The Cosmic man

I recently viewed an Image DVD release of this film, one of the Wade Williams editions, so the picture quality was very good. This is a rather typical fifties low-budget sci-fi tale about alien visitation. The plot hinges on the arrival of a mysterious object from deep space, landing in an area named Stone Canyon (maybe it's Bronson Canyon   ). The military (usually represented by Paul Langton as a colonel) investigates and finds what looks like a giant golf ball, hovering about a meter above the ground. Also on the spot is a preeminent scientist (Bruce Bennett, one of the early film Tarzans, when he went under the name Herman Brix).  Soon after, a mysterious figure is prowling around the local town at night, scaring the ladies and making dogs nervous. It must be an alien..! (played by none other than John Carradine).  

Much of this plot copies the famous fifties sf film from the start of that decade, The Day the Earth Stood Still.  It revolves around the more advanced alien visitor, his impenetrable ship, the suspicious military, the understanding scientist and even a local woman and her crippled son who figure into the story. The alien seeks lodging and the woman runs the local inn. Though not without interest - it's a fairly intelligent plot about both mankind's doltishness and its potential through scientific inquiry - it's still pretty slow, talky and derivative. Some of the spare FX are also interesting - especially the depiction of the slightly transparent Cosmic Man when he's not just a man wearing a hat and sunglasses. Carradine's role is rather small, however, and the real star is Bennett. BoG's Score: 5 out of 10