This year I had a renewed interest in sci-fi and monster B-movies. 2005 was the fiftieth anniversary of
Godzilla and I had the opportunity to see the original Japanese version on the big screen. Akira Ifukube’s
theme song blasting through the surround sound speakers must have reawakened the B-movie monster
deep inside me. I have had a great time digging up old sci-fi and speculative fiction from the space age era
this year (my favorite is Planet of the Vampires). And here comes the new King Kong. I haven’t shelled out
9.50 plus popcorn to see it yet. I think seeing the original might be money better spent.
The end of 2005 seemed like the time to put together a list of some really good and a few wonderfully bad
1950s B-movies. I contacted Arnold Leibovit, who wrote, directed and produced the acclaimed film tribute
“The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal,” profiling the life of the Oscar winning sci-fi and fantasy film
pioneer, who directed the first screentelling of H.G. Wells’ “The Time Machine.” Following this film, Leibovit
obtained the rights to “The Time Machine” book and the motion picture which led to his Executive Producing
the 2002 Dreamworks Warner Bros remake. Arnold Leibovit is currently working on producing a sequel to
"The Time Machine, a remake of Pal’s other classic, “The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao,” and a sci-fi romantic comedy,
which he is directing.
Godzilla and I had the opportunity to see the original Japanese version on the big screen. Akira Ifukube’s
theme song blasting through the surround sound speakers must have reawakened the B-movie monster
deep inside me. I have had a great time digging up old sci-fi and speculative fiction from the space age era
this year (my favorite is Planet of the Vampires). And here comes the new King Kong. I haven’t shelled out
9.50 plus popcorn to see it yet. I think seeing the original might be money better spent.
The end of 2005 seemed like the time to put together a list of some really good and a few wonderfully bad
1950s B-movies. I contacted Arnold Leibovit, who wrote, directed and produced the acclaimed film tribute
“The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal,” profiling the life of the Oscar winning sci-fi and fantasy film
pioneer, who directed the first screentelling of H.G. Wells’ “The Time Machine.” Following this film, Leibovit
obtained the rights to “The Time Machine” book and the motion picture which led to his Executive Producing
the 2002 Dreamworks Warner Bros remake. Arnold Leibovit is currently working on producing a sequel to
"The Time Machine, a remake of Pal’s other classic, “The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao,” and a sci-fi romantic comedy,
which he is directing.
The Best Alien Invasion FIlms of the 1950s
Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) - Not only the best invasion film but
the best most intelligent sci-fi film thanks to Robert Wise!
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Kubrick - what else can I say. Not only
the greatest sci-fi film, but probably the greatest film ever made.
The War of the Worlds (1953) - Scared audiences to death.
This Island Earth (1955) - Had a great monster and really a great story
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956 )- Probably the scariest of all.
Earth vs The Flying Saucers (1956) - Great special effects for the time
Invaders From Mars (1953) - The kid looking out his window during a
storm and seeing that flying saucer scared me to death.
Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) - Not only the best invasion film but
the best most intelligent sci-fi film thanks to Robert Wise!
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Kubrick - what else can I say. Not only
the greatest sci-fi film, but probably the greatest film ever made.
The War of the Worlds (1953) - Scared audiences to death.
This Island Earth (1955) - Had a great monster and really a great story
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956 )- Probably the scariest of all.
Earth vs The Flying Saucers (1956) - Great special effects for the time
Invaders From Mars (1953) - The kid looking out his window during a
storm and seeing that flying saucer scared me to death.
The worst alien
invasion film is
probably Robot
Monster (1953); a
ridiculous monster.
Invasion of the
Saucer Men (1957)
- Just for the
creature design and
great poster alone.
invasion film is
probably Robot
Monster (1953); a
ridiculous monster.
Invasion of the
Saucer Men (1957)
- Just for the
creature design and
great poster alone.
Best Monster Films of the 1950s
First off, not from the 50s, but King Kong (1933) has got to be the
king of the monster movies for any list.
Second is Forbidden Planet (1956) the best sci-fi film next to
2001 and the ID is the greatest monster idea of all and of course,
Robby the Robot-everything stems from Robby, period!
The Thing (1951) - One of the scariest.
Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953) - Probably one of
Harryhausen's best; based on the Ray Bradbury story.
House of Wax (1953) - Very scary Vincent Price film for the time.
Them! (1954) - Scared me to death.
Creature from The Black Lagoon (1954)
Tarantula (1955)
Godzilla (1956)
It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955)
Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) - The spider scene alone puts
this film on the list.
The Blob (1958)
7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) - The best monsters, best fantasy,
best special effects for the time, incredible Herrmann score and
one of the best films of all time!
It The Terror from Beyond Space (1958) - Inspiration for Alien
(1979) and one of the scariest of the 50's.
The Time Machine (1959) - George Pal, the Morlocks
unquestionably make this one of the best of the 50s. The story,
design, music, special effects make it one of the best films of all
time.
The Giant Behemoth (1959) - Willis O' Brien's last and a very
good film.
Gorgo (1961) - Loved the story for the time; made me cry when
Mommy Gorgo protects her baby.
First off, not from the 50s, but King Kong (1933) has got to be the
king of the monster movies for any list.
Second is Forbidden Planet (1956) the best sci-fi film next to
2001 and the ID is the greatest monster idea of all and of course,
Robby the Robot-everything stems from Robby, period!
The Thing (1951) - One of the scariest.
Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953) - Probably one of
Harryhausen's best; based on the Ray Bradbury story.
House of Wax (1953) - Very scary Vincent Price film for the time.
Them! (1954) - Scared me to death.
Creature from The Black Lagoon (1954)
Tarantula (1955)
Godzilla (1956)
It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955)
Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) - The spider scene alone puts
this film on the list.
The Blob (1958)
7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) - The best monsters, best fantasy,
best special effects for the time, incredible Herrmann score and
one of the best films of all time!
It The Terror from Beyond Space (1958) - Inspiration for Alien
(1979) and one of the scariest of the 50's.
The Time Machine (1959) - George Pal, the Morlocks
unquestionably make this one of the best of the 50s. The story,
design, music, special effects make it one of the best films of all
time.
The Giant Behemoth (1959) - Willis O' Brien's last and a very
good film.
Gorgo (1961) - Loved the story for the time; made me cry when
Mommy Gorgo protects her baby.
I am grateful to Arnold for taking the time out to compile this great list. You can find
all of these classics at the best source for classic films, the Sci-Fi Station.
--Craig Campbell
all of these classics at the best source for classic films, the Sci-Fi Station.
--Craig Campbell
