MovieChat Forums > This Island Earth (1955) Discussion > MST3K

MST3K

posted 21 years ago by MJM
11 replies | jump to latest

I only saw this movie via the MST3K movie, which had some funny remarks, but generally wasn't disrespectful of the movie. However it does seems to me that there where some scenes cut from this version.

[–] Rob_T_Firefly 21 years ago

There were, in fact the entire MST3k movie, host segments and all, runs less time than the original "This Island Earth."

Most of the cuts were forced upon the MST3k folks by Gramercy Pictures, after they decided that the full-length MST3k movie wouldn't hold people's interest. Just one of the many ways in which Gramercy mishandled MST3k.

-- Rob
http://rtf.phonelosers.org - http://pod-six.net

[–] acebaz 21 years ago

I saw it too. The tape it was on finished before the end of the film though so it went off after that weird bug fella dies and the guy and girl are going home.

Did the guy with the big head go with them? What happens next?

Thanks.

...Snootchie Bootchies.

[–] aza_rep 21 years ago

They cut out the scenes involving the Zahgon spaceships, making it look like Metaluna was being bombarded by meteors from nowhere. They also cut out scenes involving the weapons mounted on the Interociter.

[–] 21 years ago

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[–] Dejael 20 years ago

I agree. THIS ISLAND EARTH is a classic film, not moronic schlock junk.
Gramercy and MST3K should have chosen WORLD WITHOUT END (1956) or QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE (1958) if they wanted a really choice bad sci-fi B-movie to lampoon, since both of these fill their criteria, i.e. a badly-made sci-fi B-movie made in the 1950s in color. TIE does have its flaws, mostly in its second-rate script, but it's not bad enough to laugh at, except at some of those bad lines in the script. And it's NOT a B-movie either. It was one of the most expensive movies made at Universal in 1954, costing nearly a million dollars.

Dejael

[–] nunyerbiz 20 years ago

I don't think that This Island Earth is "moronic schlock junk". It was a respectable sci-fi flick for it's time.

That being said, I think it was a pretty good choice for MST3K. Pretty much all the MST3K guys need is a "second hand script" to make fun of.

So yes, it is bad enough to laugh at. I laughed at it quite a bit when I saw the MST3K movie during it's theatrical release and I've laughed at it a number of times since then while watching it on VHS.

I don't care if it cost a million dollars in 1955. Even if it was an above average sci-fi film for the era, that doesn't make it a 'classic' film. Sure, it was well shot and had great production qualities for it's time, but it was sunk by wooden acting and a horrible script.

[–] jimimiller27 20 years ago

I've looked all over for the movie, but all i can find is the TV series sets.

[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] thedavidconway 20 years ago

This is the EXACT reason why the folks at MST3K wanted to riff on "This Island Earth". They believed that, in fact, it was a legitimately good movie so they would have not only a challenge, but a movie that people would either recognize or not completely hate. If they wanted to do the worst movie of all time they would have done "The Beast of Yucca Flats" for their movie or waited about 10 years and do "Troy".

[–] ivyandstone 17 years ago

Acebaz -- I see that you wrote your question way back in 2004 so you probably know this by now, but what the heck. Exeter, who's been badly hurt by the Mutant, takes Cal and Ruth back to Earth, but in doing so uses up all his ship's power. After he's seen them safely into their plane and on their way, he crashes his ship into the ocean and dies. Good movie, horrible ending.

[–] gbye23-1 17 years ago

Ive been waiting since 2004 for an answer also. Thanks!!

Sorry. I cant help myself.

So 8 5 1/4" floppys hold the key to time travel? - Tom Servo