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Date Posted: 23:13:00 02/21/08 Thu
Author: Tim
Subject: Re: Monsters in Science Fiction Movies
In reply to: Officer Torch 's message, "Monsters in Science Fiction Movies" on 13:47:41 02/21/08 Thu

Some great selections there, Officer Torch.

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) It is pretty scary when Gort raises his visor just before Helen Benson (Patricia Neal) utters the magic phrase in the nick of time.

Invaders from Mars (1953) A strange and disturbing movie, surreal and effective despite its low budget.

Forbidden Planet (1956) The "id" monster conjured by Morbius (Walter Pidgeon) is one of the coolest science fiction monsters of the Eisenhower decade.

The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) Although not a monster by definition, that spider is certainly a terrifying monstrosity to titular character Scott Carey (Grant Williams). And it's a Universal picture.

First Men in the Moon (1964) Before CGI there was Ray Harryhausen and stop-motion animation.

Alien (1979) Classic alien-monster by H.R. Giger.

The Thing (1982) Although I think the 1951 Christian Nyby version is a better film, this John Carpenter remake is a suspenseful and effective science fiction monster picture.

Tim

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[> Re: Monsters in Science Fiction Movies -- Alan, 12:55:54 03/01/08 Sat [1]

Hi guys. It's been a long time since I've revisited the early science fiction films I enjoyed as a kid, so this thread shook loose a few long-dormant memories. Here's a few entries, in no particular order...

"This Island Earth" was never a big fave of mine, but Universal did produce several other noteworthy sci-fi films, like "The Deadly Mantis", "It Came From Outer Space", "The Incredible Shrinking Man", and my favorite, "Tarantula". I like it, but I imagine Leo G. Carroll probably wished he was back on the set of one of the six films he made for Alfred Hitchcock.

The 1951 version of "The Thing" is one of my favorites... smart, suspenseful, beautifully shot. I have a high regard for Carpenter's remake too.

Ray Harryhausen's "Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers" is enjoyable, as is "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms" and "It Came From Beneath the Sea". Best of all, IMO, is "20 Million Miles to Earth", with the Ymir making a shambles of Rome. I met Harryhausen at a convention in 1991; really nice guy.

The original version of "Not of This Earth" unnerved me as a kid. The aliens with dark suits and porkpie hats looked like a cross between secret-service men and The Blues Brothers...until they removed their glasses!

I found "The Vampire" (1957) recently, a pseudo-science update of vampire lore, aided tremendously by a poignant performance by John Beal.

Toho's "The Mysterians" was effective, as Officer Torch says. I like the first "Rodan" too, and an obscure scifier from them, "The H Man" (1959, I think). But the best monster film Toho ever did was their first; "Godzilla" was a darn good film, with a pre-Perry Mason Raymond Burr providing a strong lead character. The original Japanese version is even better.

The original "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" is a fine piece of work, but as bizarre creatures go, who can forget the half man-half dog in the 1978 remake. I never have.


"The Day The Earth Stood Still" is a classic. Gort is one imposing figure, and I agree with Tim about the 'face-off' between Gort and Patricia Neal. Great stuff.

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