Invaders From Mars (1953)

• Hunt, Jimmy (Born December 4, 1939) – David MacLean, a young boy who witnesses an alien invasion and tries to warn adults of the Martians’ influence over them – Song of Love, The Mating of Millie, Pitfall, Sorry, Wrong Number, Holiday Affair, Special Agent, Cheaper by the Dozen, Shadow on the Wall, Invaders from Mars (1953), Invaders From Mars (1986)
• Franz, Arthur (February 29, 1920 – June 17, 2006) – Dr. Stuart Kelston, an astronomer who believes David’s story and helps him uncover the truth behind the invasion – Jungle Patrol, Red Stallion in the Rockies, The Doctor and the Girl, Sands of Iwo Jima, Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man, Flight to Mars, Castle in the Air, Invaders from Mars (1953), The Caine Mutiny, Battle Taxi, The Wild Party, Hellcats of the Navy, Back from the Dead, Monster on the Campus, The Atomic Submarine, The Carpetbaggers, Million Dollar Duck, The Missiles of October, Rich Man, Poor Man Book II, The Amazing Howard Hughes, That Championship Season, TV episodes ofAlcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, Perry Mason, Death Valley Days, World of Giants, Bonanza, Schlitz Playhouse, Science Fiction Theatre, Ripcord, Primus, Tarzan, Land of the Giants, The F.B.I., The Mod Squad, Hawaii Five-O, Rich Man, Poor Man Book II, Custer, Mission: Impossible, Mannix, The Rookies, Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Invaders, The Waltons, Room 222, The Virginian, Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Wagon Train, Police Story, Medical Story, The Outcasts, McCloud, Lancer, Have Gun – Will Travel, Barnaby Jones

• Carter, Helena (August 24, 1923 – January 11, 2000) – Dr. Patricia Blake, a physician who assists David and Dr. Kelston in their mission to thwart the Martians – Time Out of Mind, Something in the Wind, Intrigue, River Lady, The Fighting O’Flynn, Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye, South Sea Sinner, Double Crossbones, Fort Worth, Bugles in the Afternoon, The Golden Hawk, The Pathfinder, Invaders from Mars (1953)
• Erickson, Leif (October 27, 1911 – January 29, 1986) – George MacLean, David’s father, who becomes one of the aliens’ mind-controlled slaves – Night Monster, The Cimarron Kid, Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd, Invaders from Mars (1953), I Saw What You Did, TV episodes of Climax!, The Rifleman, Zane Grey Theatre, Playhouse 90, Rawhide, The New Loretta Young Show, The Great Adventure, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Bonanza, The Virginian, Daniel Boone< Gunsmoke, The High Chaparral, Night Gallery, The Magician, Mannix, Fantasy Island

• Brooke, Hillary (September 8, 1914 – May 25, 1999) – Mary MacLean, David’s mother, who is also placed under alien control – New Faces of 1937, Two Girls on Broadway, The Philadelphia Story, The Lone Rider Rides On, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Mr. and Mrs. North, To the Shores of Tripoli, Wake Island, Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror, Sherlock Holmes Faces Death, Jane Eyre, Ministry of Fear, The Crime Doctor’s Courage, Strange Impersonation, Big Town Scandal, Unmasked, Vendetta, Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd, Invaders From Mars (1953), The Man Who Knew Too Much, Spoilers of the Forest, TV episodes of Perry Mason, I Love Lucy,  Richard Diamond, Private Detective, Michael Shayne
• Ankrum, Morris (August 28, 1896 – September 2, 1964) – Col. Fielding, an Army officer who is instrumental in leading the fight against the Martians – Rocketship X-M, Flight to Mars, Mutiny, Red Planet Mars, Invaders from Mars (1953), Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, Zombies of Mora Tau, The Giant Claw, Giant from the Unknown, How To Make A Monster, From the Earth to the Moon, Tower of London, X: The Man with the X-ray Eyes, Guns of Diablo, TV episodes of Perry Mason (22)
• Sande, Walter (July 9, 1906 – November 22, 1971) – Police Sgt. Mack Finlay, a skeptical policeman initially unconvinced by David’s story – Arson Gang Busters, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Men Without Souls, The Green Hornet Strikes Again!, Citizen Kane, Sergeant York, Confessions of Boston Blackie, A-Haunting We Will Go, Son of Dracula, The Daltons Ride Again, Rawhide, Warpath, Red Planet Mars, Invaders from Mars (1953), Drango, The Gallant Hours, Young Dillinger, The Navy vs. the Night Monsters, TV episodes of The Lone Ranger, Zane Grey Theatre, Tales of Wells Fargo, Wanted Dead or Alive, Laramie, Maverick, Death Valley Days, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Lost in Space, That Girl, Lassie, The Wild Wild West, Bewitched, The Doris Day Show
• Wagner, Max (November 28, 1901 – November 16, 1975) – Army Sgt. Rinaldi, a soldier involved in the defense against the alien threat – The Thrill Seekers, Renegades of the West, She Had to Choose, She Had to Choose, Charlie Chan in Shanghai, Love Letters of a Star, You Only Live Once (1937), San Quentin, Mr. Moto in Danger Island, The Return of the Cisco Kid, The Ghost Breakers, Zombies on Broadway, Dick Tracy vs. Cueball, Mighty Joe Young, Invaders from Mars (1953), Donovan’s Brain, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, The Great Race, Hang ‘Em High, True Grit, Support Your Local Gunfighter, Get to Know Your Rabbit, Young Frankenstein, TV episodes of  The Cisco Kid, Zane Grey Theater, Perry Mason, Gunsmoke (80 episodes), The Rifleman, Bonanza, Cimarron Strip, The Wild Wild West, Maverick, Star Trek, The Twilight Zone
• Stone, Milburn (July 5, 1904 – June 12, 1980) – Army Capt. Roth, a military officer involved in the efforts against the Martians – China Clipper, Swing It, Professor, The Man in Blue, The 13th Man, Atlantic Flight, California Frontier, Blind Alley, Fighting Mad, Black Friday, Rubber Racketeers, Invisible Agent, Sherlock Holmes Faces Death, The Mad Ghoul, Weird Woman, The Frozen Ghost, Little Giant, The Spider Woman Strikes Back, Invaders from Mars (1953), Drango, TV episodes of Gunsmoke (1955–1975, TV Series) as Doc Adams
• Kennedy, Douglas (September 14, 1915 – August 10, 1973) – Police Officer Jackson, a local policeman affected by the alien influence – ‘G’ Men, North West Mounted Police, Passage from Hong Kong, Possessed, Dark Passage, Adventures of Don Juan, Whiplash, Task Force, Montana, Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town, Oh! Susanna, The Texas Rangers, Last Train from Bombay, Torpedo Alley, Invaders from Mars (1953), Sitting Bull, Wiretapper, The Land Unknown, The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold, The Alligator People, The Amazing Transparent Man, The Fastest Guitar Alive, TV episodes of Fireside Theatre, Hopalong Cassidy, The Lone Ranger, Science Fiction Theatre, Dragnet, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Tales of Wells Fargo, Cheyenne, Perry Mason, Cimarron City, Wagon Train, Maverick, Bat Masterson, Colt .45, Zorro, Wyatt Earp, Pony Express, Laramie, Rawhide, Bonanza, Have Gun – Will Travel, The Rifleman, Gunsmoke, The Outer Limits, The Big Valley, Lassie, The Virginian, Cade’s County, Hawaii Five-O
• Freed, Bert (November 3, 1919 – August 2, 1994) – Police Chief A.C. Barrows, the police chief who investigates the strange happenings in David’s town.- Key to the City, Black Hand, Halls of Montezuma, The Atomic City, Invaders From Mars (1953), The Cobweb, Steve Canyon, Why Must I Die?, The Subterraneans, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, Invitation to a Gunfighter, Hang ‘Em High, Billy Jack, Evel Knievel, Death Scream, Barracuda, Norma Rae, TV episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Mission: Impossible, The Chevy Mystery Show (Lt. Columbo), Perry Mason, The Rifleman, Laramie, Bonanza, The High Chaparral, Gunsmoke, The Big Valley, The Virginian, Mannix, Barnaby Jones, Charlie’s Angels, Then Came Bronson, Run For Your Life, Get Smart, The Lucy Show, Hogan’s Heroes, Steve Canyon, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Dr. Kildare, Ben Casey, Combat!, Petticoat Junction, The Outer Limits, Route 66, Ironside, The Green Hornet, The Munsters, The Untouchables
• Baker, Fay (January 31, 1917 – December 8, 1987) – Mrs. Wilson, a neighbor of the MacLeans who falls under Martian control -Notorious, Tell It to the Judge, The House on Telegraph Hill, Invaders from Mars (1953), Don’t Knock the Rock, She Devil, TV episodes of Your Show Time, Fireside Theatre, Sky King, The Loretta Young Show, State Trooper, The Adventures of Jim Bowie, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer, Perry Mason, Have Gun – Will Travel, The David Niven Show, The Donna Reed Show, 77 Sunset Strip, This Is the Life, Hazel, Dr, Kildare
• Eldredge, John (August 30, 1904 – September 23, 1961) – Mr. Turner, a local resident affected by the alien influence – The Man With Two Faces, The Woman in Red, Dr. Socrates, The Murder of Dr. Harrigan, Mysterious Crossing, Charlie Chan at the Olympics, Sh! The Octopus, King of the Underworld, Dr. Kildare’s Strange Case, High Sierra, Horror Island, The Black Cat, Horror Island, Dark Alibi, Stampede, Invaders from Mars (1953), Francis in the Haunted House, I Married a Monster from Outer Space, Five Guns to Tombstone, TV episodes of The Lone Ranger, Adventures of Superman, Death Valley Days, Wanted Dead or Alive
• Phipps, Bill (February 4, 1922 – June 1, 2018) – Sgt. Baker, a military sergeant engaged in combating the Martian invasion – Crossfire, The Arizona Ranger, Scene of the Crime, Cinderella, Rider from Tucson, The Red Badge of Courage, Flat Top, The War of the Worlds, Invaders from Mars (1953), Cat-Women of the Moon, Francis Joins the WACS, The Snow Creature, The Wild Party, The Evil of Frankenstein, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, Sordid Lives, TV episodes of Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, The Virginian, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Combat!, The Green Hornet, Space Force, The Dukes of Hazzard
• Martin, Lock (October 12, 1916 – January 19, 1959) – Mutant Martian Guard, one of the towering Martian guards who defend the aliens – Lost in a Harem, Anchors Aweigh, Lady on a Train, The Day the Earth Stood Still (Gort), Four Star Revue, Million Dollar Mermaid, Off Limits, Invaders from Mars (1953), The Snow Creature, The Incredible Shrinking Man
• Palmer, Max (November 3, 1927 – May 7, 1984) – Mutant Martian Guard, another of the gigantic Martian guards protecting the Martians – The Sniper, Invaders from Mars (1953), Killer Ape, Stone, TV episodes of Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis Comedy Hour, The Spade Cooley Show, The Jimmy Durante Show
• Billingsley, Barbara (December 22, 1915 – October 16, 2010) – Kelston’s Secretary, assisting Dr. Kelston – The Argyle Secrets, The Valiant Hombre, I Cheated the Law, Air Hostess, Prejudice, Pretty Baby, Invaders from Mars (1953), Airplane!, Back to the Beach, Leave It to Beaver, TV episodes of Rebound, The Abbott and Costello Show, City Detective, Four Star Playhouse, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, Cavalcade of America, The Lone Wolf, Professional Father, The Loretta Young Show, Leave It to Beaver (234 ep), The F.B.I., Mork & Mindy, Still the Beaver, Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour, The Love Boat, The New Leave It to Beaver, Silver Spoons, Muppet Babies (107 ep), Empty Nest, The Mommies, Murphy Brown, Rosanne
• Karns, Todd (January 15, 1921 – February 5, 2000) – Jim, Gas Station Attendant, a minor character David encounters – Andy Hardy’s Private Secretary, The Courtship of Andy Hardy, Eagle Squadron, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Red Badge of Courage, Mutiny, Battle Zone, Flat Top, Invaders from Mars (1953), TV episodes of Rocky King, Detective
• Shayne, Robert (October 4, 1900 – November 29, 1992) – Dr. William Wilson, one of the townspeople affected by the alien control – Invaders from Mars (1953), The Neanderthal Man, Indestructible Man, Kronos, The Giant Claw, Spook Chasers, War of the Satellites, Teenage Cave Man, How to Make a Monster, The Lost Missile, Son of Flubber, Tora! Tora! Tora!, The Million Dollar Duck, TV episodes of Adventures of Superman
• Wilcox, Frank (March 13, 1907 – March 3, 1974) – Pentagon Chief of Staff, a high-ranking official consulted in the fight against the Martians – Postal Inspector, Virginia City, Murder in the Air’, River’s End, Santa Fe Trail, A Shot in the Dark, Sergeant York, The Smiling Ghost, Escape from Crime, Unconquered, Blondie’s Anniversary, The Babe Ruth Story, East Side, West Side, The Greatest Show on Earth, Invaders from Mars (1953), Black Widow, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, The Ten Commandments, Please Don’t Eat the Daisies, Million Dollar Duck, TV episodes of Rawhide, Racket Squad, The Lone Ranger, The Beverly Hillbillies, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Leave It to Beaver, The Donna Reed Show, The Real McCoys, Perry Mason, The Untouchables, Kung Fu
• Forrest, William (October 25, 1902 – January 26, 1989) – Gen. Mayberry, an army general overseeing the defensive operations – The Green Hornet Strikes Again, Keep ‘Em Flying, Tarzan’s New York Adventure, Devil Ship, Miracle on 34th Street, Trail of the Yukon, Jailhouse Rock, Billy the Kid vs. Dracula, TV episodes of Adventures of Superman, The Ford Television Theatre, I Married Joan, The Lone Ranger, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Highway Patrol, Steve Donovan Western Marshal, Loretta Young Show, The Sheriff of Cochise, Maverick, Tales of Wells Fargo, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, The Magical World of Disney, Bonanza, Bronco, The Beverly Hillbillies, Days of Our Lives, My Three Sons
• Deacon, Richard (May 14, 1921 – August 8, 1984) – M.P. Confirming Gen. Mayberry’s Identity, a military police officer – Invaders from Mars (1953), Them!, This Island Earth, Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Francis in the Haunted House, The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker, North to Alaska, The Birds, The Disorderly Orderly, That Darn Cat!, Rango, Blackbeard’s Ghost, Piranha, The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood, TV episodes of Leave It to Beaver (Fred Rutherford), The Rifleman, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mister Ed, The Munsters, The Twilight Zone, Here’s Lucy, My Fair Robot, CHiPs, Still the Beaver, Growing Pains

• Perreau, Janine (October 19, 1942 – ) – Kathy Wilson, a young friend of David who also encounters the Martian threat.
• Gibb, Charles (September 8, 1915 – August 21, 1971) – Lt. Blair, a military officer involved in the efforts to stop the Martians.
• Herman, Gil (May 21, 1920 – February 13, 1983) – Maj. Clary, another military official assisting in the battle against the alien invaders.
• Potter, Luce (October 17, 1911 – April 30, 1995) – The Martian in Glass Globe, the alien leader housed in a glass sphere, directing the invasion.
• Cane, Charles (April 18, 1899 – November 30, 1973) – Police Officer Blaine, a local policeman affected by the Martians’ control

Footnotes

1. William Cameron Menzies (July 29, 1896 – March 5, 1957) was a visionary American director, art director, and production designer whose groundbreaking work in Hollywood spanned several decades. Known for pioneering a style of highly stylized visual storytelling, he was a master at creating atmospheric, expressive worlds that vividly complemented the narrative. Menzies is best remembered for his work as a production designer on Gone with the Wind (1939), for which he won an Academy Award, but he also directed a number of films, each marked by his distinctive flair. His directorial work includes Things to Come (1936), a dystopian sci-fi based on H.G. Wells’ screenplay, and The Thief of Bagdad (1940), where he helped design and oversee scenes that became iconic in fantasy cinema. His directorial efforts in science fiction include Invaders from Mars (1953), a story of alien mind control from a child’s perspective, celebrated for its surreal, unsettling visuals. Other notable directorial credits include Chandu the Magician (1932), The Maze (1953), and Drums in the Deep South (1951), showcasing his range in adventure, horror, and historical drama. Menzies’s influence on Hollywood set new standards for production design, and his style of “planned” cinema continues to impact filmmakers today. ↩︎
2. Edward L. Alperson (April 13, 1904 – July 3, 1969) was an influential American film producer and studio executive who carved a notable path in the film industry during the mid-20th century. Alperson began his career by founding Grand National Films, a company known for producing low-budget features and Westerns in the 1930s, including Something to Sing About (1937) starring James Cagney. Alperson later joined Twentieth Century-Fox, where he produced a variety of films, most prominently Invaders from Mars (1953), a cult classic sci-fi film that he is perhaps best remembered for. His filmography includes Captain Eddie (1945), a biopic about World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker; The Phoenix City Story (1955), a hard-hitting crime drama based on real-life events; and The Joe Louis Story (1953), a sports biopic about the legendary boxer. Alperson’s approach often emphasized gritty realism and innovation in lower-budget productions, helping him bring compelling, accessible stories to the screen. ↩︎
3. Richard Blake was an American screenwriter active from the 1940s through the 1960s, recognized for his work in science fiction, adventure, and crime dramas. Blake’s screenplays often explored suspenseful and action-driven narratives, with a particular knack for building tension within genre films. One of his most prominent screenplays was Invaders from Mars (1953), a pioneering sci-fi story about alien mind control and paranoia, crafted in a surreal, dreamlike style that left a lasting impact on the genre. Other notable works include The Arizona Ranger (1948), a Western that delved into law and justice in the American frontier, and The Invisible Monster (1950), a thriller serial about a masked villain’s schemes. Blake also wrote Santa Fe Uprising (1946), adding to his repertoire in Westerns, and contributed to several crime dramas and adventure films during his career, known for his versatility in mid-century Hollywood’s B-movie circuit. Blake’s work left a footprint in classic American genre films, blending suspense, action, and inventive premises. ↩︎
4. John Tucker Battle (1902–1962) was an American writer and screenwriter best known for his work in screenwriting, particularly in the science fiction and adventure genres, though he also authored a limited number of books. Battle is noted for penning the story for Invaders from Mars (1953), a classic sci-fi film exploring Cold War fears of alien invasion through a child’s perspective. He primarily contributed to screenwriting in Hollywood, where he developed various projects throughout the 1940s and 1950s. He wrote for television programs including Bonanza, Have Gun, Will Travel, Maverick, Colt .45, The Restless Gun, Bat Masterson and Black Saddle. ↩︎

Further Reading

Sources

• IMDB https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045917/
• Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invaders_from_Mars_(1953_film)
• Rotten Tomatoes https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1010672-invaders_from_mars
• Four Color Comics https://www.fourcolorcomics.com/store/index.php?action=describe&id=2069550