The Killers From Space

(1954) *3/4

Read JPX’s review first to get the gist of the movie.

I think I liked this movie a tad more than JPX, which is why I gave it a *¾ rating, and I’ll tell you why. It is mainly because of the pipe, and also that the electrical power plant, that controls the towns electricity, is guarded by just three people. Okay and I also liked that the bug eyed aliens had eyebrows like the grandfather in Look Who’s Talking.

I have nothing further to say about the electric company or the eyebrows, but the pipe scene was one of the funniest and stupidest scenes I have ever seen in a movie. Dr. Doug Martin, who likes to strut around with his shirt off or unbuttoned whenever the opportunity arises, smokes a pipe just one time throughout the entire movie (well its not exactly lit it’s just kind of hanging from his mouth). This takes place prior to and during his break-in at the military compound, which as JPX mentions, purpose is to steal the “top secret files” to take to the rock. Prior to pinching the files, Studly Doug has been stowing himself away in his office waiting for everyone to leave. When he believes the coast is clear he opens the door and pokes his head out for confirmation, although, not before sticking the pipe in his mouth. The pipe, of course, is poking out the door so if anyone was there at that moment he would clearly give himself away, and he’s bumping the damn thing into the wall. After almost getting caught a time or two he is safely able to cut across to the next room with his pipe wobbling around in his mouth. At this point in the movie, I’m saying to JPX, “what is with the pipe, it is nothing but a nuisance.”

Anyway, Dougy is now in the top secret file room, pipe still in mouth, rustling through files, until suddenly he drops the pipe, and then finally puts it in his pocket, never to be seen again. I couldn’t stop wondering why Doug would out of the blue be smoking an unlit pipe, which obviously was a terrible inconvenience for him. And for God’s sake during a break in, who does that?

At last the presence of the pipe is revealed when one of the military dude’s, that looks like he would be in the oil business, discovers tobacco on the floor and quickly links it to Doug. This whole pipe scene, which seemed like an eternity, was all for the purpose of connecting Doug as the file thief. Call me crazy, but I think they could have come up with something a little less conspicuous than that; however, I’m glad they didn’t because I think it was a hoot. For me, this movie was all about the pipe. It 's what made it great, well at least gave it it's *3/4 rating.