Hey Damn Dirty Geeks fans, look what’s back! It’s a new episode of “Uncle Ira’s Basement!” Frank Dietz, Scott and Trish take a look at INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, from which we coined the name of this series. Uncle Ira, played by actor Tom Fadden, is a character in this classic movie who hides an unusual secret in his basement…something that is just waiting for you to fall asleep. Likewise, the DDG reveal these mini-episodes from our own basement archives to invade your own ears and minds.

Don Siegel’s 1956 masterpiece is one of the best sci-fi thrillers of that decade. Alien seedpods have arrived on Earth and are taking over the minds and bodies of our loved ones while they sleep. Right off the bat, the Geeks discuss how the film has often been cited as a metaphor for the era’s Cold War fears of a communist takeover and its accompanying escalation of paranoia. We extend this analysis to include other 1950s classics with similar topic including THE BLOB (1958) and INVADERS FROM MARS (1953).

The Geeks then celebrate the multiple elements that keep INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS elevated above the rest, including Daniel Mainwaring‘s dynamic script, the taut story pacing and the conviction of the actors, especially Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter in lead roles. It’s no wonder INVASION has been remade multiple times over the years, with varying degrees of success yet none can top the dramatic impact and lasting legacy of thrills that the original masterpiece .

Note: as this is one of Damn Dirty Geeks’ earliest podcast episodes retrieved from our archives, its recording levels are not up to our standards of clarity and mixing. But you’ll still enjoy the discussion of this great film as a vintage treat from the DDG.

At Monsterpalooza 2017: actor Bobby Porter discusses MAKING APES: THE ARTISTS WHO CHANGED FILM, directed by William Conlin for a 2018 release. Photo courtesy of Making Apes on Facebook.

Uncle Ira's Basement: INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS

by Damn Dirty Geeks

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There’s a fun little sidebar about childhood memories of keeping the monsters under the bed from getting you! We also remark on the Whit Bissell/Richard Deacon sequences that bookend the movie and provide a glimmer of hope for the human race.

Frank talks with great affection about his old friend Kevin McCarthy (1914-2010), the hero who carries the film from beginning to end (and throws in a couple of imitations of him as well!). We wrap out with a toast to Kevin, who is missed by his many friends and fans across the globe. “They’re already here! You’re next! You’re next!”

A tense scene intensifying the paranoia from INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS featuring (L to R): Larry Gates, Kenneth Patterson, King Donovan and Kevin McCarthy.

The quiet town of Santa Mira hosts a dark conspiracy as giant seed pods are distrubted among the citizens to transform their neighbors into body-stealing aliens, as seen in INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS.

A lifeless copy of Jack is discovered in INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS. (L to R): King Donovan, Carolyn Jones, Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynters.

Left alone with the doppelganger body (King Donovan), Teddy (Carolyn Jones) is horrified to see it open its eyes, in INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS.

The alien seed pod produces an exact likeness of Becky (Dana Wynter) in the greenhouse, as seen in INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS.

The alien duplicate of Miles (Kevin McCarthy) appears in the greenhouse, as seen in INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS.

Miles (Kevin McCarthy) stabs his alien pod duplicate with a pitchfork in a desperate attempt to avoid assimilation, as seen in INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS.

Miles (Kevin McCarthy) and Becky (Dana Wynter) battle sleep deprivation and alien assimilation in a climactic scene from INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS.

Miles (Kevin McCarthy) is desperate for Dr. Bassett (Richard Deacon) and Dr. Hill (Whit Bissell) to believe that an alien conspiracy is threatening humanity, in INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS.

DAMN DIRTY GEEKS' own Frank Dietz with his good friend, actor Kevin McCarthy.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Revisit the sci-fi thrills of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS with these recommended films:

The original out Invasion of the Body Snatchers [Blu-ray] available for purchase on Amazon.com.

The 1978 remake Invasion Of The Body Snatchers [Collector’s Edition] [Blu-ray] available on Amazon.com.

Go behind the scenes with Invasion of the Body Snatchers: The Making of a Classic available on Amazon.com.

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Frank Dietz

JACK BENNETT

TRISH GEIGER

Scott Weitz

Frank Woodward

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Uncle Ira’s Basement: INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS