Uncle Ira's Basement: INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS

Damn Dirty Geeks

Hey Damn Dirty Geeks fans, look what’s back! It’s a new episode of “Uncle Ira’s Basement!” Frank Dietz, Scott and Trish take a look at the film from which we coined the name of this series. Uncle Ira, played by actor Tom Fadden, is a character in this classic movie who hides an unusual secret in his basement...something that is just waiting for you to fall asleep. Likewise, the DDG reveal these mini-episodes from our own basement archives to invade your own ears and minds.

Don Siegal’s 1956 masterpiece INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS is one of the best sci-fi thrillers of that decade. Alien seedpods have arrived on Earth and are taking over the minds and bodies of our loved ones while they sleep. Right off the bat, the Geeks discuss how the film has often been cited as a metaphor for the era’s Cold War fears of a communist takeover and its accompanying escalation of paranoia and distrust. We extend this analysis to include other 1950s classics with similar topic including THE BLOB (1958) and INVADERS FROM MARS (1953).

The Geeks then celebrate the multiple elements that keep INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS elevated above the rest, including Daniel Mainwaring's dynamic script, the taut story pacing and the conviction of the actors. It’s no wonder INVASION has been remade multiple times over the years, with varying degrees of success.

There’s a fun little sidebar about childhood memories of keeping the monsters under the bed from getting you! We also remark on the Whit Bissell/Richard Deacon sequences that bookend the movie and provide a glimmer of hope for the human race.

Frank talks with great affection about his old friend Kevin McCarthy (1914-2010), the hero who carries the film from beginning to end (and throws in a couple of imitations of him as well!). We wrap out with a toast to Kevin, who is missed by his many friends and fans across the globe. “They’re already here! You’re next! You’re next!”

Note: as this is one of Damn Dirty Geeks' earliest podcast episodes retreived from our archives, its recording levels are not up to our standards of clarity and mixing. But you'll still enjoy the discussion of this great film as a vintage treat from the DDG.