Great movie! Interesting facts, I never heard before!

I'm about to turn 75 and I know I've watched this movie at least 10 times already. I'm sure I'll watch it a few more times before I'm done. Also, it should have received an award for editing. The movie hits the ground running and the pace never lets up.

Kevin McCarthy made several appearances at the Chiller Expo. I saw him several times and got his autograph on my DVD. He was a nice guy.

I'm glad you included images from the movie, I forgot how good the cinematography was for this vintage classic film. I like both versions of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" but the 1956 version would be my choice if I had to pick one over the other.

Besides the 1956 original and the 1978 remake there are 2 more versions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers that I'm aware of. Body Snatchers in 1993 starring Gabrielle Anwar, Meg Tilly, Christine Elise and R. Lee Ermey and The Invasion in 2007 with Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. They're all decent but for sheer terror the 1956 version is still best in my opinion. But then I tend to favor pre "Special effects" horror over more modern films. A time when movies had to make their effects through acting, music and mood setting lighting rather than special effects added later.

I first saw this as a small child in the sixties on late-night TV and never forgot it. It's still chilling. Never watched the sequel, just as I never saw the re-do of "The Day The Earth Stood Still".

Such a great movie. Kevin McCarthy is always so good in everything he does. Thanks for all the interesting info, makes it so much more fascinating!

Great presentation! One of my favorite scary movies. Finally got a copy on Blu-Ray. The first time I saw it as a kid, It scared me to death. Nothing compares to the original movie from 1956.

I've been a fan of this film for years, and I had no idea! Well done, Rick, this was fascinating. Thank you. Btw, watching this on TV in the 70's it ended with him on the highway, with big military trucks full of pods driving out into the world; the film made it clear that there was no hope.

69 years old here I first saw this great movie back in the 60s as a young teen. I've owned my own copy for decades first on vhs and now on disc. Fun film. Highly recommended.

As for 1950s nudity, Candy Barr was making quite a hit about this time, but she took things a little further. Kevin McCarthy helped Elizabeth Taylor attend Montgomery Clift when he crashed his car near her house. They went into the wreck and Elizabeth is credited with saving Clift from choking to death on damaged teeth, in variations of the story.

It's funny that Siegel said it had nothing to do with politics. One of my grad school film professors was a filmmaker and a friend of Siegel's; the teacher stated that Siegel had been very traumatized after he was threatened with Hollywood blacklisting - and that he gave this film a deliberate anti-communist subtext in response.

The small town being Santa Mira. Halloween III also focused a lot on Santa Mira, a town where Silver Shamrock is situated. It's a fictional town and the creators of Halloween III used the town's name as an homage to this film.

I saw this when it first came out. The film really got to me! later that summer I saw a truck full of watermelons and got some serious chills! This is a great film. I never get tired of watching it.

One of my favorites that terrified me as a kid, and I still remember having a nightmare that my family was turned, and they drove away in the car with no emotions on their faces. Those movies from the '50s may seem tame by today's standards, but back then they could scare the poop out of you.

I like this movie way better than the newer one. Thanks sir for the information. I will look for this next time I watch it.

Thanks! I haven’t seen this in decades but your review has made me go searching for it.

Today, the message is as vital as it was during the red scare. A real masterwork that's better than the remake, IMO. The traffic scene, the doctor screaming, 'They're here,' is blood curdling.

One of my favorites as well ! Great Job! Can’t wait to see this again! The Concept of the movie is so Good!

Thanks for a great video. All of this information is very interesting and fascinating. Your videos are always a treat. Keep up the great work.

When I was a kid, I saw Invasion Of The Body Snatchers on television in the 70’s. What set it apart from other science fiction films was the music of Carmen Dragon. This score was big and bombastic and also smooth in some areas. It was like there was no rest at all. It was all a dangerous flight from a threat that was hidden in plain sight. Future action director Sam Peckinpah played the gas man in the basement of Becky’s house. There were, I think, three remakes of Invasion Of The Body Snatchers. The ‘78 adaptation(pretty scary on its own) and The Invasion with Nicole Kidman as Doctor Bunnell, and a low budget cable version in which most of the film was people trying to get out of the infected town but it is exactly an easy trick because of the Pod people’s reach and influence. It was like The Blair Witch Project but more frantic.

Great little mini-doc and this was one of my favorites as a kid in the 50's and 60's and your video was super interesting and it's sad to know that probably all these great old actors are not with us anymore. Glad to be a new sub and will look forward to all your other shows.

I was three when this film came out. A couple of years later my dad visited and took me and my brother to the Bronson Caves. We lived in Inglewood (where LAX is located) so visiting Hollywood, about 13 miles away, was thrilling. The Bronson Caves have been featured in dozens, if not hundreds, of films and t.v. shows. This are of Griffith Park is the quarry where boulders and gravel were dynamited and dug to build the L.A. Zoo, located in the northern part of Griffith Park. The two caves were created in the process. I recorded rainfall one night from inside the cave as background for an instrumental ambient piece I was recording. Watch out for Park Rangers! My dad took us to the zoo the next year. The conditions were horrible for many of the animals (you can visit the "Bear Caves" in one part of the old zoo, where there are now picnic tables) and even as a child I knew that I was witnessing something wrong. The animals' conditions have vastly improved over the decades.

The 1956 version came out while the Hays Code was still mostly in control, but starting to weaken. So it is no surprise that some execs might panic at even the type of nudity in this film.

This movie has actually been remade THREE times. In 1978, with the same title. In 1993, with the title Body Snatchers. And in 2007, with the title The Invasion.

This was great! I thought I knew this movie pretty well but I learned some things and I appreciate that. The tacked-on introduction and ending with Dr. Bennell telling his story, to me, makes it more frightening. With just his perspective we could dismiss it as a dream but instead we get objective confirmation and there's no guarantee that the invasion can be stopped.

So glad not only that you included this movie to be a subject of one of your videos, but I have a reason to tell this particular story. There used to be a yearly film festival here in Los Angeles called Filmex. One of the yearly traditions of Filmed was to have a movie marathon that would start on, say, Friday night at 10:00 p.m. and run all the way through Sunday midnight, playing movies of a particular genre. In 1981, I believe, it was horror films. And "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" was one of the movies shown. And to see it on a big movie screen after seeing it only on TV, you wouldn't believe how different the experience was. For one thing, the movie really was way scarier than it ever could be on TV, but here was the surprise - the particular print shown contained the original ending. And I mean the original ending of Kevin McCarthy running through the streets saying "You're next!!!!!" And it was only 100% better than the ending I had been seeing on TV. Yeah, I know 1950s audiences were, uh, different and probably would not have tolerated such an ending, but I think the pessimistic ending was way better. But to this day I never saw that ending turn up anywhere else. It MAY have been shown on TCM or something, but I never saw it again. So I feel very lucky to have been one of the few to have seen the original ending. Oh, and about 15 or so years ago, I met Kevin McCarthy at an autograph show, and you can bet he was impressed that I saw the original ending - it was a great conversation starter. At the time he was very close to 90 years old, and he was just the neatest person to talk to. I'll never forget it.

This is defiantly a classic film and it’s cool to learn something new about it. Thank you for the video Rick, keep up the great work. Take care!

I live in Sierra Madre CA, the town used in the filming, so each Halloween pods start to appear in the town square.

Hey Rick, thanks for sharing the interesting facts about this great movie!!! I think Invasion Of The Body Snatchers is a quintessential 50s horror film. Dana Wynter is one of my favorite actresses, she is so classy & elegant!!! I'm really enjoying your Halloween series!!! 👍👍🎃

Virginia Christine is famous for the Folgers Coffee commercials in the 70s (mark 2:32, 3:06). This movie also had Dabbs Greer in it who would later play the Pastor, on "Little House On The Prairie," and Richard Deacon (mark 7:00), who was on "Leave It to Beaver" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show."

Great video. This is one of the rare movies from that era that I really loved. I feel like it was ahead of it's time in subject matter, and I would consider it as an equal to the 70's version which is great also.

This is one of the rare movies where the remake is as good as the original. I like them both but still prefer this original. Thanks, Rick.

Thanks so much for this Rick! This is one of my absolute favorites. Two others that are also must sees to me are Them! and Tarantula. I look forward to your next video!!!

Great video, and great that you're capable of putting out such good work at this particularly time. Stay hopeful, yourself! :)

One of my favorite movies! Great job Rick. How amazing!

So many times over the past couple years, I've wondered when Rep. Kevin McCarthy was going to finally reach the point where he snapped and cried out, "RUN!! They're HERE! YOU'RE NEXT! YOU'RE NEXT!!!"

Interesting and totally unexpected. Love this movie, glad to hear more strongly than ever that those involved in it denied any McCarthy parallelism. It always surprises me because of the endless hysteria we have to put up with on the subject. McCarthy was right, by the way. Give us more on This brilliant 1956 film anytime please.

One of my favorite movies. Thanks for the fun facts!

I love this movie, it is much better then the remake. I saw making of this movie once and it was interesting. I seen the original ending and I am glad they changed it so the movie ends with hope. Thanks for the information.

This movie was creepy to me when I was younger. The character was trying to warn people of a unbelievable event that was true!! No one believed him. Sometimes the weird stories are true. I'm glad for the extended ending. I didn't see it the first time. A much better end!

This movie positively scared the 'bleep' out of my when i watched it by myself as a kid. But yet I couldn't wait to watch it again. I was also terrified by the original 'Invaders From Mars', but i wouldn't watch that one again until I was a teen. Both movies had a similiar theme about aliens transforming us into something else. Thanks Rick for another great video!

That's when horror movies were horror movies not all blood and guts 😳, and yes both movies are good 😊👍.

Rick, great episode. So cool about the Batcave. Been years since I saw this film. Time to revisit it. Don't forget, be hopeful. Paul +

I’ve got to see this movie. You’ve peaked my interest! Such a fact-packed video. Very well done, as always, Rick👍🏼❤️

Excellent video on one of my favorite films! Two notes: 1. Jack Finney wrote the novel 'The Body Snatchers,' which survived its Hollywood-ification quite well, unlike most books that Hollywood has butchered over the decades. 2. Don Siegel, the director of 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' (1956), in addition to many other fine films, directed Clint Eastwood's 'Dirty Harry' (1971).

Great job and very heartfelt message at the end. Be well, brother.

The movie is great. You did an excellent job with this Rick, fascinating stuff here. It's a shame we have to make everything a political issue instead of just enjoying somebody's art, but what it is, that's what it is.

Dana Wynter was absolutely BEAUTIFUL.

Growing up in the seventies I watched the original version as a kid and the hysteria the original imbues, especially in the final cave scene was memorable. And then in 1978 they come out with an all new version that was completely unexpected for the times.

I tracked down and read the short story on which this film is based on and was quite surprised at the author's ending. What I recall from the written story is that the pods were space spores like weeds and were not part of an intentional hostile invasive planetary takeover. The story ended with authorities tracking and eliminating the pods. The replica humans did not lure people to the pods. They were a biological form of "The Stepford Wives", another human replacement story involving artificial intelligence. They were allowed to function in society as persons with no emotions.

I just watched this for the 1st time a couple months ago , really really enjoyed it

A video on all the movies and TV shows that used the Bronson Cave as a location would be fun to see.

Perhaps Carolyn Jones' fear of the process was due to the fact that in 1953 she was in House of Wax, in which her character was murdered and covered in wax to be put on display as a statue of Joan of Arc.

There's an interesting bit of California history within these screen shots, Rick! The gas station scene that has the "Richfield" sign. I remember those big wide signs as my family rode around town. In the late 60s they were merged with Atlantic Refineries and became the new brand "Arco" and have been that ever since!

Great job, Rick!! You rock! That cameo you mention, in the remake -- fantastic!

I have that same lawnmower @2:50. It's from 1925 and belonged to my grandfather. It was made by the American Ballbearing Company.

One of the best endings ever. Glad they decided to do that. It gives me goose bumps and brings me to tears, when the doctors walk away mumbling to themselves that he must be crazy, and then someone comes in with a patient on a gurney saying it was the strangest thing, we had to dig him out from under all these giant pea pods. And then the doctors look at each other with alarm, realizing he is not crazy and they better take action. And then they show him breathing a sigh of relief. That, to me, is a metaphor for anyone who has struggled to be understood, about anything in life, and finally finding someone who gets what it is they are trying to say.

This is still one of the best movies, it has held up over time. Thought the original was better than the remake.

Everyone thinks Dana Wynter's name is pronounced "DAY-na" but actually it's pronounced the same as "DONNA"

Saw this one in 1956 at age 8, scared the crap out of me, also, depressed after it ended -

One of the best sci-fi movies ever!

Wow nicely done Rick!

I like how they used to wear suites for all occasions 😎

The first time I saw this movie I was 5 years old and I never forgot how scared I was. The remake was good, but this will always be my favorite.

One of the best of this genre of all time and I've always found Dana Wynter to be one of the most Beautiful actresses I've ever seen in a film to this day.

Thanks wonderfull comments! You are excellent at your you tube presentations! Thank you again! Jon

A good video, thanks for showing it, I enjoy watching the original more, that is all the originals, I don't care much for the remakes or reboots. Again, thanks for the video and the information. You have a new subscriber.

Excellent film! The remake was good, but the original film was the best!

I've seen both versions of this movie and both have their points to recommend them. Among other reasons I prefer the newer version because if I remember correctly they do a better job of explaining what the " seeds " of this new life form were and how relentless fighting it would be. Besides, I am a huge fan of the Cartwright sisters.

I always find it funny the things directors get away with. I love these old movies.

Welcome back Rick!

I remember first seeing this film back in the 1970s and I raved about it to my school mates..they all said "yeah but the remake is best"..nowadays old films are revered by people like yourself and I feel vindicated..I was right it is brilliant!! Nice informative piece on the film btw and I've just subscribed!

One of my favorite movies when I was a kid.

Hi Rick, great great video on a fantastic film! I was going to ask you a question, but you blew me away with information about the Batcave and the Pod cave and I almost forgot. Do you remember when you were making a video out and about and you went to that very scenic and ancient looking long long row of exterior steps? I think that was connected with either The Three Stooges or Laurel and Hardy. But you walked up all the way to the top and you found a gentleman descending who was filming. The steps on one or two of your stillsfrom this video where the male and female actors are going up steps looks exactly like the exterior stairs that you climbed. I know a lot of the same sites are used for extensive filming. Was there any connection between the stairs that you climbed and yhe steps in mthis original sci-fi flick? Amazing resemblance if not. Continuing to lift prayers for the loss of your fur friend and don't worry about grieving for your little buddy. Great grief is the price of great love. Always, stay hopeful. Thinking of you.

This movie scared the crap out of me back in the 50s when I was a kid.

awesome video!!!

Thanks Rick. Now I'm going to watch the 1956 again. I was 3 when it was made and remember watching as a young teen. Don't remember if I saw the remake,but Leonard Nemoy is of course one of my favorite actors. Its gonna be a late nite.

I didn’t know they made full body casts. I grew up with these movies. Born in 1961. I think it was good for it’s time, I thought it was an early 1960’s movie. Ah you fell asleep and were replaced. I thought the movie was going to end with the doctors and police thinking he was crazy and I could see why they changed the ending. Those pitchforks were pretty good at the time.

If you want some other weird examples of nudity in cinema from that timeframe: the relatively obscure "Adam and Eve" from 1956 usually had the titular characters nude, but there were usually branches and/or animals in just the right places to cover genitals, and Eve's hair almost always hid her breasts. For scenes where this was not possible, there were truly horrible "naked suit" body stockings. A few years later, Dino DiLaurentus did "The Bible" which had Michael Parks and Ulla Bergryd in much better naked suits.

It's been a while. Now I have to go and watch this one again.

Great video 👍

After watching this many times over the last few decades, I recently realized that the climax makes no sense in the context of how the replacement of the humans is supposed to take place. When Becky turns into a pod person after falling asleep, no pod has been placed near her…the pod placers don’t even know where she is after the pair elude them…so how is it that she is replaced? I have read that that aspect of the ending was added later for dramatic effect without bothering to explain the absence of the normal procedure for replacing a human with a pod person.

I really like the facts. Please make a part 2 🤗

Thanks again Rick

I love this movie. I can hear the Civil Defense (Defence?) hooter in my mind even now. I read a copy of the novel a while back. The edition had been updated for the 70s but the updates were glaring against the still quite evident 50s feel of the worldbuilding. There weren't many though and I was able to see scenes from the movie in my head as I read the text, it was that close in places. The bit where they make drinks while they wait for the pod on the pool table to take shape is my favourite. It's so dissonant: the horrific foreground and the impromptu cocktail party behind it.

This movie has been remade like 3 times but I always felt the original was much more chilling.

Cool Classic Horror Movie series! I am enjoying this ❣ Just in time for Halloween 🎃. I'm actually watching these after your video and keep an eye out for the fun facts you mention. Try "The Brain the Wouldn't Die" A childhood favorite 😬 😄 Excellent❣ 🎃

great film and I loved the hopeful ending.

Hope you are well Rick🙂 Edit Everything leads to Batman 🦇 😊

The scene where Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter run up a street and into the hills is near the intersection of Beachwood Drive and Westshire Drive, not too far from the Hollywood sign on the mountain above in the Hollywoodland community. Rode my bike up there when I was a kid (lots of huffing and puffing on the way up). Also, that town square (or triangle, actually) where the doctor's office looked down into the town is the center of the little (and still picturesque) community of Sierra Madre east of Pasadena, CA, where Sierra Madre Blvd intersects Baldwin Ave. Wife and I used to frequent a fish restaurant there, that is now an ice cream shop.

It was a terrifying movie and when I first saw it I thought the scene of the main character in the traffic was going to be the ending when he saw the truck full of pods. In the 70's remake the ending was not so optimistic so it seems my initial instincts regarding the 50's film were correct as you say this was tacked on to please sensibilities. What baffles me about this film is how the transference happened - in the movie it seems to be by matter transmission and this was never explained.

I really liked the reimagined version, The Invasion 2007, with Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig.

Don Siegel the director, was Clint Eastwood's mentor and friend. They had several collaborations together. Siegel is also in the movie as the guy married to Carolyn Jones's character, they had the body laying on the pool table. Director Sam Peckinpah also makes an appearance in the film. I think both films, the original and the 1978 remake, both are well made and entertaining.

In the 1978 remake, Kevin McCarthy did a cameo at the beginning of the film where he plays this crazed individual who yells "They're coming" at Donald Sutherland who is sitting behind the wheel of his car.

This and the movie the Thing are probably the only 2 movies where I like both versions. While the remakes story line is still the same, they updated the effects and that one's ending was so different but great.

When I was a kid I thought Kevin McCarthy was immortal. He didn't age much from year to year. It was weird

Dana Wynter's first name is pronounced like the female name "Donna".

It's like when Mel Brookes was making Blazing Saddles. A movie exec was telling him to remove such scenes, NO FARTING, etc. Mel Brookes simply agreed. "Ok, gone. You'll never see it." Then left it all in anyways. 😂😂

As a classic film fan, I truly enjoy this type of channel. I also get a kick out of reading the source material, to compare it with the movie. It's interesting how often Hollywood improves on the book, despite always being trashed for being too commercial. Both the novel & the movie are great, in this case, BTW. 🗑