It Conquered The World (1956)

aka: It Conquered The Earth

One of several remaining members of its race, an alien from Venus is guided to Earth by disgruntled scientist Tom Anderson (Lee Van Cleef), who tells it which humans it should attach mind control devices to. Among them is his old friend, fellow scientist Paul Nelson (Peter Graves). Nelson, after killing a flying bat-like creature which carries the device, finally persuades the paranoid Anderson that he’s been wrong to ally himself with an alien bent on world domination. Later they discover that Tom’s wife (Beverly Garland) has picked up a rifle and gone to the alien’s cave to try to kill it. Also with Sally Fraser and Dick Miller. Directed by Roger Corman.

The Venusian “cucumber” monster was constructed and portrayed by famous monster maker Paul Blaisdell.

One of the all time great movie villains, Lee Van Cleef moved easily into action and martial-arts roles in the 1980’s. In 1984 he starred in The Master, a TV series featuring almost non-stop martial arts action. He died of a heart attack on December 16th, 1989, and was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills. He was 64.

Personal Quote (Lee Van Cleef):
“Being born with a pair of beady eyes was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

After returning from a brunch in Pacific Palisades, CA on March 14, 2010, Peter Graves collapsed and died of a heart attack at the age of 83. He was four days from his 84th birthday. It was reported that one of his daughters attempted to revive him, but was unsuccessful.