History Film / EarthVsTheFlyingSaucers

* PoweredArmor: The aliens use a version, mostly just to keep themselves alive, but they do have built-in blasters. This is one of the most literal examples of this trope ever, as the suits are made of [[Applied Phlebotinum "solidified electricity."]]

* PoweredArmor: The aliens use a version, mostly just to keep themselves alive, but they do have built-in blasters.

* WhenThingsSpinScienceHappens: The flat section of the flying saucers' hull spins for no discernible reason while they fly. According to Harryhausen, that's how their AntiGravity works (this actually works, within limits).

* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: The flat section of the flying saucers' hull spins for no discernible reason while they fly. According to Harryhausen, [[WhenThingsSpinScienceHappens that's how]] their AntiGravity works (this actually works, within limits).

* StuffedIntoTheFridge: The aliens do this to General Hanley and the policeman as revenge for one of their number being killed. They'd been keeping the two imprisoned and brainwashed aboard their ship, and kill them and dump the bodies from a high altitude for Russell and Carol to find in the woods.

[[quoteright:299:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/earth_vs_the_flying_saucers_movie_poster_1956.png]]

A 1956 BMovie directed by Fred Sears and written by ''Series/{{The Twilight Zone|1959}}'' and ''Film/{{The Wolf Man|1941}}'' legend Curt Siodmak, which is mostly remembered for special effects by the legendary StopMotion animator Creator/RayHarryhausen, used to destroy UsefulNotes/WashingtonDC in a spectacular fashion unmatched until ''Film/IndependenceDay''.

* AffablyEvil: The aliens, who ascribe to VichyEarth and are rather charismatic.
* AliensSpeakingEnglish: Yet another example of this trope with no explanation.

* LittleGreenManInACan: The inhabitants of the flying saucers are Greys wearing powered armor. It's almost word-for-word, if not for the black and white film.

* AlwaysChaoticEvil: Averted. The aliens have come to [[AlienInvasion conquer Earth]], but would prefer to [[VichyEarth negotiate terms]] rather than subdue our planet by force, which would mean governing a devastated world and its resentful population.

* PoorCommunicationKills: The aliens' extremely ''roundabout'' way of informing Dr. Marvin of their upcoming visit to the rocket base results in a massacre (the message was straightforward, they just made an error regarding the speed at which it was transmitted).

* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: The flat section of the flying saucers' hull spins for no descernable reason while they fly. According to Harryhausen, [[WhenThingsSpinScienceHappens that's how]] their AntiGravity works (this actually works, within limits).

* AmericaSavesTheDay: The Flying Saucers concentrate their attack on the United States capital of Washington D.C., completely ignoring the other nations of the world.