Main Title; Final Preparations [9:47] 2. Takeoff [3:41] 3. Avoiding the Moon [4:03] 4. Feeling Small [4:29] 5. Launching the Cylinder [3:25] 6. Meteor Storm [2:59] 7. Crash Landing [4:06] 8. Meeting the Martians [7:12] 9. Ikron's Plan [2:39] 10. Rebuilding the Ship [1:29] 11. The New Assistant [5:01] 12. The Ruse [6:44] 13. Raw Deal [2:13] 14. Ready to Go [4:14] 15. Suspicious Minds [4:44] 16. Escape [3:53] Side #2 -- Attack From Mars 1. Main Title; A Night at the Movies [8:36] 2. Coming Attractions [3:28] 3. Space Patrol [7:46] 4. Time Travel Theory [5:38] 5. Invasion! [8:04] 6. Into the Past [7:15] 7. Strange Customs [7:53] 8. Strip Show Delights [9:25] 9. Secret Hideout [11:23] 10. Cliffhanger [5:12] 11. Good Eating [5:25] 12. End Credits [5:12] Side #3 -- Invaders From Mars 1. Main Title; Stargazers [4:02] 2. The Landing [2:44] 3. Dad Disappears [3:48] 4. "Dad" Returns [4:43] 5. Kathy Comes Home [1:52] 6. Looking for Help [4:05] 7. Dr. Blake [5:25] 8. Professor Kelston [6:29] 9. Military Action [4:14] 10. Rinaldi Sticks His Neck Out [4:18] 11. Sand Pit Surveillance [8:37] 12. The Sniper [3:19] 13. Into the Sand Pit [4:05] 14. "Mutants!" [3:22] 15. The Martian Intelligence [3:43] 16. Man vs. Martian [2:14] 17. Setting Charges [3:10] 18. Race Against Time [3:49] 19. Montage [2:28] 20. Full Circle [1:42] 1. Main Title; Stargazers [4:02] 2. The Landing [2:44] 3. Dad Disappears [3:48] 4. "Dad" Returns [4:43] 5. Kathy Comes Home [1:52] 6. Looking for Help [4:05] 7. Dr. Blake [5:25] 8. Professor Kelston [13:33] 9. Military Action [4:14] 10. Rinaldi Sticks His Neck Out [4:18] 11. Sandpit Surveillance [8:37] 12. The Sniper [3:19] 13. Into the Sandpit [4:05] 14. "Mutants!" [3:22] 15. The Martian Intelligence [3:44] 16. Man vs. Martian [2:14] 17. Setting Charges [3:09] 18. Race Against Time [3:49] 19. Detonation [1:22] 20. A Busy Day [:32]