The colorful psychedelic intro during the opening credits of “They Came From Beyond Space” suggest something rather unusual might be about to happen, while the first appearance of scientist Lee Mason (Jennifer Jayne) and her foot tall red haired bouffant ‘do definitely got my attention. And why are we intrigued by the fact that Dr. Curtis Temple has a silver plate in his head?
Temple (Robert Hutton) is an expert on extraterrestrial life, though I’m a bit confused on how one earns that designation, since there are no extraterrestrials around to study. He’s been summoned to examine a meteor crash that has landed in Cornwall in perfect V formation, but he’s denied by his superior because he’s still recovering from an accident some time earlier, hence the aforementioned brain armor. Bodiless intelligent life forms take over Temple’s colleagues, and create a “crimson plague” to disable other humans who are then held in a deep freeze until they can be transported to the aliens’ stronghold on the moon, where they’re held to construct another ship to transport the beings to their home planet. Still with me?
The movie see saws it’s way back and forth with Temple alternately a captive of the aliens and then an aggressor, as he eventually figures out that his silver plate prevents his mind from being overcome. You just know that the answer to defeating the bad guys is to fashion a helmet out of a set of silverware so his buddy can protect himself, along with a cosmic ray gun they’re able to scrounge up along the way.
Eventually we’re introduced to Master of the Moon Zon, who’s tale of woe gets Temple’s attention – all they want is to get back to their home planet where they can die in peace. In his best ‘All you had to do was ask’ sincerity, Temple offers Earth’s assistance and the foes shake on it to bring this story to an abrupt conclusion.
1967 seems a bit late to have films like this still being made; done in the 1950’s in black and white might have given it more of a campy flavor. Still, it’s not a bad diversion for it’s eighty five minute run time if you’re willing to give it a go. You’ll have to supply your own laughs along the way though, as the film takes itself a bit more seriously than necessary.
