NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Imprint Blu-ray (May 2025): Imprint has transferred William Asher's The 27th Day to Blu-ray. We reviewed the Sony (on demand) DVD of The 27th Day back in 2010 HERE and a few captures below. Presently, this is only part of Imprint's Tales Of Adventure – Collection 5, which has The 27th Day (1957,) The Night The World Exploded (1957,) This Island Earth (1955,) Devil Girl From Mars (1954,) The Gamma People (1956,) and as a bonus, 1962's The Underwater City in standard-definition.  This new 1080P is in the slightly bastardized 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The higher resolution is an uptick from the SD in the usual areas: sharper, more balanced contrast, etc. The film is a quintessential product of 1950s low-budget science fiction cinema, characterized by minimalist production design, utilitarian cinematography, and a restrained approach to special effects that prioritizes narrative and atmosphere over spectacle. Cinematographer Henry Freulich (The Houston Story, The Crooked Web, Air Hawks, The Miami Story) employs a functional yet evocative visual style, incorporating noir-inspired techniques to heighten tension. The film’s lighting is stark and high-contrast, particularly in scenes of psychological or physical conflict. Interiors are sparse and functional, with locations, like newspaper offices, military command centers, and apartments furnished with mid-century modern decor -- think Formica tables, rotary phones, and utilitarian furniture. These settings anchor the film in a recognizable 1950s reality, reinforcing the idea that the alien threat disrupts everyday life. The film shares a dual-layered Blu-ray disc with 1957's The Night The World Exploded.

NOTE: We have added 58 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray, Imprint uses a linear PCM dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. The sound effects in The 27th Day are minimal but purposeful, designed to enhance the alien technology and heighten suspense without relying on elaborate audio design. Given the film’s modest budget, effects are achieved through practical means, likely using studio equipment and foley techniques, and are used sparingly to maintain a realistic tone. The film’s score, composed by Mischa Bakaleinikoff (The Whistler Series, The Scarlet Letter, The Werewolf, The Lineup, New Orleans Uncensored, The Crooked Web, Cell 2455 Death Row, Comanche Station, It Came from Beneath the Sea, The Giant Claw, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, The 27th Day, 20 Million Miles to Earth, Lady for a Day), a veteran of Columbia Pictures’ B-movies, is a minimalist yet effective orchestral arrangement typical of 1950s science fiction. The music relies heavily on strings, brass, and percussion to create a mood of suspense and unease, aligning with the film’s themes of existential threat and moral dilemma. The score is sparse, used strategically to punctuate key moments rather than dominate the film, reflecting both budgetary constraints and a deliberate choice to prioritize dialogue and story. It all sounds effectively functional and flat via the uncompressed transfer. Dialogue is the backbone of The 27th Day, carrying the weight of its philosophical themes and character development. Here it is clear and clean. Imprint offers optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Imprint Blu-ray offers no extras on this disc, only another film, The Night The World Exploded (1957.) There are new commentaries on some of the other films in the Tales Of Adventure – Collection 5 boxset. We hope to review / compare them all. 

We have covered the last Tales of Adventure Boxset - #4 Republic Serials - HERE.

William Asher's The 27th Day unfolds as a psychological and geopolitical thriller. The central theme is the ethical burden of wielding absolute power. The curious capsules symbolize a Pandora’s box, testing whether humanity can resist the temptation to destroy itself. Each character’s response reflects different facets of human nature: Clark’s pragmatism, Wingate’s compassion, Godofsky’s resilience, Su Tan’s selflessness, and Bechner’s intellectual struggle. The alien’s test is not merely about survival but  whether humanity deserves to survive based on its moral choices. This resonates with philosophical questions about free will and the consequences of unchecked power, akin to nuclear weapons, which loomed large in the 1950s psyche. The 27th Day is steeped in Cold War anxieties, reflecting fears of mutually assured destruction. The selection of protagonists from the U.S., U.K., Soviet Union, China, and Germany mirrors the era’s geopolitical fault lines. The film grapples with whether humanity is inherently destructive or capable of redemption. The 27th Day’s diverse cast was progressive for its time, though it still operates within 1950s conventions. Su Tan’s portrayal, while sympathetic, leans on stereotypes of Asian passivity, and Eve Wingate’s role as a romantic foil reflects gendered expectations. Nonetheless, the inclusion of a Soviet character with moral depth challenges McCarthy-era black-and-white narratives, suggesting a shared humanity across ideological divides. The 27th Day occupies a unique niche in 1950s science fiction, which often leaned on monster-driven horror or invasion narratives. Its low-budget production and occasional stilted dialogue mark it as a product of its time, but its ambitious themes elevate it above typical B-movie fare. The aliens are square dealers, but in the end, they can almost be heard chanting "U.S.A. U.S.A U.S.A.!" If you listen close enough, I believe you can hear the lead alien mutter under his breath about the Russians. It sounds like he says 'Lousy Commies,' but it is not represented by the subtitles. I am loving the content of this Imprint Blu-ray set, and we will attempt to review all the films as soon as we can. This is campy 50's sci-fi fare that I personally find irresistible.

Gary Tooze