Sci-Fi Movies of the 1950's

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Profile Matthew Love
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Message 550187 - Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 14:04:20 UTC

Full listing of Sci-Fi movies from the 1950's
1984 (1956)
20 Million Miles to Earth (1957)
Alligator People (1959)
Amazing Colossal Man (1957)
Angry Red Planet (1959)
Atomic Submarine (1959)
Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman (1958)
Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957)
Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
Black Scorpion (1957)
Brain Eaters (1958)
Brain from Planet Arous (1957)
Bride of the Monster (1955)
Cat-Women of the Moon (1953)
Conquest of Space (1955)
Cosmic Man (1959)
Curse of the Faceless Man (1958)
Cyclops (1957)
Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
Day the Sky Exploded (1958)
Day the World Ended (1956)
Destination Moon (1950)
Devil Girl from Mars (1954)
Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956)
Earth vs. the Spider (1958)
Flight to Mars (1951)
Fly (1958)
Flying Saucer (1950)
Forbidden Planet (1956)
Four-Sided Triangle (1953)
Giant Gila Monster (1959)
Gigantis the Fire Monster (1955)
Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1954)
Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
Invaders from Mars (1953)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Invisible Invaders (1959)
It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955)
It Came from Outer Space (1953)
It Conquered the World (1956)
Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)
Killers from Space (1954)
King Dinosaur (1955)
Kronos (1957)
Lost Continent (1951)
Missile to the Moon (1959)
Monster from the Ocean Floor (1954)
Monster That Challenged the World (1957)
Mysterians (1957)
Night of the Blood Beast (1958)
Not of This Earth (1957)
Phantom from 10,000 Leagues (1956)
Phantom from Space (1953)
Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959)
Quatermass and the Pit (1958)
Quatermass Experiment (1955)
Quatermass II (1957)
Queen of Outer Space (1958)
Radar Men from the Moon (1952)
Red Planet Mars (1952)
Return of the Fly (1959)
Robot Monster (1953)
Rocketship X-M (1950)
Spaceways (1953)
Stranger from Venus (1954)
Target Earth (1954)
Teenage Caveman (1958)
Teenagers from Outer Space (1959)
Them! (1954)
Thing from Another World (1951)
Twonky (1953)
Unknown World (1951)
War of the Colossal Beast (1958)
War of the Satellites (1958)
War of the Worlds (1953)
When Worlds Collide (1951)
X the Unknown (1956)



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Message 550192 - Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 14:11:55 UTC
Last modified: 21 Apr 2007, 14:17:02 UTC

You missed *shutter* The Crawling Eye (1958)

I saw it once when I was a little kid & thought it was the scariest thing I've ever seen. Saw it just a couple of years ago & couldn't make it thru the movie without falling asleep.
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Message 550198 - Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 14:20:52 UTC

That's an interesting list. Lots of films I haven't seen. I'd like to mention in particular:

Forbidden Planet: still definitively good after 50 years, with groundbreaking special effects and an intelligent story (based loosely on plot elements from The Tempest.) The Captain is played by Leslie Nielsen, showing that he can act in serious rôles too.

Plan 9 from Outer Space: possibly the worst film ever, in any genre - inspirationally bad.
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Message 550201 - Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 14:23:32 UTC - in response to Message 550198.  

Plan 9 from Outer Space: possibly the worst film ever, in any genre - inspirationally bad.

Never seen The Crawling Eye or European Title: The Trollenberg Terror have you?
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Message 550210 - Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 14:39:04 UTC

1954
1954 Devil Girl from Mars Sci-Fi N/R, 77 Minutes
Director: David MacDonald More Info
Starring: Hugh McDermott, Hazel Court, Patricia Laffan, Peter Reynolds, Adrienne Corri, Joseph Tomelty, John Laurie, Sophie Stewart, Anthony Richmond, James Edmund

Assorted people at a Scottish inn receive a visit from black leather-jacketed Martian Nyah (Patricia Laffan) and her robot. She's beautiful, but ruthless, and tells them that a revolution on Mars resulted in a takeover by women, and she is after healthy males for use as breeding stock. Bizarre but sort of fun.

Cannot see this film being that scary

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Message 550218 - Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 14:49:03 UTC - in response to Message 550201.  

Plan 9 from Outer Space: possibly the worst film ever, in any genre - inspirationally bad.

Never seen The Crawling Eye or European Title: The Trollenberg Terror have you?

That source of pleasure has unfortunately been denied me so far.
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Message 550222 - Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 14:55:17 UTC

I believe that many of us have had our brains taken over by space aliens............ooops ....wrong thread.
Founder of BOINC team Objectivists. Oh the humanity! Rational people crunching data!
I did NOT authorize this belly writing!

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Message 550313 - Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 16:43:08 UTC - in response to Message 550218.  

Plan 9 from Outer Space: possibly the worst film ever, in any genre - inspirationally bad.

Never seen The Crawling Eye or European Title: The Trollenberg Terror have you?

That source of pleasure has unfortunately been denied me so far.

Plan 9 Is EASILY the WORST movie of All Time! Ed Wood Jr. REEEEALLY stunk the place out!!!
It is so bad infact that it is really entertaining to watch. A cult classic!
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Message 550526 - Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 23:09:36 UTC - in response to Message 550187.  

Them! (1954)


I love Them!, it's one of my favorite classic sci-fi movies.

Matthew, I think you forgot one. Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)



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Message 550533 - Posted: 21 Apr 2007, 23:22:50 UTC - in response to Message 550526.  

Matthew, I think you forgot one. Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

Good eye. (Not Crawling Eye) I can see forgetting The Crawling Eye. It's so bad it's good. But the Creature from the Black Lagoon is almost glaring in it's absence!
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Message 550576 - Posted: 22 Apr 2007, 0:20:18 UTC

1954
1954 The Stranger from Venus Sci-Fi N/R, 75 Minutes
Director: Burt Balaban More Info
Starring: Patricia Neal, Helmut Dantine, Derek Bond, Cyril Luckham, Willoughby Gray, Marigold Russell, Arthur Young, Stanley Van Beers, Kenneth Edwards, David Garth

This semi-remake of the highly successful "The Day The Earth Stood Still" even has the same female lead: Patricia Neal. A representative from Venus (Helmut Dantine) comes to Earth to warn of the dangers to mankind inherent in nuclear weapons. He befriends Susan (Patricia Neal) who helps get his message out to a population that is not interested in hearing his warnings.
1954 Target Earth Sci-Fi N/R, 74 Minutes
Director: Sherman A. Rose More Info
Starring: Richard Denning, Kathleen Crowley, Richard Reeves, Virginia Grey, Robert Roark, Whit Bissell, Mort Marshall, Arthur Space, Steve Pendleton, House Peters, Jr.

Frank (Richard Denning) and Nora (Kathleen Crowley) awaken in different parts of Chicago to find the city deserted. Robots from Venus are to blame, and Frank, Nora, and a couple of other survivors must find a way to save the Earth.
1954 Them! Sci-Fi N/R, 94 Minutes
Director: Gordon Douglas More Info
Starring: James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, James Arness, Joan Weldon, Onslow Stevens, Sean McClory, Ann Doran, Dub Taylor, Fess Parker, Leonard Nimoy

This is one of the best early films of the science fiction genre. The plot evolves from the Army's efforts to control the spread of giant ants–the result of nuclear testing in America's Southwest.
1955
1955 Bride of the Monster Sci-Fi N/R, 69 Minutes
Director: Edward D. Wood Jr. More Info
Starring: Bela Lugosi, Tony McCoy, Harvey B. Dunne, Don Nagel, Tor Johnson, Loretta King, George Becwar, Bud Osborne

This is the Edward D. Wood Jr. film that features the now famous "fight" between a dissipated Bela Lugosi and a prop-room octopus–minus its electrical hook-up. Do NOT miss this one! If you feel particularly daring, follow up with the sequel, "Night of the Ghouls."
1955 Conquest of Space Sci-Fi N/R, 80 Minutes
Director: Byron Haskin More Info
Starring: Walter Brooke, Eric Fleming, Mickey Shaughnessy, Phil Foster, William Redfield, William Hopper, Ross Martin, Michael Fox, Joan Shawlee, Benson Fong

Special effects are great in this sci-fi film about a trip to Mars–but the story does not measure up to Werner Von Braun's original story.
1955 Gigantis the Fire Monster Foreign / Sci-Fi N/R, 78 Minutes
Director: Motoyoshi Oda More Info
Starring: Hiroshi Koizumi, Setsuko Wakayama, Haruo Nakajima, Takeo Oikawa, Masao Shimizu, Minoru Chiaki, Takashi Shimura

Cities in Japan fall like children's toy blocks in this second Godzilla film in which Godzilla battles a new monster: Anguirus.
1955 It Came from Beneath the Sea Sci-Fi N/R, 79 Minutes
Director: Robert Gordon More Info
Starring: Kenneth Tobey, Faith Domergue, Donald Curtis, Ian Keith, Dean Maddox Jr., Chuck Griffiths, Harry Lauter, Richard W. Peterson, Del Courtney, Tol Avery

H-bomb tests have had a bad effect on the giant, six-tentacled octopus. It escapes from Pete Mathews' (Kenneth Tobey) nuclear submarine and heads for San Francisco while the submarine captain and a pair of scientists tries to figure out how to deal with it. But before they can take care of the monster, it wrecks the Golden Gate Bridge as well as other San Francisco landmarks. Special effects innovator Ray Harryhausen showed off his effects, which were excellent for the time.
1955 King Dinosaur Sci-Fi N/R, 63 Minutes
Director: Bert I. Gordon More Info
Starring: William Bryant, Wanda Curtis, Douglas Henderson, Patti Gallagher, Marvin Miller

Four scientists (two men and two women, which allows for a little lovin') head for the newly-found planet of Nova to see what's happening there. They find monsters and other assorted creatures lifted from other films in this cheap, poorly-acted film that is barely watchable.
1955 The Quatermass Experiment Sci-Fi N/R, 78 Minutes
Director: Val Guest More Info
Starring: Brian Donlevy, Jack Warner, Frank Phillips, Margia Dean, Thora Hird, Lionel Jeffries, Gordon Jackson, Harold Lang

When a spaceship returns to Earth, an astronaut is found to be infected by a mysterious germ that will eventually turn him into a monster. Followed by "Enemy From Space."
1956
1956 1984 Sci-Fi N/R, 91 Minutes
Director: Michael Anderson More Info
Starring: Michael Redgrave, Edmond O'Brien, Jan Sterling, David Kossoff, Mervyn Johns, Donald Pleasence, Carol Wolveridge, Ernest Clark, Patrick Allen

Based on George Orwell's novel about the future under a totalitarian government, this film reflects Cold War thinking of the era. Remade in 1984.
1956 Day the World Ended Sci-Fi N/R, 82 Minutes
Director: Roger Corman More Info
Starring: Richard Denning, Lori Nelson, Adele Jergens, Mike Connors, Paul Birch, Raymond Hatton, Jonathan Haze

Following a nuclear disaster, Captain Maddison (Paul Birch) and his daughter Louise (Lori Nelson) are joined by Rick (Richard Denning) in their shelter where they fight against a three-eyed monster.
1956 Earth vs. the Flying Saucers Sci-Fi N/R, 83 Minutes
Director: Fred F. Sears More Info
Starring: Hugh Marlowe, Joan Taylor, Donald Curtis, Morris Ankrum, John Zaremba, Grandon Rhodes, Harry Lauter, Thomas Browne Henry, Charles Evans, Frank Wilcox

UFOs attempt to make peaceful communication with Earth; however, their mission is mistaken for an invasion. Special effects by the master: Ray Harryhausen
1956 Forbidden Planet Sci-Fi N/R, 98 Minutes
Director: Fred M. Wilcox More Info
Starring: Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, Leslie Nielsen, Warren Stevens, Jack Kelly, Richard Anderson, Earl Holliman, James Drury, George Wallace, Robert Dix

This is probably the best science fiction movie of the 1950s. It is the year 2200, and spaceship Altair-4–commanded by John J. Adams (Leslie Nielsen)–has landed on a faraway planet. There he is greeted by Dr. Edward Morbius (Walter Pidgeon) and his daughter (Anne Francis) who are the sole survivors of a colony of settlers. All is not as it should be, and the doctor does not intend to share the secrets of the planet.
1956 Invasion of the Body Snatchers Sci-Fi / Thriller N/R, 80 Minutes
Director: Don Siegel More Info
Starring: Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Carolyn Jones, Larry Gates, King Donovan, Jean Willes, Ralph Dumke, Virginia Christine, Tom Fadden, Kenneth Patterson

Dr. Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) realizes that his family and neighbors are not behaving in their usual manner. This leads him to discover that they are being taken over by pods from outer space that are draining the people and turning them into zombie-like individuals whose only aim is survival. A sci-fi classic.
1956 It Conquered the World Sci-Fi N/R, 71 Minutes
Director: Roger Corman More Info
Starring: Peter Graves, Beverly Garland, Lee Van Cleef, Sally Fraser, Russ Bender, Jonathan Haze, Dick Miller, Charles B. Griffith

The low budget for this film becomes painfully apparent in its display of special effects. The story is about an alien from Venus that comes to Earth intent on dominating the planet. At first, it is aided by a confused scientist, Tom Anderson (Lee Van Cleef), who later "sees the light"–thanks to fellow scientist Dr. Paul Nelson (Peter Graves).
1956 Phantom from 10,000 Leagues Sci-Fi N/R, 80 Minutes
Director: Dan Milner More Info
Starring: Kent Taylor, Cathy Downs, Michael Whalen, Helene Stanton, Rodney Bell, Phillip Pine, Vivi Janiss, Pierce Lyden, Michael Garth

When bodies wash ashore, oceanographer Ted (Kent Taylor) is sent to investigate. What he finds is a (poorly) man-made monster that gets its power from atomic light. The dastardly scientist King (Michael Whalen) must be at work. Cheap, cheap, cheap.
1956 X the Unknown Sci-Fi N/R, 82 Minutes
Director: Leslie Norman More Info
Starring: Dean Jagger, Edward Chapman, Leo McKern, Marianne Brauns, William Lucas, Peter Hammond, Anthony Newley, Jameson Clark, Ian MacNaughton, John Harvey

A blob rises from a crack in the Earth's crust, feeds on radioactivity, gets larger, raises havoc, then disappears until it is hungry again. Dr. Adam Royston (Dean Jagger) sets out to destroy this high-energy creature. A well-made film.
1957
1957 20 Million Miles to Earth Sci-Fi N/R, 82 Minutes
Director: Nathan Juran More Info
Starring: William Hopper, Joan Taylor, Frank Puglia, John Zaremba, Thomas Browne Henry, Tito Vuolo, Jan Arvan, Arthur Space, Bart Braverman, George Pelling

During its return from Venus, an American spaceship crashes into the waters off Italy. A cannister containing a specimen from Venus survives the crash. A fast-growing reptile-like creature grows from the mass in the canister. While being studied, the creature escapes, of course. WATCH OUT ROME! Special effects master Ray Harryhousen helps make this film watchable.
1957 The Amazing Colossal Man Sci-Fi N/R, 80 Minutes
Director: Bert I. Gordon More Info
Starring: Glenn Langan, Cathy Downs, William Hudson, Larry Thor, James Seay, Frank Jenks, Russ Bender, June Jocelyn, Hank Patterson, Jimmy Cross

Army Lt. Col. Glenn Manning (Glenn Langan) is exposed to an atomic explosion and is severely burned but survives in the base hospital. However, the radiation has affected his cells, and Manning is growing larger and larger. By the time his fiancee, Carol (Cathy Downs), finds him, he is 60-feet tall and insane. After attacking and killing another officer and escaping, he is cornered and shot by the military at Boulder Dam and presumed dead–or is he? A sequel follows: "War of the Colossal Beast."
1957 Attack of the Crab Monsters Sci-Fi N/R, 68 Minutes
Director: Roger Corman More Info
Starring: Richard Garland, Pamela Duncan, Russell Johnson, Leslie Bradley, Mel Welles, Ed Nelson, Richard H. Cutting, Beach Dickerson, Tony Miller, Charles B. Griffith

Giant crabs take on the personalities of their victims and terrify scientists on a remote island in the Pacific.
1957 The Black Scorpion Sci-Fi N/R, 88 Minutes
Director: Edward Ludwig More Info
Starring: Richard Denning, Mara Corday, Carlos Rivas, Carlos Muzquiz, Mario Navarro, Pedro Galvan, Arturo Martinez, Pascual Garcia Pena

Giant scorpions run amuck in Mexico City after a volcano eruption sets them free. Now, American geologist Hank (Richard Denning) is on the scene to try to save the day. The animation is excellent, but after that...
1957 The Brain from Planet Arous Sci-Fi N/R, 70 Minutes
Director: Nathan Juran More Info
Starring: John Agar, Joyce Meadows, Robert Fuller, Henry Travis, Thomas Browne Henry, Ken Terrell, E. Leslie Thomas, Tim Graham, Bill Giorgio, Morris Ankrum

Evil alien brain Gor arrives to take over Earth, using nuclear physicist Steve's (John Agar) body to accomplish its mission. His friends notice that Steve acts weird at times, and those black eyes can wreak havoc. But wait! Good brain Vol arrives to take care of Gor, taking over Steve's dog to get the job done. Cheap fun.
1957 The Cyclops Sci-Fi N/R, 75 Minutes
Director: Bert I. Gordon More Info
Starring: James Craig, Gloria Talbott, Lon Chaney Jr., Tom Drake, Duncan "Dean" Parkin, Manuel Lopez, Vincent Padula

Susan Winter (Gloria Talbott) is aided by Russ Bradford (James Craig) in the search for her missing fiance. They find him in Mexico–the victim of radioactivity that has turned him into a Cyclops.
1957 The Incredible Shrinking Man Sci-Fi N/R, 81 Minutes
Director: Jack Arnold More Info
Starring: Grant Williams, Randy Stuart, April Kent, Paul Langton, Raymond Bailey, William Schallert, Frank Scannell, Billy Curtis

Scott Carey (Grant Williams) finds that he is shrinking in size after walking through a radioactive fog. When his physical size changes, his relationship to the world is also altered. Good special effects.
1957 Kronos Sci-Fi N/R, 78 Minutes
Director: Kurt Neumann More Info
Starring: Jeff Morrow, Barbara Lawrence, John Emery, George O'Hanlon, Morris Ankrum, Kenneth Alton, John Parrish, Jose Gonzales-Gonzales, Marjorie Stapp, Robert Shayne

The 1950s were full of low-budget sci-fi films, and this one is as fun as any of them. The aliens send a monsterous metal monster to absorb the Earth's energy. As it does its work it grows and grows. Can the scientists stop it before it gets to Southern California and all the people?

1957
1957 The Monster That Challenged the World Sci-Fi N/R, 83 Minutes
Director: Arnold Laven More Info
Starring: Tim Holt, Audrey Dalton, Hans Conried, Harlan Warde, Jody McCrea, Max Showalter, Mimi Gibson, Gordon Jones, Marjorie Stapp, Charles Tannen

Monsters appear out of a salt lake in the California desert, and U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander John Twillinger (Tim Holt) is assigned the mission of saving the world from their destructive forces.
1957 The Mysterians Foreign / Sci-Fi N/R, 85 Minutes
Director: Ishiro Honda More Info
Starring: Kenji Sahara, Yumi Shirakawa, Momoko Kochi, Akihiko Hirata, Takashi Shimura, Susumu Fujita, Hisaya Ito, Fuyuki Murakami, Yoshio Tsuchiya, Tetsu Nakamura

After the nuclear destruction of their planet, aliens arrive to take over the Earth and its women in order to start a new civilization. And the nonstop special effects battles begin.
1957 Not of This Earth Sci-Fi N/R, 67 Minutes
Director: Roger Corman More Info
Starring: Paul Birch, Beverly Garland, Morgan Jones, William Roerick, Jonathan Haze, Dick Miller, Ann Carroll, Pat Flynn, Roy Engel, Harold Fong

When an alien vampire (Paul Birch) is sent to Earth in search of a new blood supply for his diseased planet, a nurse (Beverly Garland) comes to his aid by providing transfusions.
1957 Quatermass II Sci-Fi N/R, 84 Minutes
Director: Val Guest More Info
Starring: Brian Donlevy, John Longden, Sid James, Bryan Forbes, Vera Day, William Franklyn, Charles Lloyd Pack, Percy Herbert, John Van Eyssen, Michael Ripper

Aliens invade and take over human bodies in this "Quatermass" episode featuring Brian Donlevy in the role of the gruff Dr. Quatermass.
1958
1958 Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman Sci-Fi N/R, 65 Minutes
Director: Nathan Juran More Info
Starring: Allison Hayes, William Hudson, Yvette Vickers, Roy Gordon, George Douglas, Ken Terrell, Otto Waldis

Nancy Archer (Allison Hayes) finds the way to avenge her unfaithful husband, Harry (William Hudson), when–after her encounter with an alien–she grows to enormous proportions. This film is so bad that it turns into an entertaining cult film.
1958 The Brain Eaters Sci-Fi N/R, 60 Minutes
Director: Bruno VeSota More Info
Starring: Ed Nelson, Alan Frost, Jack Hill, Joanna Lee, Jody Fair, Leonard Nimoy

With a name like this, it must be a Corman creation–and it is. Brain things from the center of the Earth bore their way to the surface in a ship. They soon take control of the people. Watch for Leonard Nimoy in an early role.
1958 Curse of the Faceless Man Horror / Sci-Fi N/R, 67 Minutes
Director: Edward L. Cahn More Info
Starring: Richard Anderson, Elaine Edwards, Adele Mara, Luis Van Rooten, Gar Moore, Felix Locher, Jan Arvan, Bob Bryant

After archaeologists discover a lava encrusted gladiator in the ruins of Pompeii, the gladiator comes back to life, escapes, and heads off in pursuit of his past lover who has also been reincarnated.
1958 The Day the Sky Exploded Foreign / Sci-Fi N/R, 85 Minutes
Director: Paolo Heusch More Info
Starring: Paul Hubschmid, Fiorella Mari, Madeleine Fischer, Ivo Garrani, Dario Michaelis, Sam Galter, Peter Meersman, Jean-Jacques Delbo, Massimo Zeppieri, Annie Bernal

A joint U.S./Russian/British mission to space goes bad, but one astronaut, John McLaren (Paul Hubschmid), is able to abandon the craft. The spaceship crashes into the sun–immediately causing earthquakes, tidal waves, and other assorted problems on Earth. It also results in asteroids heading toward our planet. Can the world's scientists work together to save the Earth?
1958 Earth vs. the Spider Horror / Sci-Fi N/R, 72 Minutes
Director: Bert I. Gordon More Info
Starring: Ed Kemmer, June Kenney, Eugene Persson, Gene Roth, Hal Torey, June Jocelyn, Mickey Finn, Sally Fraser, Howard Wright, Troy Patterson

While searching for her father, Carol (June Kenney) and her boyfriend, Mike (Eugene Persson), find the remains of a giant spider in a cave. Assuming the spider has been killed, biology teacher Mr. Kingman (Ed Kemmer) displays it in the school gym. But, the spider is not dead; it is simply stunned, and rock music revives it leading to a blood-thirsty rampage through town.
1958 The Fly Sci-Fi N/R, 94 Minutes
Director: Kurt Neumann More Info
Starring: Vincent Price, Herbert Marshall, David Hedison, Patricia Owens, Kathleen Freeman, Betty Lou Gerson, Charles Herbert, Eugene Borden, Torben Meyer, Charles Tannen

When scientist Andre (David Hedison) uses himself in an experiment to disintegrate and reassemble atoms, a terrible accident occurs: Andre disintegrates his own atoms and reassembles with the atoms of a fly. Two sequels ("Return of the Fly" and "Curse of the Fly") follow.
1958 Night of the Blood Beast Sci-Fi N/R, 65 Minutes
Director: Bernard L. Kowalski More Info
Starring: John Baer, Angela Greene, Ed Nelson, Georgianna Carter, Michael Emmet, Tyler McVey

In another of Corman's beast pictures, an alien arrives in the body of a dead astronaut. It doesn't look good for the mere Earthlings.
1958 Quatermass and the Pit Horror / Sci-Fi TV, 180 Minutes
Director: Rudolph Cartier More Info
Starring: Andre Morell, Cec Linder, Anthony Bushell, John Stratton, Christine Finn, Van Boolen, Holly Bane, Lionel Ngakane, John Rae, Mark Eden

While digging in London, a skull is uncovered. This leads to an archeological dig, resulting not only in finding more skulls, but dead insect-like creatures and a cylinder. Professor Quatermass is brought in, and his theory is that the insect-like creatures are aliens from Mars that had landed on Earth several million years ago in the cylinder. Unfortunately, the government doesn't heed his evaluation and horror follows. Originally a made-for-UK TV miniseries and remade in 1967.
1958 Queen of Outer Space Sci-Fi N/R, 79 Minutes
Director: Edward Bernds More Info
Starring: Zsa Zsa Gabor, Eric Fleming, Dave Willock, Laurie Mitchell, Lisa Davis, Paul Birch, Patrick Waltz

The spaceship wasn't meant to go to Venus, but an alien ray send it there, and Captain Patterson (Eric Fleming) must deal with a planet ruled by women, with a queen who hates men. Can the wicked queen be foiled? Can Earth be saved?
1958 Teenage Caveman Sci-Fi N/R, 65 Minutes
Director: Roger Corman More Info
Starring: Robert Vaughn, Leslie Bradley, June Jocelyn, Robert Shayne, Jonathan Haze, Frank DeKova, Sarah Marshall, Charles P. Thompson, Beach Dickerson, Ed Nelson

A near middle-aged Robert Vaughn as a teenage caveman? Only in a Corman movie can you get that. Anyway, against the rules of his tribe, our hero explores the great land beyond the camp. What is he to make of the strange creature with great powers that he encounters?
1958 War of the Colossal Beast Sci-Fi N/R, 68 Minutes
Director: Bert I. Gordon More Info
Starring: Sally Fraser, Roger Pace, Duncan "Dean" Parkin, Russ Bender, Charles Stewart, Rico Alaniz, George Becwar, Robert Hernandez, June Jocelyn, Roy Gordon

In this sequel to "The Amazing Colossal Man," it appears that his death was not a certainty when he met his doom at Boulder Dam. This time around, 60-foot-tall Glenn Manning (Duncan "Dean" Parkin) is alive but suffering brain damage. The Army captures him, but he escapes and wreaks havoc on those around him.
1958 War of the Satellites Sci-Fi N/R, 72 Minutes
Director: Roger Corman More Info
Starring: Richard Devon, Dick Miller, Susan Cabot, Michael Fox, Robert Shayne, Eric Sinclair, Bruno VeSota, Roger Corman

Not a bad Corman quickie (to exploit the U.S. sending a satellite into space) as aliens warn Earth to stop exploring space. In order to help in this effort, a scientist is brainwashed.
1959
1959 The Alligator People Sci-Fi N/R, 73 Minutes
Director: Roy Del Ruth More Info
Starring: Beverly Garland, George Macready, Richard Crane, Lon Chaney Jr., Frieda Inescort, Bruce Bennett, Ruby Goodwin, Douglas Kennedy, Hal K. Dawson, Dudley Dickerson

Following an accident, a man is given reptile genes as the means to bring him back to health, and he is transformed into an alligator.
1959 The Angry Red Planet Sci-Fi N/R, 83 Minutes
Director: Ib Melchior More Info
Starring: Gerald Mohr, Nora Hayden, Les Tremayne, Jack Kruschen, Paul Hahn, J. Edward McKinley, Tom Daly, Don Lamond, Edward Innes, Gordon Barnes

The highlight of this film is the process of "Cinemagic" that was used–everything looks pink (wow!). A spaceship from Earth heads to Mars where the astronauts find plants and monsters ready to duke it out, which they do until the tired spacemen head home.
1959 The Atomic Submarine Sci-Fi N/R, 80 Minutes
Director: Spencer Gordon Bennet More Info
Starring: Tom Conway, Dick Foran, Brett Halsey, Arthur Franz, Selmer Jackson, Bob Steele, Victor Varconi, Joi Lansing

After losing eight ships and seven submarines in Arctic waters, the U.S.S. Tigershark is sent out on a mission to investigate the disappearances and encounters an undersea alien spaceship.
1959 The Cosmic Man Sci-Fi N/R, 72 Minutes
Director: Herbert S. Greene More Info
Starring: John Carradine, Bruce Bennett, Angela Greene, Paul Langton, Scotty Morrow, Lyn Osborn, Walter Maslow, Herbert Lytton, Hal Torey, Alan Wells

Nuclear war fears were commonplace in the 1950s, and this film, a cheap rip-off of "The Day The Earth Stood Still," feeds on that fear. A sphere from outer space comes down in California, prompting action from the military as well as from civilians. That night, the "Cosmic Man" (John Carradine) emerges from the sphere, bundled up with large sunglasses to hide his ghostly body. While military people and scientists argue about what to do, Cosmic Man professes to be a messenger of peace–a hard sell indeed.
1959 The Giant Gila Monster Sci-Fi N/R, 74 Minutes
Director: Ray Kellogg More Info
Starring: Don Sullivan, Lisa Simone, Shug Fisher, Jerry Cortwright, Beverly Thurman, Don Flournoy, Clarke Brown, Pat Simmons, Pat Reeves, Fred Graham

When a hungry, giant Gila monster terrorizes a northern Texas town, can the hot-rodders, led by Chase (Don Sullivan), save the day? A very bad, cheaply-made flick that has our monster tripping over trains, buildings, etc. But still, it's worth a look for the laughs.
1959 Invisible Invaders Sci-Fi N/R, 67 Minutes
Director: Edward L. Cahn More Info
Starring: John Agar, Jean Byron, Philip Tonge, Robert Hutton, John Carradine, Paul Langton, Hal Torey, Eden Hartford, Don Kennedy, Chuck Niles

Moon men (again) try to take over the Earth–this time by taking over the bodies of dead Earthlings. And they nearly succeed, but they didn't know that John Agar has saved the day before and can do so again, even if he does get help from scientist Penner (Philip Tonge) this time.
1959 Journey to the Center of the Earth Sci-Fi N/R, 132 Minutes
Director: Henry Levin More Info
Starring: Pat Boone, James Mason, Arlene Dahl, Diane Baker, Peter Ronson, Thayer David, Robert Adler, Alan Napier, Ben Wright

Special effects are what earn this film its three stars. Based on the Jules Verne story, it tells of Scottish Professor Lindenbrook's (James Mason) journey through an extinct volcano into Earth's core.
1959 Missile to the Moon Sci-Fi N/R, 78 Minutes
Director: Richard E. Cunha More Info
Starring: Gary Clarke, Cathy Downs, K.T. Stevens, Michael Whalen, Laurie Mitchell, Nina Bara, Richard Travis, Tommy Cook, Leslie Parrish, Lee Roberts

In this remake of "Cat-Women of the Moon," an expedition to the moon finds more scantly-clad, aggressive women with an even more aggressive leader. Then there are the rockmen and the giant spider to deal with. The 1/2 star is for the laughs you will get from this cheapy.
1959 Plan 9 from Outer Space Sci-Fi N/R, 79 Minutes


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Message 550578 - Posted: 22 Apr 2007, 0:21:59 UTC

Found some more SCI-FI movies the 1950's


1959
1959 Return of the Fly Sci-Fi N/R, 78 Minutes
Director: Edward Bernds More Info
Starring: Vincent Price, Brett Halsey, David Franklin, John Sutton, Dan Seymour, Danielle DeMetz, Jack Daly, Michael Mark

This film is a sequel to "The Fly" and is followed by "Curse of the Fly." If you are a "Fly" fan, this is fun viewing. A boy tries to put his late father's teleportation machine back in order, and does.
1959 Teenagers from Outer Space Sci-Fi N/R, 86 Minutes


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Message 550686 - Posted: 22 Apr 2007, 4:14:41 UTC

The Killer Shrews (1959)

Pretty cool- they dress dogs up as giant killer shrews by attaching shrew masks and shrew-hair body wigs. "Festus" from the old Gunsmoke TV show has a part.

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Message 550704 - Posted: 22 Apr 2007, 4:44:31 UTC - in response to Message 550533.  

Matthew, I think you forgot one. Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

Good eye. (Not Crawling Eye) I can see forgetting The Crawling Eye. It's so bad it's good. But the Creature from the Black Lagoon is almost glaring in it's absence!


The thing that made me remember Creature from the Black Lagoon was how realistic the creature looked. I mean it's not scary by today's standards, but at least it looked a little real.



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Message 550752 - Posted: 22 Apr 2007, 6:09:37 UTC

Invasion of the Body Snatchers has likely caused me a few nights of lost sleep...

Best fouled line from a 1950s movie nomination:

"Klaatu Barada Necktie?"

No, it ain't the 50s, but it's still funny, don't care who you are... ;-)
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Message 550791 - Posted: 22 Apr 2007, 8:28:19 UTC

Gee, you guys must all be really old if you remember these movies. I remember my ol' Grandaddy talking about them, though...

HarDeHarHar;))


Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.

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Message 550816 - Posted: 22 Apr 2007, 9:21:14 UTC - in response to Message 550791.  
Last modified: 22 Apr 2007, 9:23:35 UTC

Gee, you guys must all be really old if you remember these movies. I remember my ol' Grandaddy talking about them, though...

HarDeHarHar;))



Hmmm... I am so old I don't remember my dear Old Granddad



BTW, I'm 36...and I drink alone...yeah, with nobody else...
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Message 550823 - Posted: 22 Apr 2007, 9:32:10 UTC - in response to Message 550816.  

Gee, you guys must all be really old if you remember these movies. I remember my ol' Grandaddy talking about them, though...

HarDeHarHar;))



Hmmm... I am so old I don't remember my dear Old Granddad



BTW, I'm 36...and I drink alone...yeah, with nobody else...


I'm 28. And I buy my wine by the box. The super cheap stuff. They don't even have a web site for me to steal an image from!

Just remember, the liver is an evil organ that must, at all costs, be destroyed.


Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.

Albert Einstein
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Message 550827 - Posted: 22 Apr 2007, 9:42:50 UTC - in response to Message 550823.  

Gee, you guys must all be really old if you remember these movies. I remember my ol' Grandaddy talking about them, though...

HarDeHarHar;))



Hmmm... I am so old I don't remember my dear Old Granddad



BTW, I'm 36...and I drink alone...yeah, with nobody else...


I'm 28. And I buy my wine by the box. The super cheap stuff. They don't even have a web site for me to steal an image from!

Just remember, the liver is an evil organ that must, at all costs, be destroyed.



I´ve done it last year.



With each crime and every kindness we birth our future.
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Message 551250 - Posted: 22 Apr 2007, 23:38:49 UTC
Last modified: 22 Apr 2007, 23:39:24 UTC

1957 Attack of the Crab Monsters


Director: Roger Corman More Info
Starring: Richard Garland, Pamela Duncan, Russell Johnson, Leslie Bradley, Mel Welles, Ed Nelson, Richard H. Cutting, Beach Dickerson, Tony Miller, Charles B. Griffith

Giant crabs take on the personalities of their victims and terrify scientists on a remote island in the Pacific.

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Message boards : Cafe SETI : Sci-Fi Movies of the 1950's


 
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