The Strange World of Planet X (film)

The Strange World of Planet X
U.S. VHS box cover
Directed byGilbert Gunn
Written byPaul Ryder
Josef Ambor
Produced byGeorge Maynard
John Bash
StarringForrest Tucker
Gaby André
Martin Benson
CinematographyJosef Ambor
Edited byFrancis Bieber
Music byRobert Sharples
Distributed byEros Films (UK)
Distributors Corporation of America (U.S.)
Release date
  • 4 March 1958 (1958-03-04) (UK)[1]
Running time
75 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Strange World of Planet X (a.k.a. Cosmic Monsters in the United States) is an independently made 1958 British science fiction horror film, produced by George Maynard and John Bash, directed by Gilbert Gunn, that stars Forrest Tucker and Gaby André. The film was distributed in the UK in February, 1958[2] by Eros Films. It was released in the US on July 7, 1958 by Distributors Corporation of America as a double feature with The Crawling Eye, also starring Tucker.[3]

A monomaniacal scientist creates ultra-sensitive, disruptive magnetic fields, which have unexpected side effects, while also attracting unidentified flying objects from outer space. Strange things begin to happen, including a freak storm, blasts of cosmic radiation that penetrates the Earth's normally protective magnetic shield, and insects and spiders mutating into giant flesh-eating monsters.

The film, meant as a cautionary tale about science, was adapted by Paul Ryder and Joe Ambor from the 1957 Rene Ray novel of the same name; a made-for-TV serial, adapted by Rene Ray in 1956, had aired previously in the UK and was the basis for the feature film.

  1. ^ Warren, Bill (1986). Keep Watching The Skies Volume 2. McFarland & Co., Inc. ISBN 0-89950-170-2. Page 736
  2. ^ Warren, Bill (1986). Keep Watching The Skies Volume 2. McFarland & Co., Inc. ISBN 0-89950-170-2. Page 736
  3. ^ Warren, Bill (1986). Keep Watching The Skies Volume 2. McFarland & Co., Inc. ISBN 0-89950-170-2. Page 736