Product Description

David Vincent (Roy Thinnes) knows that The Invaders alien beings from a dying planet have arrived to take over the Earth! To make matters worse the aliens know who he is and most of the time where he is. Somehow he must convince a disbelieving world that the nightmare has already begun.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 097361326740 Manufacturer No: 132674

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4371 in DVD
• Brand: PARAMOUNT PICTURES
• Released on: 2008-05-27
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 5
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 933 minutes

Amazon.com
"If they’re really after you, you’re not paranoid" is a lesson The Invaders' David Vincent has learned all too well. Vincent (portrayed by Roy Thinnes) knows that aliens from a dying planet have come to Earth and are planning to take over; having lost his way and fallen asleep in his car in the remote woods one night, he saw their flying saucer land. What’s worse, the invaders know he knows. And worst of all, the rest of the world is willfully oblivious, and little interested in the rantings of this madman. That's the premise of this series from producer Quinn (The Fugitive) Martin, and even if the 16 episodes from the show’s first season (1967) don’t always match the promise of the concept, this is still an intriguing, entertaining ride.

The aliens, crafty critters that they are, look exactly like us, save for a slight disfigurement of one finger; they also completely disintegrate when killed, a convenient little conceit that prevents anyone from figuring out who or what they really are. Their dastardly schemes for eliminating the Earthlings are many and varied, ranging from nuclear bombs, plagues of locusts (and carnivorous butterflies!), and manufactured hurricanes to brainwashing and mind control experiments. Standing against this implacable foe is just one man--an amateur (Vincent was an architect before all the craziness began) who works alone (the other true believers he encounters almost invariably end up dead) and is often stymied by his own impetuousness and lack of preparation. Admittedly, the concept doesn’t hold up under close scrutiny; even if the aliens are trying to take over by stealth instead of one massive invasion, it doesn’t make a lot of sense that they can’t eliminate a guy who doesn’t even own a gun. There is no series arc; each episode is stand-alone, so by the end of the season the invaders still have barely established a foothold. Moreover, while there are plenty of fistfights and chase sequences, the special effects are ludicrous, the alien technology looks like something out of a high school play, the stories are obvious, and the acting is melodramatic (notwithstanding guest appearances by the Jack Warden and familiar TV faces like Suzanne Pleshette, Arthur Hill, Joseph Campanella, Jack Lord, Ed Asner, and many others). Nevertheless, with the help of Dominic Frontiere’s music and the portentous narration that begins and ends each episode, The Invaders manages to consistently maintain its paranoid, Kafka-esque vibe, and that alone makes it compellingly watchable. Thinnes’ episode intros and a new interview with the actor are the main bonus features. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews

You Can't Go Home Again
After 40 years, some TV that you thought was good just doesn't measure up. These episodes are decent enough, but the non-special effects date the material. Many gaps in reasoning are there also, and require the asking of questions. How does the main character support himself with these cross-country treks? How do the others involved contact him? Although I will probably buy the second and final season, it will be just for nostalgia and mind-diverting trivia.

A fun trip in the time machine
I was a huge fan of this series during its too-short run. I was about seven, so I was a little worried that it would not be as much fun as I remembered.

But it is!

It's pretty basic science fiction, with inexpensive sets and what might be considered laughable effects. Sort of The Fugitive, with aliens. (Same producer did both.) But there's lots of familiar faces, fine acting, and some real issues that still prompt discussion today. There's real chills and suspense, and you'll never look at people's pinkies the same way again.

Another thing I didn't expect was the way my husband and I marveled at the way people lived in 1966. He makes calls from a pay phone! The cars are huge! The suits are baggy! They listen to records!

If you were a fan back when, ya gotta have. If you weren't, it's still a charming example of a thoughtful science fiction series at a time when this was very rare. Perhaps it paved the way for Star Trek.

Good, Not Perfect
I don't know if it's my DVD player, but the "prologue" before the main titles is "skipped" on one episode on each of the discs, so I have to fast reverse to pick up that portion of the show. Otherwise, a great set. Roy Thinnes does look a bit odd these days.