It Conquered the World
It Conquered the World is a 1956 American science fiction film directed by Roger Corman. It stars Peter Graves, Beverly Garland, Lee Van Cleef, and Sally Fraser. The story follows a Venusian alien that wants to take over Earth by using mind-control devices to enslave humanity. The alien makes radio contact with a bitter scientist, Dr. Tom Anderson, who believes the creature’s promise to bring peace by removing emotions. Anderson agrees to help and even plans to let the alien assimilate his wife Claire and his friend Dr. Paul Nelson.
The Venusian disables all electricity on Earth, throwing society into chaos and leaving Nelson to cope without modern power. Nelson learns that his wife Joan has already been assimilated by the alien. Claire, Anderson’s wife, goes to the alien’s cave to kill it, but the creature kills her first. Only a small group remains free from mind control, including Nelson, Anderson, and a handful of soldiers. Nelson convinces Anderson that trusting the Venusian was a terrible mistake. When Claire heads to the alien’s cave again, the others hurry after her, but she dies during the attempt. In the final confrontation, Anderson confronts the Venusian with a blowtorch and is killed; the alien dies soon after. Nelson is left to reflect that humanity must solve its problems on its own.
The film was inspired by the success of Day the World Ended and was written by Lou Rusoff, with Charles Griffith doing a late rewrite just before filming. Peter Graves was cast in March 1956, and filming began on April 3, 1956. The creature, designed by Paul Blaisdell, was conceived as a low, ground-hugging being adapted to heavy gravity. It was built with rubber skin over a wooden frame, latex antenna, and pine teeth, mounted on wheels and operated from inside the suit. The design went through changes, with Roger Corman pushing for a more visible, outside-the-cave appearance. The famous death scene involved a melted-eye effect created with chocolate syrup.
It Conquered the World was released on August 1, 1956, on a double bill with The She-Creature. It received mixed reviews: some praised its brisk pace and attempted adult themes, while others criticized its special effects and plotting. Over the years it gained a cult following among fans of campy sci-fi. The film aired on television in the 1960s and appeared on home video in the 1990s, though it has not had a widespread recent DVD or Blu-ray release in the U.S. or U.K. In 1966, Larry Buchanan remade the story in 16mm color as Zontar, the Thing from Venus. A 2001 copyright dispute arose after footage from the film was used in a documentary.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 08:26 (CET).