TrueJoshNight Truly Dreadful Film

Peereddi I was totally surprised at how great this film.You could feel your paranoia rise as the film went on and as you gradually learned the details of the real situation.

Grimossfer Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

SanEat A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Mark Turner *This review is for the release of the complete series on disc*I've said before and I'm likely to say again that one of the joys of DVDs has been the release of classic television programs on disc. Many of the shows that a vast number of us grew up watching and have fond memories of have already made their way to disc and more are coming. Some of these were shows that have never been shown in syndication or if they were it was long ago. Now the chance to enjoy those series once more is a blast for the baby boomer generation. Case in point THE INVADERS.Let me start by saying that growing up in the 60s and 70s everyone knew what a "Quinn Martin Production" was. Martin was a television producer whose shows always had a similar look and feel to. Each one opened by announcing it was a Quinn Martin production, showed the title of the show as well as the stars, then announced "this week's guest stars" and followed that with that nights chapter (aka episode) title. Once back from the commercial break the segments of the shows were labeled with act 1 through the epilogue. THE FUGITIVE, THE F.B.I., BARNABY JONES, CANNON and THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO were just some of the shows done this way. THE INVADERS began with a pilot episode that found architect David Vincent (Roy Thinnes) on his way home for a meeting and taking a short cut that turns out not work out. Tired and near sleep he pulls up at an abandoned gas station and takes a nap only to be awakened later by a pulsing light shining into his car. Waking, he looks up to witness a flying saucer landing in the open field next door. Of course his first impulse is to let the authorities know.But the odds of the police believing that someone has actually seen a flying saucer are low. Contacting his partner Alan Landers (James Daly) in David tells him the same. The police finally agree to go to the location only to find the name of the gas station has changed and a young couple are camping there saying they saw nothing the previous night. It is here that David discovers the first tell-tale sign that distinguishes the aliens from humans, their pinky fingers tipped out at an awkward angle. The aliens try to kill David and then realizing if another attempt on his life were made it would only increase their odds of being found out they try to just discredit him. Each week found David trying to convince someone else while investigating the alien invaders on his own. Moving forward he finds more ways to identify the aliens from humans as well as the fact there are different types of aliens, some without the pinky problem. As the series progresses more people become aware, the aliens become involved with sabotage and what could have been an easy take over becomes more complicated.Various well-known stars at the time showed up in the series. William Windom, Michael Rennie, J.D. Cannon, R.G. Armstrong, Suzanne Pleshette, Roddy McDowell, Edward Asner, Ed Begley, Dabney Coleman, Peter Graves and Gene Hackman are just a few. These actors who were well known at the time played both aliens and humans trying to stop them.The series obviously was a look at the Communist scare that had run rampant in the 50s and remained and issue with the Cold War in full swing at the time. Everyone was certain that the new neighbor might be a spy sent to infiltrate the country at the time. Well not most people but if you were looking for a way to create a series what better plot idea to use? Having just come out of the blacklist ear film makers and TV shows were using this to break down the barriers set up during the previous years. Odd how this has worked out now with a series like THE AMERICANS about the same thing has become popular.CBS has released both seasons of the series in the past but are now releasing it in a single boxed complete series edition. All 43 episodes are included in this 12 disc set. The extras here are limited but include select episode introductions by Roy Thinnes, two audio commentaries, an interview with Thinnes, the extended pilot episode and series promos. CBS has been going back and releasing complete series editions like this for many of the older series and as a fan I've been glad to see it happen. It's a nice way to be able to revisit those old series or perhaps to binge watch them. At over 37 hours it might take a few days to completely watch this one but fans of the show will be more than happy to do so. So if you are one of those fans, if you enjoyed series like THE X-FILES, if you enjoy science fiction or if you enjoy classic TV series than by all means you'll want to add this one to your collection.

kevandeb Not many TV series stand the test of time and when the UK horror channel started showing this series 40+ years after I first watched it, I was tempted not to watch it. I did not want to spoil my memories of a series that I dropped everything for to ensure I was in front of my TV every Saturday teatime. Only two other series had me hooked that way, Auf Weidersehn Pet & Boys From the Blackstuff. All these series's made sure I was glued to the TV once a week making sure never to miss an episode. I can say with confidence that all my fears were unfounded. This is a joy to watch again, I still love it, the staged fights, the music, the surprise guest appearances and a need for David Vincent to make as many people believe as possible. I am hugely grateful for a chance to see this again and am happy wallowing in my reminiscence of my childhood.

ShadeGrenade Quite simply, this is the best show of its kind. Created by Larry Cohen ( maverick film maker responsible for 'Its Alive!' and 'Q - The Winged Serpent' ) and produced by Quinn Martin, it features the most popular story in the whole of science fiction - the Earth under attack.Roy Thinnes plays architect 'David Vincent' ( don't ask me why they felt the need to mention his occupation in the opening credits ) who is driving home late one night. Tired, he stops near a deserted diner and falls asleep. He is awoken a short time later by a strange whirring sound. He sees a saucer-like object touching down nearby.When Vincent returns to the same spot the next day with the police in tow, there is no saucer, only a trailer belonging to a honeymooning couple, and they claim to have seen nothing. Vincent notices that the name of the diner has been changed. So is he mad? Or has someone tried to cover things up? Late that night, he approaches the couple yet again. The man attacks him. Suddenly he begins to glow...So begins the opening episode 'Beachhead' written by Anthony Wilson. Taut and intelligently written, it could easily have been an instalment of 'The Outer Limits' ( and shared that earlier programme's composer Dominic Frontiere ). Vincent learns that the invaders are here, refugees from a dying world, and they are out to conquer the Earth. His task is made harder by the fact that they can assume human form, so they can be anyone or anything. The only way to identify one is by their little fingers - they cannot bend them! Kill an invader and it disappears in a fiery red ball of light.Each week, the intrepid architect followed the invaders across the country, thwarting their nefarious plots, which include turning insects into carnivores, sending the Earth off its axis by detonating an antimatter bomb, and attempting to sabotage a moon exploration project. He also hoped to be able to capture an alien and take it to Washington in order to prove their existence.Guest stars included Jack Lord, Peter Graves, Burgess Meredith, Michael Rennie, Roddy McDowall and a pre 'French Connection' Gene Hackman.It anticipated the 'paranoid' shows of the '90's, such as 'The X Files' and 'Dark Skies'. After an excellent first season, it returned for a second, but mid-way through there was a change in format. In 'The Believers', Kent Smith was introduced as 'Edgar Scoville', head of a group who also knew of the invaders' existence, and provided back-up. Ratings fell and the show was cancelled without a conclusion.In Britain, 'The Invaders' played in late-night slots on I.T.V., but in 1984 B.B.C.-2 screened the first of two bumper runs ( the other being in 1991 ), and as had happened with 'Outer Limits', the show found a new audience. Most recently, it has been seen on 'Five' at the ungodly hour of 4.00 A.M.In 1995 'The Invaders' returned in a two-part mini-series starring Scott Bakula with Thinnes reprising his role as 'Vincent'. It was dire, looking more like an 'X-Files' rip-off.Luckily, the original is on D.V.D. and has stood up very well. Just keep an eye out for anyone acting suspiciously in your neighbourhood with a stiff little finger!

mm-39 I love "The Invaders". What a great show! For 1967 "The Invaders" aged well. Many good science fiction story lines. The Spores was a great episode with Gene Hackman. I think Invasion of the Body Snatcher got a few ideas from the mentioned episode. Great stories and with a cool concept. A man knows of an Alien invasion but no one will believe him. The show reminds me of Supernatural. I wonder if they will ever remake "The Invaders". Maybe they can you Jensen Ackles as David Vincent. I give the series an 9 out of 10. Only if those aliens did not vaporize when they die the show's problems would be easy. There is never any proof! Buy the box set. Is it 10 lines yet. Now it is.