Date Posted:12:55:54 03/01/08 Sat Author: Alan 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
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.
