I grew up with these wonderful films and to this day I still can’t get enough of 1950’s sci-fi. The horror’s of THE BOMB and the ever present radiation laid ground work for many giant insects, creatures, shrinking men to renegade dinosaurs to, as well as aliens from other worlds, to walk and terrorize the earth.

The Thing from Another World
d. Christian Nyby 1951 87 min B&W
Warner Bros. Entertainment DVD w/ Theatrical Trailer Fullframe

Thrills beyond compare await, as Scotty, our fearless reporter stumbles on the story of a lifetime, concerning an Army team that’s sent to the icy clutches high in the Arctic to investigate a mysterious crash and the events that follow. Yes we are talking an early ‘Alien Scenario’ flick and 50’s sci-fi classic well beyond reproach. Buried in the snow and ice our team finds a large circular ship and are able to secure a hulking body that’s taken back to camp, Polar Expedition Station 6, were it is accidentally thawed and escapes to terrorize the station, draining dogs and men of their precious fluid. [Can you feel the DREAD?] James Arness is the plant originated alien creature responsible for the terror incurred, as the claustrophobic hopelessness of being trapped in this frozen atmosphere adds a chill to the films over all sense of gloom and doom. With Dimitri Tiomkin’s Theremin laced score as an icy coating. In ‘82 John Carpenter delivered his superior f/x melt down remake as “The Thing” that became an instant classic. Duh! I leave you now with the words of our man Scotty; “Watch the skies, keep looking, keep watching the skies”. John Carpenter made the unforgettable remake as “The Thing”.

It Came from Outer Space
d. Jack Arnold 1953 80 min B&W
Universal DVD w/The Universe according to Universal, Commentary with Film Historian Tom Weaver, Photograph and Still Gallery, Theatrical Trailer, Production Notes, Cast and Filmmakers Fullframe

Tagline: “Amazing Sights Leap at You in 3-DIMENSION”. This favorite is one of [if not the best] sci-fi films the 50’s has to offer, and like Ozzy--era Black Sabbath, it still strongly holds its own to this very day. John Putman and his girl are star gazing when they see a giant meteor crash into the earth. Upon investigation John sees that it’s a ship of some kind, but it’s buried by a landslide and of course no one believes his story but we sure know it’s true, coz’ we get to see the floating one-eyed bubble alien that leaves a glittery trail on the ground. Meanwhile a frantic---but grounded Putman works feverishly to keep the towns people from causing a disastrous confrontation with the aliens. Jack Arnold lays out more of his signature top notch direction that’s complemented with a brilliant haunting and spacey Theremin laced score. Arnold is masterful in building suspense by just showing glimpses of the aliens that builds to the finally. Based on the story “The Meteor” by Ray Bradbury and originally filmed in 3---D. Working titles: “Atomic Monster”, “The Meteor”, “Strangers from Outer Space”. This is Sci-Fi!!!

The War of the Worlds
d. Byron Hasken 1953 85 min Color
Paramount Video Fullframe

Tagline: “Mighty panorama of Earth-shaking fury as an army from Mars invades”! Oh what a 50’s [in bold Technicolor] classic in Sci-Fi-ism this is. Actually it’s one of the very best alien invader sci-fi films ever made; even to this day. Based on the H. G. Welles book and the radio broadcast that actually caused a panic when it aired on November 30, 1938. Right from the get go Aliens from Mars are landing all across the globe and with out warning, burn down everyone and everything in their paths with their tentacle eye death rays. Nice! Luckily, even the armies’ weaponry is utterly useless against the invaders, who wage a highly impressive campaign of terror and destruction until…until…until you watch this awesome spectacle and find out for yourself. Produced by George Pal with state-of-the-art Academy Award winning f/x, the narrator, stock footage, massive destruction; the works. Remade as a TV series 88-90, 44 episodes and I’ve never seen a single one but I’m rather sure they are quite unnecessary. Needlessly remade by Spielberg in 2005.

Creature from the Black Lagoon
d. Jack Arnold 1954 79 min Color
MCA Universal Home Video Fullframe

One Universals best and most successful films [for the time] tells of a prehistoric half man, half fish creature found in the murky waters of the Black Lagoon. Scientist fined the Gill Man and capture him to show the world. But Gill Man awakes, becomes infatuated by a beauty on board the boat, which he promptly abducts and retreats to his under water cave. Chief scientist Richard Carlson won't have that so he hunts ‘em down to save the girl and send the Gill Man back to the murky depths. The Bud Westmore creature suite is probably the best the genre had seen to that point, and beyond for that matter. Good script, acting and as always Jack Arnold’s suspenseful direction is top notch. Originally released in 3-D this 50’s monster movie is classic to the max. Two sequels followed “Revenge of the Creature” ‘55 and “The Creature Walks Among Us” ‘56. Oh hell, why not a Tagline: “Not since the beginning of time has the world beheld terror like this!”.

Gojira
d. Ishirô Honda 1954 95 min B&W
Classic Media DVD w/ 16 Page Booklet, 2 Featurettes, Audio Commentaries by Steve Ryfle & Ed Godzisewski, Original Trailers, the American Version

This is where all the destruction all began. Vastly superior to US version that was cut by 40 minutes with 20 minutes of Raymond Burr inserts, and every sequel it spawned. Believe me this is an entirely different movie. In the American version Raymond Burr blows it by telling us straight away what menace to Tokyo is, while here the festivities start with ships exploding and sinking under mysterious circumstances. Scientist correctly come to believe a giant dinosaur has been created from atomic testing and with there fellow countrymen must helplessly watch in terror as Gojira attacks turn the city of Tokyo to fiery rubble leaving wide scale destruction and serious property damage city wide with the f/x wizardry of Eiji Tsuburaya. There only hope is in trying to convince scientist Dr. Serizawa to use his powerful new invention, the dreaded ‘Oxygen Destroyer’ for a truly compelling ending. This version is much more about Gojira-Godzilla being a metaphor for the horror of the H-bomb and all the horror that comes with it, as well as being one of the very best 50’s sci-fi films ever made. Absolutely recommended!!!!! Don’t even give a thought to having to read English subtitles.

Them!
d. Gordon Douglas 1954 93 min B&W
Warner Bros. Pictures DVD w/ Cast Film Highlights, Theatrical Trailer Fullframe

Many a giant insect roam the Earth’s crust and black & white celluoid in the 50’s. A little girl is found in the desert in a state of shock only able to utter a single word. 'Them!!!'. James Whitmore is the sheriff that comes across the girl, a trashed trailer and a destroyed store complete with a dead body filled with enough fomic acid to kill 20 men. Yes the horrors of lingering radiation from the first atomic bomb have spawned giant ants that are alive and well in the desert of New Mexico. The ambitious scientist, the beautiful girl, her new found love interest, the desert and its dust blowing howling winds, eerie sounds and those ants. This is blue print 50’s sci-fi here. Where typically stop motion was used, these ants---as hokey as they look today---were actual size models and f/x supervisor Ralph Ayres was nominated for a Academy Award. Look close and you might see Lenard Nimoy. This classic sci-fi thriller is a fav for sure. How ‘bout a Tagline: “A horror horde of crawl-and-crush giants clawing out of the earth from mile-deep catacombs!”.

Tarantula
d. Jack Arnold 1955 81 min B&W
Universal DVD w/ Trailer Fullframe

Taglines: “Giant spider strikes! Crawling terror 100 feet high!”
“More terrifying than any horror known to man comes a creeping crawling monster whose towering fury no one can escape”!
Here’s one of my favorites that helps satisfy my lust for 50’s sci-fi giant insect invasion riffs. A Universal-International jaunt directed by Jack Arnold---although not his best---a scientist creates a growth nutrient to help feed an “over crowded world”, but fails when his experimental spider [a tarantula] escapes during a scuffle and grows to gigantic size to wreak havoc on the desert landscape and a small Arizona town. When guns and dynamite fail to stop it, army planes are called in and a young Clint Eastwood gives the titan terror a taste of some napalm death. Notable Saying: “Oh, this is one of those days. Old Andy called me in a sweat and said to come running. Couldn’t figure what he was yakking about, but it seems like something was eating his cattle”.

Earth vs. The Flying Saucers
d. Fred F. Sears 1956 83 min B&W
Columbia Pictures DVD w/Ray Harryhausen Documentary, Dynimation Featurette, Making of Featurette, Photo Gallery, Theatrical Trailer Fullframe

Look no more to See!! One of the 50’s finest entries. See!! Golem like robot looking aliens attempt to make friendly contact with Dr. Russ Marvin. See!! Excellent stop motion f/x by Ray Harryhausen. See!! The armies shoot first policy cause the aliens to retaliate and administer serious property damage on buildings, planes, and Washington. See!! The aliens shoot cool heat rays. See!! The fate of our weary world lies in the hands of Marvin who must develop a weapon to stop the deadly intruders. See!! Stock footage, newspaper headlines, a human brain reading, and Hear!! A narrator help us though it all. See!! This ultra cool sci-fi classic as it gets in it’s properly formatted DVD. Fred F Sears followed with high entertaining “The Giant Claw” ‘57. a. k. a. Invasion of the Flying Saucers

Invasion of the Body Snatchers
d. Don Siegel 1956 80 min B&W
Republic Pictures DVD w/ Original Trailer, Kevin McCarthy Interview 2.35:1

Classic B & W sci-fi based on the Jack Finnety novel plots the fine folks of small town Santa Mira against the invading ‘Pod People’. People are claiming that their loved ones are not who they appear to be, are correct-a-moon-dough on that account. Formless extraterrestrials using seedpods copy people of the town while they are asleep. Kevin McCarthy is Dr. Bennell who with a few others uncovers the mystery and must warn the world of the deadly invasion. Excellent script creating paranoia and suspense with acting and direction also being first rate. Now you can impress your friends with the widescreen DVD. Remade as “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” ‘78 and “The Puppet Masters” ‘94.