Plan 9 From Outer Space
by Edward D. Wood Jr.
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Carl Anthony, Duke Moore, Gregory Walcott, Mona McKinnon, Tom KeeneDirector: Edward D. Wood Jr.
Brand: Koch International
Cinematographer: William C. Thompson
Editor: Edward D. Wood Jr.
Producer: Edward D. Wood Jr.
Writer: Edward D. Wood Jr.
Producer: Charles Burg
Producer: Hugh Thomas Jr.
Producer: J. Edward Reynolds
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Black & White, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 79 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2000-05-16
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: PASSPORT VIDEO
Movie Reviews of Plan 9 From Outer Space
Movie Review: Wonderful in its own right
Summary: 5 Stars
You've heard about it from friends. You've heard about it in the print media. You've heard about it on television. You've wondered whether the hype is true or not. Now, the time has come for you to discover the truth about (insert drum roll here) Ed Wood's "Plan 9 From Outer Space." You know you need to watch this film if for no other reason than to finally learn whether Wood's magnum opus is indeed the worst film ever made. Now, gather in closely and I'll whisper to you a little secret about this science fiction extravaganza: "Plan 9 From Outer Space" most definitely is NOT the worst film ever put on celluloid, and I can with utmost confidence assist you in discovering dozens of other films far inferior to this one if you so wish. For instance, "Invasion of the Blood Farmers" is a movie much worse than "Plan 9." "Superman IV" is a worse film than "Plan 9." But "Gigli," despite what you might think, is better than "Plan 9" even though many of us wish it were worse. I could name many, many more films that make Wood's movie look like "Citizen Kane" by comparison. I think this film gets its reputation because critics need one shining example upon which to pin their fears and hatreds, one example which provides a common touchstone that transcends cultures and languages.
The plot is simplicity itself. Humanity's quest to build bigger and better bombs has put an alien race in a tizzy. Advanced far beyond our levels of technology, these extraterrestrials decided some time ago to stop us from developing any more weapons. They tried, in fact, to create eight plans aimed at preventing us from destroying the planet and the entire solar system. All of them failed, so the next plan--the titular Plan 9--is a real doozy. Relying on the electron beams and pineal glands (cackles), the aliens resurrect three dead people to scare us into submission. One of these reanimated corpses is a recently deceased woman who looks like a vampire (played by "Vampira"). Her distraught husband soon follows her into the grave and back again. He's referred to in the credits as Ghoul Man, but he's really the legendary Bela Lugosi in a few scenes. The weird events at the cemetery bring in the police, specifically Inspector Dan Clay (Tor Johnson), who also perishes only to return from the dead as last member of the alien's shock troops. Of course, you can't have zombies shambling around a cemetery for long without the local population asking a lot of pesky questions.
Enter into the picture a married couple living next to the graveyard, Jeff and Paula Trent (Gregory Walcott and Mona McKinnon respectively). Jeff's a pilot for a civilian firm who witnessed a UFO at the beginning of the film, but he has little idea how this sighting will eventually change his life. Then there are the military types who know all about the visiting UFOs and are taking several laughable steps to deal with the menace. How much danger does the world face from these beings? Not much, apparently. Wood treats us to numerous shots of the saucers zipping about the planet, saucers that look exactly like paper plates hanging from strings swinging back and forth against a phony stock footage backdrop. When we finally meet the aliens responsible for this impending catastrophe, we can't help but wonder how exactly we should define the word "advanced." Eros (Dudley Manlove) and his curvy female assistant Tanna (Joanna Lee) land their craft in the graveyard in order to better control the execution of Plan 9. Eventually, after much hilarious exposition, military officers and Jeff Trent penetrate the spacecraft to learn from the arrogant Eros that earth is about to invent a bomb that will explode sunlight! A struggle ensues resulting in the destruction of Plan 9, and all is well with the world.
All will not be well with viewers forced to sit through this monstrosity. "Plan 9" is a great movie because its so bad in every element of its execution. The acting, pace, special effects, cinematography, dialogue, and lighting are so mediocre as to boggle the imagination. Take, for instance, Bela Lugosi. He died shortly after filming the first few scenes we see him in, so Wood brought in another guy to play his part. Every time we see Ghoul Man, he's holding his cape over his face so we won't know that the character isn't Lugosi. Oh my. Then there's the sudden changes from night to day and back again all in the space of one scene, the paper plate flying saucers, the heavy use of stock footage, and tombstones obviously made from cardboard. My favorite "Oh brother!" moment? Noticing that the advanced alien spacecraft contains high technology powered by vacuum tubes. Wow! These guys are light years ahead of us without having to rely on transistors! The lame dialogue--too many examples exist to cite here--achieves such heights of banality that you will need to replay the scenes in order to make sure you heard it right the first time.
I liked this DVD version. The extras included interviews with many of the principals involved in the recent "Ed Wood" film along with surviving cast members from "Plan 9" as well as recollections from a film historian about Wood's oeuvre. Trailers from nearly every extant Wood film, as well as an interview with Bela Lugosi conducted at the time of his release from an alcohol treatment facility, found space on this disc. There isn't much to say about "Plan 9" that hasn't already been said countless other times in the thousands of reviews and articles dissecting this triumph of schlock cinema. Go see this film as soon as possible; it's an experience you won't forget.
Summary of Plan 9 From Outer Space
Plan 9 From Outer Space Cult Director Ed Wood?s "cinematic masterpiece" _ and also regarded as one of the worst movies ever made! Plan Nine is so bad it?s good. Alien invaders use their dreaded "Plan Nine" to re-animate dead earthlings. They wreak havoc and unleash a host of things bizarre, macabre, horrific, and just plain horrible. Using footage from a Bela Lugosi movie he was unable to finish (due to Lugosi?s untimely death), Wood proved again he would and could make a film under any circumstances. Hubcaps on wires doubling for flying saucers, stumbling living dead, concrete visible beneath fake grass, and mattresses visible for actors to fall on are just a few of the unbelievable gaffes and goofs you?ll see. The result is a comical and campy spoof of science fiction movies themselves. The cast includes TV horror queen Vampira, a host of zombies, military buffoons, and Lugosi in his last performance. Plan Nine has taken on a legendary status of its own and is a MUST for any serious cult film fan. Original Theatrical Trailer: 2 min. Film: Approx. 80 min.Bonus Material: The Ed Wood Story Hear the story of "Hollywood?s best incompetent director" from the people who knew him best and who starred in the film about him. Johnny Depp, who played Ed, and Martin Landau, who won an Oscar for playing Bela Lugosi, talk about Mr. Wood and his legendary style _ or lack thereof, as well as Lugosi. Dolores Fuller, Wood?s wife and star of several of his classics, talks about the man and his methods. Maila Nurmi, Vampira herself, talks about the creation of her persona. Johnny Legend recalls Tor Johnson. And Bela Lugosi, Jr. clues you into some of the mysteries about his father. ORIGINAL TRAILERS from Wood classics include Glen or Glenda, Bride of the Monster, Sinister Urge, The Bride and the Beast, and Plan Nine from Outer Space. Approx. 40 min.
Sometimes a movie achieves such legendary status that it can't quite live up to its reputation. Plan 9 from Outer Space is not one of these movies. It is just as magnificently terrible as you've heard. Plan 9 is the story of space aliens who try to conquer the Earth through resurrection of the dead. Psychic Criswell narrates ("Future events such as these will affect you in the future!") as police rush through the cemetery, occasionally clipping the cardboard tombstones in their zeal to find the source of the mysterious goings-on. More than just a bad film, Plan 9 is something of a one- stop clearinghouse for poor cinematic techniques: The time shifts whimsically from midnight to afternoon sun, Tor Johnson flails desperately in an attempt to rise from his coffin, and flying saucers zoom past on clearly visible strings. Fading star Bela Lugosi tragically died during filming, but such a small hurdle could not stop writer-producer-director Ed Wood. Lugosi is ingeniously replaced with a man who holds a cape across his face and might as well have "NOT BELA LUGOSI" stamped on his forehead. Plan 9 is so sweetly well- intentioned in both its message and its execution that it's impossible not to love it. And if you don't, well, as Eros says, "You people of Earth are idiots!" --Ali Davis
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