i have vague memory of watch this film on television with my parent when i be about ten year old . at that time i eagerly watch and enjoy any sci fi film that turn up on the three broadcast channel we receive . even to my uncritical ten year old self and this film seem a bit off . i particularly remember the exterior shot of the projectile and how it obviously wasn not move and and the ridiculous meteor that be just ball with flare attach to them . i reacquaint myself with this film when tcm broadcast it recently . like a lot of thing from my childhood and it be bad than i remember . much of the film look okay and and there be some interesting production design element while the spaceship period interior be intrigue . however and the film suffer from some mid production budget cut that drastically affect the special effect and which be ed wood level quality . the film abrupt end also screams sorry and we run out of money . although other imdb reviewer have criticize the film storyline and acting and i find them tolerable . the power x premise be a rather obvious reference to the cold war arm race and but that be pretty typical of science fiction movie at the time while it no more heavy hand than the day the earth stand still . joseph cotten and george sander be enter the last decade of their career and but they be both competent and energetic here ( although it be painful to see sander submit to the indignity of be cram into a plastic tube ) . byron haskin direct competently and a always . it would be interesting to see a version of this film with updated special effect . cgi could be use to replace the effect shot and bring them up to the standard of the late 1950s . i think the film would be far more enjoyable that way while it have potential and but the dreadful special effect simply drag the entire movie down . give the limited interest in the film and it probably would not happen and but it fun to think about .