Louis Sheehan: Escape

http://www.escape-suspense.com/science_fiction/

[ My intention with my blog is to simply collect articles of interest to me for purposes of future reference. I do my best to indicate who has actually composed the articles. NONE of the articles have been written by me. – Louis Sheehan ]

Escape - The Invader

"The Invader" is a simple science fiction tale from 1953, but it still holds up as one of Escape's best episodes. There are some similarities to The Twilight Zone's 1961 episode "The Invaders" and to an X Minus One episode from 1956 called "Pictures Don't Lie" but neither has the wit of Escape's story.

"The Invader" begins with an atomic bomb test in the Nevada desert. The explosion is observed by a space ship on its way to Earth carrying the advance guard of a more evolved race.

These beings already know a few things about humans and the Earth...and it irks them that their superiors stuck them with a mission to such a tedious and primitive planet.

Then, we meet Mr. Albert Tanner and his wife Martha. Mr. Tanner teaches high school chemistry in La Mirada, California, but his own experiments are what really interest him.

When he accidentally makes contact with the incoming space ship on his radio set, Mr. Tanner is thrilled. His wife is not. She then makes hysterical phone calls to the police and the army about the space men her husband talks to on his radio...

"The Invader" was directed by Antony Ellis and written by Michael Gray. It starred Howard McNear as Albert Tanner, Fay Baker as Martha, and Edgar Barrier as the Commander. Also appearing were Paul Frees, Peter Leeds, Bill Bissell and LeRoy Leonard. This episode aired on March 29, 1953.

. Download Escape_53-03-29_-176-_The_Invader

Here also is X Minus One's similar story, "Pictures Don't Lie."

. Download xmn1.1956.10.24_Pictures_Don't_Lie.mp3

(Image from Morguefile.com)

Revised 7/15/12

Posted but not written by: Lou Sheehan