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I saw this movie twice on late night TV between 1965 and 1980. As a jingoistic "message" film, its anachronistic views are almost solely of an 'historic' interest. But they are quite accurate. As a grade-school student in the 1950's, I can attest to the very real concerns of the time : air raid drills, military brinkmanship, and uncertainty about the very future of civilization. This movie was the "Dr. Strangelove" of it's time and shows what 'might' have happened if Russians heated up the Cold War! Of course, the 'invaders' are never actually called Russkies - that's just obvious. And their overwhelming superiority lets them succeed, hence the message of the movie. We all know the Reds never got that kind of edge. The story and characters are often compelling even if not brilliantly acted. The romantic interlude, however, is too 'Hollywood' -- it was years until war movies treated the subject with more realism. Likewise the special effects and military footage are mostly the standard stock of the era. The movie does have one casting coup : both Lois Lanes from TV's Superman! I enjoy the movie as a whole, probably because it shows what we avoided in the Fifties. It's a relief that this particular fear is no longer a threat. But perhaps we need a better update than the Chuck Norris film : a film that shows us how we can act as citizens TODAY to ward off the very real current threats to our country's future. If Gerald Mohr did it, so can we! Addendum : I made sure that the version I bought had some bonus short features from the Red Scare era, one by Jack Webb. They are funny in a way...now!Read full review
First off, I am not using the word propaganda in a negative way. Most of the films of that era were propaganda films. The message is decidedly pro-America and is meant as a wake up call for those watching it. It tells us that Americans should not just think about their bottom line, but should look at the bigger picture of doing their share to keep America safe. I won't get into any specifics about the characters or the plot but the invasion part is handled in a very clever way. It is an interesting snapshot for what America looked like in the early 1950's. Peggie Castle is lovely as the female lead and there are several nice shots of vintage military hardware of the era. It is one of a hand full of movies to show the B-36 intercontinental bomber in action, one other being Paramount's Strategic Air Command starring Jimmy Stewart, another propaganda film which was released a couple of years later. All in all I give the film Five Stars for giving us a snapshot of life in the US before most of us were even born.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is an early Cold War classic -- low-budget but a great reflection of the times. It's not "great cinema" but more of a historical artifact. Some consider it a propaganda film, but not in the usual sense -- it appears to be an expression of the fear and suspicions of the times rather than a calculated tool to produce a particular result. There are some short interviews with the cast included in the film that are fascinating and enjoyable, all taking place decades after the film's release. I had the feeling that there must have been more than one "cut" of this movie, as I remember some parts of it differently -- I seem to recall seeing the Supreme Court justices "mowed down" by the enemy troops near the end of the movie, however I was just a child when I saw it and my memory isn't trustworthy. Either way, I was very pleased to get ahold of this film, and recommend it to anyone with an interest in the cold war period.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is an amazing trip back to a different reality. This 1954 movie: Invasion U.S.A. (IUSA) was a cleverly done allegory about an alternate reality that could very easily have happened. It was meant to stir up patriotism to fight the "Cold War" this country was living through. This reissue on DVD is a really complete package; Filled with extra features, cast interviews, movie lists, and an informative leaflet enclosure. IUSA was lost for many years, and having it available again on DVD is a lot of fun (Now!) to look back on. It could even be remade today, based on current realities, even better with a bigger budget! I love it, so give it a try yourselves... You might, too!!!
I bought this item because it is a notorious schlock movie from the 1950's, often offered as a double feature with The Blob at drive in movies. It's a lot of fun but a poor, low budget film. Nevertheless, I'm glad I bought it as a piece of nostalgia.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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