Night Caller from Outer Space
Night Caller from Outer Space, also known as simply The Night Caller or Blood Beast from Outer Space, is a British 1965 science fiction film directed by John Gilling.[1] It is based on Frank Crisp's novel The Night Callers. A colourised version of the film was released in 2011.
| Night Caller from Outer Space | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | John Gilling |
| Written by | Frank Crisp (novel) Jim O'Connolly (screenplay) |
| Produced by | Ronald Liles |
| Starring | John Saxon Maurice Denham Patricia Haines Alfred Burke Warren Mitchell |
| Cinematography | Stephen Dade |
| Edited by | Philip Barnikel |
| Music by | John Gregory (composed and directed by) |
Production company | Armitage Film Productions Ltd. |
| Distributed by | Butcher's Film Service (UK) |
Release date | 1965 |
Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot
Scientist Dr Morley and his American associate Jack Costain (John Saxon) detect a meteorite heading to Earth. After determining where the meteorite has crashed, they and their aides investigate a meteorite in the British countryside, discovering that it is an alien device from Ganymede, a moon of Jupiter. The device is in the shape of a small sphere.
While working nights at the lab, secretary Ann Barlow (Patricia Haines) sees something moving in the lab. Dr Morley attempts to communicate with the creature, but he is killed. The creature escapes the lab. Costain begins to track the creature.
Shortly thereafter, teenage girls begin to go missing after answering an advertisement in 'Bikini Girl' magazine. It turns out the alien wants to use women from Earth for breeding purposes.[2][3][4]
Cast
- John Saxon as Dr. Jack Costain
- Maurice Denham as Dr. Morley
- Patricia Haines as Ann Barlow
- Alfred Burke as Detective Supt. Hartley
- John Carson as the Major
- Warren Mitchell as Reg Lilburn
- Marianne Stone as Madge Lilburn
- Stanley Meadows as Det. Tom Grant
- Aubrey Morris as Thorburn
- Ballard Berkeley as Cmdr. Savage
- Geoffrey Lumsden as Colonel Davy
- Tom Gill as Police Commissioner's secretary
- Jack Watson as Sergeant Hawkins
- Barbara French as Joyce Malone
Production
It was the first science fiction film from John Saxon.[5] Directed by John Gilling. UK prints of the film feature Alan Haven's version of the hit instrumental "Image" as the theme played over the opening credits. Export prints feature a lounge number titled "The Night Caller" written by Albert Hague and sung by Mark Richardson.
Reception
In a contemporary review, "Byro." of Variety declared that "it is simply too well-made for its own commercial good" and that it was "far above average of its kind, but it eschews a standard action-adventure climax in favor of a "philosophical" one."[6] "Byro." noted that audiences at a 42nd street screening showed their displeasure with the film "quite volubly".[6]
Leonard Maltin called it a "well-done sci-fi thriller" and gave it two-and-a-half stars out of four.[7]
Moira found the first of half of the movie to be well done, but that the film fails in the second half.[4]
Creature Feature gave the movie 2 out of 5 stars, liking the direction.[8]
TV Guide gave the movie 2 out of five stars, finding both the script and production values worthwhile.[9]
Home release
Released on DVD in 22 December. 2011 [10]
References
- ^ . Explore.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ Puchalski, Steven (2002). Slimetime: a guide to sleazy, mindless movies (2nd ed.). Headpress/Critical Vision. p. 207. ISBN 1-900486-21-0.
- ^ Deming, Mark (2010). . Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 27 April 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
- ^ a b "The Night Caller (1965)". 21 June 2016.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (29 July 2020). "The Top Twelve Stages of Saxon". Filmink.
- ^ a b Variety's Film Reviews 1964–1967. Vol. 11. R. R. Bowker. 1983. There are no page numbers in this book. This entry is found under the header "November 8, 1967". ISBN 0-8352-2790-1.
- ^ Maltin, Leonard (2008). Leonard Maltin's 2009 Movie Guide. Penguin Group. p. 980. ISBN 978-0-452-28978-9.
- ^ Saxon, J. (2000) Creature Feature:3rd Edition. Berkley Boulevard
- ^ "Blood Beasts from Outer Space".
- ^ "Night Caller from Outer Space". Amazon. 22 December 2011.
External links
- The Night Caller at IMDb