Movie: Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Invasion of the Body Snatchers is among the most gripping, smart and frightening films of its kind. A low-budget masterpiece from 1956, it stars the under-appreciated Kevin McCarthy in his only memorable film role as a small town doctor who stumbles upon a dastardly conspiracy: the people of little Santa Mira, California are systematically being replaced by emotionless clones who emerge from giant pea pods. These replacements are in lock-step with each other – all part of an alien invasion of Earth.

Dana Wynter Co-Stars as Love Interest

Dana Wynter plays McCarthy’s love interest and key collaborator in the fight against the aliens. Together they must stop the insidious spread of the pea pods before it’s too late. And they must do it without falling asleep, which allows the pod doubles to replace their hosts.

McCarthy’s role is fairly conventional, but he invests it with sincerity and intelligence, traits essential to establishing him as the American Ideal threatened by the pod clones, which represent the perceived threat of Communists, i.e. emotional voids bent on infiltrating, overtaking and dominating American society.

Wynter gets the best moment in the film – an absolutely chilling scene in which she briefly falls asleep, only to awaken with the insidious smile of someone who has gone over to the other side. That a loving soul mate can turn on a partner instantly – under the influence of something “dehumanizing” like Communist philosophy – is a central tenet of the film’s hysterical message.

Carolyn Jones of Addams Family Featured

Supporting players include the lovely Carolyn Jones and rubber-faced character actor King Donovan as the close friends who, with McCarthy and Wynter, make the grim discovery of their own gooey, evolving pods. Jones, of course, is best remembered today as Morticia Addams in the original Addams Family TV series. The film serves as a reminder she was a serious and gifted actress long before her days playing broad comedy on television.

Don Siegel Directed

Early in his career, Director Don Siegel created montages for various films, including Casablanca. His conservative politics emerged with Invasion. He went on to direct John Wayne’s swan song The Shootist and several Clint Eastwood films, including Dirty Harry, in which a rogue cop – again representing the virtue of individuality in a struggle against the stupid “system” – tosses out the rule of law and becomes judge, jury and executioner.

Invasion is based on a magazine serial by the gifted author Jack Finney, whose stories about time travel are considered classics in that genre.

Producer Walter Wanger was among the most prolific of filmmakers, in a career stretching from the early sound era and culminating, sadly, with the 1963 bomb Cleopatra.

Captain and Tennille Connection

And if you like trivia, how’s this: the music is by Carmen Dragon, an otherwise obscure film scorer whose son Daryl is best known as one half of the 1970s husband-and-wife pop music duo the Captain and Tennille.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers is notorious for having two endings. Initially, a studio-imposed ending of release offered hope, as McCarthy’s character, Dr. Miles Bennell, finally convinces hospital personnel about the invasion and the FBI is summoned by telephone.

But the original ending – restored when the film became a revival house staple in the 70s – is far more effective and memorable. But no spoiler here – you’ll have to see it for yourself.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a chilling and very effective piece of filmmaking. It rightfully holds a place alongside the best films of the 1950s for economy of storytelling, the genuine terror it generates (with few special effects) and as a demonstration of how movies can tell engaging stories while simultaneously making powerful social statements.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

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