Top 20 1950's sci fi movies

Jack Arnold's 1954 sci-fi b movie about Dr. David Reed, (Richard Carlson), who goes into the Amazon to seek out the mysteries of the World. With the help of his girlfriend, Kay Lawrence, (Julia Adams), and Dr. Edwin Thompson, (Whit Bissell); and Dr. Mark Williams, (Richard Denning), they get help from Captain Lucas, (Nestor Paiva), who is scared of the Creature, (Ricou Browning), who heads to the surface and terrorises everyone!

The expedition into the scientific study of strange creatures, creates a problem for everyone, since The Gill Man, (as it is now called), is an oddity; a creature that The US Military want to study, at the expense of the scientists.

Co-starring Antonio Moreno, (as Carl Maia); Bernie Gozier, (as Zako); and Henry Escalante, (as Chico), Jack Arnold's hit sci-fi b movie spawned two sequels; the original movie shows the US Military's fear of the unknown, in the depths of the Lagoon, where The Creature from the Black Lagoon, lurks!

Don Siegel's 1956 sci-fi classic, (based on the 1955 novel by Jack Finney), stars Kevin McCarthy, (as Dr. Miles J. Bennell), a small town doctor, whose sanity is frayed when a collection of pods are found, that if you get too close to it, you'll become a Zombie like duplicate of yourself; YOU, in short, ARE NOT YOU!; YOU have become a victim of The Body Sntachers!!!!

The Doctor, his girlfriend, Becky Driscoll, (Dana Wynter), try to warn the populace, that includes: Theodora 'Teddy' Belicec, (Carolyn Jones); Dr. Dan 'Danny' Kauffman, (Larry Gates); Jack Belicec, (King Donovan-Teddy's husband); Nurse Sally Withers, (Jean Willes); and Police Chief Nick Grivett, (Ralph Dumke), who tries to figure out what the hell is going on.

As everyone is 'turned', can Dr. Bennell stop the invasion?

Co-starring: Kenneth Patterson, (as Stanley Driscoll); Tom Fadden, (as Uncle Ira Lentz); Jean Andren, (as Eleda Lentz-his wife); Guy Way, (as Officer Sam Janzek); and lastly, Eileen Stevens, (as Anne Grimaldi); Beatrice Maude, (as Grandma Grimaldi); and Bobby Clark, (as Jimmy Grimaldi-Anne's son)---all victims of duplicates.

"Invasion of the Body Snatchers", is classic 50's sci-fi, that deals with threats that are from Outer Space, and how Americans struggle to deal with it, the best way they can, before it's too late to do anything about it.

Kurt Neuman's 1958 sci-fi/horror classic, about a US scientist, Andre Delambre, (David 'Al' Hedison), who perfects a teleportation device, (where you travel from one place, to the other place)...When he tries it on himself, a stray fly enters the teleportation device with him, and, to his horror, his DNA is fused with the fly.

When his wife, Helene, (Patricia Owens), and father, Francois, (Vincent Price), try and make sure he is stopped, especially since Insp. Charas, (Herbert Marshall), tries to figure out the truth, Andre's behavior, (from the flies side), takes over...resulting in terror and violence.

Co-starring: Charles Herbert as Phillipe, the brother; Betty Lou Gerson as Nurse Andersone; and Kathleen Freeman as Emma.

Re-made by David Cronenberg in 1986, "The Fly" spawned two sequels in 1959 and 1965; "The Fly II", was made in 1989. Sadly, no other "Fly" movies have been made...Maybe they will make another one...But, in today's climate of re-makes, that's not going to happen in the near future.

"The Fly" is one of the most scariest sci-fi b movies of all time, that's why it's at no. 3.

Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr's cult 1958 sci-fi/horror classic stars a young Steve McQueen as Steve Andrews, who, with his girlfriend, Jane Martin, (Aneta Corsaut), watch the skies...When a icky, gooey substance from Outer Space, hit Earth, it attaches itself in a Old Man's, (Olin Howlin), arms...Which then kills him off.

Sgt. Jim Bert, (John Benson); Dr. T. Hallen, (Steven Chase); Officer Ritchie, (George Karas), and Kate the Nurse, (Lee Payton), all try and stop the Blob creature, as it grows...and grows...and...grows!....

As the town people including: Elbert Smith, (Henry Martin)-Jane's father; Mr. Andrews, (Hugh Graham); Cafe Owner, (Vince Barbi); Elizabeth Martin, (Audrey Metcalf)-Jane's sister; and Tom Ogden; Mrs. Porter, (Elinor Hammer); and a Civil Defense Volunteer, (Jasper Deeter).

"The Blob", is a fun and scary sci-fi movie that spawned a sequel in 1972, directed by Larry Hagman!; and was re-made in 1988 and 2011.

Fred M. Wilcox's "Fobidden Planet", stars Walter Pidgeon, (as Dr. Edward Morbius), a scientist, who, with his wife, Altaira 'Alta' Morbius, (Anne Francis), make an investigation of a silent colony, where they rescue two survivors...but one of them has a secret. Co-starring Leslie Nielsen, (in a supporting role), as Commander J J Adams; Warren Stevens as Lt. 'Doc' Ostrow M.D.; Jack Kelly as Lt. Jerry Farman...With Richard Quinn, (Chief Quinn); Earl Holliman as a Cook; George Wallace as a Bosun; Robert "Bob" Dix, (Crewman Grey); Jimmy Thompson as Crewman Youngerford; James Drury as Crewman Strong; Harry Harvey, Jr as Crewman Randall; Roger McGee as Crewman Lindstrom; and Peter Miller as Crewman Moran, as well as Robby The Robot as Himself.

Trivia: Robby the Robot starred in the 1960's sci-fi tv show "Lost in Space", as well.

"Forbidden Planet", is one of the best sci-fi movies of the 1950's.

Howard Hawk's production, (directed by Christian Nyby), about US scientists in Antarctica, who find a creature in the ice, (James Arness), that tries to kill them off-one by one.

Captain Patrick Hendry, (Kenneth Tobey), is a man on a mission. He, his girlfriend, Nikki Nicholson, (Margaret Sheridan), and the crew, become victims of The Thing...Only through blood tests, can Captain Hendry, with the help of Dr. Arthur Carrington, (Robert Cornthwaite), before everyone dies.

Co-starring: Douglas Spencer, (as Ned 'Scotty Scott); James Young, (as Lt. Eddie Dykes); Dewey Martin, (as Crew Chief Bob); William Self, (as Corporal Barnes)-who uses the Military to get rid of The Thing; Eduard Franz, (as Dr. Stern),-who tries to find answers to The Thing's biology and DNA structure; Sally Creighton, (as Mrs. Chapman)...And Robert Bray, (as a Captain); Ted Cooper, (as a Lieutenant); Milton Kibbee; and Ray McDonald, (Bit Parts).

"The Thing (From Another World), based on the John W. Campbell, Jr novella "Who goes there?", (1938), is one of the most scariest sci-fi/horror movies. While Howard Hawks used Western actor James Arness as The Thing, editor/director Christian Nyby didn't have a successful movie career, but his son, Christian I. Nyby II, was successful as a veteran producer/director of various TV shows.

Re-made in 1982 by John Carpenter and 2011.

Ishirô Honda's original Japanese monster movie, (Gojira), or ("Godzilla"), is about a monster that is let loose in Japan, after US nuclear testing in the area goes horribly wrong. When the monster tries to destroy everything, Japanese scientists attempt to end the Beast.

Starring: Akira Takarada ... Hideto Ogata
Momoko Kôchi ... Emiko Yamane
Akihiko Hirata ... Daisuke Serizawa-hakase
Takashi Shimura ... Kyohei Yamane-hakase
Fuyuki Murakami ... Professor Tanabe
Sachio Sakai ... Newspaper Reporter Hagiwara
Toranosuke Ogawa ... Nankai Shipping Company Manager
Ren Yamamoto ... Masaji Sieji
Kan Hayashi ... Chairman of Diet Committee
Takeo Oikawa ... Chief of Emergency Headquarters
Seijirô Onda ... Parliamentarian Oyama
Tsuruko Mano ... Mrs. Sieji
Toyoaki Suzuki ... Shinkichi Sieji
Kokuten Kôdô ... The Old Fisherman
Kin Sugai ... Ozawa-san

The movie then spawned a lot of sequels, a re-make in 1998, with Matthew Broderick and French actor Jean Reno...."Gojira" is one of Japan's most impressive b-sci-fi movies of the early to mid 1950's, that gave Hollywood a run for their money in the sci-fi genre.

The Gillman is back! Jack Arnold's sequel has the Creature, (Ricou Browning), comes up from the depths...But this time he's captured and taken to a Florida Aquarium, where he's a quote, "Exotic monster", unquote, to be looked at....The Creature, on the land, (Tom Hennesy), falls for a woman named Helen Dobson, (Lori Nelson)...When her boyfriend, Prof. Clete Ferguson, (John Agar), teams up with The Captain Lucas, of the Amazon, (Nesor Paiva), they try and rescue her...before the Creature wreaks havoc once more....

When the Police Captain, (Charles R. Cane), and a Lab Technician, (Clint Eastwood), try and get the Creature back, the Police and media, are in a frenzy, as The Creature from the Black Lagoon, murders people who try and enter its Domain....Look fast for John Agar's wife Loretta as "Woman on Boat"....

"Revenge of the Creature" is a excellent sequel to "Creature from the Black Lagoon"; director Jack Arnold didn't do the next sequel, more on that later...And worth watching for fans of 1950's b sci-fi movies.

After the Roswell, New Mexico alien autopsy controversy in 1947, when a alien was found in the desert, President Harry S. Truman, and British PM Sir Winston Churchill, had to deal with threats from Adolf Hitler; after WWII, the threat wasn't in Europe; the threat was inside America. The rise of Communism was another threat; the Earth was under attack, especially in novels, comics, and movies. Robert Wise's 1951 sci-fi classic, deal with an alien named Klaatu, (Michael Rennie), who comes to Earth to warn the US, (and the World), that unless they stop wars from happening, The Earth will destroy itself. With the help of Gort a robot, (Lock Martin), their message of peace doesn't go down well with a Pentagon General, (Patrick Aherne); another General, (James Conaty); the Chief of Staff, (Marshall Bradford); a Female Army Captain, (Holly Bane), and others, including a British radio announcer, (John Burton); and a Captain, (John Close); and a French Woman, (Louise Colombet)-who relays messages to Europe.

Can Tom Stevens, (Hugh Marlowe); his girlfriend, Helen Benson, (Patricia Neal), the wife of Norwegian/UK author and screenwriter Roald Dahl; and Professor Jacob Barnhardt, (Sam Jaffe), convince everyone that the aliens are here for peace....Not war and invasion? "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is one of the best sci-fi movies of the 1950's, it's also one of the first "message" movies about how the US deals with their own issues...If they can't solve them, then the aliens will....But, in real life, that won't happen-yet. Re-made in 2008 with Keanu Reeves.

In 1938, Orson Welles's radio broadcast of H G Wells's sci-fi novel "The War of the Worlds", induced radio listeners, (a year before WWII), to think that the US was being invaded by aliens. By 1953, producer George Pal, made the movie version, directed by Byron Haskin.

When a radio announcer, (Paul Frees), says that the US is being invaded by aliens, Col. Ralph Heffner, (Vernon Rich), decides that it's time for war, and to neutralise the space threat; Sir Cedric Hardwicke provides the 'voice' and commentates on the threat; Maj. Gen. Mann, (Les Tremayne); and Maj. Gen. Mann's aide, (Housely Stevenson Jr.), try and stem the threat....While Dr. Clayton Forrester, (Gene Barry); his girlfriend, Sylvia Van Buren, (Anne Robinson); and Dr. Pryor, (Bob Cornthwaite); with Dr. Bilderbeck, (Sandro Giglio); and Pastor Dr. Matthew Collins, (Lewis Martin), pray and try and deal with the invasion crisis.

"The War of the Worlds", is one of the best early 1950's b sci-fi movies, that deals with the threat to America, and how people react. Re-made in 2005 by Steven Spielberg, with Tom Cruise.

Mars is the red planet...Full of life; full of mystery; full of aliens intent on making humans their slaves....William Cameron Menzies's "Invaders From Mars", stars Jimmy Hunt, (as David MacLean), a boy who is convinced that Aliens from Mars are invading America...When his parents Mr. George MacLean, (Leif Erickson); and his wife, Mrs. MacLean, (Hillary Brooke), dismiss their son's warnings, he is kidnapped by the Martians for scientific study.

The parents enlist the help of Col. Fielding, (Morris Ankrum); Sgt. Rinaldi, (Max Wagner); and Sgt. Baker, (Bill Phipps); with Captain Roth, (Milburn Stone), who try and rescue/save David from the Martians, that include a Mutant, (Lock Martin), who carries David to Martain intelligence, (Luce Potter), with other Martians.

Co-starring: Police Desk Sgt. Finlay, (Walter Sande); Dr. Bill Wilson, (Robert Shayne); Pentagon Chief of Staff, (Frank Wilcox), who also help out through the US Military, "Invaders From Mars", is a great b sci-fi movie that deals with the USSR/Russian threat, with Martians filling in for the Reds. Re-made in 1986.

Jack Arnold's "It Came from Outer Space", (1953), co-written by Ray Bradbury, tells the story of a alien spacecraft that crashes in the Arizona desert; the alien inside friendly; it soon exerts a strange power over the humans it comes into contact with. Preceding "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" by three years, Richard Carlson plays John Puttnam, a stargazer who with his girlfriend, Ellen Fields, (Barbara Rush)-a schoolteacher; George, (Russell Johnson); and his girlfriend, June, (Kathleen Hughes), try and stop the invasion.

Co-starring: Charles Drake, (as Sheriff Matt Witten); and Joe Sawyer, (as Frank Daylon), "It Came from Outer Space" is a cult sci-fi favorite. Re-made in 1986.

Eugene Lourie's "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms", precedes Michael Crichton's "Jurassic Park", (1990), filmed by Steven Spielberg in 1993, by 40 years....A year before anyone heard of the Gill Man in 1954, Ray Bradbury wrote this b sci fi gem about a Rhedosaurus , which is let loose in North America, where Prof. Tom Nesbitt, (Paul Christian), and his girlfriend, Lee Hunter, (Paula Hunter), are told by Prof. Thurgood Elson, (Cecil Kellaway), a paleontologist, that the dinosaur is loose, (after a Arctic nuclear test, causes the Beast to head up to the surface!)....

When Elson is killed by a, quote, "oceanic bathysphere excursion", unquote, everyone wants to destroy the Beast before it destroys Manhattan Island....forever.

Co-starring: Lee Van Cleef, (as Corp. Stone); Kenneth Tobey, (as Col. Jack Evans); Mary Hill, (as Miss Nelson); and King Donovan, (as Dr. Ingersoll), and others, "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms", is a fantastic dinosaur on the loose b sci-fi movie.

Gordon Douglas's "Them!", (1954), is not about killer dinosaurs or invading aliens; it has invading ants! During another nuclear radiation accident, mutant ants begin to invade New Mexico...They begin to grow bigger and bigger and bigger, until they threaten Mankind....

Police Sgt. Ben Peterson, (James Whitmore), his girlfriend, Dr. Patricia 'Pat' Medford, (Joan Weldon), help out Dr. Harold Medford, (Edmund Gwenn); Brig. Gen. Robert O'Brien, (Onslow Stevens); and Maj. Kibbee, (Sean McClory); with Robert Graham, (James Arness); Alan Crotty, (Fess Parker), providing support, to end the ant invasion.

"Them!" is one of the 1950's best b creature feature sci-fi movies of the early to mid 50's period, and is a must see!

In between the first two "Creature...." movies, director Jack Arnold directed "Tarantula", (1955). Inspired by "Them!", (1954), Prof. Gerald Deemer, (Leo G. Carroll), who uses hormones to increase the food supply in The Arizona desert....With his partner dying mysteriously, Dr. Matt Hastings, (John Agar), and his girlfriend, Stephanie 'Steve' Clayton, (Mara Corday), investigate....Knowing that cattle have been affected by giant tarantulas, they, with the help of Sheriff Jack Andrews, (Nestor Paiva); Lt. John Nolan, (Edwin Rand), trying to get rid of the menace.

Co-starring: Raymond Bailey ... Townsend
Hank Patterson ... Josh
Bert Holland ... Barney Russell
Steve Darrell ... Andy Anderson.

"Tarantula" is a sci-fi 1950's gem.

Felix E. Feist's re-make of "Donovan's Brain", stars Dr. Patrick J. Cory, (Lew Ayres), (Damien: Omen II, 1978); ('Salem's Lot, 1979), and Dr. Frank Schratt, (Gene Evans), who uses Tom Donovan, (Michael Coglan's), brain, in a tank. Donovan, a millionaire, asserts his will on Dr. Cory, to murder his enemies. Based on Curt Siodmak's novel, (co-written by Siodmak), the movie co-stars Nancy Davis, (as Janice Cory); Lisa K. Howard, (as Chloe Donovan); Kyle James, (as Chief Tuttle); Victor Sutherland, (as Nathaniel Fuller); and, Peter Adams ... Mr. Webster
Harlan Warde ... Treasury Agent Brooke
Shimen Ruskin ... Tailor.

"Donovan's Brain" is an underrated sci-fi movie that is worth to be seen.

Jack Arnold's adaption of Richard Matheson's novel stars Grant Williams as Scott Carey, a man who shrinks due to being affected by radiation, (staple of 1950's movies), and insecticide, he then battles animals and others...Scott, and his wife Louise, beforehand, are on a cabin cruiser, when a mist causes him to shrink, (see above)....at sea....Now three feet tall, his battles are only just beginning....

Doctor Arthur Bramson, (William Schallert), and Doctor Thomas Silver, (Raymond Bailey); Helene Marshall, (as a Nurse), and Diana Darrin, (as a Nurse); and Paul Langdon, (as Charlie Carey-Steve's brother); April Kent, (as Clarice); Frank Scannell, (as Barker); and Billy Curtis, (as a Midget), provide excellent support.

"The Incredible Shrinking Man" is a brilliant late 50's sci-fi movie, and is highly recommended.

Roy Del Ruth's sci-fi classic "The Alligator People", (1959), about a newlywed couple, Paul Webster, (Richard Crane), and his wife Joyce Webster, aka Jane Marvin, (Beverly Garland), who are on a train. When Paul gets a telegram, he disappears....And he is changed into a mutant alligator, led by crazy scientists Dr. Eric Lorimer, (Bruce Bennett); and Dr. Mark Sinclair, (George Macready); with Dr. Wayne MacGregor, (Douglas Kennedy), who are using humans as experiments to mutate them.

Also starring Lon Chaney, (as Manon), and Frieda Inescort, (as Mrs. Lavinia Hawthorne, Henry's Wife), "The Alligator People", is a scary sci-fi movie made at the end of the 1950's b movie cycle.

Recommended.

John Shewood's final movie in the "Creature from the Black Lagoon" trilogy.

The Gill Man, (Ricou Browning) (in water), is turned into a creature that can breath on land. Captured by scientists, Dr William Barton, (Jeff Marrow); Dr. Thomas Morgan, (Rex Reason); Dr. Borg, (Maurice Manson); and Dr. Johnson, (James Rawley), who think they can control the creature....The Creature, (Don Megowan-on land)---breaks free---to kill again, like in the first two sequels, directed by Jack Arnold, "The Creature from the Black Lagoon", (1954); and "Revenge of the Creature", (1955).

Only Jed Grant, (Gregg Palmer), and his girlfriend, Marcia Barton, (Leigh Snowden), Dr. Barton's daughter, with Capt. Stanley, (David McMahon), and a State Trooper, (Larry Hudson), works with them to end the Creature's rampage---for good.

Co-starring: Paul Fierro as Morteno; Lillian Molieri, as Mrs. Morteno; and Frank Chase as Steward, "The Creature Walks Amongst Us", is the weakest of the trilogy....But, overall, "The Creature Trilogy", is one of the best Monster b movie movies of the mid to late 1950's.

Robert Gordon's mid 1950's, (1955) sci-fi classic about a giant Octopus that enters the Mindanao Deep, then attacks the Coast of California, and its citizens.

Like most of 1950's b sci-fi movies the main culprit is, yes, radiation!

As it focuses on The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Cmdr. Pete Mathews, (Kenneth Tobey); his girlfriend, Prof. Lesley Joyce, (Faith Domergue); Dr. John Carter, (Donald Curtis), all join Adm. Burns, (Ian Keith); and Adm. Norman, (Dean Maddox, Jr); Lt. Griff, USN, (Chuck Griffiths); and Deputy Bill Nash, (Harry Lauter); and Capt. Stacy, (Richard W. Peterson), try and stop the Octopus!

"It Came from Beneath the Sea" is a excellent addition to the 1950's sci-fi b movie collection.

Recommended.