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1950s sci-fi is noted for its remarkable lack of, shall we say, sophistication. For the most part, the genre was derided as mere B-grade theater-filler schlock. But during that decade, there were serious efforts. The science in most of the films on this list is probably not plausible (or is no longer considered plausible), but these films attempted to present serious dramas, or at least thoughtful stories, amid a genre flooded with the absurd. The three alien invasion films on the list represent the best ever made, because they treat their subject matter intelligently instead of relying on cheap thrills. (Note: Don’t see The Time Machine on this list? That’s because it came out in 1960.)
Set apart from the plethora of alien invasion/monster attack films, this little-known film centers on the first manned spaceships. Three attempts are made to “capture” meteorites for study, with tragic results. Made before the first man (the Soviet Union’s Yuri Gagarin) went into space.
Another film dealing with the first manned spaceships, this British film accepts spaceflight as a given. The main focus is on the characters, not the science.
Walt Disney’s version remains the best film adaptation of the Jules Verne novel. It’s not so much because of the giant squid, but because of Disney’s version of Captain Nemo and the Nautilus.
This original version of the aliens-replace-people story is considered one of the top 10 all-time great sci-fi films by the American Film Institute. (I actually prefer the later version with Donald Sutherland, Jeff Goldblum and Leonard Nimoy.)
Another movie made from a Jules Verne novel, this playful James Mason vehicle treated sci-fi as a wonder to be discovered, instead of something to be feared, a la aliens and monsters.
This George Pal film gives a serious look at space travel and its challenges, such as fuel consumption. (Similar to the competing 1950 film Rocketship X-M.)
Will Keanu’s CGI environmentalist version be better than the original? We’ll see, but the original features a powerful alien arrogantly telling humanity to end all war — or else.
Made from the intriguing novel of the same name, George Pal’s When Worlds Collide has long been one of my favorites. Forget the spotty science; it’s the plot that makes this film. Slightly different than the novel (the movie features a rich tycoon who tries to buy his way onto the only rocket leaving earth) When Worlds Collide is a terrific and moving (he says tongue in cheek) thrill ride.
This B-picture still reigns as the best film adaptation of H.G. Wells’ novel, easily beating the schlock-fest that was the annoying and illogical Tom Cruise-Steven Spielberg movie from a few years ago. The 1953 version is one of the best science fiction movies ever made, period.
A smart retelling of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” Forbidden Planet features Leslie Nielson — in a dramatic role — battling wits with a mentally unstable scientist. It’s arguably the best of all the serious sci-fi movies made between 1936’s Things to Come and 1977’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. This movie assumes audience intelligence, and plays up the science. Also notable for predicting that greater computer power = bigger computers, which is quite the opposite of what actually happened, of course. Nevertheless, it’s quite thrilling to watch the scene where the commander and the scientist walk through the immense super-computer.
The Blob is an independently made American horror/science-fiction film from 1958 depicting a giant amoeba-like alien that terrorizes the small community of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. It was not until star Steve McQueen became famous with the TV series Wanted: Dead or Alive that the film became a hit at the drive-in theatres. Today, the film is recognized as one of the quintessential 1950s American sci-fi/horror films. This film is added as a bonus because I loved it as a kid in the ’80s and had to included even though it more satire than “serious”.
This article is licensed under the GFDL because it contains quotations from Wikipedia.
Contributor: STL Mo
December 24th, 2008 at 1:23 am
merry christmas!
December 24th, 2008 at 1:23 am
Good List
December 24th, 2008 at 1:27 am
Great list! I would also add Godzilla 1953.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:29 am
cool list
December 24th, 2008 at 1:39 am
Great list. As a kid in the 50’s, I saw most several of these movies, and still enjoy them. At the time they were made, their special effects were a lot of fun.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:46 am
I havent seen any of these movies but definitely want to now!
December 24th, 2008 at 1:48 am
makes me want to see a few of them:D
December 24th, 2008 at 1:49 am
Good list.
Keanu’s movie was terrible.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:58 am
Braised guns on the list, g, and merry X-mas, yo.
Bring back the beat!
December 24th, 2008 at 2:52 am
War of the worlds is an okay film, but is a loooong way removed from the original story and the message within the HG Wells book upon which it is based.
The book has so many fentastic elements, I just can’t understand why someone doesnt release a film that stays true to the storyline instead of “updating” it. I guess Horsell Common (UK, original location in the book) is not as sexy as the US of A!
December 24th, 2008 at 3:33 am
Good list. I would have to add my favorite, the Japanese-American movie “The Mysterians”. A bit hokey at times I guess, but how can you beat melting tanks, atomic cannons and the world uniting to defeat a common enemy?
December 24th, 2008 at 3:54 am
About the description of Forbidden Planet… While it is true that the technology behind consumer computers became smaller as the years went by, super computers are still huge, huge monstrosities that actually get bigger. The top super computer these days (IBM Roadrunner) takes up 6000 square feet, according to it’s Wikipedia article. Bigger computer = more computing power.
December 24th, 2008 at 5:21 am
Great list. Right off the top of my head, I can’t think of others I’d put on the list. I’ve see all but the #9 and #10. Guess I’ll have to look those up and watch them.
December 24th, 2008 at 5:32 am
I think Keanu is perfect to play a blank emotionless alien. hehe- that’s just him I guess.
December 24th, 2008 at 6:10 am
Excellent list STL Mo.
I sort-of agree with dracon. While Godzilla was not a great ’serious sci-fi’ movie, it did spawn a whole industry that is alive today.
December 24th, 2008 at 6:28 am
I’d thought “The Fly” would be on the list, at least for the concept of transportation.
December 24th, 2008 at 6:29 am
I’ve seen about half of these. I loves me a good 50s Sci-Fi thriller, especially when done with the comedic stylings of MST3K.
Will the new Keanu Reeves movie be better? Hell no, that movie was crap. He didn’t even say “Klaatu Barata Nikto” once!
December 24th, 2008 at 6:30 am
Oh, and also “The Thing from Another World”.
December 24th, 2008 at 6:42 am
This Island Earth classic ’50’s scifi. Then watch the MST3K version. friggin hilarious!
December 24th, 2008 at 6:48 am
I originally had The Fly and the first Godzilla on this list, but removed them in favor of others. COnsider The Fly #12 and Godzilla (1953) number 11.
December 24th, 2008 at 7:14 am
I love SciFi. The newer War of the Worlds really scared me, but it was awesome! Merry Xmas.
December 24th, 2008 at 7:18 am
I found Forbidden Planet really annoying haha
Good list though
Invasion Of The Body Snatchers is a good film
December 24th, 2008 at 7:23 am
I’ve seen & love all of these except 9 & 10. I guess I’ve got a project now.
I can quote long passages from #s 1, 2, & 4; I also own copies of all 3 on DVD.
Though I love “When Worlds Collide,” it’s just not quite as good as the original “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” but your reasoning for the order is sound. I guess that we’ll just have to disagree.
December 24th, 2008 at 7:23 am
Without “Them!” on it — and somewhere near the top — this list is something less than completely valid.
December 24th, 2008 at 7:27 am
I’ve convinced sci-fi haters to watch “Forbidden Planet,” & all of them now own a copy. It’s just that good.
Aside from it’s astounding story, I think (IMHO) that #1’s special effects were not equaled until “2001,” & not truly topped until “Star Wars.”
Watch the scene in “Forbidden Planet” where the Commander is trying to shoot through the door; the laser bolts tap out the tune to Jingle Bells. (I wonder if this was the sound guy having a joke.)
December 24th, 2008 at 7:43 am
I don’t understand how that version of war of the worlds can be considered one of the best. I love the book, it’s easily one of my top ten of all times, but in that the robots are tripods, who carry laser beams and use poisinous gas to kill humans. In that movie version they fly and whatnot, and it’s during WW2 era, not the early 1900’s which would have made the movie awesome. Also, in the book, the aliens did not have impenetrable shields. I remember them being taken down with cannons and whatnot.
December 24th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Okay, this list is right up my alley as A) I am a huge classic film buff B) I am a huge cheesy old sci fi/horror film buff C) I took a shitload of film classes in college, which served to fill my mind with all sorts of crap about semiotics, symbolism, mis en scene, cahiers du cinema, chiascuro, expressionism, and Brigitte Bardot.
Also, I’ve seen each of these films, some numerous times, going back to my childhood when they were shown on Saturday Afternoon TV or on “Monster Movie Matinee.”
Having said all this, I have to confess I think this is a bit of an odd list. Why not just “Ten Great Sci Fi Films of the 50s”? At any rate, I think a few of the choices miss the mark here.
“Riders to the Stars” is an okay film, with Richard Carlson, who I think was something of an underrated actor. (He also directed this thing, as I recall). However, it’s a bit of a bore, and I’m not sure I would have placed it here and left off the original Japanese “Gojira,” which we know as “Godzilla.”
I can find fewer nice things to say about “Spaceways,” which while I admit to only having seen once, I still recall that it left me nodding off. Not all Hammer films were gems, and I wouldn’t include this one in a top 10 list of any kind.
“Journey to the Center of the Earth” is, I feel, a hell of a film. Great fun. Entertaining. Nice acting work. Great visual look, nice cinematography. Cool score by the great Bernard Herrmann. (Silly monsters though). But a SERIOUS film? Uh uh. Not by a long shot. STL Mo, how can you call a film “serious” that has a pet duck in it, and scene-chewing villain Thayer David? Come now. A better choice could have been found here.
All the other choices I buy, and in fact I’d stand with you solidly on them. “Forbidden Planet,” while hampered by some typical 50s crap dialogue and some over-earnestness on the part of the actors (also typical of the era) is, I feel, one of the best films ever made, period, and is certainly one of the greatest sci fi films ever.
But I gotta say a little something about “Day the Earth Stood Still.” We are about to be dumped on by yet another pointless Hollywood remake of a classic film. Now, the interesting this is, as many may know here, I am myself a writer. A few years ago, I had an idea for remaking this very film—which I felt unnecessary, but I thought, hey, since they’re remaking every old movie they can get their hands on, sooner or later they’ll get around to “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” and wouldn’t it be cool if I could pen a script for it? So I preceded to write my very own draft… and then chuckling it off, I put it away. A couple years later I had the horrific news given to me that someone actually WAS going to remake it, and with the hated Keanu Reeves as Klaatu.
And again came that cry that everyone lets out these days, at one time or another, when it comes to Hollywood: WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING?!
And I kick myself for not having at least TRIED to submit that story treatment to SOMEONE. Maybe a disaster could have been diverted… though probably not.
The sole consolation? I’m quite sure this crap Keanu version of DTESS will tank and be forgotten just as the hated Tom Cruise “War of the Worlds” will be forgotten and its 50s predecessor will continue to be remembered. The downside? There probably won’t be another shot at it. And it could have been such a great idea for a remade film. It could have had message and depth and some real character.
Oh well.
We are very near the end of civilization, I quite believe it.
December 24th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Yeah, you’ve gotta love “The Blob”!
I also love the theme song, “(Beware of the) Blob”, by the 5 Blobs. Written by none other than Burt Bacharach!
December 24th, 2008 at 8:06 am
Randall – all good points. What I was trying to do with the “serious” in the title is to weed out the pure schlock from things that at least made some attempt to tell a story with real science in mind. But point taken.
And totally agree about remakes. I loathe most remakes because they’re usually pointless exercises in ego. One exception to that annoying trend, though: After Ang Lee’s “Hulk” bombed badly, a new one was made this year, and was far superior.
And as a fellow writer (corporate, alas), there are sometimes when I’m watching a film or remake and think “I can write something better than this cr**!
I would love to see a version of War of the Worlds that stuck closely to the novel. The closest I’ve seen was a BBC version some years ago. (Can’t recall the who, what, when, etc.) But the 1953 version is terrific in its own right.
December 24th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Kakashi266 – you’re quite correct, but consider that even a 6,000-square-foot super computer of today is still dwarfed by the gigantic, almost planetary-scale super computer of Forbidden Planet. That’s what I meant.
December 24th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Micheal Rennie (the original Klaatu) was such a classically handsome man… sigh.
December 24th, 2008 at 8:18 am
The day the earth stood still….
Both versions rock on their own….
Same story told with different visions..
regards :
December 24th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Have you heard that J. Michael Staczynski is penning a “Forbidden Planet” prequel? It’s about when the Bellepheron leaves earth, arrives on Altair IV, & what happens then.
I’m both curious & afraid.
December 24th, 2008 at 8:29 am
@ Cedestra
Klaatu says the words in the new version at the beginning when he is shot down.. and when GORT reaches out to him…You hear a deformed alien voice say ” Klaatu Barada Nikto ” after that GORT freezes…
December 24th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Wow! I watched Forbidden Planet for the first time yesterday, and I loved it! And now I know I’m not alone in that sentiment!!
The story is awesome, and the effects are really good, especially for the time. I highly recommend it. Let’s hope Forbidden Planet’s remake comes out better than a certain other remake in theaters now… XD
PS. Merry Christmas (or the alien equivalent) to everyone!
December 24th, 2008 at 8:47 am
I now have an even bigger list to see before I die. P.S. Everytime I go on this site, I click on every advertisement I see so that you will get the money. Hope that helps.
December 24th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Great list featuring some of my favorite movies. I also loved This Island Earth,The Fly and Godzilla.
34. atlantis
Next time give a spoiler alert when describing scenes from a movie some of us haven’t seen yet.
Also in the original movie version of WOTW, the alien ships didn’t fly. They were described as “walking on invisible legs”.
It’s ok not follow the book when making the movie version. That’s why it’s sometimes called “re-imagining” not remaking.
December 24th, 2008 at 8:57 am
GODZILLA!
Well, it is iconic.
Anyway, could have been more detailed, but whatever.
Also, the new The Day the Earth Stood Still is terrible, I hear.
December 24th, 2008 at 9:12 am
oh no! tell me it ain’t so. they’re gonna muck about w/ Forbidden Planet? *wah*
one of my all time favs. oh please i hope they don’t ruin things.
December 24th, 2008 at 9:47 am
not quite interesting for the new generation…. never heard of these movies. i really want a new list on interesting cool stuff for all ages.
December 24th, 2008 at 9:54 am
OMG why are all the movies american lol
December 24th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Hey Randall, why do you hate Tom Cruise? He’s a scientology nerd, is that reason enough to hate him? He’s an excellent actor. Sure, he’s a little hard to relate to. I couldn’t see having a beer with him but check out his more serious films, “Born on the 4th of July” or “Collateral” or “Magnolia.” Who are you speaking for when you call him “the hated Tom Cruise?” The same people you’re speaking for when you call Keanu, “the hated Keanu Reaves?” I’m impressed by your resume, Randall, but you don’t get to speak for me. If these two actors were actually “hated” they wouldn’t be in movie after movie. Keanu underacts, Tom often overacts, but they put asses in the seats. I know there’s a certain snob appeal to hate what others like. Sometimes one of the “others” needs to speak up.
December 24th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Joe13:
Popularity doesn’t equate to “good,” Joe. A common fallacy, but one that I am continually amazed that people like you make.
Cruise and Reeves are both lousy actors–Reeves is well-known for being constantly and consistently wooden, and Cruise swings from wooden to hammy and full of himself. Just in the teaser ads for “Valkyrie” you can see it–it’s like every scene he plays is some kind of lovefest to himself.
The reason Cruise became popular in the first place, back in the 80s, was that he was a pretty boy. That gave him a leg up right off the bat. Then because he could deliver some box office, he managed to land a few sweet roles that further cemented his stand. Never mind that since then he’s tanked several times and has never grown as an actor (except in suckage). If anything he’s gotten worse; his grit-mouthed earnestness reminds me of many a bad actor from the 50s who thought that intensity meant emotion.
Calling him an “excellent actor” is just plain ridiculous. You’d have to dig hard to find a decent, professional film critic that would side with that assessment. Rather, that’s the kind of asinine thing Oprah would say, or some other asshat/celebrity ass-kisser like Larry King. He’s at best a mediocre actor who fools people because he’s happened to show up in a few decent films that he managed not to ruin.
Again, I remind you–popularity doesn’t automatically mean someone is talented and good, and being popular is not the same as being worthwhile. And usually when someone cites popularity as a reason for respecting an actor or a musician or some artist or other, it’s a sure sign that the person in question hasn’t got a clue as to what IS truly worthwhile and valuable, but simply goes along with the rest of the lowest common denominator.
December 24th, 2008 at 10:30 am
If you’re making a list of people who slant towards disliking Tom Cruise and Keanu Reaves, count me in the ‘hate’ column.
I’m sure some movie executives out there were thinking, “Who can we get to play a dull, emotionless, awkward, wooden, and stiff alien?” Well they settled on the perfect choice by typecasting a dull, emotionless, awkward, wooden and stiff ‘actor.’ The only problem is he isn’t acting. Those are his only behavior traits. Acting for Keanu would be like Spock having a laughter fit when he couldn’t get back to his home planet for his every seven year fuck.
As far as Cruise goes, he was pretty good in Risky Business and everything else since then has been a mugging, grinning, overacting, steaming pile of crap. I almost thought he could act in Interview with the Vampire, but then my friend nudged me, I woke up and headed for the theater exit. Now he’s a punch line for every ego-centric hollywood type who wants to force their opinion on adoring public. I heard Valkyrie was pretty good, but I’ll never go see it, simply because ‘the hated’ Tom Cruise is in it.
December 24th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Thanks STL Mo for the list. I have to agree with #19. LordCalvert This Island Earth is just fantastic and how about the following
The Incredible Shrinking Man
It Came From Outer Space
and Invaders From Mars
Ok I know this last one is a bit cheesy but how can you not love a film starring a Martian in a goldfish bowl.
December 24th, 2008 at 10:31 am
I must agree with Randall on this one – I don’t think Cruise is a good actor either. I find him irritating on screen. As for Reeves – I thought he did a good job as Klatu – but only because it suited his personality – or lack thereof!
December 24th, 2008 at 10:44 am
having just read over some more comments – I also agree with bucslim (obviously)!
Oh – and Merry Christmas everyone! It is Christmas here now so I might be a bit quiet
December 24th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Yeah, let’s re-do this list.
It Came From Outer Space
THEM
The Incredible Shrinking Man
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Gojira
The Day the Earth Stood Still
The War of the Worlds
The Thing from Another World
Forbidden Planet
Keeping in mind that of these, some still have crap dialogue and overly earnest deliveries. But then others (particularly Invasion of the Bodysnatchers and The Thing from Another World) hold up VERY well today and have nary a bad line in them, and in fact still rank as some of the best films ever made of ANY genre.
Another pair of minor ones that might make the Honorable Mention category: “The Monolith Monsters” and “I Married a Monster from Outer Space”–which is nowhere near as bad as one would think from its title.
December 24th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Randall: “I Married a Monster from Outer Space” – that title alone should be sufficient reason to leave it off the list
December 24th, 2008 at 11:03 am
jfrater:
You’d think, but if you see it, it’s actually quite good. A minor bit of 50s creepiness.
December 24th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Destination Moon = The original Teletubbies!!!
December 24th, 2008 at 11:31 am
I too prefer the Donald Sutherland version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It’s one of my husband’s and my favorite films. We tried watching it with a friend of ours once, telling him how much we liked it. He ended up thinking there was something wrong with us… guess he didn’t like the ending.
Also, Tom Cruise? His more recent antics had made him so much harder to watch. It used to be he was just a bad actor, but now he’s so smug I feel like finding my way on to Oprah just to punch him in the face. He’s ruined every movie he’s been in for me, now. There were a few I used to like, now… all ruined.
December 24th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Randall – Thing from Another World was another one originally on my list, but I cut it in favor of others. Maybe I should have followed my initial instincts, which were to have the original Godzilla, Thing and The Fly on the list.
Cheers, all!
December 24th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
What about Plan 9 From Outer Space. Just kidding, don’t kill me.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I saw the title of this list & thought “Oh, I guess Randall got a list submitted” then I saw it was STL Mo, and thought “Wonder what Randall will say about this list..”
Cool list I think. In regards to whoever made the comment about this list being “No good for the newer generations” or whatever-I think this is a GREAT list for younger generations, to expose them to stuff they normally wouldn’t necessarily have heard of or seen. I think in this case I count for the “newer generation” in that I’m a child of the 80s, but I have seen a few of these, back when we had Turner Classic Movies, and American Movie Classics both of which my parents watched a lot of. (One of these channels still exists, but not in the same format, it does still have some true classics, but it also shows movies like Terminator 3, and Constantine, which are hardly able to be termed “classic”) Add to that MST3K, and I’ve seen tons of these kinds of movies.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Does anyone else have “Science Fiction/Double Feature” going through their head now?
Good list.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I’m not trying to start another “TomCat” fight here but, why is what Randall says seem to be so important to everyone? Am I missing something? By the way StlMo, I like your list very much.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
When Worlds Collide and After Worlds Collide are excellent books. I should see the film.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
I have worked with Keanu Reeves. He is a wooden actor. He requires direction to walk. The only good thing thing I can say about the experience of working with Reeves is it got me an introduction to Brad Bitt.
I’ve seen all of the movies on the list, except for #10. My favorites are The Body Snatchers (original) and The Day the Earth Stood Still. I liked all of them. They were childhood, terror in the Saturday afternoon dark, movies. Marvelous memories.
December 24th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
@ Teague (57): Randall is simply a “regular” here, very well known, respected by some, hated by others, and feared by the rest:) Randall is very knowledgeable on a number of subjects, and lets it be known. He’s also pretty opinionated, and will argue his views passionately. The reason I commented the way I did in post 55, is simply because having frequented this site for almost a year now, I recognize this as a list that is right up Randall’s alley.
December 24th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Thank you DK.
December 24th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Wasn’t Burt Reynolds also in The Blob?
I believe it was Steve Mqueen, Burt Reynolds, The Blob, and Dom DeLuise.
They were sitting in one of those all-nite diners, drinking malts and shootin the shit. Talking about how Suzie Q was a tease.
no no no , so sorry.just the thought popped in my brain and I found it funny, If i cant make myself smile while tapping plastic buttons with my ape paws, then what good am i anyways?
Sooo, No GINORMOUS BUG movies? for shame. is Bert Gordon still kickin?
I can here someone somewhere reply, “Ginormous Bugs? How Absurd!”
We shall see, my friend. We shall see.
Good to see a George Pal one on the list. Ever seen The Mad Bomber?
So not his “known for” bag; but an oddity worth seeing.
I wanna watch Riders to the Stars and Spaceways on images alone.
So sorry me , I know that that never works. (yeh thats right. there are two “that”s there)
-”Creature From the B&W Lagoon” is pretty good. Although reptilian humaniods after bathing beauties most certainly exist.
-and another CREATURE title: “Creature with the Atom Brain” comes to mind.
-Quatermass 2, although not my cup of tea (back what i remember when) supposed to be up there in regards with sci-fictioner fandomers.but i dont know. it just came to mind too.
-Invaders From Mars
-This Island Earth
Some Bmovies were up there close. as a few on the list seem to be fingering. I tend to think in counterbalance and reverse at times. Makes me wish I could watchem all RIGHT NOW! A, B, and Z.
plug me in. dadadadadaddadada.
no gripes. holidays or workbreaks or sickness bring out the good ole-skool fashioned mood for the “FEAR THE BOMB/NUCLEAR ENERGY/MAD SCIENCE/GINORMOUS BUGS/WARING NATIONS/ESCAPE THE PLANET/INVADE THE PLANET/DESTROY THE PLANET/CONTROL THE MINDS/ REPLICATE THE LEADERS/blah blah ect ect.”type movies. or maybe its just me.
I dont mind saying that there are tom cruze and keanu films I like and I think their acting “fits” with the film I prefer them in. I mentioned in the forums -Tommy boy in that movie about shooting balls in pockets with Paul Newman. There was a short lived tee vee show by an actor that kinda looks like a chimpanzee–i can’t think of his name right now –and the show was made up of short films(loose use of the term) and he did an excelent parody of T.C. in that Balls movie. and I remember hear that Tom.C invited Chimpanzee over to —i dont know what–whatch T.C. movies?
He was good in Magnolia. But everybody was good in that. Top Gun?
I forget where I read about the “prototype hero” that he had going for a long time. It’s finally run it’s coarse, no?. Stalone and Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis as action hero. Cruise was always a knight-like hero for a time. anyway, blah blah blah.
Keanu. I like keanu. and I like the movies he has chosen, for the most part. pysical dynamics and emotional acting have their way with some. A larger study of this must exist. What purpose it would serve, I don’t know. Tom Cruise action is different from Keanu action, when Keanu hit Speed. I think? then Matrix. I dont know
blah blah blah
bye
December 24th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
P.S. R.I.P Forrey!
December 24th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I find it odd that, in both versions, Klaatu views humanity as a destructive force, morally condemning us in a rather arrogant way…
…and because of this he’s going to initiate the extinction of a sapient species, and from what I can tell, at no point does he see the hypocracy in any of this. Correct me if I’m wrong but it seems in both cases that Klaatu pulls back because humanity has redeemed itself somehow (in a typically anvilicious, left wing, Hollywood kind of way) and not because he comes to understand that intentionally wiping out an entire species makes him just as bad, if not worse than the ones he condemns.
December 24th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
overlords above the overlords?
the universe is destructive?
like a hierarchy of angels or archangels?
as if extinct never was
a sweeping of the galaxy
a view through the looking glass
the klaatu christ
the outer world
the redeemer instrument
another chance for mankind
but why?
to peer close to the edge of the abyss for hope?
December 24th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
odd Dr Who was around long before the 1950s and was still around in the 1980s but somewhat vanished in the 1990s.
December 24th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Doctor Who debuted in Nov 1963.
December 24th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
#48 — Yo, Randall — and everybody, Merry Christmas!
I like your amended list, Randall, not that I think STL Mo did a terrible job. I also like “The Monolith Monsters” and “I Married a Monster From Outer Space,” which are in my slowly swelling (and — oh my God, pulsating) collection. Could I throw in a nominee with “The Last Man on Earth,” a pretty decent Roger Corman take on Richard Matheson’s “I Am Legend” with Vincent Price (there’s a man to make you forget all those Keanus and Cruises). (Also the first of the three versions of that same novel, and I think in its way better than the succeeding two, being much more faithful to the original novel, and of course having Mr. Price in it.) I’m near to wearing out my copy of “Forbidden Planet,” and I agree I like the Sutherland version of “Bodysnatchers.” “Destination Moon” is really THE Heinlein movie (until someone like Rid Scott tackles “Strange in a Strange Land”). The first “War of the Worlds” is the jewel in the crown; I like Spielberg’s, but mainly for the glut of efects — besides, Cruise wasn’t the star of that thing, Dakota Fanning was. (Give the more skilled thespian her due!)
On the whole, though, Mo, fine list, with a nice serving of controversy. More like this one in the New Year, howbout?
December 24th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Oops, that’s “Stranger in a Strange Land.” (Why do I proofread AFTER I’ve hit the Submit button? Why?)
December 25th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Sorry compositor – War of the Worlds – the old one AND the new were BOTH stinkers! The transference of the story from England to America was the biggest mistake of both movies, the elimination of the Thunderchild and the artilleryman in both (or poor substitutions), the lack of “cylinders” from which the collecting and fighting machines grew and the three biggest screw-ups: 1) the casting of Tom Cruise as the lead in the latest one (not to mention the ubiquitous and execrable Dakota Fanning): 2) the fact that the fighting machines in the ’50’s version could FLY and 3) the worst was the fact that both movies depicted the ‘Martians’ as humanoid – or at least mobile creatures in the Spielberg one – when the original story depicted/described them as simple brains with a rudimentary face and tentacles to manipulate controls and such. The only ‘walking’ mobile creatures in the book were the humans and the ‘True’ Martians the invaders brought with them from which to feed: these latter beings were also humanoid.
One good thing about the Tom Cruise / Steven Speilberg version was the Tripods themselves – they were AWESOME.
Teh BEST adaptation of War of the Worlds remains the ‘Jeff Wayne’ Musical Adaptation which also spawned a brilliant Stage Adaptation.
December 25th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Execrable is not in the dictionary muttley. Dakota Fanning is one of our best young actors. What you think about her don`t mean shit.
December 25th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
It’s hard to rewrite a classic especially when we know so much about mars already. We would have to ignore all that and then go well maybe NASA/JPL has it all wrong. The book is always going to be better then the movie. It has only the pressure of the author pushing it. A movie has so many other pressures to endure and ultimately it squishes book. You have a great secret you tell the person beside you and they tell the next person and so on through the production company and by the time you get to the end it’s a whole new secret. Anyway.
I like the list haven’t scene ‘When Worlds Collide’ though ‘Contact’ sounds a lot like it though. I’m going to add that (the former) to my must see list. I would add ‘Destination Moon’ and ‘Rocketship X-M’ to the list too. I would also add ‘Creature from the Black Lagoon’ which from my recent look tells me Hollywood is about to remake that too… Oh Please when will it end? I go to my local Chapters (book store in Canada) or even Library and there are millions of Sci-Fi books..
Note to Hollywood—
PICK a Sci-Fi Novel
READ IT
Call publisher get rights
Here is the really good part..
Make a movie no one has scene before.
You can do it. Atleast you used to..
If you want people to see your movies.. Show us you care about the consumer and don’t regurgitate so much or eventually everyone will feel queezy.
December 26th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Great list!! I’ll have to check out #9 and 10. I would also agree with a few comments: Incredible Shrinking Man is a serious and scary cautionary sci-fi tale. And Gojira is a classic.
Funny to see The Blob on your list. Every year, my kids and I attend “Blobfest” in the town where the film was made. The theater that is “attacked” in the film is still standing and we get to watch the movie in the balcony just under the projection room where the blob oozed out in the movie. There’s even a reenactment of the “running out of the theater” scene. The original “blob” or at least the goo that was used in the making of the movie, is there in a sealed bucket, along with original vehicles and props. Sci-fi B-movie geek paradise!
December 27th, 2008 at 1:38 am
Its funny how many of these movies have been remade. Hollywood is obviously running out of ideas. but these are great movies so i guess thats not a bad thing.
December 27th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I just read on the IMDB they are going to remake ‘When Worlds Collide’ as well.. If anyone is interested you can watch that on You Tube in several parts BTW. The original one. It may have been colorized though. Looks good though. Is coloring a BW movie ‘remaking it’ well not really if it was intentionally shot in BW to begin with well then that’s a yes. That said I prefer BW movies to remain that way. If they want to make a remaster in BW then I’m all for that. Preserving the movie is always a good idea. If they don’t turn it into a Disney movie when they color it then its perhaps not so bad..
December 29th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Ronson:
When Worlds Collide was originally filmed in color. It was not colorized. To my knowledge George Pal never made a black and white film.
December 29th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
The list is dead-on. I have no problem with any of it except the unfathomable statement about “Forbidden Planet”…..”the best serious sci-fi between 1936 and 1977….”
Correct me if my chronology is wrong, but doesn’t 1968 fall between those years? Ever hear of “2001″?
No argument those are the best of the 50’s, though.
January 4th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
I read an earlier list that said I Am Legend matched if not surpassed the original Last Man on Earth and now I read that the War of the Worlds remake was crap. This is why I could never be a movie critic. Goodnight folks.
January 6th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
While I am all about sweeping the dust motes as of now, I might as well toss up another before the mirror of setting straight gets to clear, hense:
my comment Waaay Up There ^.
looks like its a number 62
but who’s counting.
A cross-eyed fluck-up between good-ole George Pal and Mr. Big Bugness, Bert Gordon.
- the movie called, The Mad Bomber.
Gordon made it
NOT Pal.
my bad
allright, everybody go back to whatever yall were doing.
haha, who cares!
January 9th, 2009 at 11:10 am
You left out “Amazon Women From Mars”–Just an oversight I guess.
January 12th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
how come one of the best sci fi movies of ALL TIME wasn’t
included? The Incredible Shrinking Man
January 13th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
How about ” V The Final Battle ” ???
April 9th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
We seem to be missing “Them!” The ant coming over the hill bhind the trailer–basic basic special effect indeed–utterly terrified my teenage years. And you *must not* include “Destination Moon” in place of the politically sophisticated (for the early 1950s) “Rocketship XM”–the first fiction film, to my knowledge, to try to show what horror nuclear war might bring. Yes, the men the XM are constantly putting down the woman and she nods and agrees, but Dalton Trumbo (the blacklisted Leftwing script writer) makes clear each time, through the plot, that she is the one who is right. An extraordinary film I remembered from puberty—and when I saw it again on DVD recently, it still holds up.
April 13th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I saw DESTINATION: MOON when I was 3 years old. After seeing it I was hooked on sci fi. FORBIDDEN PLANET also changed my life as a true to life space opera with outstanding f/x considering the time it was made. I was assistant editor of Famous Monsters magazine from 1978 thru 1982. I was there for the last issue when editor Ackerman was dumped with no warning. My dream was to write for the magazine but never did I imagine I’d be working there and meeting all the stars from many of those old sci fi epics. A fond memory indeed!
October 10th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Where’s 1984? It’s not in the 80’s list or the 50’s list!
November 4th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Re: The Blob
It was supposed to take place in Downingtown, but the theater in the movie was actually in Phoenixville, PA, about 15 miles up the road from Downingtown. The Colonial still sits in the center of Phoenixville, showing art films and the occasional Blob festival.
You underrated The Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The Don Siegel version was far better than the ’80s version with Donald Sutherland. I place it at the top of the list.
Missing: THEM! The first truly great 50’s monster movie starring James Arness, Edmund Gwenn, and James Whitmore.
The Thing From Another World, also starring James Arness in a slightly more negative role, and Kenneth Tobey also belongs at the top of the list. A great Cold War thriller.