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So...as some of you may know I have many interests outside of the world of
Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch & the rest of the WWE.
One of those main interests being the art of cinema with my overall favorite genre
of films being that of the Japanese kaiju film.
But (Dakota's Butt) I am not here to talk to you about Godzilla, Gamera, Gappa &
the other countless Japanese giant monsters. Today I'm here to talk to you about
my second favorite film genre.
The Science Fiction films of the 1950's.
Black & white, alien invasions & Radioactive mutant/monster attacks...there really
is something special about the science fiction films made & released during that
decade...and that's why I'm here today...to list my 10 favorite films from that incredibly
creative & somewhat hooky decade.
Now...a few rules before I get started.
~ The film needs to be in black & white to make this list (so the original War of
the Worlds, Forbidden Planet & The Blob are out...as great as they are)
~ No Japanese kaiju films will be included (or else the top 3 would be the
original Gojira (1954), Godzilla Raids Again (1955) & Godzilla, King of the
Monsters (1956)
And with the rules now established...let me present to you all...
+ My Top 10 Favorite Science Fiction Films from the 1950's +
#10. The Deadly Mantis ~ Mystery Science Theater 3000 Version (1957/1997)
Yes...I know I'm cheating with this one...but I had to include on this list...
mainly because it changed me as a person. The film is pretty standard for the
genre with "run of mill" characters & some nice effects shots...but the truth
of the matter is this was the very first episode of of MST3K I ever saw...
& because of that...well...its importance as a film to me cannot be overlooked...
so it just makes the list.
#9. The Giant Gila Monster (1959)
This is another film I first saw thanks to the MST3K crew...but unlike the Deadly
Mantis...this film is actually kind of charming in its own way & could prove an
interesting watch for those who don't need to see the monster in a monster film.
Also the Gila Monster effects are a normal sized Mexican beaded lizard on tiny,
tiny scaled-down model landscapes...and while it look incredibly cheesy...the
film makes it work through its own small town charm & likeable characters.
I also want to recommend the MST3K episode because it's an early season classic
of the show featuring many, many great riffs.
Also I must state the remake (simply called Gila should be avoided at all cost.
#8 Tarantula (1955)
Universal Pictures are better known for their stable of classic Horror icons...
but in the 1950's even they threw the hat into the ring with an "Atomic Bug"
movie & the results are pretty solid.
Featuring Western/science fiction legend John Agar & the beautiful Mara Corday
the film is the same old "small town/large threat" story with the power of radiation
being used to increase the size of test animals to hopefully solve a future world
hunger crisis.
But for some reason the Doctor in charge decided to test his special serum on
a Tarantula.
I know...its fucking stupid...but this film wouldn't have been as scary if it was
about a giant gerbil.
#7. It! The Terror from Beyond Space (1958)
Thankfully it isn't about Pennywise in Space...but shockingly its basically
the film that mostly inspired Ridley Scott's Alien.
Seriously...the plots are incredibly similar & I'd very like to know if Alien
writer Dan O'Bannon saw this film growing up.
While its incredibly corny in places & the alien creature acting by Ray "Crash"
Corrigan is lazy & predictable at best...the film still has a certain charm to it
that's hard to ignore.
#6. The Monolith Monsters (1957)
This one is really interesting because again its pretty "normal" for the genre
with a small town under threat from an alien invasion while some local scientists
try to cook up a solution before the town & all the people in it are wiped off the map...
but the element that makes this film stand out is the alien threat itself.
Its giant rocks.
Giant black alien rocks that grow, shatter & spread when water is added to them
The villain of this film is rocks...& shockingly it works so very, very well.
I wouldn't normally say this...but can we get a GOOD remake of this?
#5. Fiend Without A Face (1958)
An independently made British film (set in Canada...why?) about the creation of
an invisible thought monster...that starts eating people's brains & spinal columns
to finally gain a physical form & begin multiplying while also feeding on atomic
power.
Yes...this film has a bunch of brains with spinal columns crawling around like
caterpillars murdering people by eating their brains & spinal columns.
I couldn't make this shit up even if I tried.
Now I will admit the film is slow to start (as many films are in this genre) but
once it gets going...it is a joy to watch...even if it is bat shit insane.
Its also worth noting that this film was "based" upon short story from the 1930's
which can be heard here.
You're welcome.
#4. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
Well...there is nothing I can really say about this one. Its a pure, classic
science fiction that is still held in high regard to this day. Gort is one of the
most iconic robots ever & the film has a fantastic message that sadly would
still be relevant today.
I can only finish with stating...
Klaatu Barada Nikto!
Oh...& the 2008 remake was awful...just awful.
Good casting of Keanu Reeves as an emotionless alien though...
maybe Roman Reigns could have the role of Klaatu if they remade
it again?
Yeah...you all knew that was coming!
:emoji_stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
#3. Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
Now I swear I'm not cheating with this one. Unlike the other Universal Horror
icons that were created in the 30's the Creature (known as the Gill-Man to his
mates) first swam onto movie screens in 1954.
Playing the "Beauty & the Beast" angle much like King Kong...the Creature would
become such an iconic character he is now held in the same regard as Lugosi's
Dracula & Karloff's Frankenstein & upon watching his debut film...its not hard to
see why.
I do suggest you avoid the sequels however...as fun as "Revenge of the Creature"
can be with the MST3K crew riffing on it.
Also...The Shape of Water is kind of a remake/re-imagining of this film...if the
lady was "into it" so to speak.
#2. The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
While many diehard kaiju fans are in denial about this...the Beast from 20,000
Fathoms is basically an American prototype of the original Gojira. Its been stated
that famous Toho producer Tomoyuki Tanaka saw the American film & decided a
Japanese version focusing on the destruction caused by the atomic bombings of
his home country would make for compelling cinema...and it did.
The influence of the Beast from 20,000 Fathoms had can not be understated & its a
pretty awesome film in its own right with the stop-motion Rhedosaurus effects by
legend Ray Harryhausen making this film a "must see" in my opinion.
& of course...the top spot goes to...
#1. Them! (1954)
An absolute stone cold classic featuring likeable characters, a high stakes story,
an early film mystery & of course the absolutely amazing practical effects to bring
"Them!" to life.
Along with The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms Them! is credited for being one of the
earliest "nuclear monster" films & the first in a wave of "big bug" features...& while
it inspired many other films...I would argue none ever reached the quality & overall
focused delivery of this masterpiece.
Do yourself a favor & check it out!
In fact...just go ahead & watch all these films so we can discuss Them! all in great detail.
Seriously...the 1950's were Awesome!
:thumbsup:
+++
Now...before I let you all go I just wanted to mention that some of you will
be receiving a private message from me in the near future pertaining to a
possible project I intend to start on he forum in the coming months.
Its nothing too serious...but just keep an eye out for it.
Well...that's me done for now. Thanks for taking the time to read/watch this
thread & as always...I'll see you all around the traps.
Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch & the rest of the WWE.
One of those main interests being the art of cinema with my overall favorite genre
of films being that of the Japanese kaiju film.
But (Dakota's Butt) I am not here to talk to you about Godzilla, Gamera, Gappa &
the other countless Japanese giant monsters. Today I'm here to talk to you about
my second favorite film genre.
The Science Fiction films of the 1950's.
Black & white, alien invasions & Radioactive mutant/monster attacks...there really
is something special about the science fiction films made & released during that
decade...and that's why I'm here today...to list my 10 favorite films from that incredibly
creative & somewhat hooky decade.
Now...a few rules before I get started.
~ The film needs to be in black & white to make this list (so the original War of
the Worlds, Forbidden Planet & The Blob are out...as great as they are)
~ No Japanese kaiju films will be included (or else the top 3 would be the
original Gojira (1954), Godzilla Raids Again (1955) & Godzilla, King of the
Monsters (1956)
And with the rules now established...let me present to you all...
+ My Top 10 Favorite Science Fiction Films from the 1950's +
#10. The Deadly Mantis ~ Mystery Science Theater 3000 Version (1957/1997)
Yes...I know I'm cheating with this one...but I had to include on this list...
mainly because it changed me as a person. The film is pretty standard for the
genre with "run of mill" characters & some nice effects shots...but the truth
of the matter is this was the very first episode of of MST3K I ever saw...
& because of that...well...its importance as a film to me cannot be overlooked...
so it just makes the list.
#9. The Giant Gila Monster (1959)
This is another film I first saw thanks to the MST3K crew...but unlike the Deadly
Mantis...this film is actually kind of charming in its own way & could prove an
interesting watch for those who don't need to see the monster in a monster film.
Also the Gila Monster effects are a normal sized Mexican beaded lizard on tiny,
tiny scaled-down model landscapes...and while it look incredibly cheesy...the
film makes it work through its own small town charm & likeable characters.
I also want to recommend the MST3K episode because it's an early season classic
of the show featuring many, many great riffs.
Also I must state the remake (simply called Gila should be avoided at all cost.
#8 Tarantula (1955)
Universal Pictures are better known for their stable of classic Horror icons...
but in the 1950's even they threw the hat into the ring with an "Atomic Bug"
movie & the results are pretty solid.
Featuring Western/science fiction legend John Agar & the beautiful Mara Corday
the film is the same old "small town/large threat" story with the power of radiation
being used to increase the size of test animals to hopefully solve a future world
hunger crisis.
But for some reason the Doctor in charge decided to test his special serum on
a Tarantula.
I know...its fucking stupid...but this film wouldn't have been as scary if it was
about a giant gerbil.
#7. It! The Terror from Beyond Space (1958)
Thankfully it isn't about Pennywise in Space...but shockingly its basically
the film that mostly inspired Ridley Scott's Alien.
Seriously...the plots are incredibly similar & I'd very like to know if Alien
writer Dan O'Bannon saw this film growing up.
While its incredibly corny in places & the alien creature acting by Ray "Crash"
Corrigan is lazy & predictable at best...the film still has a certain charm to it
that's hard to ignore.
#6. The Monolith Monsters (1957)
This one is really interesting because again its pretty "normal" for the genre
with a small town under threat from an alien invasion while some local scientists
try to cook up a solution before the town & all the people in it are wiped off the map...
but the element that makes this film stand out is the alien threat itself.
Its giant rocks.
Giant black alien rocks that grow, shatter & spread when water is added to them
The villain of this film is rocks...& shockingly it works so very, very well.
I wouldn't normally say this...but can we get a GOOD remake of this?
#5. Fiend Without A Face (1958)
An independently made British film (set in Canada...why?) about the creation of
an invisible thought monster...that starts eating people's brains & spinal columns
to finally gain a physical form & begin multiplying while also feeding on atomic
power.
Yes...this film has a bunch of brains with spinal columns crawling around like
caterpillars murdering people by eating their brains & spinal columns.
I couldn't make this shit up even if I tried.
Now I will admit the film is slow to start (as many films are in this genre) but
once it gets going...it is a joy to watch...even if it is bat shit insane.
Its also worth noting that this film was "based" upon short story from the 1930's
which can be heard here.
You're welcome.
#4. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
Well...there is nothing I can really say about this one. Its a pure, classic
science fiction that is still held in high regard to this day. Gort is one of the
most iconic robots ever & the film has a fantastic message that sadly would
still be relevant today.
I can only finish with stating...
Klaatu Barada Nikto!
Oh...& the 2008 remake was awful...just awful.
Good casting of Keanu Reeves as an emotionless alien though...
maybe Roman Reigns could have the role of Klaatu if they remade
it again?
Yeah...you all knew that was coming!
:emoji_stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
#3. Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
Now I swear I'm not cheating with this one. Unlike the other Universal Horror
icons that were created in the 30's the Creature (known as the Gill-Man to his
mates) first swam onto movie screens in 1954.
Playing the "Beauty & the Beast" angle much like King Kong...the Creature would
become such an iconic character he is now held in the same regard as Lugosi's
Dracula & Karloff's Frankenstein & upon watching his debut film...its not hard to
see why.
I do suggest you avoid the sequels however...as fun as "Revenge of the Creature"
can be with the MST3K crew riffing on it.
Also...The Shape of Water is kind of a remake/re-imagining of this film...if the
lady was "into it" so to speak.
#2. The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
While many diehard kaiju fans are in denial about this...the Beast from 20,000
Fathoms is basically an American prototype of the original Gojira. Its been stated
that famous Toho producer Tomoyuki Tanaka saw the American film & decided a
Japanese version focusing on the destruction caused by the atomic bombings of
his home country would make for compelling cinema...and it did.
The influence of the Beast from 20,000 Fathoms had can not be understated & its a
pretty awesome film in its own right with the stop-motion Rhedosaurus effects by
legend Ray Harryhausen making this film a "must see" in my opinion.
& of course...the top spot goes to...
#1. Them! (1954)
An absolute stone cold classic featuring likeable characters, a high stakes story,
an early film mystery & of course the absolutely amazing practical effects to bring
"Them!" to life.
Along with The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms Them! is credited for being one of the
earliest "nuclear monster" films & the first in a wave of "big bug" features...& while
it inspired many other films...I would argue none ever reached the quality & overall
focused delivery of this masterpiece.
Do yourself a favor & check it out!
In fact...just go ahead & watch all these films so we can discuss Them! all in great detail.
Seriously...the 1950's were Awesome!
:thumbsup:
+++
Now...before I let you all go I just wanted to mention that some of you will
be receiving a private message from me in the near future pertaining to a
possible project I intend to start on he forum in the coming months.
Its nothing too serious...but just keep an eye out for it.
Well...that's me done for now. Thanks for taking the time to read/watch this
thread & as always...I'll see you all around the traps.
Last edited:
