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| "Attack
of the 50 Foot Woman" - 1958 |
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Attack
of the 50 Foot Woman," the 1958 cult classic, is everything
that the 1957 science fiction film "The Incredible
Shrinking Man" is not. It is about a woman instead
of a man, growing bigger instead of shrinking, vengeance
instead of philosophy, and bad instead of good. However,
I come down on the side of those that think this film is
gloriously bad and therefore an enjoyable camp romp. Heiress
Nancy Archer (Allison Hayes) is driving around in the California
desert on Route 66 when a satellite crashes to earth and
she has an encounter with a giant. Nancy heads back to
town and tells everyone what happened, but the police just
think she has been off on one of her drinking binges again
(Nancy has been institutionalized in the past, you see).
As for her husband, Harry (William Hudson), he is too busy
paying attention to that cheap tramp Honey Parker (Yvette
Vickers). Only now Harry sees his big chance to have Nancy
declared mentally incompetent so he can get her $50 million
inheritance and that big diamond she wears on the cheap
chain around her neck. Fortunately, Nancy is again abducted
by the giant alien and when she comes back to town she
is 50-feet tall and ready to go on the attack with Harry
her prime target. The sequence as Nancy slowly but surely
trashes the town as she tracks down Harry redeems the rest
of the film, even if the same shot shows up repeatedly
(albeit sometimes backwards). The sight of Allison Hayes
in her cloth bikini is as memorable an image as you will
find in science fiction films from the Fifties, right up
there with Gort's appearance in "The Day the Earth
Stood Still." Up to that point the film belongs to
Yvette Vickers, who attains a level of performance as a
bad girl usually reserved for your more traditional exploitation
films from this period. "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman" can
be read as a proto-feminist film, with Nancy's crashing
through the roof of her house being viewed as a metaphor
for breaking the boundaries of repression which limited
the growth of women in the real world. But where is the
fun in that? Harry done Nancy wrong and fate has given
Nancy the opportunity to engage in payback. |
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| "Attack
Of The Crab Monsters" - 1957 |
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If
you see only one talking crab monster movie in your life
then this 1957 bad B-movie from director Roger Corman is
the one to check out. The monsters are stupid looking,
the dialog is laughable, but just keep in mind the film's
tagline--"From the depths of the sea... a tidal wave
of terror!"--and enjoy the film. The idea is that
some scientist types are off to a Pacific island to study
the effects of atomic radiation (they are bad; worse than
you can imagine). What they discover are a pair of giant
crabs who (wait until you hear this) ate the previous group
of scientists, thereby absorbing their knowledge and allowing
them to imitate the voices of their human victims so they
can get more people to munch on. Just to make things fair
the humans have guns and grenades, but they are trapped
on the island when their plane explodes and bad weather
stops their radios from working. Oh, and did I mention
that the island is slowly sinking into the sea? Of
course the scientists are mostly menu items, which leaves
it to our hero, Hank (Russell "The Professor" Johnson),
who proudly declares "I'm no scientist, I'm a technician
and a handy man." Well, those are the people who made
this country and most monster movies great. The human voices
from the crabs are rather lame, but the clicking sound
they make with their pinchers has its moments. This is
a nice example of an early Corman quick and dirty production,
the second of nine films the director made that year: "Not
of This Earth," "Naked Paradise," "Teenage
Doll," "The Saga of the Viking Women and Their
Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent," "The
Undead," "Sorority Girl," "Rock All
Night," and "Carnival Rock." But none of
those have fake looking talking crabs rolling around on
wheels on a sinking island talking with the voices of the
human beings they consumed. Look for screenwriter Charles
B. Griffith as Tate and keep in mind that actors Beach
Dickerson (Ron Fellows) and Ed Nelson (Ensign Quinlan)
are doing double-duty as the operators of the crab monsters. "Attack
of the Crab Monsters" definitely goes in the so bad
it is good category. In fact, this one might become your
textbook definition of bad Science Fiction B-Movie. It
is a two-star movie but a four-star experience. |
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| "Beginning
Of The End" - 1957 |
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This 1957 drive-in
classic comes straight from the mind of creature expert Bert
L. Gordon. Giant grasshoppers wreak havoc on a small town
after a failed radiation experiment by the dept of agriculture
creates the destructive creatures. Now on the march towards
Chicago, and seemingly hell-bent on taking over the world,
can this menace be stopped, or have we reached the BEGINNING
OF THE END for mankind?
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| "Creature
from The Black Lagoon" - 1954 |
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Jack
Arnold's horror classic The Creature from the Black Lagoon
spawned not one but two iconic images: the web-footed humanoid
gill-man with a hankering for women and the leggy, luscious
Julia Adams, the object of his desire, swimming the lagoon
in a luminous white bathing suit. Not since King Kong has
the "beauty and the beast" theme been portrayed
in such sexually charged (though chaste) terms. Arnold
turns an effectively B-movie plot--a small expedition up
a remote Amazon river captures a prehistoric amphibian
man, who escapes to wreak havoc on the team and kidnap
his bathing beauty--into a moody, stylish, low-budget feature.
The jungle exteriors turn from exotic to treacherous when
the creature blocks their passage and strands them in the
wilds. Much of the film is shot underwater, where the murky
dark is animated by shimmering shards of sunlight, creating
images both lovely and alien (the studio-built sets of
the creature's underground lair are far less naturalistic,
but serve their purpose). As with most of Arnold's '50s
genre films, he's saddled with a less than magnetic leading
man (in this case the colorless but stalwart Richard Carlson)
and a conventional script, but he overcomes such limitations
by creating a vivid and sympathetic monster (helped immeasurably
by a marvelous suit of scales and fins) and establishing
a mood thick with atmosphere. The film was originally shot
in 3-D |
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| "Earth
vs. The Flying Saucers" - 1956 |
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Space
scientist Dr. Russell Marvin (Hugh Marlowe) and his wife
Carol (Joan Taylor) are working on a secret missile project,
but every time their rockets are launched, they are intercepted
and destroyed by the more advanced technology of mysterious
flying saucers hovering near the Earth. The alien race
has completely surrounded the planet, giving Earth the
sixty days to surrender. The enemy spacecraft appear indestructible,
and Marvin sets out to find a weapon that can defeat them.
The special effects of stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen
are legendary, most notably in the scene in which flying
saucers attack the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
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| "The
Beach Girls And The Monster" -
1965 |
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Take the blueprint for Del Tenney’s infamous Horror
Of Party Beach, add some higher production values, lean heavily
on the “comedy,” and what have you got? Why,
The Beach Girls And The Monster, of course. With its taut
66 minute run time and great title, Beach Girls comes across
as cheesy, dumb fun.
Richard
is a just out-of-college lab technician that works with his father. After a car
accident that paralyzes his friend’s foot, Rich decides to live the frivolous
life. That includes surfing, hanging out with his girlfriend, and singing songs
on the beach. His father Otto (Jon Hall) doesn’t approve of his lifestyle
and calls the kids down on the beach “tramps.” Richard’s hotsie-totsie
stepmother is a thorn in his side and two-times on his father. During all of
this, a rubber masked monster is terrorizing the beach behind Rich’s house,
killing nubile young females and lurking in its cave. Cue the go-go dancing padding. Judging
from the film’s trailer, Beach Girls wasn’t marketed as a straight
horror film. Obviously. It’s got the look and feel of a 50s sitcom and
a genuine carefree goofiness that could only be produced in the mid-60s. Sure,
it’s pretty stupid and has its share of fast forward moments. I’ll
be the first to admit it. But I can’t help enjoying the guy-in-a-rubber-suit
monster, the melancholy surf score by Frank Sinatra, Jr., and the quick, off
the cuff feel of the whole production. Oh, and the strange cameo by puppet “Kingsley
the Lion” didn’t hurt either. |
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| "Invasion
Of The Body Snatchers" - 1956 |
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Something's
wrong in the town of Santa Mira, California. At first,
Dr. Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) is unconcerned when
the townsfolk accuse their loved ones of acting like emotionless
imposters. But soon the evidence is overwhelming--Santa
Mira has been invaded by alien "pods" that are
capable of replicating humans and taking possession of
their identities. It's up to McCarthy to spread the word
of warning, battling the alien invasion at the risk of
his own life. Considered one of the best science fiction
films of the 1950s and '60s, this classic paranoid thriller
was widely interpreted as a criticism of the McCarthy era
(that's Senator Joseph, not actor Kevin), which was characterized
by anticommunist witch-hunts and fear of the dreaded blacklist.
Some hailed it as an attack on the oppressive power of
government as Big Brother. However viewers interpret it,
this original 1956 version of Invaders of the Body Snatchers
(based on Jack Finney's serialized novel The Body Snatchers)
remains a milestone movie in its genre, directed by Don
Siegel with an inventive intensity that continues to pack
an entertaining wallop. Look closely and you'll find future
director Sam Peckinpah (an uncredited cowriter of this
film) making a cameo appearance as a meter reader! |
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| "Invasion
Of The Saucer-Men" - 1958 |
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This
science fiction alien invasion comedy isn't really all
that funny; though it maintains a light atmosphere, it
is very lacking in the basic element of a comedy, and that's
good jokes. Nonetheless, it's directed with a certain energy,
features some truly memorable aliens courtesy of Paul Blaisdell,
juggles its three storylines with ease (the two opportunists,
the teenagers, the military), and in its own way, it may
be THE quintessential aliens vs. teenagers movie. It's
certainly gorier than you might guess (particularly when
the aliens encounter a bull), and there is something about
the way the aliens attack with needles coming out of their
fingers and injecting you with a fluid that definitely
gets under your skin. So I quite enjoy this one anyway.
And anyone who has seen it in tandem with Larry Buchanan's
awful remake THE EYE CREATURES can at least appreciate
the world of difference simple competence can make in the
production of movies like this. |
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| "It
Conquered The World" - 1956 |
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IT
CONQUERED THE WORLD was Roger Corman's second science fiction
film following the apocalyptic THE DAY THE WORLD ENDED
released earlier the same year. His ambitions were higher
this time around—to conquer the world rather than destroy
it—but it suffers from many of the same problems as his
first film, especially the ultra-low budget which limits
the scope of world conquest to a few scenes of stock footage
and a pitiful cast of extras. Still, the movie moves along
quickly and has enough redeeming values that the flaws
are forgivable, and the end result is ultimately entertaining
and even...dare I say it...endearing. With the U.S. about
to launch the world's first satellite into outer space,
Dr. Tom Anderson (Lee Van Cleef) arrives to warn military
leaders against the launch, declaring that "alien
intelligences are watching the Earth...to keep humans in
their place and out of the skies." Despite Dr. Anderson's
warnings (doesn't the fact that he has "every degree
imaginable" count for anything?), the satellite is
launched successfully. Three months later, Dr. Paul Nelson
(Peter Graves) is visiting Dr. Anderson when they hear
word that the satellite has vanished. A short time later,
the satellite reappears as if nothing had happened, and
military leaders decide to bring it down for an investigation.
However, Dr. Nelson soon discovers that all is not well.
His friend Dr. Anderson has been acting strangely and now
claims to be in radio contact with an alien being from
Venus, who apparently boarded the satellite while it was
missing-in-action and has landed with the satellite. Even
though Dr. Anderson is convinced of the alien's benevolent
intentions, its actions soon prove to be the opposite.
The alien stops all power on the planet (in clear imitation
of THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL)—electricity, gas, steam,
water, everything (!)—even for planes in flight, resulting
in (presumably) many deaths. It also seems intent on controlling
the minds of the most influential community leaders and
their wives through "control devices" implanted
in the back of their necks. It's up to Dr. Nelson and Dr.
Anderson's wife Claire (Beverly Garland) to stop the alien
before its too late, unless it gets to them first! |
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| "It!
the Terror From Beyond Space" - 1958 |
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A shoestring budget sci-fier from
Edward L. Cahn that was the forerunner of Alien (79). It's
about a stowaway worm-like monster from Mars, who is snacking
on the space crew.
A
spaceship crash-landed on Mars in 1973, as the film begins six months from that
time. Two months ago, a rescue ship was sent. When it finally reaches Mars, which
is about the size of Texas, the only survivor found is Col. Carruthers (Marshall
Thompson)--the first man shot into space. But there are 9 murdered crew members
and evidence that some of his crew may have died from gunshot wounds, as the
arrogant rescue commander, Col. Van Heusen (Kim Spalding), believes Carruthers
killed them for their food supplies and is taking him back for a court martial. The
only one of the crew to listen to Carruthers and not judge him guilty, is the
pretty nurse, Ann (Shawn Smith). Carruthers's defense is that a mysterious creature
is doing it, and Ann remains friendly and gives him a chance to prove his innocence.
But Van is also keen on Ann, and her attention to Carruthers only makes him despise
Carruthers even more. But
soon the hissing "It" creature (Ray "Crash" Corrigan) shows
its ugly head and kills Keinholz by osmosis, as it precedes to break all his
bones and suck out of him all his body fluids. The
crewmen now are engaged in a life and death struggle with the alien creature,
as they find bullets, bombs, and gas can't kill it. The best battle scene is
in the room with the air ducts, as the crew becomes aware if the monster destroys
the ducts the ship could drift in space forever. |
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| "Plan
9 From Outer Space" - 1958 |
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Trust
me, this movie is everything you've ever heard and beyond.
It's filmed in two different places (completly random),
so the setting goes from day-night-day and then!!! night
again, followed by day. All of that took place in 10 min.
both in real life and movie time.
One of my absolute favorite part had to be when the saucer appeared in the sky
on a wire and everyone in a passing car dramiticly points at it, in unisin. Is
that a great movie or what.
The "hard core" detective completly earns the name captain obious.
Oh, and be sure to watch the part when the police officer is trying to kneel
on a tombstone, and repeatedly almost falls over. It's in the bottom left corner.
Some other things to look for are the cars passing by in the background durring
the day. They don't seem to mind zombies comming after them. There's a great
World War clip. If you miss it the first time, don't worry, it comes back. thrice.
In short, even though this movie is painful to watch, and most just keep watching
it, hoping it gets better (it doesn't), I can almost promise you you'll talk
about it. Good movie if you're bored out of you mind. |
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| "Not
Of This Earth" - 1957 |
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An
alien from the planet Davana arrives on Earth using a matter
transporter. His planet is doomed and his people dying
and he has been sent here in search of the blood that may
save his race from extinction. He begins abducting people
from a small California town, sending them home to davanna
through his matter transmitter, but arouses the suspicions
of a young nurse who ultimately reveals his terrible secret. |
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| "Queen
Of Outer Space" - 1958 |
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A
group of astronauts are launched on a routine mission to
accompany a scientist to a space station. But in orbit
they observe the space station being destroyed by raybeams.
In an effort to avoid being hit by the raybeams, they accelerate
to vast speeds and end up crashlanding on Venus. There
they are captured by the all-female society, run by the
tyrannical masked queen Yllana who has banished all men
from the planet. She imprisons them but then they are contacted
by a resistance movement of women who resent Yllana's rule
and want their help in overthrowing her. |
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| "The
Mummy" -
1959 |
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The
story opens on an archeological expedition in Egypt, where
Professor Stephen
Banning (Felix Aylmer) and his son, John Banning (Peter Cushing),
hope to uncover the lost tomb of Princess Ananka. Unfortunately,
John is unable to participate directly, because he is recuperating
from a broken leg. A mysterious Egyptian appears and warns
the party not to enter the tomb, threatening them with dire
consequences should they do so. The warnings are ignored,
of course, and when the tomb is opened, Professor Banning
discovers more than just Princess Ananka. He finds a scroll,
which he begins to read, and a second mummy—Kharis—who
has been brought to life by the power of the scroll. Though
Professor Banning escapes physically unharmed, the sight
of Kharis drives him mad, while Kharis and the scroll disappear
without a trace. Years later in England, John and his wife
Isobel visit his father in a nursing home for the mentally
ill, when the Professor suddenly becomes lucid for the first
time since returning from Egypt. He tells his son (who remains
completely incredulous) about the events that had taken place
in the tomb. Even worse, he is convinced that the Mummy will
be coming for him again soon...and for all those who dared
desecrate the princess's tomb.
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| "Forbidden
Planet" - 1956 |
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Leslie
Nielson leads a crew of deep space explorers on a mission
to Altair 4, where a colony of scientists have been killed
off by some unseen force. Altair 4 is a psychedelic planet
with two suns in a green sky. One man named Morbius (Walter
Pidgeon) and his daughter Altaira (Anne Francis- one of
the sexiest women in ANY galaxy) remain alive. Morbius
is a solemn, mysterious sort of guy. It's certainly apparent
that he's not telling the whole truth. He's built a virtual
paradise in the middle of a wasteland, complete with a
forest, deer, and a tiger. Morbius also has a robot named
Robby, who does all of the menial labor around the stellar
estate. Nielson and his men soon learn that all is not
well on Altair 4. After insisting that Morbius and Altaira
join them on the return voyage to earth, an unstoppable,
invisible entity is unleashed, tearing crewmembers to pieces,
while absorbing their laser blasts into it's incredible
mass. Nielson and his first mate learn that Morbius has
tapped into a vast computer network (about the size of
Cleveland), left behind by a now extinct race of super-beings
called "the Krell". Somehow, using this network,
Morbius can release his "id" to do it's insane
bidding. Will anyone be going back to earth at all? Can
the invisible horror be defeated? Will Walter Pidgeon and
Anne Francis live on to star together again in Funny Girl
with Barbra Streisand? Watch and see. |
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| "Monster
From The Ocean Floor" - 1954 |
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Young
American woman vacationing in Mexico begins to hear strange
stories of an underwater sea monster terrorizing the local
community. Out in the sea for a swim, Julie Blair (our
young fair American lady—here played by Anne Kimball) suddenly
receives quite a start as some mysterious underwater "thing" moves
towards her, scaring her almost out her wits—only to realize
it was really a man in a mini-submarine looking for a means
of attracting her attention. Soon after, the man—Steve
Dunning (Stuart Wade), a marine biologist and the mini-sub
pilot—apologizes. The two hit it off and romance begins
to bloom. Julie mentions the strange village tales to Steve
who quickly dismisses them as superstition. But Julie isn't
so sure and wants to try and find a way to help the terrified
villagers. She can sense that something just isn't right
in the village. She investigates further and further, but
she's unaware the villagers have other plans for her—believing
that sacrificing "the fair one" will appease
the monster lurking on the ocean floor.Produced by Roger
Corman (yes his very first production), directed by Wyott
Ordung (who also plays the superstitious villager Pablo
in the film), MONSTER FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR stars Anne Kimball,
Stuart Wade, Dick Pinner, Inez Palange, Jonathan Haze,
and David Garcia. Roger Corman himself makes an uncredited
appearance as Tommy! |
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