ISMN: “Supersonic Saucer” (1956) - Thursday Dec. 15th @ 7:30 PM
(Not Available on Netflix #18)
DVDR/Black and White/50 Mins
The original E.T.? Many reviews claim that this is where Spielberg got his inspiration. Although there are similarities between Supersonic and E.T., both films are no doubt loosely based on the story of Ebe the captured alien from 1949.
This week’s feature comes to us from the British Children’s Film Foundation that later also brought us the odd “Boy With Two Heads” mini-series.
A definite curiosity for sure! Extremely charming and entertaining, I love this film and look forward to sharing it this week :) The effects are campy, but surprisingly effective and impressive for what this is.
Some reviews from IMDB:
Shades of E.T., 24 February 2001
Author: jim riecken (youroldpaljim)
This obscure English made childrens science fiction movie is so similar to E.T., that its amazing Steven Spielberg din’t get sued! A group of school children at a boarding school spot a flying saucer and then soon meet a diminutive being from Venus. The alien whom the kids name “Meba”, communicates with the children by telepathy. Bad guys who were planning to steal valuables from the school safe, try to kidnap “Meba” to make use of his remarkable abilities. But the children fight the bad guys and keep their friend “Meba” out the hands of the crooks and the bad guys are rounded up with “Meba”s help at the end.
“Meba” the alien is played by a puppet that resembles a featherless owl in a white nuns outfit. It sometimes makes strange purring noises. One odd element is that the visitor does not arrive in a flying saucer, the inhabitants of Venus travel by turning into flying saucers. There is one scene where one of the children takes “Meba” for a ride on her bike just as in E.T.
E.T. plagiarism… 26 years before E.T…., 25 February 2010
Author: rolland-douzet from France
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
A cute little Venusian alien (who can transforms himself in saucer) get lost on Earth. Luckily, two little girls adopt him and name him Meba. The two little girls have to stay at school during holidays with the son of the director and his mom and dad. Meba wants to recover a bit before flying back to Venus, during that time the children will care on him. But some burglars want to commit hold-up in the school and finally they kidnap Meba… The children will save him and he will fly back to Venus… This small movie has been made for children in the 50’s. It is without any pretension but is worth of watching… But it’s interest is that you cannot imagine that Steven Spielberg didn’t watch it when he was a kid! It looks too much like E.T. Examples: The size and the look of Meba, with his big tender rolling eyes… Meba although communicates with telepathy with the children… the scene with the dog, the scene when the children put a sweet-shirt to Meba when he’s cold, the scene with the bicycle, when Meba uses the phone and try to call the police… and so on. It’s completely incredible. There are too many coincidences… But nowhere Spielberg mentions this movie… Strange…
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Bonus Short Films:
“The Boy With Two Heads: Episode 7 - Farewell to Chico” (1974)
The series I thought was over, has ONE more episode! See the actual conclusion of the mini-series that haunted so much of my childhood and inspired several of my comics.
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2nd Bonus Short Film:
Tales from the Dark Side: Monsters in my Room (1984)
DVD/30 Mins/NR
One of the most memorable of the Darkside Christmas episodes about a little boy named Timmy (played by a very young Seth Green) who tries to convince his parents that there are monsters in his bedroom. Step-dad thinks Timmy is a wuss and tries to toughen him up with sports and beer. His parents find out too late that Timmy was telling the truth.
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Time: Thursday Dec 15th @ 7:30 PM
Place: 363 w 300 s, Springville, UT
Off the main road in Springville, turn right before “Allen’s Super Market”. Drive straight for several blocks. It’s the last house on the left of the street that looks like an old mansion by the train tracks. Plenty of parking at this loc;ation, and more space than my living room.
See ya there! Pop corn and pizza optional but encouraged
- BC Sterrett
