Morte Viene dallo Spazio, La (1958, ITA/FRA) B&W-78m. ** D: Paolo Heusch. Starring Paul Hubschmid, Fiorella Mari, Madeleine Fischer, Ivo Garrani, Dario Michaelis, Gérard Landry, Giacomo Rossi-Stuart. During the first space mission something goes wrong and sends the rocket off into space, with astronaut Hubschmid returning to the Earth in an emergency capsule. Days later, strange occurrences light up the sky. It turns out the renegade rocket has sent a meteorite shower on collision course with our planet. Is this the end of the world? Interesting, not-bad sci-fi disaster movie, brought down by talkiness (accounted for by low budget). Pace and direction agreeable, DP Mario Bava responsible for some stylish bits. Score by Carlo Rustichelli. English titles: THE DAY THE SKY EXPLODED, DEATH COMES FROM SPACE, and DEATH FROM OUTER SPACE.


© Ron Altman