Flying Disc Man From Mars (1950)

Martians have been monitoring our communications for years and they don’t like what they see and hear!

So much so that they send an immense army to conquer mankind, only they’re can’t be bothered to show up so we get the ‘Flying Disc Man From Mars’ (1950) instead. His mission: to bring the world under the watchful rule of the Supreme Dictator of Mars! The red guy is simply not chuffed with our wars and use of nuclear weapons. So maybe it’s not such a bad idea really… only this 12-chapter serial was made shortly after the end of the World War II and our Martian speaks in a distinctly German accent!

Events unfold in the usual ridiculously accelerated way as Disc Man makes his base in an active volcano (can’t help thinking that’s not a great plan), recruits a local boffin with a dodgy accent (who did ‘something’ in the war – uh-oh) and hires a couple of goons to do the heavy lifting. Unnatural disasters follow as Disc Man tries out his arsenal of nasty gizmos and there isn’t a cop or secret agent in sight. But no worries, the security of Earth is down to the ‘Fowler Air Service’ – a kind of private security company who use planes to fly over factories and other stuff no doubt just as useful. They’re an impressive outfit too – at least 3 planes and the same number of staff, including a secretary who’s pretty good at shuffling papers.

This never happens in the movie.

Every encounter between our square jawed hero and the crooks descends into a fist fight. It doesn’t matter that one of them is holding a gun on the others – fisticuffs will ensue. Especially if we’re near the end of a Chapter. There is also the obligatory ‘recap’ episode for budgetary reasons: ‘Do you remember when they attempted to fly the uranium out from the deserted airfield?’ (Insert clip) ‘Yes, that was interesting but there was also the time they tried to use that missile to blow up the bridge…’ (Insert clip) etc, etc.

If all this sounds rather familiar then you’ve probably seen ‘Zombies of the Stratosphere’ (1952). This was a remake by the same studio, only 3 years later. That time they threw in the flying suit from ‘King of the Rocket Men’ (1949)!

And who said Hollywood executives never have any original ideas?!