10 Intriguing Facts About Invasion of the Body Snatchers

For the past six decades, viewers have debated the underlying message of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Some interpret it as a hidden commentary on the rise of communism, while others—such as the story's creator, novelist Jack Finney—argue it’s simply a thrilling, apolitical tale. Regardless of interpretation, it's clear that Invasion of the Body Snatchers has secured its place as a timeless horror masterpiece. Released on this day in 1956, it continues to send chills down the spine.

1. IT ORIGINATED FROM A MAGAZINE SERIAL.

In late 1954, Collier’s magazine published a three-part series that would eventually be hailed as “the year’s most original suspense story.” Penned by Jack Finney, The Body Snatchers captivated producer Walter Wanger, who, eager to bring the story to the big screen, began negotiating movie rights even before finishing the second installment.

2. THE FILM WAS COMPLETED IN A SWIFT 23 DAYS.

With a modest budget of $380,000 (equivalent to about $3.3 million today), Invasion of the Body Snatchers began shooting in Sierra Madre, California on March 23, 1955. Horror fans might recognize the small town, which also served as the backdrop for scenes in Halloween (1978) and The Fog (1980).

3. DIRECTOR DON SIEGEL PULLED A PRANK ON HIS LEAD ACTRESS USING ONE OF THE FAKE PODS.

Dana Wynter portrayed the film's leading lady, Becky Driscoll. There’s a legend that Siegel once snuck into Wynter’s house and stashed a life-sized pod prop under her bed. However, the actress recalled the story differently in a 2001 interview. “He left it on my doorstep,” Wynter said. “Don Siegel was courting this girl [who lived next door], and he would pass my cottage all the time. And one night, he just left it on the doorstep ... I nearly broke my neck, because when you open your front door to go to your car, you don’t expect to find something large on your doorstep.”

4. THE MAIN ACTOR PROPOSED A TITLE CHANGE.

In the film, alien pods replace sleeping humans with lifeless replicas. As a result, when Kevin McCarthy was cast as Dr. Miles Bennell (the character who uncovers the truth), he suggested that Invasion of the Body Snatchers should be renamed Sleep No More.

You may be curious why the final title differs from the one used for Finney’s original serial. In 1884, Robert Louis Stevenson wrote a short story titled The Body Snatcher, which was adapted into an RKO film in 1945. To prevent confusion with that earlier film, Siegel’s version was rebranded as Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

5. THE FILM WAS ORIGINALLY MEANT TO BE MUCH FUNNIER.

“I thought the idea of pods growing into human likeness would seem absurd to the characters,” Siegel remembered. “I wanted to play it for laughs, with the characters not taking the danger seriously.” In an attempt to add humor, he filmed several comedic scenes, which were later removed by Allied Artists, the film’s distributor. “In their esteemed words, ‘horror films are horror films, and there’s no place for humor,’” Siegel explained. “I took that to mean that in their pod brains, there was no room for humor.”

6. LIFE-SIZE MOLDS OF THE LEAD ACTORS WERE CREATED.

In one of the film's most chilling moments, the four main characters stumble upon half-formed replicas of themselves emerging from a set of pods. To create these eerie doubles, McCarthy, Wynter, King Donovan (“Jack Belicec”), and Carolyn Jones (“Teddy Belicec”) were positioned on slanted boards, and the crew covered them in plaster of Paris from head to toe. These molds were then filled with foam rubber. During this lengthy process, Wynter found herself the target of yet another practical joke—this time from the mold makers. 'I was in this thing while it hardened,' she recalled. 'I was breathing through straws … and the rest of me was encased, like a sarcophagus. The guys making it tapped on the back and said, ‘Dana, listen, we won’t be long, we’re just going out for lunch!’

7. THE FILMMAKERS WORRIED THAT KEVIN MCCARTHY MIGHT NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE FILM'S FINAL SCENE.

The movie’s action required Kevin McCarthy, the lead actor, to run relentlessly across various terrains. In several scenes, his character sprints for his life. 'I got Charlie horses,' McCarthy confessed. In one of the final scenes, Dr. Bennell frantically runs through traffic, shouting 'They’re here already! You’re next! You’re next!' Given McCarthy’s lack of rest, Siegel instructed his stunt drivers to stay particularly vigilant in case the actor lost his balance. 'I was terrified that his timing would be off and he might fall under the wheels of the cars and trucks,' Siegel admitted.

8. THE OPENING AND CLOSING SCENES WERE ADDED AT THE LAST MINUTE.

Allied Artists didn’t just trim a few jokes; they insisted on a completely different conclusion. The film was originally supposed to end with Dr. Bennell watching helplessly as truckloads of pods drove away into the distance. Wanting a more optimistic ending, Allied Artists pushed for a slightly more positive conclusion. Despite Siegel’s strong objections, he was instructed to film a new opening and final scene (‘I reluctantly consented,’ he said). The new intro shows Bennell in a police station, telling his story as an extended flashback. After the infamous ‘You’re next!’ scene, the authorities start to believe his tale.

9. THE FILM COULD'VE BEEN NARRATED BY ORSON WELLES OR RAY BRADBURY.

Walter Wanger was keen on having Orson Welles appear in two scenes to bookend the movie. He envisioned Welles delivering a chilling soliloquy at the start, followed by a somber statement at the end: 'In this day and age, anything can happen. And if you’re asleep when it does, you’re next.' Unfortunately, scheduling conflicts prevented Welles from joining the project. Wanger then considered offering the narrator role to legendary science fiction author Ray Bradbury, but eventually decided to scrap the narrator entirely.

10. KEVIN MCCARTHY MADE A GUEST APPEARANCE IN THE 1978 REMAKE.

Donald Sutherland took over the lead role in Philip Kaufman’s 1978 remake of the film, which brought a darker and bloodier version of the story. In a memorable moment, two generations collide when Kevin McCarthy throws himself in front of Sutherland's car, shouting ‘Help! They’re coming! Listen to me!’