My Letter Defending "Plan 9 From Outer Space" Published!

My letter to the editor defending "Plan 9 From Outer Space" was published in the Glendale News-Press. as follows:


Not the worst movie ever made
October 20, 2011 | 5:07 p.m.

Mesmerizing music. Solid acting. Intriguing plotting. These are among the surprisingly positive elements that comprise the oft-ridiculed film, “Plan 9 From Outer Space” (“Return to 'Plan 9 From Outer Space,’” Oct. 16).

While the movie admittedly is characterized by fourth-rate special effects, such as hubcaps for UFOs, and an illogical confusion of night and day in several scenes, it is an interesting film overall, with a cogent plot involving aliens resurrecting dead humans to act as their slaves.
And it should be noted that visually-engaging graveyard scenes were actually shot on location in a cemetery in the San Fernando Valley that was being torn down. The crew sneaked in and moved tombstones around to
achieve some definite eerie effects.

And, for horror film fans, it was a final opportunity to see Bela Lugosi on the silver screen one last time as he died a short time into shooting. Indeed, we appreciate his few scenes being repeated several times during the film.

Additionally, it was a pleasure to watch Vampira and Tor Johnson moving morbidly about throughout the production.

So “Plan 9 From Outer Space” is by no means the worst movie ever made.

Franklin Ruehl

Glendale