Invasion, U.S.A.(sometimes stylizedInvasion USA)[3]is a 1952 Americandrama filmbased on a story by Robert Smith andFranz Spencerand directed byAlfred E. Green.The film starsGerald Mohr,Peggie CastleandDan O'Herlihy.Invasion, U.S.A.is set in theCold Warand portrays the invasion of theUnited Statesby an unnamedcommunistenemy which likely refers to theSoviet Union.It is typical of theRed Scarefilm genre, common throughout the 1950s.[4]
Invasion, U.S.A. | |
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Directed by | Alfred E. Green |
Written by |
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Based on | Story by Robert Smith Franz Spencer |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | John L. Russell |
Edited by | W. Donn Hayes |
Music by | Albert Glasser |
Production company | American Pictures Corp. |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 74 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $187,000[1] |
Box office | $1.2 million[2] |
Plot
editIn aNew York Citybar, the brooding, mysterious forecaster Mr. Ohman is sitting and drinking brandy. He gets into discussions with a cross-section of affluent Americans at the bar, including local television newscaster Vince Potter, beautiful young New Yorksociety womanCarla Sanford, a California industrialist, a rancher from Arizona, and a congressman. International news is bad, but the Americans do not want to hear it. While they all dislikecommunismand appreciate the material wealth they enjoy, they also want lower taxes and fail to see the need for industrial support of government. Ohman tells the others that many Americans want safety and security but do not want to make any sacrifices for it.
Suddenly the news becomes worse. "The Enemy" is staging air attacks overSeal Point, Alaskaand thenNome.Paratroopshave landed on Alaskan airfields. Soon, the enemy's plan of attack becomes clear: civilian airfields are captured as staging areas while military airfields areA-bombed.The US fights back and attacks the enemy's homeland withConvair B-36missions, but the enemy steadily moves into Washington state and Oregon. Shipyards inPuget Soundare hit with atomic attacks causing massive casualties.
Meanwhile, the Americans at the bar scramble to return to their lives to do what they can against the enemy now that it is too late. Potter and Sanford fall for each other. He continues to broadcast while she volunteers to help run a blood drive. The industrialist and the rancher both return home to find themselves on the front lines. The former is caught in the battle forSan Francisco,the latter in the destruction ofBoulder Damby a nuclear missile which results in a tidal wave, flooding most of the country and killing a family attempting to flee from it. TheUS president,whose face is never shown in front view, only in rear view, makes ineffectual broadcasts with inflated claims of counterattacks to rally the morale of the people. The enemy continues to advance with stealth attacks by troops dressed in American uniforms, including a paratrooper attack on theUS Capitolthat kills the congressman. New York is hit with an atomic bomb, and Potter is soon killed at Clara's apartment. Sanford, threatened with rape by an enemy soldier, narrowly escapes his assault as she jumps from the balcony, presumably to her death.
Suddenly, the image of her falling body appears in Ohman's brandy snifter. All five suddenly find themselves back in the bar since they have just emerged from a hypnotic state that Ohman had induced. After reassuring themselves that the recent events, including their deaths, did not really happen, they hurry off to take measures to boost military preparedness. Potter and Sanford "resume" their romance.
Cast
edit- Gerald Mohras Vince Potter
- Peggie Castleas Carla Sanford
- Dan O'Herlihyas Mr. Ohman
- Robert Biceas George Sylvester
- Tom Kennedyas Tim the Bartender
- Wade Crosbyas Illinois Congressman Arthur V. Harroway
- Erik Blythe as Ed Mulfory
- Phyllis Coatesas Mrs. Mulfory
- Aram Katcher as Factory Window Washer
- Knox Manningas himself
- Edward G. Robinson Jr.as Radio Dispatcher
- Noel Neillas Second Airline Ticket Agent
- Clarence A. Shoopas Army Major
- Joseph Granby asPresident of the United States(uncredited)
Production
editInvasion, U.S.A.was the second film from American Pictures Corporation, who had just made their first film,Captive Women.The company consisted ofAlbert Zugsmith,Peter Miller,Aubrey WisbergandJack Pollexfenwith Joseph Justman as producer. They planned to make six films a year for five years out of a fund of $3.5 million.[5]Robert Smith wrote the script. The film had the co-operation of theUS Civil Defense.[6]
Harold Danielswas to direct, but he was instead assigned to American Pictures Corporation'sPort Sinister.Alfred E. Greenreplaced him.Ron Randellwas meant to appear in the cast but had to pull out.William Schallertreplaced Clete Roberts. Gerald Mohr replaced Michael O'Shea. Filming started 26 March 1952.[7]
Zugsmith said the film was made for a cash budget of $127,000 with $60,000 deferred. He called the movie the way that he really learned filmmaking, and he got an education from Al Green and Ralph Black in particular.[1]
"The Enemy" is never named but is clearly meant to be taken as the communistSoviet Unionbecause of its approach through Alaska, pseudo-Slavicaccents, and "People's Army" proclamations. Principal photography began in early April 1952 at Motion Picture Center Studios.[8]
Much of the film's running time is taken up withWWIIcombatstock footage.
On a philosophical level,Invasion, U.S.A.is also often viewed as humorously (and unintentionally) ironic, as the lesson it communicates encourages citizens to subordinate their individual needs and desires to that of the state to combat communism.[9]
Phyllis CoatesandNoel Neill,twoLois Laneactresses, andWilliam Schallert,a B-movie and TV stalwart, all have small parts in the film. O'Herlihy had the distinction of costarring in another Cold War drama clima xing with the nuclear destruction of New York, when he appeared in 1964'sFail Safe.
Reception and legacy
editA contemporary review inVarietystates: "This production imaginatively poses the situation of a foreign power invading the US with atom bombs. Startling aspects of the screenplay [from a story by Robert Smith and Franz Spencer] are further parlayed through effective use of war footage secured from the various armed services and the Atomic Energy Commission."[9]
The film was commercially successful and brought in net profits of about $1.2 million, according to Zugmsith.[1]
Invasion, U.S.A.was subsequently shown on television in the late 1960s but then was not widely viewed for a long time until in 1994, it was spoofed as Episode 602 on the movie-mocking television showMystery Science Theater 3000alongside the 1950 education shortA Date with Your Family.[10]
In 1998,Invasion, U.S.A.was released on VHS, then on DVD in 2002.[11]A special edition in 2009 featured two original Civil Defense Department audio recordings on the alternate DVD audio track:The Complacent AmericansandIf the Bomb Falls: A Recorded Guide to Survival.The 1956 reissue theatrical trailer; and interviews with stars, Dan O'Herlihy, William Schallert and Noel Neill. The original and controversial "Red Scare" shortRed Nightmare,narrated byJack Webb,was also included in the bonus features.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abcFlynn, Charles; McCarthy, Todd (1975). "Albert Zugmsith". In Flynn, Charles; McCarthy, Todd (eds.).Kings of the Bs: working within the Hollywood system: an anthology of film history and criticism.E. P. Dutton. p. 413.
- ^"Top Grossing Films of 1950-1959."Top Grossing Films of 1950-1959.Retrieved: January 4, 2016.
- ^All punctuation is missing in the actual title frame of the film but are present in the film's publicity materials.
- ^A Short History of Film, Third Edition - Google Books (Hollywood and the Blacklist)
- ^Schallert, Edwin (18 July 1951). "Lupino Company Comedy Rated Good for Forrest; Invasion Film Planned".Los Angeles Times.p. B9.
- ^MOVIELAND BRIEFS Los Angeles Times 18 Feb 1952: B9.
- ^Pine-Thomas Purchase Best Seller; 'Bonanza' Will Boost Newer Stars Schallert, Edwin.Los Angeles Times25 Feb 1952: B9.
- ^"Original print information: 'Invasion, U.S.A.' (1952)."Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: December 8, 2015.
- ^ab"Review: ‘Invasion U.S.A.’."Variety,December 31, 1951. Retrieved: December 8, 2015.
- ^Beaulieu 1996, p. 117.
- ^Erickson, Glenn."Review: 'Invasion, USA; Atomic Special Edition."DVD Savant,2007. Retrieved: December 8, 2015.
- ^West, Peter."DVD Review: 'Invasion U.S.A.' (50th Anniversary Special Edition)."Archived2016-02-16 at theWayback Machinehorrortalk, April 24, 2009. Retrieved: December 8, 2015.
Bibliography
edit- Beaulieu, Trace.The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Amazing Colossal Episode Guide.New York: Bantam, 1996.ISBN978-0-5533-7783-5.