The 27th Day (1957) – Review

Science fiction films with invading aliens are easily one of the more popular entries throughout the 1950s but in William Asher’s The 27th Day we get aliens who take an interesting tactic when it comes to teaching Earthlings a lesson or two and setting up a “benevolent” colonization.

Based on the novel by John Mantley, the narrative begins with a mysterious extraterrestrial race observing Earth’s nuclear capabilities – as aliens tend to do – and in response to humanity’s potential for self-destruction they’ve decided to intervene by providing five individuals from different parts of the world with capsules containing deadly weapons.  Their pick of humans consists of Englishwoman Evelyn Wingate, (Valerie French), American reporter Jonathan Clark (Gene Barry), Chinese peasant Su Tan (Maria McClay), German physicist Klaus Bechner (George Voskovec) and Soviet soldier Ivan Godofsky (Azemat Janti), who all mysteriously receive capsules containing deadly extraterrestrial microbes. The space traveller, known only as “The Alien” (Arnold Moss), hands each of them a capsule that grants the power to annihilate entire populations with nothing more than a single thought. The catch is that these capsules will only activate if opened on the 27th day.

“Did I mention these capsules come with an Advent Calendar?”

And why would these people be given such power? The Alien explains that he is the representative of a dying world that needs a new one to inhabit within the next 35 days, yet they are prohibited by their own moral code from killing intelligent life, so if humanity does not destroy itself, then the Aliens cannot invade and they will perish. Of course, they expect that humanity will use all the capsules, obliterating itself and leaving the Earth for the aliens to populate. Talk about a passive aggressive invasion plan. The film then follows each character as they grapple with the gravity of their newfound abilities and the ethical implications of holding such unimaginable power. The screenplay is by the book’s author and Mantley and the script does its best to explore the moral dilemmas faced by the characters as they grapple with the responsibility of deciding the fate of humanity.  At 75 minutes it also has a very Twilight Zone feel to it as you could easily expect Rod Serling to appear that the film’s climax to explain the moral of the story. Aliens on The Twilight Zone were well known for messing around with humanity, whether to see how they’d react to super strength or how to instill rampant paranoia among neighbours, so this particular Alien would certainly be right at home as a busybody extraterrestrial on that series.

Five Characters in Search of an Exit.

Stray Observations:

• The theme of aliens concerned with humanity’s proliferation of atomic bombs is quite reminiscent of Klaatu’s ultimatum in The Day the Earth Stood though a little more self-serving in this outing.
• The alien spacecraft in this movie was “borrowed” from another Columbia Pictures science fiction classic, Ray Harryhausen’s Earth vs. the Flying Saucers.
• Actor Gene Barry was no stranger to alien invasions as he starred in George Pal’s The War of the Worlds, though those aliens were a bit more overt with their invasion plans.
• The Alien refers to worlds in many other “universes,” but he must mean other “solar systems.” That or he’s not a very intelligent interstellar traveller.
• Of the five humans who were each given the boxes, only Su Tan has no dialogue in this movie. I’m not saying this film is racist but it seems a bit odd on the part of the filmmakers.  Then to add insult to injury, she’s not even credited.

A tragic and compelling character sidelined by a 1950s script.

One of the film’s strengths lies in its thought-provoking narrative, which goes beyond typical alien invasion tropes, instead, The 27th Day serves as a commentary on human nature, the potential for abuse of power, and the consequences of decisions made in the face of overwhelming responsibility. The film also excels in creating a tense atmosphere, heightened by the Cold War backdrop as the fear of nuclear annihilation permeating the 1950s was very real and is made quite palpable in this outing. The 27th Day uses this fear as a backdrop to intensify the stakes of the characters’ decisions, and despite being from diverse backgrounds they are underdeveloped and their decisions lack the emotional weight needed to make the audience truly invest in their struggles. This lack of depth prevents the film from reaching its full potential as a thought-provoking exploration of humanity’s moral fibre.

“Let’s find someplace to hide and hook up.”

While not a bad adaptation of the source material, the dialogue often feels stilted and lacks the natural flow necessary to convey the depth of the ethical and philosophical themes the movie is attempting to explore. This disconnect between the ambitious ideas at the core of the narrative and their execution on screen creates a noticeable dissonance one that hampers the film’s effectiveness. I also have a few issues with the touch-feely ending as its problematic resolution feels rushed and unsatisfying. The potential for a gripping and morally ambiguous conclusion is sacrificed for a more conventional ending, leaving us with a sense of missed opportunities. A more nuanced exploration of the consequences of the characters’ decisions could have elevated the film to a higher level.

If you are evil you will die, is not the most subtle moral.

As to the special effects, they may seem a little dated by today’s standards, when not relying on borrowed footage, but they were innovative for their time and showcased the filmmakers’ attempts to bring Mantley’s imaginative story to life. The focus, however, remains on the narrative and the moral quandaries faced by the characters rather than on flashy visuals and the black-and-white cinematography by Henry Freulich contributes to the overall atmosphere of suspense and brings the whole production up a notch. The 27th Day is more than just a typical sci-fi adventure; it raises profound questions about human nature, morality, and the consequences of unchecked power.

“With great power comes great responsibility.”

In conclusion, The 27th Day stands the test of time as a unique and intellectually stimulating science fiction film one whose exploration of moral quandaries, combined with solid performances and a compelling narrative sets it apart from its contemporaries, and despite its shortcomings it is a solid genre entry and one fans of classic science fiction will appreciate.