Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Plot: In the small town of Santa Mira, a Doctor discovers his friends and neighbors are being replaced by emotionless aliens.
Stars: Kevin McCarthy, Diane Wynter, Carolyn Jones

SF Classic that has been remade many times. The original is still the best, since the camera work, acting, casting, and direction are very good, and at 80 minutes the story moves and never lets up. However, the set design, score, and special effects are at a B movie level. Producer/Director Don Siegel didn't have the budget to do better.

The film manages to cram a lot of plot into very little time. Like the 1978 version, the film neatly divides into three acts:

Act I -  We meet the main characters and find out that people are changing and no one knows why
Act II - Dr. Bennell and Jack Belicec find a pod person and try  to warn the authorities about the dangerous pods.

Act II -  Dr. Bennell and Becky Driscoll try to escape Santa Mira and warn the rest of America, while the police and pods chase after them.

The superiority of the 1956 version over the 1978 version 

1) The casting. Kevin McCarthy and Diane Wynter are much more attractive, and likable pair.

2)  Act I is much shorter,   We find the first Pod person at the 20 minute mark.  The '78 takes 40 minutes.

3)  The need for Dr. Bennell to escape and warn America,  is much more engaging. The pods have only taken over a small town, they can still be stopped.

4)  Seeing people's relatives, friends, and neighbors being turned into Pods is more impactful than seeing Big city strangers as is done in the 78 version.

5)  Dr. Bennell isn't a  Rambo,  he injects two men with knockout drugs, and hides in an old mine. That's it.

Best Scene:    Bennell kisses Becky and realizes she's turned Pod.

Best Quote:

Bennell : This is the oddest thing I've ever heard of. Let's hope we don't catch it. I'd hate to wake up some morning and find out that you weren't you.

Becky: I'm not the high school kid you used to romance, so how can you tell?

Bennell : You really want to know?

Becky : Yes

[Miles kisses Becky] 

Bennell: Mmmm, you're Becky Driscoll, all right!

Becky: Is this an example of your bedside manner, doctor?

Bennell : No, ma'am. That comes later.

Kauffman : Love, desire, ambition, faith - without them, life's so simple, believe me.

Bennell : I don't want any part of it.

Kauffman : You're forgetting something, Miles.

Bennell : What's that?

Kauffman : You have no choice.