“The Devil Girl from Mars” (1954)
The Devil Girl from Mars, directed by David MacDonald. (U.K., 1954)
What do you know of power? The power that comes from MARS?! I can control power beyond your wildest dreams!
–Nyah, the Devil Girl from Mars
I really enjoyed this gem! It starts off like an Agatha Christie house-party mystery, with a cast of British and American characters assembled at a Scottish inn. There’s a waitress, an actress, an alky husband, a mysterious caretaker, a scientist, a reporter, and even an escaped prisoner. Each one has a story, and a few romances develop.
These events fall quickly into the background when a flying saucer from Mars lands in the moor behind the inn.
Nyah and her robot emerge from the spaceship in ray of light brighter than the sun! She has come to Earth from Mars to replenish the dwindling stock of men. She’s looking for the strongest specimens the Earth can provide!
Nyah (the majestic Patricia Laffan) is the perfect female drag queen. Dressed in sexy black PVC, she’d win costume contests at any Pride festival. Her satanic credentials are hinted at by a young child, who says she reminds him of the “Black Spider,” a reference to the devilish parables of Jeremias Gotthelf.
The movie was great fun, a perfect combination of stalwart British seriousness and delicious high camp!
