Recently, while discussing film with a couple of friends, the subject of old monster movies came up. During this conversation, they were surprised to learn that I’m much less a fan of classic horror than I am of  ’50s science fiction. With all due respect to Dracula and Frankenstein, I’d much prefer watching giant-sized bugs or flying saucers.  Of course, as with any genre, some are better quality than others but I’m sure most of my fellow enthusiasts will agree that Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) is somewhere at the top of their list of favorites. I do love both this version as well as its 1978 reimagining, but there’s something about the original that has me rewatching it more often. In my latest viewing, I watched the Olive Signature Blu-ray which boasts priceless commentary from its two main stars, Kevin McCarthy and Dana (pronounced Donna) Wynter. It was marvelous listening to the memories of these two late actors while gaining new insights into an old favorite. For example, I was surprised to discover that while many believe the overall story of an alien lifeform disguised as family and friends to be a metaphor for Communism, it was actually about the rise of advertising and enticing would-be consumers to be “more like their neighbors.”  

During one of my weekly trips to the thrift store, I was fortunate to land an old copy of its original source material, the 1955 novel, “The Body Snatchers” by Jack Finney. When I read the first few chapters, I was impressed by how close the film adaptation was to the novel. However, after delving a bit further, things dramatically changed. Many are aware that both the beginning and end of the 1956 movie were filmed and added about six months after the film initially wrapped.  When test audiences found the original (Kevin McCarthy running down the highway yelling “You’re next!”) too abysmal, the studio decided to give it a more hopeful ending. But if you thought this version ended on a high note, it pales next to the one in the book.

Please be advised that there will be SPOILERS for both the book and the film moving forward. This post is designed for anyone who loves the movie but has no intention of reading the book. I think it provides some really interesting insights that even surprised this old viewer who has enjoyed the film for over forty years. So let’s dive in…

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