IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE 
The movie that influenced the Greatest Sci-Fi Movie ever made, ALIEN. 
We are about to get into one of the best sci-fi movies of its time. Time tested, it’s still on Top 10 List of Greatest Horror/ Sci-Fi Films of all time. Ridley Scott said, “Yes this film gave me the idea for Alien”. If have not seen this movie yet, find it settle in and enjoy. It’s not that well acted, and some of the effects are cheezey, ,however the script and storyline are right on spot. Almost everyone in this movie, we’re all basically TV role actors, so for some this was a huge deal. Again this film and so many before it and after it, were made for double features at your local Drive-In Movie theater. The other movie released with this film, was “Curse of the Faceless Man”. As a bonus I’ll be including a review of that film also, just not as in depth. So where do we start, why not the end. Yes the end, in Alien the idea to kill the Alien is for it to be sucked out of the Airlock. Makes sense and we seen not easy to do. Here they have the same idea, however there is no way this can happen, due to shit that went wrong earlier. They come up with a quick plan B, no spoiler but it works but at a cost. Now who are our players in this spaceship horror death trap movie. Let’s meet Drexel Jerome Lewis Bixby Born 1/11/1923 in L.A. Ca. He wrote our movie in 1958. Prior to this in 1953 he wrote his most famous works, “It’s a Good Life”. This script was later a parody on the 1991 Simpson’s Treehouse of Terror. He wrote 4 episode for STAR TREK, Mirror,Mirror – Day of the Dove – Requiem for Methuselah & By Any Other Name. Absolute classics among my favorites from the series. In 1999 STAR TREK Deep Space 9 dedicated the episode ” The Emperor’s Coat” to him after his death on 4/28/1998 of heart failure. he also wrote a bunch of Westerns under the name Jay Lewis Bixby, his final works was not released until 2007 ” The Man from Earth”. The guy gave us a ton of movies, and some great memories of those old Drive-In Movie Theater days. 
Jerome Bixby. 
” There’s only one kind of monster that uses bullets” let’s meet our star of the movie, Capt. Carruthers, better known as James Marshall Thompson. Born 11/27/1925 in Peoria Illinois Died 5/18/1992 at 66 years old in Royal Oaks Michigan. Married once Barbra Long. He was also classmates at University High School with Norma Jean Baker. Started acting as a teen earning an amazing $350 a week, not bad. In 1955 he stared with real life brother in-law Richard Long in the cult favorite, “Cult of the Cobra” Other movies include, 1944 his 1st role “Reckless Age” Ray Connors, “They Were Expendable” Ens. Snake, 1948 “Command Decision” Capt. George Washington Bellpepper Lee, 1955 “To Hell and Back” Johnson, 1958 “Curse of the Faceless Man” 1980 “The Formula” Geologist #1, 1991 his final film Mr. Rich. He was credited in over 60 movies, it did not stop there for this hard working actor, TV appearances and his own series the 1966-69 epic “ DAKTARI” Dr. Marsh Tracey, truly one of my favorite shows as a kid, came on before “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea”. Other TV shows, 1954 “The Public Defender” Jeff Norton, 1960 Perry Mason “The Case of the Wayward Wife”. He is one of my favorites of his time actors for sure. 
Our next actor in the spotlight Col. Van Heusen, Kim Spalding, Born Ross F. Latimer on 12/7/1915 in Washington Missouri, Died 11/18/2000 at 84 years old in L.A. Ca. Before his 1st movie in 1940 “Rancho Grande”, he made his money as an Auto Mechanic, Lithography seller, Photographer, Upholstery, and why not a Pro Boxer not bad either. Married once no kids. 
Film work includes, 1950 his first role “The Gunfighter” Store Clerk, 1950 “3 Came Home” Lt., 1951 “The Day the Earth Stood Still” 1952 “Hurricane Smith” Brown, TV work includes “The Deputy Stories of the Century”, “The Millionaire”, “The Lorrette Young Show”, “26 Men”. If you watch closely you may see some similarities of the characters in this movie to those in Alien. Some not as vague as others, but they are there. 
Although the Challenger 142 
the rescue ship appears small, it’s got a lot of room inside. And around every corner could be death. With that being said let’s meet our Alien friend. 
I said, “Good luck in case we don’t come back”. It, played by Ray “CRASH” Corrigan, Born Raymond Benitz on 2/14/1902 in Milwaukee WI. Died */10/1976 at 74 years old in Brookings Oregon. He was introduced to us in the 1936 Movie Serial “FLASH GORDON” fighting the evil Ming. Another 1936 Serial “The 3 Mesquites” and another in 1940 “The Range Busters”. He stared, well sorta, in numerous movies as a Gorilla. His 1st role as the Gorilla was in the 3 Stooges short in 1938 “The Missing Links”. 1940 “The Ape”, 1942 “The Strange Case of Dr.Rx, 1943 “Captive Wild Woman”, !944 “NABONGO”, 1945 “White Congo”, 1948 “Unknown Island”. He got his nickname (CRASH) from back in his Football days. On the land he brought in 1938, CORRIGANVILLE Studios was born. In the beautiful Simi Valley in the Santa Susana Mts. various TV shows and movies were shot here until it was sold in 1966, to Bob Hope. He renamed it “HOPETOWN”. TV & movies shot here include, 1939, “Drums of Fu Manchu”, 1948, “Fort Apache”, 1949-1957, “The Lone Ranger”, 1950-1956, “The Cisco Kid”, 1954-1959, “The Adventures of Ron Tin Tin”, 1957-1963, “Have Gun Will Travel”, and in. 1957, “Casey Jones”.
Corrigan told Groucho, “When I would go to tackle somebody or instead of fighting them with my fists, I would just take off and dive at them head first and that’s how I acquired the name ‘Crash'”. Movies include, 1932 (Ape debut) “Tarzan the Ape Man”, 1934, “Tarzan and His Mate”, 1935, “Mutiny on the Bounty” Sailor, 1936, “Ghost-Town Gold” Tucson Smith, 1942, “Boot Hill Bandits”, 1945, “The White Gorilla” Steve Collins-Konga-Narrator,, 1957, “Zombies of Mora Tau” Sailor. An amazing line of work. You got to give it up for these men and women of this time, they put out a ton of work. Before we get to our next actor let’s take brief moment to lay out the movie. A Spaceship, Challenger 142 is sent to rescue Challenger 141. It lost contact with Earth, so Earth decides to send a ship to check it out. They find one man still alive. Not sure what happen he is accused of murder. Well that idea goes out into the void of space when Kienholtz goes missing. Now he is the only one named Joe, but the crew insist on yelling, Kienholtz, Kienholtz,Kienholtz while looking for Joe. Ill get the actual count before the review is done, if not I’ll give the update. Anyway the crew band together, well they try as one by one they are killed by IT. There are plenty of holy shit moments though out the movie, especially the air duct scene. 
Now let’s meet another star of the movie and the hey day of Hollywood, 
Next up Eric Royce, Robert William Greer (DABBS) Born 4/2/1917 in Fairview Missouri, Died 4/28/2007 90 years old in Pasadena Ca. He was a fixture on the screen from a very early age. He is best known as a regular on 2 of the biggest hits in TV history, Mr. Jonas on “GUNSMOKE”, and “Little House on the Prairie” as Rev. Robert Alden, as well as his last roll in 1999 in “The Green Mile” as the 108 year old George Edgecomb. Movies include 1938 (film debut) Jesse James”1949 “Reign of Terror” Bridge Guard, 1951, “Under the Gun” Stoner, 1952 “Monkey Business” Cabbie, 1953, House of Wax” Sgt. Jim Shane, 1954, “Bitter Creek”, 1964, “Roustabout” Arthur Nelson, 1989, “Sundown, the Vampire Retreat”, 1999, ” The Green Mile” George Edgecomb. Countless TV appearances, I don’t how these guys did it, no wonder they drank and smoked so heavy. TV work includes, 1950 “Dick Tracey” Shaky, 1952, “Lone Ranger” Toby Durbin, 1952-58, “The Adventures of SUPERMAN”, Ep.1 he plays 2 people Mr.Pebbles & Dan Dobey, ep.2, Joe Winters, ep.3, Man saved from Dirigible Fall, 1954-65, “LASSIE” Casey Howell/ Joe Baker, 1969-73, IRONSIDE, Old Librarian-Mr. Carew-Thomas Gibbs, 1972, “Mod Squad”, Store Owner, 1972-73, “The Rookies”, Billy Levison-Studio Guard, 1973, “Adam-12”, Dave Carlson, 1973-74, “Cannon”, Walter Fox-Windom Salter, 1976, “The Streets of San Francisco”, Watchman, Last role 2003, “Lizzie McGuire”, Moe. That’s a busy man right there. 
“I’m going to Mars, and taking the Wife”. Our next star of the movie plays Mrs. Mary Royce, good ole Eric bringing his wife to Mars with him, now that’s love. 
Lets meet Ann Doran, Born 7/28/1911 in Amarillo Texas, Died 9/19/2000 89 years old in Carmichael Ca. Started acting at age 4 1922 “Robin Hood”Her total movie credits exceed 500, and over 1000 TV appearances. We have her on a few of the best TV ever had to offer. The scary sniper episode of MASH, Nurse Meg Cratty, “The Kids”, 1986 on The A-Team as Nora, and her final appearance 1988, “Hunter” Mrs.Rawling. She plays opposite of William Hopper (Paul Drake Perry Mason fame) as James Dean’s mother in “Rebel Without a Cause”. Not to bad for a life of work. Hard to understand how they handled their schedules. 
We got 6 more crew members to cover, so let’s stay with it. Next up Richard Hervey, (Gino Finelli) & Thom Carney,(Joe Kienholtz) These guys were known as bit actors. These actors, actress were used as fill ins for bigger stars who were not available. Usually uncredited some get their names in the credit role, makes for bigger payday. Shirley Patterson who plays Ann Anderson, who at one time had a thing with Col. Van Heusen. 
Born 12/26/1922 in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada. Died 4/4/1995 72 years old in Fort Lauderdale Fla. She had 40 credited movie roles and a few TV appearances. She played Linda Page from the 1943 Movie Serial “The BATMAN”. 
Paul Lagoon, as Lt. James Calder, Born 4/17/1913 in Salt Lake City Utah, Died 4/15/1980 66 years old in Burbank Ca. Between Tv & Movies over 700 credited appearances. 
Bob Finelli (Gino’s brother) Riccardo Benedetto, Born 1/8/1920 in Palermo Italy, Died 4/29/1984 64 years old in L.A. Ca. His son Nick Benedict stared in Daytime soap “Days of Our Lives”, as Curtis Reed. He himself rolled dozens of TV & Movie appearances. 
Maj. John Purdue, Robert Brice, Born 3/14/1914 in Dallas Texas, Died 1/8/1968 53 years old in L.A. Ca. He best known to TV audiences for his role on “PERRY MASON” as Paul Drake’s operative Frank Faulkner. He credited himself over 200 TV & Movie appearances. 
There you have it all the players in the movie that helped inspire the greatest SCI-FI movie ever made Alien. When you watch this movie you’ll see where ideas came from, even the start of Aliens. Check out this amazing film B-Movie or not it’s a GIANT Masterpiece of Horror. Till next time, Check out our YOUTUBE Channel https://www.youtube.com/@victoravalente130 Also Check out Our Podcast The 3rd Floor Podcast on SPOTIFY http://open.spotify.com/show/2NDBZGveBJPYFjwaDkyukv APPLE I Tunes http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-3rd-floor-podcast/id1434433319?mt=2&uo=4 
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