I wanted to be a director and producer and writer, but in the early '40's the union wouldn't let you get through the gates. You couldn't get on a crew, or even learn to direct.

Buchanan is perhaps best known for exploitation science fiction and other genre films including Free White and 21 High Yellow The Naked Witch (made for $8000) The Loch Ness Horror and Mistress of the Apes. Buchanan worked as an assistant on The Marrying Kind (1952). It was while working here where his film career got off the ground.

He is perhaps most famous for the films In the Year 2889 The Eye Creatures Mars Needs Women and It's Alive!. Many of his titles have landed on "worst movie" lists or in the public domain but all at least broke even and many made a profit.