Robots from outer space are now invading an unnamed American city, and most of the citizens have been evacuated. Some people were overlooked, such as an out of towner named Frank Brooks (handsome Richard Denning, who was a regular in B flicks like this one) and an unhappy young woman named Nora King (Kathleen Crowley). Frank & Nora meet up with a couple named Jim & Vicki (Richard Reeves & Virginia Grey), and together they try to figure out their plan of action. Meanwhile, the film eventually starts cutting back and forth between our main characters and a group of military men and scientists who attempt to find a weakness in the robots.
"Target Earth" has an interesting pedigree. Directed by Sherman A. Rose, it was based on a story by Paul W. Fairman called "Deadly City". A.I.P. head honcho James H. Nicholson and Wyott Ordung of "Robot Monster" infamy get credit for "original screenplay", while a man named William Raynor gets final screenplay credit. It shows its low budget at every turn, although the filmmakers do well at establishing the initial mystery, when none of us know what the situation is. The picture was shot on Sunday mornings in L.A. when the streets were more likely to be deserted. Actually, considering the budgetary limitations, this is fairly compelling in its depiction of various characters under crisis situations. It only gets cheesy when we see a robot invader clunking around. (Only one costume was made, so you only ever see one robot invader at a time.). Then it becomes quite funny.
The acting is capable from our four main cast members. Robert Roark, however, is merely adequate as a mad-dog killer who is needlessly inserted into the story to add some drama. Roark only got the role because his father was a doctor / investor who insisted that his son be cast as a major character, yet he was able to parlay this opportunity into a fairly decent career. Denning is a welcome presence as always, Crowley has some appeal, and Reeves & Grey are amusing as a couple who playfully snipe at each other all the time, no matter their circumstances. The supporting cast consists of other familiar faces like Arthur Space as a general and Whit Bissell (nice to see this guy in anything) as a scientist.
It would have been nice if the filmmakers could have opened up the scope of their action a bit. As it is, though, this is a decent, fairly intimate story, albeit one with a rather low-key finish. Fortunately, everybody involved plays it straight, with none of the winking at the audience that we began to see more and more of as the decades wore on.
Six out of 10.
"Target Earth" has an interesting pedigree. Directed by Sherman A. Rose, it was based on a story by Paul W. Fairman called "Deadly City". A.I.P. head honcho James H. Nicholson and Wyott Ordung of "Robot Monster" infamy get credit for "original screenplay", while a man named William Raynor gets final screenplay credit. It shows its low budget at every turn, although the filmmakers do well at establishing the initial mystery, when none of us know what the situation is. The picture was shot on Sunday mornings in L.A. when the streets were more likely to be deserted. Actually, considering the budgetary limitations, this is fairly compelling in its depiction of various characters under crisis situations. It only gets cheesy when we see a robot invader clunking around. (Only one costume was made, so you only ever see one robot invader at a time.). Then it becomes quite funny.
The acting is capable from our four main cast members. Robert Roark, however, is merely adequate as a mad-dog killer who is needlessly inserted into the story to add some drama. Roark only got the role because his father was a doctor / investor who insisted that his son be cast as a major character, yet he was able to parlay this opportunity into a fairly decent career. Denning is a welcome presence as always, Crowley has some appeal, and Reeves & Grey are amusing as a couple who playfully snipe at each other all the time, no matter their circumstances. The supporting cast consists of other familiar faces like Arthur Space as a general and Whit Bissell (nice to see this guy in anything) as a scientist.
It would have been nice if the filmmakers could have opened up the scope of their action a bit. As it is, though, this is a decent, fairly intimate story, albeit one with a rather low-key finish. Fortunately, everybody involved plays it straight, with none of the winking at the audience that we began to see more and more of as the decades wore on.
Six out of 10.