Gail Kinn and Jim Piazza’s ratings for the “101 Greatest Films” included “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” at No. 60.
This film, released in 1956, scared everyone straight because it underscored mind control, a substantial fear created by America’s Cold War with Russia.
Said Piazza: “That haunting image of a frenzied Kevin McCarthy standing in the middle of freeway traffic screaming ‘You’re next!’ — I don’t think I would’ve given him a lift either.”
Kinn’s review included these thoughts: “No special effects were needed to make this paranoid vision of the world in which people are stripped of real feelings and, like lemmings, follow every convention. Truly and totally terrifying.”
By the numbers:
(A) — The movie created from Jack Finney’s novel had a short running time: (…..) minutes.
(B) — How many (…..) films did this movie’s director, Don Siegel, work with John Wayne?
(C) — Siegel directed Clint Eastward in five films. Can you name them?
(D) — The budget for this classic black and white film was a mere $300,000. True, or False?
(E) — In order to have his mind relinquished, McCarthy’s character is induced to close his feelings to four driving elements common in every day life. What are they?
((ANSWERS)):
(A) — 80
(B) — 1 (“The Shootist”)
(C) — “Coogan’s Bluff” (1968); “Two Mules for Sister Sara” (1970); “The Beguiled” (1971); “Dirty Harry” (1972); “Escape from Alcatraz” (1979)
(D) — True
(E) — Love. Desire. Ambition. Faith
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Credit:
Photo courtesy of http://www.pixabay.com
Favorite 20th Century Films 