Earth vs. the Flying Saucers

Earth vs. the Flying Saucers

Year: 1956

Runtime: 83 mins

Language: English

Director: Fred F. Sears

ActionScience FictionMonsters aliens sci-fi and the apocalypseWar and historical adventureImaginative space odysseys and alien encounters

Amid a surge of UFO reports and a series of disastrous rocket launches, the world faces an assault by the last survivors of a vanished extraterrestrial empire. Their seemingly invulnerable flying saucers descend on Earth, wielding devastating ray weapons that threaten mass annihilation.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956)

Trace every key event in Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Alien saucer sighting during commute

Dr. Russell Marvin and his wife Carol are driving to work when a flying saucer hangs in the sky overhead. They film and record the eerie sound on a tape, but hesitate to alert their superiors without proof. This sighting marks the first hint that a mysterious extraterrestrial force may be involved with Project Skyhook.

Morning Highway en route to Skyhook facility
2

11th satellite falls from orbit

Shortly after the satellite launch, the 11th craft tumbles from orbit, and Marvin privately suspects alien involvement. He admits that contact with many satellites has been lost and that he has no verified explanation. The incident deepens the mystery surrounding Skyhook.

Shortly after launch Launch site / Skyhook vicinity
3

Saucer lands at Skyhook facility

A saucer lands at the Skyhook facility the next day, followed by a group of aliens in metallic suits. One alien walks into the main building peacefully but is shot by guards; the others remain protected by an invisible force field. The scene sets the crisis into a violent confrontation.

Next day Skyhook facility, front entrance
4

Facility attacked and civilians slaughtered

The saucer lifts off and returns fire, inflicting destruction across the facility. Most personnel are killed, while the Marvins—trapped below ground—somehow survive the catastrophe. The attack confirms the aliens' hostility and power.

During the attack Skyhook facility
5

General Hanley is captured

General Hanley is captured and taken aboard the alien craft during the assault. Marvin learns of the capture and realizes the crisis has expanded beyond a terrestrial accident. Hanley's disappearance becomes a key focal point for the investigation.

During the assault Skyhook facility
6

Marvin decodes the alien message

Marvin decodes a hidden message on his tape recorder, realizing the aliens' goal was simply to meet with him. The revelation shifts the crisis from testing satellites to direct diplomatic contact. The timing underscores the aliens' calm, calculating demeanor.

Immediately after the attack Skyhook facility
7

Abduction and aboard the saucer

Marvin, Carol, and Major Huglin pursue the aliens and are taken aboard a saucer. Inside, the aliens extract knowledge directly from General Hanley's brain to reveal their telepathic abilities and depth of power. The trio is briefly exposed to the aliens' advanced technology and cold logic.

Soon after boarding Aboard alien saucer
8

Aliens reveal their fate and purpose

On the saucer, the aliens explain they are the last of their species, aged and sustained by protective garments. They reveal that they have shot down all launched satellites to prevent Earth from joining their destroyed solar system. Their language is clinical, and Carol begins to break under the chill of their worldview.

During captivity Aboard alien saucer
9

Patrol officer and mind control

Carol grows increasingly irrational as the aliens maintain their detached demeanor. A patrol officer, despite Marvin's attempt to stop him, shoots at the aliens and is subjected to their mind-control as punishment. The aliens warn that Hanley and the officer will be returned later, implying a grim timetable.

During the encounter Aboard alien saucer
10

Diplomatic meet in 56 days

Before releasing the Marvins, the aliens state they will meet the world's leaders in 56 days in Washington, D.C. to negotiate Earth's occupation. Marvin, Carol, and Huglin are left with the ominous knowledge that humanity's future hinges on diplomatic talks. The moment marks a shift from resistance to strategic planning.

56 days later Washington, D.C.
11

Counter-weapon and discovery

Marvin's later observations reveal that the aliens' protective suits are made of solidified electricity and grant them enhanced auditory perception. He develops a counter-weapon against their saucers and tests it successfully against a single craft. The breakthrough provides a glimmer of hope for Earth's defense.

Weeks after initial contact Skyhook facility / field test
12

City-wide assault and breakthrough

Groups of alien saucers attack Washington, Paris, London, and Moscow, and conventional weapons prove futile against their force fields. The defenders discover that the aliens can be killed by small arms when outside the force fields. Marvin deploys his sonic weapon, turning the tide and halting the assault.

During the city assaults Washington, D.C.; Paris; London; Moscow
13

Skyhook restored with Marvin in charge

After repelling the assault, Project Skyhook is reestablished with Marvin once again in charge. Earth's defense network reorganizes around the new countermeasure and the pragmatic leadership Marvin provides. The crisis ends with a renewed resolve to defend the planet and pursue diplomatic channels.

After the attack Skyhook facility

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:06

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Earth vs. the Flying Saucers Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Earth vs. the Flying Saucers

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