The Man from Planet X (1951)

Although filmed in six days on a ridiculously low budget (reportedly about $50,000), The Man from Planet X manages to be a nifty little sc-fi picture (and arguably the first of the alien invader sub-genre). Credit director Edgar G. Ulmer, who knew how to make the most with the least, for the majority of Planet X's success. Necessity being the mother of invention, Ulmer chose to shroud his painted back drops in the thickest of fogs, creating in the process a film that screams "atmosphere" from the get-go. Ulmer is also an old hand at creating suspense and tension and resolving the same, and the first appearance of the title character packs a pretty solid wallop, even today and in spite of the phoniness of the alien. Note, too, that despite the shock that the appearance carries, Ulmer takes the unusual option of having the character appear not as omnipotent but as a creature in need of aid. Indeed, Ulmer and the screenwriters deserve credit for the ambiguity they allow to permeate the script. While the alien eventually has plans for world domination on his mind, it's not clear whether he came to Earth with that in mind or whether he might have actually been willing to consider a more collaborative arrangement. While the screenplay on the whole is fairly typical of the genre, it is well packaged and plays its hand very effectively. Throw in a good "B" cast, and the result is a worthy little flick that's great to watch on a stormy night. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide