History Film / InvasionOfTheBodySnatchers1956

[[quoteright:305:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/body_snatchers_1956.jpg]]

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

However, Bennell soon discovers that the patients were right. The people of Santa Mira are in fact being replaced by alien doppelgangers, identical duplicates grown in pods, which replace them while they sleep. Behind their perfect mimicry of humanity is a soulless, inert void; the "pod people" have no culture of their own – only what they have copied from humanity – and no goal other than survival. Can Bennell, Kaufman, and Bennell's recently-returned ex-girlfriend Becky Driscoll (Creator/DanaWynter) remain awake, warn the authorities, and stop the takeover from spreading?

Usually interpreted as a UsefulNotes/ColdWar-era metaphor for [[DirtyCommunists Communist infiltration]], although some see it more as an indictment of [[RedScare McCarthyism]] and small-town insularity and conformity. WordOfGod denies any sort of political message at all, however.

However, Bennell soon discovers that the patients were right. The people of Santa Mira are in fact being replaced by alien doppelgangers, identical duplicates grown in pods, which replace them while they sleep. Behind their perfect mimicry of humanity is a soulless, inert void; the "pod people" have no culture of their own – only what they have copied from humanity – and no goal other than survival. Can Bennell, Kaufman, and Bennell's recently-returned ex-girlfriend Becky Driscoll (Creator/DanaWynter) warn the authorities and stop the takeover from spreading?

However, Bennell soon discovers that the patients were right. The people of Santa Mira are in fact being replaced by alien doppelgangers, identical duplicates grown in pods, which replace them while they sleep. And behind their perfect mimicry of humanity is a soulless, inert void; the "pod people" have no culture of their own – only what they have copied from humanity – and no goal other than survival. Can Bennell, Kaufman, and Bennell's recently-returned ex-girlfriend Becky Driscoll (Creator/DanaWynter) warn the authorities and stop the takeover from spreading?

A classic 1956 SciFiHorror film directed by Creator/DonSiegel, the first of [[Film/InvasionOfTheBodySnatchers several screen adaptations]] of Jack Finney's novel ''The Body Snatchers'', first serialized in ''Collier's'' magazine in 1954.

However, Bennell soon discovers that the patients were right. The people of Santa Mira are in fact being replaced by alien doppelgangers, identical duplicates grown in pods, which replace them while they sleep. Behind their perfect mimicry of humanity is a soulless, inert void. The "pod people" have no culture of their own--only what they have copied from humanity--and no goal other than survival. Can Bennell, Kaufman, and Bennell's recently-returned ex-girlfriend Becky Driscoll (Creator/DanaWynter) warn the authorities and stop the takeover from spreading?

A classic 1956 SciFiHorror film directed by Creator/DonSiegel, the first of [[Film/InvasionOfTheBodySnatchers several screen adaptations]] of Jack Finney's novel ''The Body Snatchers''.

Miles Bennell (Creator/KevinMcCarthyActor) is a physician in the small California town of Santa Mira whose patients have begun accusing their family and friends of being impostors. They can't explain their suspicions--there are no physical or behavioral changes--but they are still convinced that their loved ones are somehow [[NotHimself no longer themselves]]. Bennell and his colleague, Dan Kaufman (Creator/LarryGates), initially chalk this up as mass hysteria, a diagnosis which appears to be confirmed when the patients start recanting their accusations.

Miles Bennell (Creator/KevinMcCarthy) is a physician in the small California town of Santa Mira whose patients have begun accusing their family and friends of being impostors. They can't explain their suspicions--there are no physical or behavioral changes--but they are still convinced that their loved ones are somehow [[NotHimself no longer themselves]]. Bennell and his colleague, Dan Kaufman (Creator/LarryGates), initially chalk this up as mass hysteria, a diagnosis which appears to be confirmed when the patients start recanting their accusations.

* AdaptationalAlternateEnding: The film follows the plot of the book very faithfully up until Miles and Becky are hiding from the pod people. [[spoiler:In the novel, they burn the greenhouse in which the pods are grown, which convinces the pods to leave Earth. Those who had already been replaced remain in town and slowly die off as humans move back into the town, while Miles and Becky start a new life together. In the film, Becky is replaced and Miles finds that the invasion is starting to spread across the country, though he is later able to convince the authorities that the pods are real and there is a chance they will be able to contain it.]]

However, Bennell soon discovers that the patients were right. The people of Santa Mira are in fact being replaced by alien doppelgangers, identical duplicates grown in pods, which replace them while they sleep. Behind their perfect mimicry of humanity is a soulless, inert void. The "pod people" have no culture of their own--only what they have copied from humanity--and no goal other than survival. Can Bennell, Gates, and Bennell's recently-returned ex-girlfriend Becky Driscoll (Creator/DanaWynter) warn the authorities and stop the takeover from spreading?

* AdaptationTitleChange: ''Invasion of The Body Snatchers'' is based off a novel called ''The Body Snatchers''.

Usually interpreted as a UsefulNotes/ColdWar-era metaphor for [[DirtyCommunists Communist infiltration]], although some view it as more of an indictment of [[RedScare McCarthyism]] and small-town insularity and conformity. WordOfGod denies any sort of political message at all, however.

However, Bennell soon discovers that the patients were right. The people of Santa Mira are in fact being replaced by alien doppelgangers, identical duplicates grown in pods, which replace them while they sleep. Behind their perfect mimicry of humanity, including emotions, is a soulless void. The pod people have no culture of their own, only what they have copied from humanity, and no goal beyond survival. Can Bennell, Gates, and Bennell's recently-returned ex-girlfriend Becky (Creator/DanaWynter) get in touch with the authorities and stop the takeover from spreading?

However, Bennell soon discovers that the patients were right. The people of Santa Mira are being replaced by alien doppelgangers, identical duplicates grown in pods, which replaced them while they slept. Behind their perfect mimicry of humanity, including emotions, is a soulless void. The pod people have no culture of their own, only what they have copied from humanity, and they have no goal beyond survival. Can Bennell, Gates, and Bennell's recently-returned ex-girlfriend Becky (Creator/DanaWynter) warn the authorities and stop the takeover from spreading?

Usually interpreted as a UsefulNotes/ColdWar-era metaphor for [[DirtyCommunists Communist infiltration]], although some view it more as an indictment of [[RedScare McCarthyism]] and small-town insularity and conformity. WordOfGod denies any sort of political message at all, however.

Miles Bennell (Creator/KevinMcCarthy) is a doctor in the small California town of Santa Mira whose patients start accusing their family and friends of being impostors. They can't explain their suspicions -- there are no physical or behavioral changes -- but they are still convinced that the people they suspect are [[NotHimself no longer themselves]]. Bennell and his colleague, Dan Kaufman (Creator/LarryGates), initially assume this is merely mass hysteria, a diagnosis which seems to be confirmed when the patients start recanting their accusations.

** The movie was given one by [[ExecutiveMeddling studio executives who wanted a happier ending]]. In the added prologue, Bennell is dragged into a hospital emergency ward by the authorities, where he recounts the film to the doctor assigned to him. In the epilogue, his story is confirmed by one of the pod truck drivers being rescued from a car crash; the hospital staff immediately call the FBI in an implied happy ending. Director Don Siegel said it almost ruined his intended movie. While a re-edited version of the film more in keeping with Siegel's original vision was supposedly made in 1979, all home video releases have used the theatrical cut with the framing story, as did a special screening held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2005 to honor Siegel.

A classic 1956 SciFiHorror film directed by Don Siegel, the first of [[Film/InvasionOfTheBodySnatchers several screen adaptations]] of Jack Finney's novel ''The Body Snatchers''.

* PretendWereDead: Miles and Becky feign emotionlessness to walk through the pod-infested town safely. The other versions followed suit. [[spoiler: Thwarted in the 1978 version, where a messed up clone that has a busker's head upon the body of his dog frightens the female protagonist so badly she gives the game away, and in the original she screams on seeing a dog almost run over by a truck.]]

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: For a film made in TheFifties, there's a surprising amount of sexual innuendo between Miles and Becky.

[[quoteright:285:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/body_snatchers_1956.jpg]]

A classic sci-fi/horror film directed by Don Siegel and released in 1956, the first of [[Film/InvasionOfTheBodySnatchers several screen adaptations]] of Jack Finney's novel ''The Body Snatchers''.

Miles Bennell (Kevin [=McCarthy=]) is a doctor in the small California town of Santa Mira whose patients start accusing their family and friends of being impostors. They can't explain their suspicions -- there are no physical or behavioral changes -- but they are still convinced that the people they suspect are [[NotHimself no longer themselves]]. Bennell and his colleague, Dan Kaufman (Larry Gates), initially assume this is merely mass hysteria, a diagnosis which seems to be confirmed when the patients start recanting their accusations.

However, Bennell soon discovers that the patients were right. The people of Santa Mira are being replaced by alien doppelgangers, identical duplicates grown in pods, which replaced them while they slept. Behind their perfect mimicry of humanity, including emotions, is a soulless void. The pod people have no culture of their own, only what they have copied from humanity, and they have no goal beyond survival. Can Bennell, Gates, and Bennell's recently-returned ex-girlfriend Becky (Dana Wynter) warn the authorities and stop the takeover from spreading?

* InterrogationFlashback: The film is told this way. The hero is in a police station retelling the events that led to him screaming neurotically in the middle of the highway.