Teenagers From Outer Space (1958)

aka’s: Killers From Outer Space/The Boy From Out Of This World/Invasion Of The Gargon

Martians invade Earth, intending to grow their “Gargon Herd” (actually a giant lobster). The hero (David Love), realizing that there is intelligent life on Earth, and falls in love, decides to warn the planet. Eventually he sacrifices himself to destroy the incoming herds of Gargons and saves Earth. Also stars Dawn Anderson and Bryan Grant. Directed by Tom Graeff.

In 1957 Tom Graeff finished production of his most famous film, Teenagers From Outer Space (1958), but could not get a release for it until it was sold to Warner Brothers for a fraction of its $14,000 budget. Warner Brothers released the film to drive-ins in 1959 but Graeff saw no money from the deal. He suffered a nervous breakdown and took out ads in the Los Angeles Times proclaiming that he was the second coming of Christ, calling himself Jesus Christ II. He attempted to legally change his name to this but was denied the request, which made national news. He moved to Pennsylvania but returned to Los Angeles in 1964 to work on The Wizard Of Mars (1965), a cheap take-off on The Wizard Of Oz (1939). After about five years of not being able to find film work, on December 19, 1970, he committed suicide in his car by breathing in carbon monoxide. He was 41 years old.