THE INVADERS COMPLETE SERIES: THEY’RE HERE!

 

 

I’ve said before and I’m likely to say again that one of the joys of DVDs has been the release of classic television programs on disc. Many of the shows that a vast number of us grew up watching and have fond memories of have already made their way to disc and more are coming. Some of these were shows that have never been shown in syndication or if they were it was long ago. Now the chance to enjoy those series once more is a blast for the baby boomer generation. Case in point THE INVADERS.

Let me start by saying that growing up in the 60s and 70s everyone knew what a “Quinn Martin Production” was. Martin was a television producer whose shows always had a similar look and feel to. Each one opened by announcing it was a Quinn Martin production, showed the title of the show as well as the stars, then announced “this week’s guest stars” and followed that with that nights chapter (aka episode) title. Once back from the commercial break the segments of the shows were labeled with act 1 through the epilogue. THE FUGITIVE, THE F.B.I., BARNABY JONES, CANNON and THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO were just some of the shows done this way.

THE INVADERS began with a pilot episode that found architect David Vincent (Roy Thinnes) on his way home for a meeting and taking a short cut that turns out not work out. Tired and near sleep he pulls up at an abandoned gas station and takes a nap only to be awakened later by a pulsing light shining into his car. Waking, he looks up to witness a flying saucer landing in the open field next door. Of course his first impulse is to let the authorities know.

But the odds of the police believing that someone has actually seen a flying saucer are low. Contacting his partner Alan Landers (James Daly) in David tells him the same. The police finally agree to go to the location only to find the name of the gas station has changed and a young couple are camping there saying they saw nothing the previous night. It is here that David discovers the first tell-tale sign that distinguishes the aliens from humans, their pinky fingers tipped out at an awkward angle. The aliens try to kill David and then realizing if another attempt on his life were made it would only increase their odds of being found out they try to just discredit him.

Each week found David trying to convince someone else while investigating the alien invaders on his own. Moving forward he finds more ways to identify the aliens from humans as well as the fact there are different types of aliens, some without the pinky problem. As the series progresses more people become aware, the aliens become involved with sabotage and what could have been an easy take over becomes more complicated.

Various well-known stars at the time showed up in the series. William Windom, Michael Rennie, J.D. Cannon, R.G. Armstrong, Suzanne Pleshette, Roddy McDowell, Edward Asner, Ed Begley, Dabney Coleman, Peter Graves and Gene Hackman are just a few. These actors who were well known at the time played both aliens and humans trying to stop them.

The series obviously was a look at the Communist scare that had run rampant in the 50s and remained and issue with the Cold War in full swing at the time. Everyone was certain that the new neighbor might be a spy sent to infiltrate the country at the time. Well not most people but if you were looking for a way to create a series what better plot idea to use? Having just come out of the blacklist ear film makers and TV shows were using this to break down the barriers set up during the previous years. Odd how this has worked out now with a series like THE AMERICANS about the same thing has become popular.

CBS has released both seasons of the series in the past but are now releasing it in a single boxed complete series edition. All 43 episodes are included in this 12 disc set. The extras here are limited but include select episode introductions by Roy Thinnes, two audio commentaries, an interview with Thinnes, the extended pilot episode and series promos. CBS has been going back and releasing complete series editions like this for many of the older series and as a fan I’ve been glad to see it happen. It’s a nice way to be able to revisit those old series or perhaps to binge watch them. At over 37 hours it might take a few days to completely watch this one but fans of the show will be more than happy to do so. So if you are one of those fans, if you enjoyed series like THE X-FILES, if you enjoy science fiction or if you enjoy classic TV series than by all means you’ll want to add this one to your collection.

Click here to order.