Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) - Special Edition Blu-rayOlive Films just announced that they will be releasing a Signature Edition Blu-ray of the 1956 classic Don Siegel sci-fi film Invasion of the Body Snatchers next month on October 16, 2018.

Jack Finney's 1955 classic novel called The Body Snatchers has spawned no fewer than four Hollywood interpretations of the story in addition to countless television adaptations. Finney's story and its underlying social commentary is simply that strong.

“They’re already here! You’re next!” With these chilling words, Invasion of the Body Snatcherssounded a clarion call to the dangers of conformity, paranoia, and mass hysteria at the heart of 1950s American life. Considered one of the greatest science fiction films ever made, Invasion of the Body Snatchers stars Kevin McCarthy (Academy Award® nominee, Best Supporting Actor, Death of A Salesman – 1952) as Miles Bennell, a doctor in a small California town whose patients are becoming increasingly overwrought, accusing their loved ones of being emotionless imposters. They’re right! Plant-like aliens have invaded Earth, taking possession of humans as they sleep and replicating them in giant seed pods. Convinced that a catastrophic epidemic is imminent, Bennell, in a terrifying race for his life, must warn the world of this deadly invasion of the pod people before it’s too late.


So, it is no wonder that the long-standing argument about which version of the story - the 1956 Siegel version, the 1978 Donald Sutherland version, or the 1993 one called simply Body Snatchers, is the best continues to rage on to this day. Regardless, it is not even up for discussion that the '56 Siegel original is a very solid flick and stands on its own in the debate. Notice we didn't include 2007's Nicole Kidman rendition called The Invasion.

Well, fans of the original will certainly be delighted to know that Olive Films is giving its special brand of tender loving care to the film with a Signature Edition treatment that features a new hi-def digital restoration plus a couple of audio commentaries, and plenty of supplemental materials to make sci-fi fans giddy with delight. {googleads}

The release is limited to just 5,000 units, so you'll need to act fairly quickly to add a copy to your collection.Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) - Special Edition Blu-ray

Here's a listing of what Olive Signature Features are included:

  • New High-Definition digital restoration
  • Audio Commentary by film historian Richard Harland Smith
  • Audio Commentary by actors Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, and filmmaker Joe Dante
  • “The Stranger in Your Lover’s Eyes” – A two-part visual essay with actor and son of director Don Siegel, Kristoffer Tabori, reading from his father’s book A Siegel Film
  • “The Fear is Real” – Filmmakers Larry Cohen and Joe Dante on the film’s cultural significance
  • “I No Longer Belong: The Rise and Fall of Walter Wanger” – Film scholar and author Matthew Bernstein discusses the life and career of the film’s producer
  • “Sleep No More: Invasion of the Body Snatchers Revisited” – An appreciation of the film featuring actors Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, along with comments from film directors and fans, John Landis, Mick Garris, and Stuart Gordon
  • “The Fear and the Fiction: The Body Snatchers Phenomenon” – Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, along with film directors John Landis, Mick Garris and Stuart Gordon, discuss the making of the film, its place in history, and its meaning
  • 1985 archival interview with Kevin McCarthy hosted by Tom Hatten
  • “Return to Santa Mira” – An exploration of the film’s locations
  • “What’s In a Name?” – On the film’s title
  • Gallery of rare documents detailing aspects of the film’s production including the never-produced opening narration to have been read by Orson Welles
  • Essay by author and film programmer Kier-La Janisse
  • Original theatrical trailer

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) - Special Edition Blu-ray