ONE-MAN'S WAR! REMEMBERING 'THE INVADERS'

They walk amongst us. David Vincent (Roy Thinnes) is caught in the presence of THE INVADERS. Image: CBS PARAMOUNT.

How does a nightmare begin?

Well, for architect David Vincent it was with a closed and deserted diner on a far-off road, looking for a shortcut that he never found. It began with the landing of a craft from another galaxy, right before his eyes, and the discovery that aliens in human form were amongst us and ready to change the face of our world in order to make it ripe for their colonisation. Friends, work colleagues and loved ones failed to believe the incredible story Vincent continued to tell about his first contact with beings from beyond the stars, but his soon one-man war against THE INVADERS, a dying race whose plans against Humanity are legion in number, certainly makes a difference in delaying the alien beachhead. But how long can one man last against such an overwhelming and deadly threat...

One of the human formed aliens raises its weaponry.

Title sequence: Opening title sequence of The Invaders — Critical Commons

One of the all too rare science fiction series from the seemingly unlikely producer-ship of Quinn Martin, primarily known for his detective/thriller series like CANNON and THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO, THE INVADERS was presumably initiated into production because, at its heart, it was basically a chase show (one also showing McCarthy era/cold war paranoia allegories relevant for their time) that could be accepted by straightforward, not necessarily sci-fi based audiences, what with its similarities to another one of Martin's hit sixties TV series, THE FUGITIVE, but with added alien baddies instead of a one-armed man for our beleaguered but brave lead star to chase (intriguingly, the series was originally planned to have been half hour long and serialised two to three times a week). The underrated Roy Thinnes gave an excellent main performance as the isolated but determined Vincent who, every week, risked his life and credibility to thwart the alien cause, usually, finally, helped out by episodic guest stars who believed in his efforts and helped him save the day in the last, normally action-orientated, act. The Invaders of the title were also quite effective and often unnerving to watch in their human personas (whose only tell tale sign were their slightly deformed little fingers), and were often well cast with some of the top TV actors of the period (the likes of Michael Rennie, Alfred Ryder and Edward Asner), using some nifty alien technology including disintegrator weapons and a multi-coloured circular disc device that caused cerebral hemorrhages on humans and thus kept the aliens undercover in their invasion work- a handy device that also cut back on the expensive behind the scenes need for heavy optical effects.

An Invader begins to incinerate when shot.

The first season of the ultimately two-year running series is easily the best, as there's many more overall science fiction elements in there to enjoy, especially in the the first half a dozen episodes which fuse the thriller/sci-fi genre well and are expertly paced action/adventure tales. Though no expert in the genre, Producer Alan Armer would prove a respected choice for the show, alongside another fine creative choice in writer/script editor Anthony Spinner, handling and adapting the original series format created by Larry Cohen, generating a fair amount of suspense alongside some genuinely fine creative talent with sci-fi experience (mostly on the prior iconic series THE OUTER LIMITS and the original STAR TREK), including directors Robert Butler and Joseph Sargent. The shows aforementioned special effects, showing the aliens classic flying saucers, plus the scary optical effects of them incinerating when killed, would be well done by the Howard Anderson Company, whilst iconic film and TV composer, and OUTER LIMITS contributor, Dominic Frontiere's classy and sometimes unnerving, surreal music really gave the series an overall atmospheric quality boost.

Vincent infiltrates one of the alien ships.

A popular success internationally (especially in the UK (where it aired originally on the ITV channel in the sixties and later, in numerous repeat airings, on the BBC in the eighties and nineties) and France-(where Thinnes would become a well-known name, alongside his then wife Lynn Loring), THE INVADERS, spanning an additional book and colour comic series in the US and UK, is one of those rare shows that has held up very well over time. A planned nineties feature film remake, in which both silver screen heavyweights Harrison Ford and Alec Baldwin were offered the lead role of Vincent sadly never materialised, with Ford instead starring in a commercially successful remake of THE FUGITIVE instead, though a mini series revival/re-imaging starring ENTERPRISE's Scott Bakula as the new hero facing the alien threat, with a guest cameo from Thinnes as David Vincent, was reasonably successful if critically panned, though a possible new series f3ll through the cracks. Still, with Hollywood's current need and box-office grosses obsession with re-makes and re-imaginings, it surely won't be long before David Vincent is resurrected to help fight a bigger, more intense alien threat on either our TV screens or at your nearest multiplex...

Here's KOOL TV's favourite episodes from Season One (of which pretty much all of that year is of a very high and consistently strong standard).

Several aliens inside their regeneration stations.

BEACHHEAD (Series opener). The Invaders have arrived on Earth and David Vincent has seen them. The only problem is his trying to convince a disbelieving world that that the nightmare has already begun. Following the clues to one of their colonisation areas (located in a small and obscure township), Vincent's one man war against the alien aggressors begins. A terrific series launch, with some scary and surreal moments from writer Anthony Wilson, backed up with sterling and atmospheric direction via soon to be series regular Joseph Sargent. Note: an extended version of the pilot episode is available on the recent US release of the series.

THE EXPERIMENT.Vincent seeks out an astrophysicist (Laurence Naismith) with proof of the aliens arrival on Earth, but the enemy is soon in pursuit. Anthony Spinner carves out a great adventure story, fast paced with an explosive finale. A strong guest cast also includes a fine performance from Roddy McDowall, whose character is brainwashed into helping the alien cause.

THE LEECHES. The aliens are kidnapping some of the world's finest scientists in their specialised fields. Vincent is determined to find out why. Guest starring Arthur Hill. 

Suzanne Pleshette as Vikki and Vincent run from the enemy in The Mutation.

THE MUTATION. In the Mexican desert, the aliens set a trap for Vincent, where no one is what they seem. Suzanne Pleshette has a memorable guest starring role as David's love interest with a twist, in a vivid script from David Chandler and George Eckstein, alongside some imaginative location filming from director Paul Wendkos.

VIKOR. Has successful industrialist and war hero George Vikor (a powerful performance from HAWAII FIVE O's Jack Lord) allied himself to the alien cause? David must discover the truth before it's too late. Alfred Ryder makes the first of two appearances in the series as a ruthless enemy leader.

An alien ship lands to deposit crew and cargo.

DOOMSDAY MINUS ONE. At the eve of a nuclear test, and fearing alien infiltration at his army base, Major Rick Graves (William Windom) calls in Vincent in a race against time that could decimate a section of America.

THE INNOCENT. Vincent is abducted by the aliens, as one of their leaders (Michael Rennie) tries to convince our disbelieving hero that their arrival on Earth is of ultimate benefit to humankind.

Vincent continues his fight back against the extra terrestrials.

MOONSHOT. Has an upcoming moonshot been compromised by the aliens? Vincent heads to Florida to discover the truth, in an exciting tale. Guest starring MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE's dependable Peter Graves.

WALL OF CRYSTAL. The aliens target David's brother Bob (Linden Chiles) to try and stop Vincent from finally revealing their existence on Earth in another suspenseful tale that gives a bit more depth to David's character, and additional jeopardy to his continued situation.

KOOL TV will look back at Season Two of THE INVADERS in a future article.

Get hold of the complete series here (note: the UK releases have no extras compared to the US versions): The Invaders - The Believer's Box Complete Box Set DVD: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV