1963's "No Survivors Please." ("Der Chef wunscht keine Zeugen," or The Boss Does Not Want Witnesses) shows itself to be an intriguing addition to the alien invasion subgenre, and may require additional viewings to truly appreciate its impact. The shoestring budget precluded any special effects, the various crashes represented by stock footage, producer Hans Albin and screenwriter Peter Berneis sharing directorial credit, shooting in the style of a typical black and white Krimi. We kick off with a noted ambassador (Robert Cunningham) becoming the latest target for death by the Orion alien Chief (Rolf von Nauckhoff), leader of disembodied beings who were once human but now consist solely of 'superior intellect' after doing away with all emotions, taking over each corpse but still retaining memories of its human past. Gustavo Rojo receives special billing as primary assassin Armand de Guedez, on call to ensure that everyone winds up dead as planned, including brunette beauty Vera Svenson (Karen Blanguernon), whose shoe is playfully dropped from the correct height before Armand pushes her screaming over the railing. Like Phil Tucker's "The Cape Canaveral Monsters," the possessed victims often prove susceptible to mankind's supposed frailties, love shown to be his greatest strength, but is that enough to save the humanity of perceptive reporter Howard Moore (U. Friedrichsen) and secretary Ginny Desmond (toplined Maria Perschy), the two lovers who become aware of the truth? Howard's attempted seduction by a naked Vera is witnessed by Armand, she dismissing the lovesick newshound so that he lives to fight another day, the gun intended to shoot him instead being used by her own smiling killer. The opening third shows a number of scientists and military personnel succumbing to their extraterrestrial aggressors, discussing how it feels to occupy a dead shell (they need our planet for more space), intending that earth's inhabitants annihilate themselves by instigating nuclear war. The picture's budgetary shortcomings remain a factor in keeping viewers at a distance, but it's well acted to keep them off balance as they try to learn who survives and who does not. Perhaps even more obscure than ever today, this might still find cult status if only to offer a rare example of West German sci fi.
Review of No Survivors, Please
