During the height of the UFO craze in the 1950's Charles H. Schneer came to add more flame to the fire with Earth VS the Flying Saucers, bringing Ray Harryhausen to do the special effects. The story tells of Dr. Russell Marvin (Hugh Marlowe)and his wife Carol Marvin (Joan Taylor) who are scientists heading Operation Skyhook experimenting with rockets to probe the upper atmosphere for future space flight. But for some reason all the rockets have disappeared shortly after launch. One day as they drive to the military base they hear a strange buzzing sound soon they realize that they are being followed by what appears to be a flying saucer. They keep the encounter a secret because that same day they will be launching the 12th rocket in hopes that this time they will maintain communication with it. Carols father Gen. John Hanley (Morris Ankrum) arrives at the testing site to stop the launch of the rocket knowing that it will fail, but its too late they launch to rocket into space shortly after they meet. As Dr. Marvin, Carol and Hanley have diner later that day at home they receive word that they have lost communication with the rocket. The following morning they visit the testing base again but this time a saucer makes an appearance and lands on the base. The military takes it as a threat an attack the saucer killing one of the aliens, the saucer retaliates and continues to destroy the entire base killing most of the personnel and trapping Dr. Marvin and Carol underneath the base. They take Hanley as prisoner and probe his mind for information. That night Dr Marvin finds out that the strange buzzing sound they heard in the car was a message telling the Dr that they were going to land on the base. He manages to get in contact with the aliens and they arrange a meeting. Dr Marvin is in lock down by the military and is told to stay in his hotel, he manages to escape Maj. Huglin, his Liaison Officer (Donald Curtis) and meet up with the aliens. Carol and the Major along with a police officer follow Dr. Marvin and enter the saucer together. Inside the saucer the aliens tell them that they shot the rockets down thinking they were weapons against them and to arrange a meeting with all the world leaders in Washington in 56 days. In the process the aliens destroy the S.S Destroyer to prove the power of their weapons. Dr. Marvin tries to convince Vice Adm. Enright and Gen. Edmunds but they don't believe the story of the aliens and the meeting. In the mean time Dr. Marvin and other scientists manage to come up with a weapon that will help fend off the invaders when they land. A saucers lands at the testing center and attacks them, they manage to test the weapon and it seems effective. In the commotion an alien is left behind, it manages to kill the other scientist but is killed by Huglin. The take the alien's helmet and study the device and decipher what appears to be a plan of attack. At the end of the 56 days the Saucers are seen flying over Washington and all major cities throughout the world and are met with force once more, an all out war ensues as the earth's military forces battles against the invading aliens. Many national landmarks are destroyed in the process but the war is won. After battle is over the aliens are destroyed and Dr. Marvin is given a golden metal by the UN and the president re-opens the space exploration project lead by Dr. Marvin.

Now if you want your typical 50's alien invasion film than this one is the king, EVTFS is one of the best films of this genre and the action sequences brought to life by the amazing skills of Ray Harryhausen are top notch, even though Ray has stated that this film was one of his least favorite his version of the flying saucers is amazing! he managed to give then a personality of their own! for what is worth this film is fun to watch from beginning to end. The final attack of the aliens in the city of Washington is epic seeing all those national landmarks been destroyed and looking cool was amazing! Earth VS The Flying Saucers is truly 50's camp but at least its one of the best out there!

 Creatures to look out for:

Trivia:

• The underground Skyhook control center interiors was actually the Playa del Ray Sewage Disposal Plant at Hermosa Beach, Ca.

• The Capitol and the Supreme Court building models cost $1500 each! the monument at $500 and the Capitol Steps $800!

• The Saucers were suspended by old recording wire for half of the film but Ray painted them out on each frame of the film.

• Originally the aliens looked more worm-like based on a sketch that Ray drew years before, he has stated that he has never been happy with the final design of the aliens, to him they looked phoney and stiff.