Made by the Children's Film Foundation from a story provided by H.G.Wells' younger son Frank, the title suggests science fiction, but when it comes to rest the saucer actually transforms itself (like a snail emerging from its shell) into a cute little ET from Venus that resembles a penguin in a white niqab, can communicate with humans through telepathy, make time go backwards by rolling its eyes; and also proves adept at robbing banks.
Named 'Meba' because he resembles an amoeba, the animated special effects depicting him in flight (when he resembles Casper the Friendly Ghost) make Edward D. Wood Jr.'s hubcaps look like '2001'; but aided by Frank North's atmospheric location photography and Jack Beaver's jaunty score it makes remarkably vivid viewing, and like most films from its time now evokes a world as lost as the silent era.
Being a CFF production, a gang of crooks (led by Raymond Rollett) inevitably attempt to muscle in on the action but are seen off without too much difficulty by three youngsters (one of them Asian, interestingly enough) with a little help from their Venusian friend; whose remarkable similarity to a certain ET has already been remarked upon by my predecessors on this board.
Named 'Meba' because he resembles an amoeba, the animated special effects depicting him in flight (when he resembles Casper the Friendly Ghost) make Edward D. Wood Jr.'s hubcaps look like '2001'; but aided by Frank North's atmospheric location photography and Jack Beaver's jaunty score it makes remarkably vivid viewing, and like most films from its time now evokes a world as lost as the silent era.
Being a CFF production, a gang of crooks (led by Raymond Rollett) inevitably attempt to muscle in on the action but are seen off without too much difficulty by three youngsters (one of them Asian, interestingly enough) with a little help from their Venusian friend; whose remarkable similarity to a certain ET has already been remarked upon by my predecessors on this board.