As the star of the 1956 horror film, Kevin McCarthy had nothing but fond memories of working on Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

“My task in the film is what I’ve always sought in my work, which is an extreme naturalness,” said the actor during an interview with the Asbury Park Press. “And yet maybe, even though it’s natural, it’s pungent with all kinds of feelings and motives and attitudes that are within me somewhere, but are not being painted as being extravagant - if I can help it.”

One of the most climactic scenes in the film came when McCarthy’s runs throughout the town, even onto the road, in an effort to warn others about the growing threat of pod people.

McCarthy admitted that filming the scene was physically taxing.

“It was pretty hectic, because most of what I did was on foot,” said the actor. “Climbing that hill, up those stairs, around, then down the hill on the other side, all the way over to the tunnel in the Bronson Canyon area…I noticed in one of the scenes, as I recall, I had charley-horses in the calves of my legs from the exercise they’d be getting, in the scurrying about and trying to do everything. We were on a short schedule. We did everything pretty quick. I don’t think we were shooting for more than 17 or 18 days altogether. And down the hill and on the freeway. But it was so exciting in some way.”

McCarthy’s excitement seemed to lessen any drowsiness. “I have not the recollection of the fatigue, and yet you can see - I was climbing up here and pulling myself up the back of the truck, and looking in and seeing the pods inside and carrying on, and trying to climb up the side to grab the guy’s attention in the cab and the truck,” said the actor. “Well, it was hard work, but it was exciting.”