BODY STEALERS, THE (1969, UK, 91m, 15) **
Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
dist. Tigon Pictures (UK), Allied Artists Pictures (USA); pr co. Tigon Pictures; d. Gerry Levy; w. Michael St. Clair, Gerry Levy (based on a story by Michael St. Clair); pr. Tony Tenser; ph. John Coquillon (Eastmancolor | 1.85:1); m. Reg Tilsley; ed. Howard Lanning; ad. C. Wilfred Arnold.
cast: Patrick Allen (Bob Megan), Hilary Heath (Julie Slade (as Hilary Dwyer)), Pamela Conway (Lorna (as Lorna Wilde)), George Sanders (Gen. Armstrong), Maurice Evans (Dr. Matthews), Neil Connery (Jim Radford), Robert Flemyng (Wing Commander Baldwin), Allan Cuthbertson (Hindesmith), Carl Rigg (Pilot Officer Briggs), Sally Faulkner (Joanna), Michael Culver (Lt. Bailes), Shelagh Fraser (Mrs. Thatcher), Michael Graham (Pilot), Carol Hawkins (Paula), Brian Harrison (Pilot), Dixon Adams (David), Derek Pollitt (Davies), Max Latimer (Guard Sergeant), Ralph Carrigan (MP), Johnny Wade (Orderly).
Weak and cheap sci-fi thriller in which NATO brings in Allen to investigate the disappearance of several skydivers during descent. A preposterous scenario is not helped by a script saddled with wooden dialogue and a cast that is not invested in the material, notably top-billed Saunders and Evans. Allen does his best to inject some life into the production, but the story fails to capitalise on its premise, and the characters are decidedly one-dimensional.
