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Date Posted: 00:10:31 05/30/10 Sun
Author: Tim
Subject: Re: Favorite Universal Sci-Fi/Horror films of the 50's
In reply to: Rick 's message, "Favorite Universal Sci-Fi/Horror films of the 50's" on 04:40:31 05/29/10 Sat

The 1950s saw a plethora of science fiction films, and some of the best were produced by Universal.

The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
An intelligent script, fine acting and an unconventional ending make this one my favorite Universal science fiction effort of the 1950s. The special effects were state of the art for the time, and still hold up today. An excellent performance by Grant Williams as Scott Carey.

Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
The Gill-Man, brought to life by Ricou Browning and Ben Chapman, was the Universal monster of the 1950s, spawning a total of three pictures. Richard Carlson, Richard Denning and the lovely Julia Adams lead the cast. Not science fiction in the purest sense, but certainly good fun.

It Came from Outer Space (1953)
Good atmospheric science fiction tale set in the Arizona desert. Richard Carlson and Barbara Rush star.

This Island Earth (1955)
Scientists Rex Reason and Faith Domergue get to travel to the planet Metaluna, courtsey of Exeter (Jeff Morrow).

Tarantula (1955)
Somewhat cheesier than the other four selections on my list, but still a very entertaining picture with a good cast, including John Agar, Mara Corday, and Leo G. Carroll, later of Man from UNCLE fame.

Tim

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[> [> Re: Favorite Universal Sci-Fi/Horror films of the 50's -- Officer Torch, 13:49:14 06/02/10 Wed [1]

Sergeant Tim....one of those you indicated happens to be a huge favorite of mine.....1955s This Island Earth. I saw this as a kid. It was kind of scary for me, and we saw this so-called space opera on a large screen while we were vacationing with relatives on the north fork of Long Island, facing a bay to the south, with kind of a large deserted island (it was said) with all kind of UFO rumors from the locals. Man, me, my cousins, friends after seeing the movie were teasing and scarring each other unmercifully....and in a way, I was glad we left, in spite of the good fishing from the bay in a rowboat. There were also rumors of a "bottomless lake" nearby where it was said strange events and drownings occurred. Oooh, spooky, really.

It wasn't until a couple decades later we caught the movie on TV, then some years after, this thing called a VTR came out and we able to rent, then actually buy the movie! Wow! Now, many of the players had the typically (correct) NY area accent.(Ok, don't gimme a hard time.) We thought this normal, of course. Seriously though, this movie still holds up today as a pretty decent sci-fi flick for a 55 year old film. Yes, it drags in some spots and there are some cheapo sets here and there on Metaluna, but overall, graphics, color, overall content and story were good, copied afterward often it seems. It's underrated as a film of yesteryear, or in my opinion anyway. Those who never saw it, try to rent or pick it up...if you're a sci-fi fan, think you'll like this one; if you're not, I still think you may like it. Well, maybe not. Opinions from our friends across the light bridge certainly welcome.


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[> [> [> This Island Earth (June 1, 1955) -- Tim, 08:32:14 06/03/10 Thu [1]

It is a great one, Officer Torch, and was once a staple on television. I first saw it as a kid, probably in the 1960s or early 1970s. It is an underrated science fiction classic, imaginative and action-packed.

Among the cast is Russell Johnson, who a decade later would find television fame as the Professor on Gilligan's Island.

The Monitor of Metaluna is played by Douglas Spencer, who earlier had a larger role as the reporter Scotty in another 1950s classic, The Thing (1951), aka The Thing from Another World.

This Island Earth saw its American premiere on June 1, 1955!

Tim


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