Sci-Fi Films

Sci-Fi

I didn't get much of a chance to see many science fiction movies at the cinema. Growing up in the 1950s here in the western suburbs of Newcastle (Australia), there weren't too many films of this type around. I was always in to sci-fi though - I loved the Rocky Starr radio serial and raided the library shelves for any books which provided this "other-reality" type of escapism.

But when TV arrived at home in the early 1960s, the door was suddenly opened to some fantastic sci-fi movies. Playing late nights and sometimes even at midday, it didn't matter, I watched them again & again.

My favourite (and I watched it many times) was The Thing From Another World (1951) - such a great film: excellent script (with neat overlapping dialogue), well directed & acted - but on TV it was heavily censored.

I vividly recall seeing The War of the Worlds (1953) for the first time late one Saturday night … I wondered (being unfamiliar with the story at the time): "How on Earth are they going to stop these Martians!" - what a great film.

Them! (1954) was also seen on high rotation - great special effects wrapped around an excellent story

But my first viewing of Forbidden Planet (1956) was in prime time! - yep, 8:30 on a Wednesday night. A truly intriguing and cerebral story and with heavyweight A list actor, Walter Pidgeon in the lead.

Even the "B" efforts were interesting: I remember the stunning conclusion to The Time Travelers (1964) and the intriguing elements of the low budget Ulmer flick Beyond the Time Barrier (1960).

Panic in the Year Zero! (1962) & Five (1951) were featured in one of our first all night movie marathons - despite feeling pretty sleepy I managed to revive for these two doomsday stories.

This section of the website is dedicated to Sci-Fi … in all its glory: intriguing, beguiling, interesting, spectacular, scary & sometimes even profound!

The titles chosen here are (like everything on the website) my personal choice … titles which I have some connection with … going back over the years …

Note that all of these films can also be found in the INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section.

BTW: My print of The Thing From Another World (1951), is superb and complete (including the 8 minutes which went missing for all of those years)

The set up and pricing are the same as for the INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section namely:

· The DVDs in this section of the website consist of one movie title per DVD, each movie commencing when inserted into your DVD player (no delays or useless menus).

· DVDs are available in any combination of titles comprising 1, 2 or 4 DVD boxed sets

(Note: They are not available in 3, 5 or 6 DVD sets)

A typical Sci-Fi 4 DVD boxed set is pictured below:

· The prices (including Express Postage anywhere) for these single movie DVDs are:

1 DVD Boxed Set price : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

2 DVD Boxed Set price : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

4 DVD Boxed Set price : AU$35 or US$35 or £18

· Email me for a current price in CN$, Euros, NZ$ etc

· PURCHASING TIP: the most economical way to buy movies from this section is in groups of 4 films,

-they are neatly assembled in a quad case with full artwork (see picture above) and sell for AU$35 or US$35 or £18. Since postage is included then each film can be delivered to your door for less than AU$9 or US$9 or £5 per movie!

(Note that AU$ prices are for AU postal destinations only,

international customers to use US$ or UK£)

The Abominable Snowman (1957) - 85 mins

Starring Forrest Tucker, Peter Cushing, Maureen Connell, Richard Wattis, Robert Brown & Michael Brill

Directed by Val Guest

At a remote lamasery in the Himalayas, scientist John Rollason (Peter Cushing) studies rare mountain herbs with the help of his wife Helen, and associate Peter, while awaiting the arrival of an American named Tom Friend (Forrest Tucker). Over Helen's objections and warnings by the High Lhama, he sets out with Friend on an expedition to find the elusive Yeti, accompanied by another American named Shelley and a young Scotsman, McNee, who claims to have seen the thing. Footprints are found in the snows and McNee seems strangely affected the closer they get to their quarry's likely habitat but the biggest shock to Rollason is discovering Friend is a showman who only intends to exploit their find, with Shelley his gamehunter-marksman. The conflict between science and commercialism only increases when an enormous anthropoid is shot, and the horror only increases as the party realizes the other Yeti intend to retrieve their fallen comrade and have powers to do so which seem extra-human.

Excellent Hammer horror also titled "The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas" which was shot in the Pyrenees. Fans of Forrest Tucker will enjoy this adventure story.

The Amazing Colossal Man (1957) - 80 mins

Starring Glenn Langan, Cathy Downs, William Hudson, Larry Thor & James Seay

Directed by Bert I. Gordon

Lt. Col. Glenn Manning (Glenn Langan) is inadvertently exposed to a plutonium bomb blast at Camp Desert Rock. Though burned over 90% of his body, he survives, and begins to grow in size. As he grows, his heart and circulatory system fail to keep pace with his growth, with the result that he is gradually losing his mind because of reduced blood supply to his brain. He reaches 50 feet tall before his growth is stopped. By this time he has become insane. He escapes and wreaks havoc upon Las Vegas.

Writer / director Bert I. Gordon also penned (& helmed) the sequel, War of the Colossal Man (1958) as well as The Cyclops (1957) - both of which are available from this website

The Andromeda Strain (1971) - 131 mins

Starring Arthur Hill, David Wayne, James Olson, Kate Reid, Paula Kelly & George Mitchell

Directed by Robert Wise

The "Andromeda Strain" is a deadly extraterrestrial virus. It is brought to Earth when a research satellite crashes near a tiny Arizona town. Everyone in the community dies within days, except for a baby and an "insulated" drunkard. Recruited from labs all over North America, Drs. Charles Dutton (David Wayne), Jeremy Stone (Arthur Hill), Ruth Leavitt (Kate Reid), and Mark Hall (James Olson) don radiation suits and race against time to isolate and destroy the virus.

Based on a novel by Michael Crichton.

Oscar Nominations for Art Direction & Film Editing

The Angry Red Planet (1959) - 83 mins

Starring Gerald Mohr, Naura Hayden, Les Tremayne, Jack Kruschen, Paul Hahn & J. Edward McKinley

Directed by Ib Melchior

The United States space program reports that its missing, overdue manned Mars probe has returned to Earth orbit, but that they haven't been able to make radio contact with it. When it is brought down by remote control, they find three of the four crewmembers aboard: one of them, Professor Gettell (Les Tremayne), is dead; another, mission commander Colonel Tom O'Bannion (Gerald Mohr), is in a coma and suffering from some kind of alien infection; and the third, exo-biologist Iris Ryan (Nora Hayden), is in a state of shock. The ship's tape library seems to have been wiped clean of any record of what took place on the mission, and the doctors can't begin to save O'Bannion until they know what happened. In desperation, they decide to put Iris Ryan into a state of hypnosis, forcing her to recall the events of the mission. The bulk of the film is an un-narrated flashback in which we see the voyage to Mars and the quartet of explorers - rounded out by technician Sam Jacobs (Jack Kruschen) - proceeding successfully to a landing. As they draw closer to signs of intelligent life, however, the group also encounters increasingly dangerous creatures, including a man-eating plant, a giant bat-rat-spider, and a huge amoeba-like creature that consumes anything in its path.

One of a relative handful of 1950s sci-fi films done in color, The Angry Red Planet did its rivals one better with the use of a special effects process called "Cinemagic," which gave the entire screen a deep red tint but also created the illusion of dimensionality and made the monsters look particularly eerie.

Director Ib Melchior who also wrote the screenplay went on the write and direct another excellent (color) sci-fi film: The Time Travelers (1964) which is also available from this website.

(Melchior also wrote one of the best of The Outer Limits TV series: The Premonition)

Arabian Adventure (1979) - 98 mins

Starring Christopher Lee, Milo O’Shea, Oliver Tobias, Capucine, Peter Cushing & Mickey Rooney

Directed by Kevin Connor

A valiant prince battles an evil sorcerer to rescue his true love in this colorful fantasy, which features high adventure and plenty of special effects. The hero must overcome a number of dangers, along the way receiving help from a beautiful street urchin and a magical rose.

One of nice sextet of sci-fi / fantasy / horror films directed by legendary Brit, Kevin Connor: From Beyond the Grave (1973), The Land That Time Forgot (1975), At the Earth's Core (1976), The People That Time Forgot (1977), Warlords of the Deep (1978) & Arabian Adventure (1979) - all of which are available from this website.

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Around the World Under the Sea (1966) - 110 mins

Starring Lloyd Bridges, Brian Kelly, Shirley Eaton, David McCallum, Keenan Wynn, Marshal Thompson, Ron Hayes & Gary Merrill

Directed by Andrew Marton

After a series of unexplained volcanic eruptions from beneath the sea, the crew of a five-man submarine are sent of mission into the world oceans, planting sensors on the ocean floor to warn scientists of any impending earthquakes - and at the same time to find out the cause of the disturbances. Sub commander Dr Doug Standish (Lloyd Bridges) heads the team which are nearly devoured by a sea monster and sucked into a vortex during their perilous voyage

Ivan Tors Productions, the firm responsible for TV’s Sea Hunt, Flipper & Daktari, provide some incredible underwater photography thanks to Lamar Bowen and diving-sequence director Ricou Browning …

Yep it’s an all-action TV cast with Lloyd “Mike Nelson” Bridges, Brian “Porter Ricks” Kelly, Marshal “Marsh Tracy” Thompson from the Tors stable along David “Illya Kuryakin” McCallum & “The Golden Girl” from Goldfinger (1964): Shirley Eaton - and they are all doctors!!!

Excellent wide-screen Technicolor print!

The Atomic Man (1955) (aka Timeslip) - 79 mins

Starring Gene Nelson, Faith Domergue, Joseph Tomelty, Leonard Williams, Peter Arne & Barry MacKay

Directed by Ken Hughes

Based on a story & subsequent screenplay by prolific sci-fi writer Charles Eric Maine, The Atomic Man of the title is initially Jarvis (Peter Arne) who is fished out of the Thames with a bullet in his back. Jarvis is discovered to be highly radioactive and it turns out that he is the missing atomic scientist, Dr. Stephen Rayner whose exposure to radioactive substances, coupled with his brush with death, has endowed him with remarkable prognostic powers.

With the help of reporter Mike Delaney (Gene Nelson), Rayner sets out to expose a plot hatched by his evil double, a tungsten magnate who is trying to destroy Rayner's experiments in artificial tungsten.

The Atomic Submarine (1959) - 72 mins

Starring Arthur Franz, Dick Foran, Brett Halsey, Paul Dubov & Bob Steele

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet

Seasoned serial director Spencer Gordon Bennett helmed this story of a one-eyed, octopoidal space alien, wreaking havoc upon atomic subs at the North Pole. The monster is determined to take over the world and Cmdr. Richard 'Reef' Holloway, Capt. 'Skipper' Dan Wendover and Dr. Carl Neilson Jr. (Arthur Franz, Dick Foran, Brett Halsey respectively) head underwater to neutralize the alien's submerged flying saucer.

Note: This is a fabulous B&W print!

At the Earth's Core (1976) - 90 mins

Starring Doug McClure, Peter Cushing, Caroline Munro, Cy Grant, Godfrey James & Sean Lynch

Directed by Kevin Connor

In England around the turn of the century, Dr Abner Perry unveils his invention - The Mole, a giant vehicle designed for exploring the center of the Earth by drilling through the ground. He and engineer David Innes take it on its maiden voyage but it goes out of control and they end up in the prehistoric land of Pellucidar at the Earth's core. There they are captured by The Mahars, intelligent, telepathic flying reptiles which keep primitive humans as their slaves via mind control. David falls for the beautiful slave girl Dia. But when she is chosen as a sacrificial victim in the Mahar city, he organizes the humans to rebellion to save her.

The Land That Time Forgot (1975) was the first of three Edgar Rice Burroughs tales that were adapted for film by British production house Amicus under the direction of Kevin Connor and starring American actor Doug McClure (remember Trampas from the 60's TV series The Virginian ?). The second was At The Earth's Core (1976), which also starred Peter Cushing and the lovely Caroline Munro, and the last was The People That Time Forgot (1977), a sequel to the first film in which Patrick Wayne goes in search for Doug. The Land That Time Forgot is also significant because well known Fantasy writer Michael Moorcock worked on the screenplay. A fourth Connor / McClure film in this series of period lost world films was also produced : Warlords Of Atlantis (1978). Although not based on the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs, it followed fairly much the formula set by the other films in the series - a journey by stalwart period English scientists into a lost world filled with monsters, a voyage that takes places in a marvellous vehicle of period technology.

(Kevin Connor sandwiched these 4 films between equally enjoyable sci-fi / fantasy romps: From Beyond the Grave (1973) & Arabian Adventure (1979) - both of which are available from this website)

McClure then returned to US TV but within two years was back on the big screen in the outrageous Humanoids from the Deep (1980). From the Roger Corman (low-budget shocker) stable this film achieved dubious notoriety for its gratuitous and uncompromising approach to the genre

The films all also feature charismatic acting from lantern-jawed lead man Doug McClure and talented support players.

All of these films are available from within this section of the website - they are also available in a 5 DVD set from within the Classic Movie Combination section of this website

Battle Beyond the Sun (1962) - 77 mins

Starring Ivan Pereverzev, Alexandr Shvorin, Edd Perry, Linda Barrett & Konstantin Bartashevich

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

With the tragedy of “The Great Atomic War” now behind them, the survivors of the nearly apocalyptic conflict have begun to move forward. They have split the world along the equator into two governing bodies referred to as North and South Hemis. Both Hemis’ are currently hard at work developing the technology to send the first man to Mars. On November 7th, 1997 South Hemis’ top secret space project codenamed “Red Planet” launched the first phase of their Mars bound mission.

While preparing for the second phase on a space station orbiting the Earth, a distress call is received from the North Hemis spaceship Typhoon. Despite the new Cold War that has recently developed between the two sides, the Typhoon is allowed to dock for repairs. While aboard the space station, the crew of the Typhoon learns of the South Hemis’ plans. They quickly leave the station in effort to foil South Hemis’ plans. The next day South Hemis launches their own ship, the Mercury, hoping to win the space race to Mars.

In the early sixties, Roger Corman obtained the rights to a Russian film called Nebo Zowet (with roughly translates into The Heavens Call). The film was about Russian astronauts fighting evil aliens in space and was laced with Cold War propaganda. Corman contacted the film department at UCLA and asked if they had any students talented enough to edit the film into something that he could showcase in America.

After an impressive interview Francis Ford Coppola got the job. Coppola started the “Americanization” process by rewriting the dialog to portray a less political viewpoint and had the voices dubbed by domestic actors. He later shot some new special effects sequences and then edited everything back together.

Nebo Zowet was now an entirely different picture retitled Battle Beyond the Sun. Though the credit goes to a pseudonym of “Thomas Colchart”, Coppola had earned his first directorial and producer credit.

“Perhaps the most memorable aspects of Battle Beyond the Sun are the menacing aliens that live on the planet of Angkor, a small Martian satellite.

Battle Beyond the Sun is exactly what it appears to be: a sci-fi action drama that plays itself so straight that it’s hilarious. And all that with dubbing over Russian actors… what more could you ask for?”

The “cultest of the cult”

Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) - 93 mins

Starring Roddy McDowall, Claude Akins, Natalie Trundy, John Huston & Lew Ayres

Directed by J. Lee Thompson

The fifth and last of the original series of motion pictures based upon author Pierre Boulle's imaginative novel Monkey Planet. Roddy McDowall returns as Caesar, the rebellious intelligent chimp of the previous film, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972). Caesar led his brethren in a revolution against their human masters earlier, but humanity has since nearly destroyed itself in a nuclear apocalypse, and survivors are second-class citizens within ape society. Now a beneficent ruler of his people, Caesar encourages a fragile, peaceful coexistence with humans, despite the protests of militaristic gorilla leader General Aldo (Claude Akins). When Caesar learns that recordings of his murdered parents may exist in the Forbidden City, he journeys to the irradiated wasteland. Although Caesar finds what he's looking for, he also attracts unwanted attention: mutant humans who still dwell underground in the devastated war zone follow the search party back home, leading to a climactic battle

Note the cameo by famed director John Huston as an ape named "The Lawgiver”.

There were 5 Planet of the Apes films: Planet of the Apes (1968), Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), Escape From the Planet of the Apes (1971), Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) & Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) - all of which are available from this section of the website.

All 5 films are also available from within the Classic Movie Combinations section in a nice 5 DVD set

There was also a 14 episode Planet of the Apes TV Series which can be found in the TV Series section of this website

Battle in Outer Space (1959) - 90 mins

Starring Ryo Ikebe, Kyôko Anzai, Koreya Senda, Minoru Takada, Leonard Stanford, Harold Conway & Yoshio Tsuchiya

Directed by Ishirô Honda

A group of aliens from the planet Netal in another solar system has designs on conquering Earth. They start off by destroying a space station and its entire crew. They then take over the mind of an Iranian scientist who tries to steal a powerful heat ray that can be used against them. The nations of the earth are banding together to fight off invaders from outer space. At the core of their defense is an attack in which two space ships from the earth land on the moon where the aliens have set up their base of operations. But this pre-emptive strike may not be enough.

Incredible special effects!

I vividly recall seeing this film at my local cinema and being enthralled by it - I didn't notice the dubbing or the slightly Asian appearance of the cast - it was just "good gear" all-the-way.

For all of the originally non-English speaking films which can be found on this website, I have elected to go with the original spoken language with subtitling in English - and its as indicated as such.

But this, Battle in Outer Space (1959) is my single departure (once only). I elected to go with the "International Release" print - dubbed in English and no subtitles.

The Beast from 20, 000 Fathoms (1953) - 80 mins

Starring Paul Hubschmid, Paula Raymond, Cecil Kellaway, Kenneth Tobey, Donald Woods & Lee Van Cleef

Directed by Eugène Lourié

Nuclear physicist Professor Paul Nesbitt (Paul Hubschmid) sees what he believes to be a giant monster after an atomic bomb test in the arctic. The only other witness is killed when he is covered by ice. When Nesbitt returns to the States he tries to convince the world that he did see the monster. He even tries to convince paleontologist Thurgood Ellison (Cecil Kellaway). The only person who will believe him is Ellison's assistant, Lee Hunter (Paula Raymond). Ellison is finally convinced when Nesbitt and a survivor of a ship that was attacked by the monster both identify the monster as a rhedosaurus. Eventually the monster makes its way to New York where it kills several people and not only by devouring them or crushing them with its sheer weight - the beast also is the carrier of a deadly virulent disease!

A longtime "dream" project of production designer-turned-director Eugene Lourie, The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms represented effects artist Ray Harryhausen's first solo effort, after assisting Willis O'Brien on Mighty Joe Young (1949).

Beginning of the End (1957) - 76 mins

Starring Peter Graves, Peggie Castle, Morris Ankrum, Than Wyenn, Richard Benedict & Don C. Harvey

Directed by Bert I. Gordon

Reporter Audrey Aimes (Peggie Castle) is driving along a highway in Illinois when she is stopped by the military and informed that a small town has been destroyed and everyone has seemingly disappeared. She then goes to a lab run by the Department of Agriculture where she meets the lab's director, Dr. Ed Wainwright (Peter Graves). Ed tells her that strange things have been happening ever since he discovered that a bunch of grasshoppers managed to get into a silo containing a batch of radioactive wheat. They soon discover that the grasshoppers have grown to monstrous proportions and not only are devouring the local vegetation, but have developed a taste for human flesh as well. Now the locusts are marching towards Chicago and the military is threatening to destroy the city with the atom bomb.

Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) - 95 mins

Starring James Franciscus, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, Linda Harrison & Charlton Heston

Directed by Ted Post

Sometime after the events of the first Planet of the Apes, the climax of which is repeated at the beginning of this sequel, another group of astronauts arrives on the Ape Planet. This time it's John Brent (James Franciscus) who survives the crash landing and learns that evolved simians have taken over the world, post-apocalypse. After hooking up with Nova (Linda Harrison), the mute, fur bikini-clad beauty who spent the first film being squired by astronaut Colonel George Taylor (Charlton Heston), Brent confers with Zira (Kim Hunter) and Cornelius (David Watson, giving Roddy McDowall his only break during the five-film series), the ape scientists whose adherence to scientific principles makes them friendly to the possibility of intelligent human life. Something of a military coup has taken place among the apes, who dispatch an army to the desolate "Forbidden Zone" where Taylor has coincidentally disappeared. With the apes and the humans both scouring about in the ruins of 20th century civilization, it's only a matter of time before they all find out what happened to the other survivors of the nuclear holocaust.

Excellent and well-made sequel

All 5 films are also available from within the Classic Movie Combinations section in a nice 5 DVD set

There was also a 14 episode Planet of the Apes TV Series which can be found in the TV Series section of this website

Beyond the Time Barrier (1960) - 75 mins

Starring Robert Clarke, Darlene Tompkins, Vladimir Sokoloff, Boyd 'Red' Morgan & John Van Dreelen

Directed by Edgar G. Ulmer

Experimental pilot Maj. William Allison (Robert Clarke) whilst testing a new rocket powered craft (actually a Convair F-102 interceptor) is hideously disfigured by a mishap in space. In flashback, we learn that Clarke had earlier returned to his base, only to discover that he'd passed through a time warp and that the Earth has been decimated by some disaster or other. He crosses the path of the ruling class, led by the Supreme, and a tribe of mutants, left over from a plague caused by extraterrestrial radiation. Only by returning to his own time can Clarke save the world from this fate.

Director Edgar G. Ulmer introduces some interesting sci-fi touches in this intriguing film which also brings a second collaboration between this director and star Robert Clarke - they initially combined to make the equally intriguing The Man From Planet X (1951) - which is also available from this website.

Biggles : Adventures in Time (1986) - 108 mins

Starring Neil Dickson, Alex Hyde-White, Fiona Hutchinson & Peter Cushing

Directed By John Hough

One minute the New Yorker advertising expert Jim Ferguson is at a business party -- the next he finds himself way back in 1917 in a plane fight during WWI. The mysterious Mr. Raymond explains to him that he has a time-twin, to whom he's relocated in space and time whenever one of them is in trouble. So he has to help his twin: biplane pilot Biggles, in his attempt to destroy a Nazi-German super weapon, that could win their war.

Black Hole (1979) - 98 mins

Starring Maximillan Schell, Anthony Perkins, Robert Forster, Joseph Bottoms, Yvette Mimieux & Ernest Borgnine

Directed by Gary Nelson

In 2130 AD, an Earth exploratory ship, the USS Palomino, discovers a black hole with a lost ship, the USS Cygnus, just outside its event horizon. The Palomino's crew comprises Captain Dan Holland (Robert Forster), First Officer Lieutenant Charlie Pizer (Joseph Bottoms), journalist Harry Booth (Ernest Borgnine), scientist and ESP-sensitive Dr. Kate McCrae (Yvette Mimieux), whose father was the Cygnus's First Officer, Dr. Alex Durant (Anthony Perkins), the expedition's civilian leader, and a robot known as V.I.N.CENT. The Palomino attempts a dangerous fly-by of the darkened ship. As they come within close range of it, the buffeting they experience (due to the black hole's gravity) suddenly ceases. They eventually investigate the Cygnus and discover that it is manned by the mad scientist Dr. Hans Reinhardt (Maximillian Schell), who intends to explore the black hole in hopes of finding the universe's energy source.

Excellent Sci-Fi!

Oscar Nominated for Best Cinematography & Best Special Effects

The Black Scorpion (1957) - 88 mins

Starring Richard Denning, Mara Corday, Carlos Rivas, Mario Navarro & Carlos Múzquiz

Directed by Edward Ludwig

A volcanic eruption releases dozens of giant scorpions from a cave in Mexico - wreaking havoc in the rural countryside. American geologist Hank Scott (Richard Denning) and his cohorts try to drive the scorpions back into their lair, but the huge arachnids soon proliferate whilst killing all and sundry in their path to Mexico City.

Filmed in Mexico, The Black Scorpion was the last theatrical feature to bear the imprimatur of special-effects maven Willis O'Brien (of The Lost World (1925) & Mighty Joe Young (1949) fame)

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The Blob (1958) - 86 mins

Starring Steve McQueen, Aneta Corsaut, Earl Rowe, Olin Howland & George Karas

Directed by Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.

Car-loving high-schooler Steve Andrews (Steve McQueen) can't get anyone to believe his story about a huge meteor, which crashes to earth and begins exuding a pink, gooey substance. Affixing itself to the body of an old man, The Blob begins parasitically sucking the life out of several unfortunate humans, growing to an enormous size. But the problem is that the disappearances of the victims can all be explained: one is supposed to be out of town, another is attending a convention. Hence the Police still won't believe Steve or his girlfriend Jane Martin (Aneta Corsaut). Rallying his teen pals, Steve finally manages to get the adults' attention-but by now, The Blob is consuming entire city blocks.

Good sci-fi in a fun-sorta way - its Steve McQueen’s first starring role (although there doesn’t seem to be any “method acting” going on here!)

Excellent wide-screen Technicolor print!

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The Body Stealers (1969) - 91 mins

Starring George Sanders, Maurice Evans, Patrick Allen, Neil Connery & Robert Flemyng

Directed by Gerry Levy

Bob Megan (Patrick Allen) is an investigator called in to solve a bizarre mystery: During training courses, British parachutists are disappearing in a strange red mist, leaving no trace. Even more mysterious is the fact that they later turn up, with their bodies filled with lethal doses of radiation. Megan, aided by Jim Radford (Neil Connery), begins an investigation, which uncovers an unearthly beauty who somehow is incapable of being photographed. Eventually, Megan and Radford discover that the parachutists are being kidnapped by aliens from the planet Mygon, who use the men to try to impregnate Mygonian women, thereby saving their dying civilization. Unfortunately, a side effect of this plan seems to be the irradiation of the earthlings. Megan exposes and foils the alien plan, but he also decides to lead an effort to discover a way of saving their race from extinction.

Sounds a bit weird but actually is works quite well - good UK Sci-Fi!

Aka Invasion of the Body Stealers (1969)

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The Brain From Planet Arous (1957) - 71 mins

Starring John Agar, Joyce Meadows, Robert Fuller, Thomas Browne Henry & Ken Terrell

Directed by Nathan Juran

Gor is a powerful criminal brain from the planet Arous. It assumes the body of scientist Steve March (John Agar) and through him, it begins to control the world by threatening destruction to any country challenging its domination. Another brain, Val, works with March’s future wife, Sally Fallon (Joyce Meadows) in an effort to defeat Gor - it appears that Gor is vulnerable when it is forced to leave March at intervals to re-energize.

Gripping stuff from the guy who became synonymous 50s sci-fi: John Agar!

Captain Nemo and the Underwater City (1969) - 105 mins

Starring Robert Ryan, Chuck Connors, Nanette Newman, Luciana Paluzzi, John Turner & Bill Frazer

Directed James Hill

Shipwrecked survivors led by Senator Robert Fraser (Chuck Connors), are rescued by Captain Nemo (Robert Ryan) and are taken to his underwater city. They realized that they are now trapped for the rest of their lives. And so begins a desperate struggle to escape couched in a cat-and-mouse game between the Captain and the Senator

Prequel to Mysterious Island (1961) which is also available from this website.

Children of the Damned (1963) - 90 mins

Starring Ian Hendry, Alan Badel, Barbara Ferris, Alfred Burke, Sheila Allen & Patrick Wymark

Directed by Anton Leader

Five children with remarkable - possibly inhuman - intellectual and psychic powers are discovered by a group of scientists. But as the military cast their eager eye over the children, they escape and hide out in a church - the race is on to protect them before they can be used as weapons, or before the authorities, terrified by their increasing powers, order their destruction.

Sequel to Village of the Damned (1960) which is also available from this website.

City Beneath the Sea (1971) - 98 mins

Starring Stuart Whitman, Robert Wagner, Rosemary Forsyth, Robert Colbert, James Darren, Joseph Cotten & Richard Basehart

Directed by Irwin Allen

Its the 21st century, and we meet a group of colonists dwelling in a modernistic underwater city called Pacifica. Originally intended as a purely scientific installation, the U. S. government wants to stash all its gold reserves from Fort Knox there, along with a fantastic new radioactive element: the highly fissionable “H128". The brother of Pacifica's returning former commander plans to steal the gold and on top of that, the city faces destruction by an asteroid from outer space

Stuart Whitman is Admiral Michael Matthews, Commander-in-Chief of Pacifica and he heads a large cast of TV veterans, including Time Tunnel regulars James Darren, Robert Colbert and Whit Bissell, and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea star Richard Basehart (as the US President). Expanded from a short "demo" pilot film, City Beneath the Sea is the one Irwin Allen project that could have matured into a truly worthwhile TV series; unfortunately no network was interested in subsidizing this expensive effort.

For trivia buffs: Both The Flying Sub & The Seaview from Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea “get a guernsey” in this production

Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) - 100 mins

Starring Eric Braeden, Susan Clark, Gordon Pinsent, William Schallert & Leonid Rostoff

Directed by Joseph Sargent

Dr. Charles Forbin (Eric Braeden) is the designer of an incredibly sophisticated computer, Colossus that has been designed to run all of America's nuclear defenses. Shortly after being turned on, it detects the existence of Guardian, the Soviet counterpart, previously unknown to US Planners. Both computers insist that they be linked, and after taking safeguards to preserve confidential material, each side agrees to allow it. As soon as the link is established the two become a new Super computer and threaten the world with the immediate launch of nuclear weapons if they are detached. Colossus begins to give it's plans for the management of the world under it's guidance. Forbin and the other scientists form an underground technological resistance to Colossus

The granddaddy of all "computer run amok" films, the climax of Colossus: The Forbin Project is unsettling, but no more so than the actual state of world affairs in 1970.

Great stuff!

Fabulous Wide-Screen Technicolor Print!

Conquest of Space (1955) - 81 mins

Starring Walter Brooke, Eric Fleming, Mickey Shaughnessy, Phil Foster, William Hopper & Benson Fong

Directed by Byron Haskin

A multi-national crew are on the first space flight to Mars with General Samuel T. Merritt (Walter Brooke) heading the team. Supporting him are his son, Captain Barney Merritt (Eric Fleming), Sergeant Mahony (Mickey Shaughnessy), Jackie Siegle (Phil Foster) and Imoto (Benson Fong). As the ship gets closer to their Martian quest, General Merritt cracks and tries to sabotage both the mission and the crew, babbling about the blasphemy of mankind trespassing upon God's domain. His son is called upon to save the mission, with the hope that the crew can still go through with a Mars landing.

This George Pal production pulls out all stops in the special effects department, creating "The Wheel" (a earth-orbiting circular space station), rocket launches into space, and a breathtaking near-collision with an asteroid.

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) - 88 mins

Starring Roddy McDowall, Don Murray, Ricardo Montalban, Natalie Trundy & Hari Rhodes

Directed by J. Lee Thompson

The fourth Planet of the Apes film is set in 1991, 20 years since the assassination of talking, time-traveling apes Cornelius and Zira at the end of Escape From the Planet of the Apes. The couple's infant son, Caesar (Roddy McDowall), has grown to adulthood in the care of kindly circus owner Armando (Ricardo Montalban). Meanwhile, a plague has wiped all dogs and cats from the face of the Earth; speechless primitive apes have therefore been domesticated and turned into first pets, then servants of humankind. Caesar becomes outraged at the treatment of these simian slaves and accidentally reveals his powers of speech in front of the militaristic authorities,

Caesar was the second of McDowall's three Planet of the Apes characters; he also portrayed Cornelius in the first and third films and Galen in the short-lived 1974 television series. After taking over the franchise with this picture, Hollywood veteran J. Lee Thompson would become the only director to helm two Planet of the Apes films when he returned for the fifth and final instalment.

All 5 films are also available from within the Classic Movie Combinations section in a nice 5 DVD set

There was also a 14 episode Planet of the Apes TV Series which can be found in the TV Series section of this website

The Cosmic Man (1959) - 72 mins

Starring John Carradine, Bruce Bennett, Angela Greene, Paul Langton & Scotty Morrow

Directed by Herbert S. Greene

When a strange sphere settles down in a California canyon, it causes both the scientific and military communities to gather around in an instant. The object appears to have one figure inside but there is no clear way of penetrating the sphere. As the military brass argue for a destructive course of action, scientist Karl Sorensen (Bruce Bennett) defends the sphere and its passenger, advocating a reasoned approach to the enigma. In the meantime, a ghostly entity wanders around town and a man hidden underneath heavy clothing checks into the lodge where the antagonistic investigators are staying.

Countdown (1968) - 101 mins

Starring James Caan, Joanna Moore, Robert Duvall, Barbara Baxley & Steve Ihnat

Directed by Robert Altman

The Apollo 3 crew lead by Chiz (Robert Duvall) are training when it is discovered that the Russians plan a moon landing. In response NASA enact a makeshift plan to land a man on the moon first, using an older style Gemini spacecraft. Lee Stegler (James Caan) is a scientist who is chosen over Chiz, because Lee has no military connection. Stegler has three weeks to train before take-off, and will have to stay on the moon in a shelter for about a year, until an Apollo is ready to pick him up. However the Russians take off two days earlier than expected.

Excellent big-budget sci-fi which taps into the excitement generated by the Mercury/Gemini/Apollo Space Programs - the successful Apollo 11 Moon landing was still 18 months away when this film was released.

The Crawling Eye (1958) - 84 mins

Starring Forrest Tucker, Laurence Payne, Jennifer Jayne, Janet Munro, Warren Mitchell & Andrew Faulds

Directed by Quentin Lawrence

At a remote Alpine village, mountaineers suddenly start dying, their bodies horribly mutilated which initially seem like they could just be accidents. But the arrival of sisters Anne & Sarah Pilgrim (Janet Munro & Jennifer Jayne), one of whom feels an almost telepathic connection with someone or something on the mountain, attracts the interest of American Alan Brooks (Forrest Tucker), a trouble-shooter for the United Nations. He and Prof. Crevett (Warren Mitchell), who has been monitoring the radiation levels in the area from a research station set up by the government, determine that there is a pattern to these deaths that Brooks has seen before, in a prior incident in the Andes Mountains. They determine that the Earth has been invaded, at high altitude, by a race of gigantic, tentacled aliens who live in thin atmosphere and at extremely low temperatures. Camouflaging themselves in a dense radioactive cloud, they've been content up until now to hide their existence while experimenting with the inhabitants of their new world - they've taken over some human subjects telepathically, and also re-animated dead bodies. And they've killed those - such as the hapless mountaineers who have stumbled upon their new lair, or those few humans whose stronger-than-usual mental powers have allow them to sense the aliens' presence - who threaten to discover them. But now Crevett sees that the aliens are adapting and moving down the mountain, the cloud bringing their necessary cold temperatures with them, and threatening to engulf the village as prelude to an attack on it and all that lies beyond.

The Trollenberg Terror, authored by Peter Key and directed by Quentin Lawrence, started life on British television as a six-part installment of ITV's Saturday Serial in late 1956 and early 1957. The big-screen version, was adapted by Jimmy Sangster, who compressed most of the best horrific and mystery elements of the original into an 90 minute vehicle, which Lawrence directed. The Trollenberg Terror was retitled The Crawling Eye when it was released in the United States, in an obvious attempt to draw the same audience that had made into huge box-office hits of British film adaptation of two TV serials - The Quatermass Xperiment (aka The Creeping Unknown) & Quatermass 2 (aka Enemy from Space) - both starring US film actor Brian Donlevy

Note that The Quatermass Xperiment (1955) & Quatermass 2 (1957) are also available from this website

Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954) - 80 mins

Starring Richard Carlson, Julie Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno & Nestor Paiva

Directed by Jack Arnold

Members of a fossil-hunting expedition in a dark tributary of the mist-shrouded Amazon, enter the domain of a prehistoric, amphibious "Gill Man" - possibly the last of a species of fanged, clawed humanoids who may have evolved entirely underwater. Tranquilized, captured, and brought aboard, the creature still manages to revive and escape - slaughtering several members of the team - and abducts their sole female member Kay Lawrence (Julie Adams), spiriting her off to his mist-shrouded lair.

Director Jack Arnold makes excellent use of the tropical location, employing heavy mists and eerie jungle noises to create an atmosphere of nearly constant menace. The film's most effective element is certainly the monster itself, with his pulsating gills and fearsome webbed talons. The creature was played on land by stuntman Ben Chapman and underwater by champion swimmer Ricou Browning - who was forced to hold his breath during long takes because the suit did not allow room for scuba gear. The end result was certainly worth the effort, proven in the famous scene where the Gill Man swims effortlessly beneath his female quarry in an eerie ballet - a scene echoed much later by Steven Spielberg in the opening of Jaws.

Universal Pictures introduced audiences to yet another classic movie monster with this superbly crafted film, originally presented in 3-D. Jack Arnold was brought back for a sequel Revenge of the Creature (1955) but didn’t helm a further sequel The Creature Walks Among Us (1956) - both of which is also available from this website

Jack Arnold reigns supreme as one of the great directors of 50s science fiction features. His films are distinguished by moody black and white cinematography, solid acting, smart, thoughtful scripts, snappy pacing, a genuine heartfelt enthusiasm for the genre, and plenty of eerie atmosphere. His films which can be found in this section of the website are: It Came From Outer Space (1953), The Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954), Revenge of the Creature (1955), This Island Earth (1955) - with Joseph M. Newman, Tarantula (1955), The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957), The Space Children (1958) & Monster on Campus (1958)

The Creature Walks Among Us (1956) - 78 mins

Starring Jeff Morrow, Rex Reason, Leigh Snowden, Gregg Palmer & Maurice Manson

Directed by John Sherwood

A prehistoric amphibian is far from his Amazon home, kept under close scientific scrutiny in a special facility in Florida. After a laboratory fire severely damages the creature's gills, the head of the research team Dr. William Barton (Jeff Morrow) initiates an operation that will allow their subject to breathe through a set of latent lungs. After some attempts are made to acclimate the creature to life among human beings, Barton's plans are destroyed by his own pettiness when one of his colleagues Jed Palmer (Gregg Palmer) makes romantic overtures toward his wife Marcia Barton (Leigh Snowden) - leading to a violent confrontation which also includes the Gill-Man

The third and final outing for “The Creature” - preceded by The Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954) & Revenge of the Creature (1955) - both of which are available from this website.

Cult of the Cobra (1955) - 82 mins

Starring Richard Long, Faith Domergue, Marshall Thompson, Kathleen Hughes, Jack Kelly & William Reynolds

Directed by Francis D. Lyon

Six GIs stationed in Asia secretly photograph the arcane rituals of a group of cobra worshippers. At the climax of the ceremony, the cult members turn themselves into snakes. The high priestess catches the soldiers spying and throws a curse upon them. Soon after they return to the US, the vengeful priestess follows them and people begin to die from snake venom poisoning, adding credence to the strange tale told by a surviving GI to the police, who become less sceptical as more evidence is unearthed. More trouble follows when the serpentine goddess falls for the ex-soldier's room-mate.

Curse of the Fly (1965) - 86 mins

Starring Brian Donlevy, George Baker, Carole Gray, Yvette Rees, Michael Graham & Burt Kwouk

Directed by Don Sharp

A young woman escapes from a mental institution and ends up at the home of the Delambre family. There she finds Henri Delambre (Brian Donlevy) continuing the experiments of his dead father, in using a machine to teleport people from one place to another. She also finds his handsome son Albert whom she eventually marries. After she discovers a closet filled with failed teleportation experiments, the police are notified. The crazed scientist tries to use his machine. But things just don't go according to plan

Preceded by The Fly (1958) & Return of the Fly (1959) - both with Vincent Price. They are also available from this website

The Cyclops (1957) - 66 mins

Starring James Craig, Gloria Talbott, Lon Chaney Jr., Tom Drake & Duncan Parkin

Directed by Bert I. Gordon

Susan Winter (Gloria Talbott) is a young American woman who hires soldier-of-fortune Russ Bradford (James Craig) to lead an expedition into a remote valley in Mexico where her fiance, Bruce Barton, was lost in a plane crash two years earlier. Also along are greedy speculator Marty Melville (Lon Chaney Jr.) and pilot Lee Brand (Tom Drake). They get to the valley and discover that it is rich in deposits of uranium (as rumoured), but also dangerously radioactive - the immediate threats include giant insects and spiders and huge mutated lizards. Susan is positive that they're being watched by an unseen observer: is it 25 feet tall, with a disfigured face, a single eye, and motivated by the most bestial of impulses?

Sci-Fi chiller from writer/director Bert I. Gordon - he also penned (& helmed) The Amazing Colossal Man (1957) as well as its sequel War of the Colossal Man (1958) - both of which are available from this website

Daleks' Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D. (1966) - 81 mins

Starring Peter Cushing, Bernard Cribbins, Ray Brooks, Roberta Tovey, Andrew Keir & Jill Curzon

Directed by Gordon Flemyng

Peter Cushing returns as eccentric time-traveller Dr. Who, idol of millions of BBC TV viewers. This time Dr. Who (Peter Cushing), his niece Susan (Roberta Tovey) and a flustered London bobby Tom Campbell (Bernard Cribbins) are whisked into the future via The TARDIS time machine. Its 2150 and London is under siege from the extraterrestrial Daleks, with whom Dr. Who has crossed swords in the past. The Daleks intend to convert the earth into a huge spaceship by activating the planet's metallic core.

Producer Milton Subotsky based his screenplay on a Dr. Who television serial written by Terry Nation.

Preceded by Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965), again with Peter Cushing as the Doctor and Gordon Flemyng directing - also available from this website (see below)

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The Day of the Triffids (1962) - 93 mins

Starring Howard Keel, Nicole Maurey, Janette Scott, Kieron Moore & Mervyn Johns

Directed by Steve Sekely

Adapted from the novel by John Wyndham, this intelligent British monster movie begins with a meteor shower so intensely bright that it blinds the majority of the world's population, rendering them vulnerable to attack from hordes of carnivorous plants known as "Triffidus Celestus" which have been grown from meteor-borne spores over the preceding few years. As the plant-monsters continue to multiply and seek human prey, the remaining sighted people join forces to combat the invaders. One such survivor, US seaman Bill Masen (Howard Keel) whose eyes were bandaged during the meteorite impact, battles his way through the Triffid ranks. Meanwhile, a couple Karen & Tom Goodwin (Janette Scott & Kieron Moore) find themselves trapped in a lighthouse, surrounded by Triffids who now have the ability to move around.

Who will prevail?

Released in the US as Invasion of the Triffids (1962)

Please Note: This print is a quite nice genuine wide-screen Eastmancolor presentation - much better than commercial offerings!

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The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961) - 98 mins

Starring Edward Judd, Leo McKern, Janet Munro, Michael Goodliffe, Bernard Braden & Reginald Beckworth

Directed by Val Guest

Through the eyes of British reporter Peter Stenning (Edward Judd), we learn that both the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. have simultaneously set off nuclear explosions to test their efficiency. The twin blasts have caused the Earth to go off its axis. The result is a disastrous upheaval in the balance of nature: floods and fires being the principal plagues. With the end of the world staring everyone in the face, chaos reigns. The only hope lies in another massive nuclear explosion, which will hopefully re-balance the Earth.

Excellent wide-screen B&W print - although the opening and closing reels are tinted yellow, representing the scorching heat beating down on the frightened populace.

An intelligent and disturbing piece of speculative fiction from genre veteran writer/director Val Guest, who also helmed (& penned) The Quatermass Xperiment (1955), Quatermass 2 (1957), The Abominable Snowman (1957) - all of which are available from this website

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) - 92 mins

Starring Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, Sam Jaffe, Billy Gray & Lock Martin

Directed by Robert Wise

All of Washington, D. C. is thrown into a panic when an extraterrestrial spacecraft lands near the White House. Out steps Klaatu (Michael Rennie), a handsome and soft-spoken interplanetary traveler, whose "bodyguard" is Gort (Lock Martin), a huge robot who shawers forth laser-like death rays when danger threatens. After being wounded by an overzealous soldier, Klaatu announces that he has a message of the gravest importance for all humankind, which he will deliver only when all the leaders of all nations will agree to meet with him. World politics being what they are in 1951, Klaatu's demands are turned down and he is ordered to remain in the hospital, where his wounds are being tended. Klaatu escapes, taking refuge in a boarding house, where he poses as one "Mr. Carpenter". There the benign alien gains the confidence of a lovely widow (Patricia Neal) and her son, Bobby (Billy Gray) whilst seeking out the gentleman whom Bobby regards as "the smartest man in the world" -- an Einstein-like scientist, Dr. Barnhardt (Sam Jaffe). The next day, at precisely 12 o'clock, Klaatu arranges for the world to "stand still" -- he shuts down all electrical power in the world, with the exception of essentials like hospitals and planes in flight.

Perfectly directed by Robert Wise - an out-and-out classic!

The Day the Earth Stood Still was based on the story Farewell to the Master by Harry Bates.

Day the World Ended (1955) - 79 mins

Starring Richard Denning, Lori Nelson, Adele Jergens, Mike Connors & Paul Birch

Directed by Roger Corman

Jim Maddison (Paul Birch) had been expecting the worst, so when the world is destroyed in a nuclear holocaust, he's made provisions for himself, his daughter Louise (Lori Nelson) and their friend Rick (Richard Denning). They have enough supplies to last until the radiation abates but Jim's plans go awry with the unexpected arrival of Tony Lamont (Mike Connors) and his girlfriend Ruby (Adele Jergens). Not only does it affect the supply situation but Tony is far too slick and a schemer to be trusted. As the weeks go by however, they soon realize that they also have to face a mutated creature living in the nearby woods.

An earlier directorial effort from the legendary Roger Corman.

The Deadly Mantis (1957) - 79 mins

Starring William Hopper, Craig Stevens, Alix Talton, Donald Randolph & Pat Conway

Directed by Nathan Juran

The calving of an Arctic iceberg releases a huge, carnivorous praying mantis and it attacks several people in military outposts in a remote Arctic region. Dr. Ned Jackson (William Hopper), Col. Joe Parkham (Craig Stevens) and Ned's assistant Margie Blake (Alix Talton) track the predatory monster as it heads southward towards the warmer latitudes of Washington and New York.

Good sci-fi film with a great climax in the Manhattan Tunnel

In 1957 William Hopper emerged from supporting roles to lead the cast in two well-received sci-fi films directed by Nathan Juran: The Deadly Mantis & 20 Million Miles to Earth. These roles helped him score his career-defining (and Emmy nominated) role of Paul Drake in 255 episodes of TVs Perry Mason.

20 Million Miles to Earth (1957) is also available from this website.

Demon Seed (1977) - 94 mins

Starring Julie Christie, Fritz Weaver, Gerrit Graham, Berry Kroeger & Lisa Lu

Directed by Donald Cammell

Brilliant cybernetics expert Dr. Alex Harris (Fritz Weaver) develops a revolutionary new supercomputer dubbed Proteus IV (voice of Robert Vaughn) which is capable of almost human self-awareness and capacity for intellectual growth. Unfortunately for Alex and his wife Susan (Julie Christie), Proteus is also imbued with a very human desire to grow beyond the limitations of his own knowledge - as well as to escape the isolation of the laboratory - and taps into the home terminals of the Harris' high-tech dream house, making Susan a virtual prisoner. As she is put through a tortuous series of physical and mental tests, the Proteus mainframe takes severe steps to prevent any interference - even resorting to the murder of Harris' assistant Walter (Gerrit Graham). Susan's confusion eventually turns to dread when she begins to realize Proteus' true intentions ... to evolve beyond mere circuitry and assume a human form by impregnating her with his "seed."

Adapted from a lesser-known novel from SF/Horror author Dean R. Koontz, this claustrophobic thriller presents a computerized nemesis incorporating the murderous elements of 2001's HAL with the world-domination goal of the title villain in Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) - which is also available from this website.

Destination Moon (1950) - 92 mins

Starring John Archer, Warner Anderson, Tom Powers, Dick Wesson & Erin O'Brien-Moore

Directed by Irving Pichel

Scientist Dr. Charles Cargraves (Warner Anderson), former Air Force General Thayer (Tom Powers), and industrial tycoon Jim Barnes (John Archer) believe that it's time that the U.S. blazed new trails and found new adventures. Convinced that exploration of space is the wave of the future and that America's participation is vitally important to its place in the world, the three men begin planning and constructing a spaceship called "Luna" in the Mojave Desert that will take the men to the moon and back. However, anti-American forces begin flooding the press with propaganda against the moon mission, and finally the men make their way to moon without the aid of the federal government. While the men are thrilled to succeed in their mission, it turns out that they miscalculated the amount of fuel needed to return and that the rocket needs to drop a lot of weight if it is to return to Earth.

Producer George Pal assembled an impressive roster of behind-the-camera talent, including noted science fiction author Robert Heinlein (who wrote the novel on which the film is based) and artist Chelsey Bonestell for this pioneering sci-fi adventure.

Oscar winner for Special Effects as well as a Nomination for Art Direction & Set Decoration

Donovan’s Brain (1953) - 83 mins

Starring Lew Ayres, Gene Evans, Nancy Davis, Steve Brodie, Tom Powers & Lisa Howard

Directed by Felix E. Feist

Brilliant brain specialist Dr. Patrick Cory (Lew Ayres) attempts to save the life of accident victim Tom Donovan by extracting of the dying patient's brain and keeping it alive in a special solution with electrodes attached. Before long, the disembodied gray-matter begins to exert a supernatural influence over Cory, until the once-kindly scientist begins taking on Donovan's aggressive, paranoid personality traits and is compelled to carry out the brain's nefarious commands.

This effective and intelligent film builds a creepy and suspenseful mood throughout.

Dr. Cyclops (1940) - 77 mins

Starring Albert Dekker, Thomas Coley, Janice Logan, Charles Halton, Paul Fix & Victor Kilian

Directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack

A mad scientist Dr. Thorkel (Albert Dekker) has developed a process that will shrink human beings to doll size. His first victims include mining engineers Bill Stockton (Thomas Coley) and Steve Baker (Victor Kilian) and biologists Mary Mitchell (Janice Logan) and Dr. Bullfinch (Charles Halton). At first willing to play-act the role of benevolent despot with his miniaturized captives, Thorkel reveals the more sinister side of his personality by abruptly murdering Bullfinch in cold blood. The remaining captives escape and proceed to hack their way through a jungle of gigantic foliage and do battle with oversized wildlife.

The first Technicolor horror film since Mystery of the Wax Museum, Dr. Cyclops was directed by Ernest Schoedsack, of King Kong fame.

Oscar Nominated for Best Special Effects!

Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965) - 82 mins

Starring Peter Cushing, Roy Castle, Jennie Linden, Roberta Tovey, Barrie Ingham & Michael Coles

Directed by Gordon Flemyng

Based on a story from the BBC TV serial, the film tells of an eccentric scientist Dr. Who (Peter Cushing) who accidentally activates his new invention: The TARDIS, a time machine disguised as a police telephone box. Dr. Who, his two grand-daughters, Barbara (Jennie Linden) & Susan (Roberta Tovey) and Barbara's boyfriend Ian (Roy Castle) are transported through time and space to the planet Skaro, where a peaceful race of Thals are under threat of nuclear attack from the planet's other inhabitants: the robotic mutant Daleks!

The peculiar doctor had already captured the hearts and minds of England's youth through his B&W television show which had premiered in 1963. But when the good doctor made the leap to the big screen, in wonderfully surreal Technicolor, and starring the great Peter Cushing, full-on Doctor Who mania really took over.

Followed by Daleks' Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D. (1966), again with Peter Cushing as the Doctor and Gordon Flemyng directing - also available from this website (see above)

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The Earth Dies Screaming (1964) - 62 mins

Starring Willard Parker, Virginia Field, Dennis Price, Thorley Walters & Vanda Godsell

Directed by Terence Fisher

This obscure little science fiction/horror film (a British-American co-production) stars US actor, Willard “Jace Pearson” Parker as an heroic astronaut, Jeff Nolan, who returns from a test flight to discover that most of England has been utterly destroyed by alien invaders - and whose armies of killer robots have transformed nearly all of their victims into zombies. Jeff manages to rally together a small resistance army from a few scattered survivors in outlying villages, and they eventually find the earth-based relay point for the transmissions which have enabled the invaders to coordinate the robot attack by remote control.

Earth II (1971) - 100 mins

Starring Gary Lockwood, Scott Hylands, Hari Rhodes, Anthony Franciosa, Mariette Hartley & Gary Merrill

Directed by Tom Gries

In the near future, the space station Earth II is built for the purpose of scientific research and world peace. However, that peace is shattered when the Chinese send up a nuclear bomb that is orbiting just a few miles away from the station. Station Commander David Seville (Gary Lockwood) and his crew battle to disarm the bomb If it detonates then it will not only destroy the station but also set off World War III.

Producer/writers Allan Balter and William Read Woodfield consulted both NASA and the Rockwell Corporation to guarantee authenticity for their futuristic teleplay.

Earth vs. The Flying Saucers (1956) - 83 mins

Starring Hugh Marlowe, Joan Taylor, Donald Curtis, Morris Ankrum, John Zaremba

Directed by Fred F. Sears

Dr. Russell Marvin heads up Operation Skyhook, which is tasked with sending rockets into the upper atmosphere to probe for future space flights. Unfortunately, all the rockets are somehow disappearing. While investigating this strange occurrence, Russell and his new wife Carol are abducted by a flying saucer. The aliens demand to meet with certain people in order to negotiate - but its a trick, and the aliens only want to kill them. The invasion has begun and if Russell and Carol can't find a way to stop these creatures and get past their defenses, it may be the end of the human race.

An acknowledged Classic of Sci-Fi.

Escape From the Planet of the Apes (1971) - 98 mins

Starring Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Bradford Dillman, Natalie Trundy & Ricardo Montalban

Directed by Don Taylor

Escape From the Planet of the Apes is the third in the series of films based upon the Planet of the Apes characters created by novelist Pierre Boulle. At the end of the second film, the centuries-in-the-future world colonized by simians was destroyed, but apes Cornelius (Roddy McDowall) and Zira (Kim Hunter) were able to escape in the space vessel left behind by 20th century astronaut Colonel George Taylor (Charlton Heston). Cornelius and Zira pass through another time warp, finding themselves in the Earth of the 1970s. When they reveal their ability to speak, the apes are first treated as curiosities and then as threats when the government, believing the story that the Earth will eventually be inherited by monkeys, tries to prevent the birth of Zira's baby.

All 5 films are also available from within the Classic Movie Combinations section in a nice 5 DVD set

There was also a 14 episode Planet of the Apes TV Series which can be found in the TV Series section of this website

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Fantastic Voyage (1966) - 100 mins

Starring Stephen Boyd, Raquel Welch, Edmond O’Brien, Donald Pleasence, Arthur O’Connnell & Arthur Kennedy

Directed by Richard Fleischer

Grant (Stephen Boyd) heads a team of scientists sent on a bizarre experimental mission. Through a revolutionary and as-yet-untested process, the scientists and their special motorized vehicle are miniaturized, then injected into the blood stream of a near-death scientist Jan Benes. Their mission is to relieve a blood clot caused by an assassination attempt. One member of the expedition is bent on sabotage so that the scientist's secrets will die with him.

Two Oscar Wins: Best Color Art Direction & Special Visual Effects

Also Oscar Nominations for Best Color Cinematography, Sound Effects & Film Editing

First Man into Space (1959) - 77 mins

Starring Marshall Thompson, Marla Landi, Bill Edwards, Robert Ayres & Bill Nagy

Directed by Robert Day

Navy test pilot Lieut. Dan Prescott (Bill Edwards) in the experimental rocket plane Y-13, disobeys orders and becomes the first man to fly outside the ionosphere before vanishing in a mysterious cloud. The space capsule eventually returns to Earth, covered in a bizarre extraterrestrial coating. Shortly thereafter, a hulking, half-human creature raids a blood bank, killing the nurse on duty and gulping down the supplies. More bizarre, unexplained events occur before Prescott's older brother Cmdr. C.E. Prescott (Marshall Thompson) concludes that the monster is actually his missing brother, transformed by his experiences in space into a mutant, vampiric beast.

Filmed not long after the launch of Russia's Sputnik satellite, First Man Into Space benefited from a realism made possible by enhanced public knowledge of space-travel.

A good, tight sci-fi experience!

First Men in the Moon (1964) - 103 mins

Starring Edward Judd, Martha Hyer, Lionel Jeffries, Miles Malleson & Norman Bird

Directed by Nathan Juran

When scientists in the year 1964 are confused by evidence of a long-ago space flight, nonagenarian Arnold Bedford (Edward Judd) explains all. Back in 1899, Bedford, eccentric scientist Joseph Cavor (Lionel Jeffries) and heroine Kate Callender (Martha Hyer) took a trip to the moon in a home-made space vehicle. Once on the lunar surface, they encountered an alien civilization resembling an ant colony, complete with "queen," soldiers and workers. How they returned, and the aftereffects of their journey, comprise the film's final third.

H.G. Wells’ excellent story is brought to the screen here in a fabulous production courtesy of Visual Effects supremo (and producer) Ray Harryhausen

Screenplay by the legendary Nigel “Quatermass” Kneale

(Interesting Trivia: Peter Finch appears briefly as a messenger; he happened to be visiting the set when the actor hired to play the bailiff's assistant failed to show up)

Five (1951) - 93 mins

Starring William Phipps, Susan Douglas Rubes, James Anderson, Charles Lampkin & Earl Lee

Directed by Arch Oboler

Five people are miraculously spared when the fall-out from a super-atomic bomb eventually kills all of the rest of humanity on earth. They are Roseanne Rogers, a pregnant woman who was in an ex-ray room; Michael, a sensitive young poet and philosopher; Eric, a black man; Mr. Barnstaple, a banker; and Charles, a cosmopolitan Alpinist who was saved from the radio-active dust because he was climbing Mt. Everest at the time of the explosion and fall-out.

A out-and-out cult film directed by Arch Oboler who was one of the greatest radio writers of all time.

Flight to Mars (1951) - 72 mins

Starring Marguerite Chapman, Cameron Mitchell, Arthur Franz, Virginia Huston & Morris Ankrum

Directed by Lesley Selander

Brilliant scientist Dr. Jim Barker (Arthur Franz) and two-fisted reporter Steve Abbott (Cameron Mitchell) are amongst a crew which makes the journey to Mars. Upon landing on Mars, the earthlings learn that planetary leader, Ikron (Morris Ankrum) intends to conquer the world. Fortunately a group of Martians disaffected by Ikron’s leadership, lend moral and physical support to the heroes.

Fifties sci-fi: gotta love it!

The Fly (1958) - 94 mins

Starring David Hedison, Patricia Owens, Vincent Price, Herbert Marshall & Kathleen Freeman

Directed Kurt Neumann

Wealthy Helene Delambre (Patricia Owens) is discovered late at night in the factory owned by her husband Andre (David Hedison). Helene stands beside a huge metal press, which has crushed the head and arm of her husband. Held for murder, the near-catatonic Helene refuses to tell anyone - not even Andre's brother Francois (Vincent Price) - why she did it. Francois cannot help but notice that Helene reacts in mortal terror when a tiny flies zips through the room. Nor can he disregard the statement made by Helene's son Philippe (Charles Herbert) that the fly has a curious white head and leg. When Francois pretends that he's captured the fly, Helene relaxes enough to tell her story. It seems that Andre, a scientist, had been working on a matter transmitter, which he claimed could disintegrate matter, then reintegrate it elsewhere. After a few experiments, Andre tried the transmitter himself. Just as he stepped into the disintegration chamber, a fly also flew into the chamber. His atoms have become mixed up with the fly, and now he is unable to reverse the procedure. Neither Francois nor inspector Charas (Herbert Marshall) believe the story...until, while staring intently at a spider's web in the garden, they see a tiny entrapped fly with Andre's head and arm, tinnily screaming "Help me! Help me!" as the slavering spider approaches.

Adapted from George Langelaan's short story by James (Shogun) Clavell.

Followed by Return of the Fly (1959) - again with Vincent Price & Curse of the Fly (1965) - this time with Brian Donlevy. Both of which are available from this website

The Flying Saucer (1950) - 69 mins

Starring Mikel Conrad, Pat Garrison, Hantz von Teuffen, Lester Sharpe & Denver Pyle

Directed by Mikel Conrad

The CIA sends secret agent Mike Trent (Mikel Conrad) to Alaska with agent Vee Langley (Pat Garrison), posing as his nurse, to find out whether or not UFO reports coming out of Alaska constitute a threat against American defenses. Installed in a hunting lodge, the two look for eyewitnesses to the flying-saucer phenomenon as well as conduct searches in the wilderness. Then they sight a saucer and whilst investigating, they clash with a gang of Soviet spies who are also after the saucer secret.

Filmed on location in Alaska

Striking while the iron was hot, actor/producer/director/writer Mikel Conrad registered the title The Flying Saucer for copyright not long after UFOs were allegedly spotted in Washington State.

Forbidden Planet (1956) - 98 mins

Starring Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, Leslie Nielsen, Warren Stevens, Jack Kelly & Earl Holliman

Directed by Fred M. Wilcox

In the 23rd century, Cmdr. J.J. Adams (Leslie Nielsen) guides United Planets cruiser C-57-D on a rescue mission to faraway planet Altair-4. Twenty years earlier, Earth ship Bellerophon disappeared while en route to Altair-4. Only the ship's philologist, Dr. Morbius (Walter Pidgeon), survived; in the intervening decades, Morbius has created an Edenlike world of his own, for the benefit of himself and his nubile young daughter, Altaira (Anne Francis). His private paradise is zealously guarded by Robby the Robot, a piece of technology far in advance of anything on Earth. When Adams and his crew land on Altair-4, Morbius announces that he has no intention of being rescued and returned to Earth. When Adams attempts to contact home base, he finds that his radio equipment has been smashed by some unseen force. Holding Morbius responsible, Adams confronts the scientist, who decides to tell all. At one time, according to Morbius, Altair-4 was populated by the Krel: a wise, intellectually superior race. Using leftover Krel technology, Morbius has doubled his intellect and gained the ability to shape a new world to his own specifications.

MGM's first big-budget science fiction film, Forbidden Planet, combined state-of-the-art special effects with a storyline based on Shakespeare's The Tempest.

Oscar Nominated for Best Special Effects

A terrific "thinking person's" sci-fi story - fabulous!

Note that one of the stars of this film is Robbie the Robot - an ingeniously constructed unit for the film (it was heavily used within and without the US as a promotional tool for the film).

Robbie the Robot was back one year later in The Invisible Boy (1957) - which is also available from this website.

4D Man (1959) - 85 mins

Starring Robert Lansing, Lee Meriwether, James Congdon, Robert Strauss & Patty Duke

Directed by Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.

Two brothers, scientists Scott and Tony Nelson, (Robert Lansing & James Congdon respectively) develop an amplifier which enables a person to enter a 4th dimensional state, allowing him to pass through any object. Scott experiments on himself and discovers that each time he passes through something he ages rapidly. He begins killing people, sucking out their life energies and regaining his youth as a result. It falls to Tony and Scott's girlfriend, Linda (Lee Meriwether), to try to put a stop to his murderous rampage.

4D Man is exciting and played in a lively fashion with the careful use of Ralph Carmichael's jazz-based score to accent the action. This helps set the film apart from other science fiction films of the era.

Early roles for eventual TV stars: Robert Lansing (12 O'Clock High) and Lee Meriwether (The Time Tunnel & Batman, as Catwoman)

Four Sided Triangle (1953) - 81 mins

Starring Barbara Payton, James Hayter, Stephen Murray, John Van Eyssen & Percy Marmont

Directed by Terence Fisher

Lena is a British girl raised in America who returns to her hometown on a sentimental journey. Here she is reunited with her childhood friend Bill, now a scientist. With the help of his pal Robin, Bill has developed a duplicating machine (a type of cloning device). When Robin and Lena fall in love, the heartbroken Bill decides to create a duplicate Lena, whom he names Helen.

Noirish Sci-Fi from the Brits!

Director Terence Fisher co-adapted the screenplay from a novel by William F. Temple.

From Beyond the Grave (1973) - 98 mins

Starring Ian Carmichael, Ian Bannen, Peter Cushing, Diana Dors, Donald Pleasance, David Warner & Leslie-Anne Down

Directed by Kevin Connor

Anthology film adapted from four short stories by R. Chetwynd-Hayes strung together about an antique dealer (Peter Cushing) who owns a shop called Temptations Ltd. and the fate that befalls his customers who try to cheat him. Stories include "The Gate Crasher" with David Warner who frees an evil entity from an antique mirror, "An Act of Kindness" featuring Donald Pleasence, "The Elemental" with Ian Carmichael and "The Door" starring Lesley-Anne Down & Ian “Return of The Saint” Ogilvy.

From the Earth to the Moon (1958) - 101 mins

Starring Joseph Cotten, George Sanders, Debra Paget, Don Dubbins, Patric Knowles & Carl Esmond

Directed by Byron Haskin

Just after the American Civil War, eccentric businessman and inventor Victor Barbicane (Joseph Cotten) invents a new source of power called Power X. He plans to use it to power rockets, and to show its potential he plans to send a manned projectile to the moon. Joining him for the trip are his assistant Ben Sharpe (Don Dubbins), Barbicane's arch-rival Stuyvesant Nicholl (George Sanders) and Nicholl's daughter Virginia (Debra Paget). Nicholl believes that Power X goes against the will of God and sets about sabotaging the rocketship so that they cannot return to earth, setting up a suspenseful finale as they battle to repair the damage.

From the novel by Jules Verne

Futureworld (1976) - 108 mins

Starring Peter Fonda, Blythe Danner, Arthur Hill, Yul Brynner & Robert Cornthwaite

Directed by Richard T. Heffron

This follow-up to the successful 1973 thriller Westworld stars Peter Fonda and Blythe Danner as Chuck Browning and Tracy Ballard, investigative reporters. The team has been dispatched to the expensive theme park Westworld on the remote island of Delos, to find out what caused the park's robots to go berserk and begin killing the toursists. They discover that Duffy (Arthur Hill), creator of Westworld, has retooled his park into Futureworld, a supposedly "fail safe" recreational mecca. In truth, he is scheming to replace all of the world leaders with robot clones, the better to take over the globe. Yul Brynner, the steely-eyed cowboy android from Westworld, returns!

Futureworld (1976) is not so much a sequel to Michael Crichton’s Westworld (1973) as a companion film. If anything, it could be argued that Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park is more of a sequel (or remake) – after all, the story is seemingly identical.

Westworld (1973) is also available from this website

Genesis II (1973) - 74 mins

Starring Alex Cord, Mariette Hartley, Ted Cassidy, Percy Rodrigues & Harvey Jason

Directed by John Llewellyn Moxey

Scientist Dylan Hunt (Alex Cord) puts himself into suspended animation in a NASA cavern in 1979 to order to establish if he could be brought back to life in a couple of days. However the cavern collapses during an earthquake and Dylan doesn't recover until the year 2133. During the 154 years he had slept, war has broken out and the world's scientists have rebelled against the war-mongering military and developed a society known as the Pax, whose goal is to keep the spirit of mankind alive. However there are also the mutant Tyranians who plan to be Nazi-like rulers of the slowly recovering world. Dylan is tricked by the Tyranians who plan to use his knowledge of the past to rebuild their nuclear generator and therefore make their plans complete.

On three occasions between 1973 and 1975, Star Trek producer Gene Roddenberry attempted to launch a new science-fiction series. All three pilot films were predicated on the premise of a modern-day scientist awakening after nearly two centuries in suspended animation. The first of these feature-length pilots was Genesis II, which debuted March 23, 1973. When Genesis II failed to click as a series, Roddenberry and company tried again with Planet Earth (1974); when that didn't sell, the property was reworked as Strange New World (1975) - all three are available from this website.

The Giant Behemoth (1959) - 80 mins

Starring Gene Evans, André Morell, John Turner, Leigh Madison & Jack MacGowran

Directed Douglas Hickox

A Cornish fisherman is found covered with what looks like radiation burns. Before he dies, the fisherman utters the word "behemoth," citing a monster alluded to in the Bible. And it isn't long before England is besieged by a dinosaur-like monster, the by-product of atomic fallout. Steve Karnes (Gene Evans) & Professor James Bickford (André Morell) work tirelessly in looking for answers. As the monster closes in on London, they eventually discover that only a high-powered torpedo stands between the Giant Behemoth and the helpless British citizenry

The Giant Claw (1957) - 75 mins

Starring Jeff Morrow, Mara Corday, Morris Ankrum, Louis Merrill & Robert Shayne

Directed by Fred F. Sears

Scientist Mitch McAfee (Jeff Morrow) cannot convince anyone that an enormous bird, evidently here from outer space, has arrived on Earth and is grabbing planes from the sky, gobbling up the passengers and crew. However, the bird eventually makes its presence known, as it begins to attack people more openly. But the giant bird is surrounded by a kind of force field, making all weapons useless on it.

Cult sci-fi film - a classic (despite the less than impressive special effects)

This completed a nice trio of sci-fi entries starring Jeff Morrow - preceded by This Island Earth (1955) & Kronos (1957) - both of which are available from this website.

Green Slime (1968) - 90 mins

Starring Robert Horton, Luciana Paluzzi, Richard Jaeckel, Bud Widom & Ted Gunther

Directed by Kinji Fukasaku

Commander Jack Rankin (Robert Horton) is sent to the space station commanded by Vince Elliot (Richard Jaeckel). The two have a personality clash but soon must set aside their differences to destroy a giant asteroid which is heading toward Earth. They disembark from the space station and blow it up. But the seemingly successful mission is blighted when they return to the station - unknowingly they have brought back a gooey green substance that mutates into tentacled monsters that feed off electricity.

This feature is believed to be the first to combine United States and Japanese productions for a film.

Hangar 18 (1980) - 97 mins

Starring Gary Collins, Robert Vaughn, James Hampton, Philip Abbott & Darren McGavin

Directed by James L. Conway

During a Space Shuttle mission manned by Steve Bancroft (Gary Collins) & Lew Price (James Hampton), a satellite is rammed by an unidentified flying object. The UFO afterwards performs an emergency landing in the deserts of Arizona. However the White House denies it's existence because of the approaching presidential elections. The UFO is brought to the secret Hangar 18 and the accident is claimed to incompetence of the Bancroff and Price. But the two fight against back and try to hunt down the UFO.

Nice print of this ‘cultest of cults’

The Haunting (1963) - 112 mins

Starring Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, Russ Tamblyn & Lois Maxwell

Directed by Robert Wise

One of the most highly regarded haunted house films ever produced, Robert Wise's The Haunting (based on Shirley Jackson's novel The Haunting of Hill House) weaves the dark tale of a questionably sane young woman and a sinister house which holds a terrifying past. Invited to join anthropologist Dr. Markway (Richard Johnson), ESP expert Theodora (Claire Bloom), and probable heir to the estate Luke Sanderson (Russ Tamblyn) in order to dispel the near mythical tales that surround the house, unstable Eleanor Vance (Julie Harris) agrees to spend a few nights in the house following the death of her mother. As they slowly begin to discover, the horrific and seemingly unbelievable tales may hold more truth than the skeptical guests might have previously expected. With a seemingly unstoppable supernatural force lurking in every shadow, the probability of anyone escaping the evil clutch of the cursed mansion seems increasingly remote

Golden Globe Nomination for Best Director!

Humanoids from the Deep (1980) (aka Monster!) - 80 mins

Starring Doug McClure, Ann Turkel, Vic Morrow, Cindy Weintraub, Anthony Pena & Denise Galik

Directed by Barbara Peters

In a Pacific Northwest town, experiments with genetically treated salmon backfire when they are eaten by coelacanths, who mutate into humanoid monsters with giant craniums and sharp claws: halfman, halffish which terrorize a small fishing village by killing the men, raping & mating with the women and eventually creating total pandemonium at the annual salmon festival. This is the UK version which is uncut and has been re-titled Monster!

The films all also feature charismatic acting from lantern-jawed lead man Doug McClure and talented support players.

All of these films are available from within this section of the website - they are also available in a 5 DVD set from within the Classic Movie Combination section of this website

I Aim at the Stars (1960) - 107 mins

Starring Curt Jurgens, Victoria Shaw, Herbert Lom, Gia Scala, James Daly & Adrian Hoven

Directed by J. Lee Thompson

Depicts the life story of the famed rocket scientist Dr. Werner von Braun (Curt Jurgens), one of the most brilliant and controversial figures of the space age. Dr. von Braun literally pioneered man's adventure into space through his rocket experiments: his was the brains behind the V-2 rockets which blasted London in World War II and when taken out of Germany at the end of WWII, found himself in the US and working on the development space satellites, rockets and the legendary Saturn V rocket which ultimately delivered the power to allow men to walk on the Moon

I'll Never Forget You (1951) (aka The House in the Square) - 90 mins

Starring Tyrone Power, Ann Blyth, Michael Rennie, Dennis Price & Beatrice Campbell

Directed by Roy Ward Baker

Tyrone Power stars as an American atomic scientist working in London. He lives in an ancestral home which dates back to the 18th century. Late one rainy evening, Power is struck down by lightning just as he enters his home. When he awakens, he finds himself transported back to the 1700s, in the person of his own ancestor. As he falls in love with his beautiful cousin Ann Blyth, Power tries to bring some 20th century technology to his "backward" forebears. Branded as a lunatic for his "hallucinations" of the future, Power is about to be carted off to Bedlam when he lapses again into unconsciousness. He awakens in his own time, but to what??

In an interesting approach, I'll Never Forget You opens in black and white, then switches to color when Power is sent back in time.

I'll Never Forget You is an updated remake of 1933's Berkeley Square, with both films being adapted from John L. Balderston's stage play.

The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) - 81 mins

Starring Grant Williams, Randy Stuart, April Kent, Paul Langton & Raymond Bailey

Directed by Jack Arnold

Scott Carey who, while catching some sunshine on his brother's yacht, is enveloped by a mysterious dark cloud. Soon after, he discovers that he's getting thinner and smaller. Despite the assuring attitude of his family doctor Carey is losing an inch's worth of height with each passing day. By the time he's reached the size of a small boy, Williams has become world-famous. But the phenomenon has adversely affected his personality, turning him into a tyrant, lashing out at the world in general and his faithful wife in particular. When Carey is attacked and by his pet cat, his wife assumes that he's been killed: in fact, Carey, by now so minuscule that even a garden-variety spider poses a deadly threat to him, is hiding in his cellar. Uncertain of what is in store for him, he steps out into the mists, summing up his new-found philosophy: "Smaller than smallest, I meant something too. To God there is no zero. I still exist!"

Adapted by Richard Matheson from his own novel.

Invaders From Mars (1953) - 78 mins

Starring Helena Carter, Arthur Franz, Jimmy Hunt, Leif Erickson & Morris Ankrum

Directed by William Cameron Menzies

David MacLean (Jimmy Hunt) is a 12-year-old astronomy buff who is stunned to see a flying saucer landing in the sand pit beyond his backyard. His father, George (Leif Erickson), ventures out to look the next morning and mysteriously disappears. David's mother, Mary (Hillary Brooke), worriedly calls police, but they are quickly swallowed up by the sand in the backyard. Later, George and the two officers return, but their personalities are markedly different (having been taken over by the Martians). As David tries to find help, everyone around him comes under the frightening zombie-like spell. He finally encounters two believers in Dr. Pat Blake (Helena Carter) and Dr. Stuart Kelston (Arthur Franz). Discovering David's shocking story to be true, the doctors call in the military setting up a confrontation that escalates when David and Dr. Blake are taken captive within the Martian craft.

Highly rated sci-fi entertainment

Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957) - 69 mins

Starring Steven Terrell, Gloria Castillo, Frank Goshin, Raymond Hatton & Lyn Osborn

Directed by Edward L. Cahn

When a spaceship lands in the woods, Johnny (Steve Terrell) and Joan (Gloria Castillo) accidentally run over one of the aliens. In retaliation, the saucer-men kill Joe (Frank Gorshin), an opportunistic drunkard who stumbles across the body. Meanwhile, the hand of the extraterrestrial corpse detaches itself from its body and wreaks havoc on the countryside.

Lyn Osborn, the former Cadet Happy on TV's Space Patrol, plays Frank Gorshin's drinking buddy in this film - Lyn died of a brain tumour following surgery, less than a year later, at age 32

Invisible Agent (1942) - 81 mins

Starring Jon Hall, Ilona Massey, Peter Lorre, Cedric Hardwicke & Albert Bassermann

Directed Edwin L. Marin

Frank Raymond (Jon Hall) is grandson of the man who invented the invisibility formula and when Nazi agents try to coerce the secret formula out of him, he evades them by becoming transparent himself. Shortly afterward, the US government parachutes Raymond behind enemy lines, reasoning that an invisible counterespionage agent would be an invaluable tool in defeating the Axis. He is aided and abetted by the beautiful Maria Sorenson (Ilona Massey), who may or may not be in league with villains Helser (J. Edward Bromberg), Stauffer (Cedric Hardwicke) and Japanese spy Ikito (Peter Lorre).

Oscar Nominated for Best Special Effects

A slyly tongue-in-cheek action melodrama, with Jon Hall in fine form even whilst invisible. Hall returned a few years later for another “Invisible Man” outing for Universal: The Invisible Man’s Revenge (1944) - see below

The Invisible Boy (1957) - 90 mins

Starring Richard Eyer, Dianne Brewster, Phillip Abbot & Harold J. Stone

Directed by Herman Hoffman

Based on a short story by Edmund Cooper, the film finds electronics genius Dr. Merrinoe (Phillip Abbott) developing a huge talking computer. While Merrinoe is the master of his laboratory, he has trouble controlling his rambunctious son Timmie (Richard Eyer). When the doctor takes Timmie to the lab with him, hoping to impress his son with the importance of his work, Timmie is interested only in reassembling a robot left behind by Merrinoe's predecessor. Though the robot has been programmed not to bring harm to human beings, the poor clunking creature falls under the spell of Merrinoe's "super computer," which has developed a demonic mind of its own. The computer arranges to launch a rocket, with the robot at the controls, that will enable it to control the earth's orbit.

Impressive on a technical level, The Invisible Boy was one of the first films to look at the idea that computers could one day take control of us!

Though Richard Eyer and Philip Abbott get top billing, the real star of The Invisible Boy is Robby the Robot of Forbidden Planet (1956) fame, which is also available from this website

Invisible Invaders (1959) - 67 mins

Starring John Agar, Jean Byron, Philip Tonge, Robert Hutton & John Carradine

Directed by Edward L. Cahn

The Earth is attacked by mysterious invaders from outer space, who plan on destroying humankind. The invaders are invisible in our atmosphere, but are able to inhabit and reanimate the bodies of the dead. The armies of rotting corpses march on the cities, and it seems as though there is no defense. Major Bruce Jay (John Agar) is put in charge of a small, secret research center with a group of scientists, who must find a way of combating the invaders. Personality conflicts develop as Jay's hard-nosed, by-the-book approach to his job, put him in opposition to scientists Phyllis Penner (Jean Byron), Dr. Adam Penner (Philip Tonge) and Dr. John Lamont (Robert Hutton). They develop an ultra-sonic gun that has the combined effect of rendering the aliens visible and killing them, but first they must test it, by capturing an alien, an action that forces them to run the risk of being discovered.

50s Sci-Fi: gotta love it!

The Invisible Man (1933) - 71 mins

Starring Claude Rains, Gloria Stuart, William Harrigan, Henry Travers & Una O'Connor

Directed by James Whale

A mysterious stranger, his face swathed in bandages and his eyes obscured by dark spectacles, has taken a room at a cozy inn in the British village of Ipping. Never leaving his quarters, the stranger demands that the staff leave him completely alone. Working unmolested with his test tubes, the stranger does not notice when the landlady inadvertently walks into his room one morning. But she notices that her guest seemingly has no head! The stranger, one Jack Griffin, is a scientist, who'd left Ipping several months earlier while conducting a series of tests with a strange new drug called Monocane. He returns to the laboratory of his mentor, Dr. Cranley (Henry Travers), where he reveals his secret to onetime partner Dr. Kemp (William Harrigan) and former fiancee Flora Cranley (Gloria Stuart). Monocane is a formula for invisibility, and has rendered Griffin's entire body undetectable to the human eye. Alas, Monocane has also had the side effect of driving Griffin insane. With megalomanic glee, Griffin takes Kemp into his confidence, explaining how he plans to prove his superiority over other humans by wreaking as much havoc as possible.

Claude Rains, making his first American film appearance was so forceful with his verbal performance as "The Invisible One" that he became an overnight movie star (after nearly twenty years on stage). Wittily scripted by R.C. Sherriff and an uncredited Philip Wylie from the H.G. Wells novel, and brilliantly directed by James Whale, The Invisible Man is a near perfect combination of horror and humor. Also deserving of unqualified praise are the thoroughly convincing special effects by John P. Fulton and John Mescall.

An out and out classic!

A semi-sequel The Invisible Man Returns (1940) followed albeit 7 years later (see below)

The Invisible Man Returns (1940) - 81 mins

Starring Cedric Hardwicke, Vincent Price, Nan Grey, John Sutton & Cecil Kellaway

Directed by Joe May

Condemned for a murder he did not commit, Geoffrey Radcliffe (Vincent Price) begs Doctor Frank Griffin (John Sutton) to inject him with the invisibility serum invented by Jack Griffin (alluding to the central character of the earlier film). Frank does so, even though he warns Radcliffe that the serum will very likely drive him insane.

Radcliffe wants to avoid the Police and mete out retribution to the genuine murderer, Richard Cobb (Cedric Hardwicke), a colliery owner who has framed Radcliffe.

A semi-sequel to The Invisible Man (1933) - available above

Oscar Nomination for Best Special Effects

The Invisible Man’s Revenge (1944) - 78 mins

Starring Jon Hall, Leon Errol, John Carradine, Alan Curtis & Evelyn Ankers

Directed Ford Beebe

At the docks of London, Robert Griffin (Jon Hall) returns after five years of memory loss following a diamond field expedition in Africa. Moments later, a newspaper clipping reveals Griffin to be a homicidal maniac who had escaped from a Capetown Asylum. After acquiring new clothing and a shave, Griffin stumbles upon the home of Professor Drury (John Carradine), a scientist who has discovered the formula of invisibility. Witnessing his experiment where Drury's dog and other animals are heard but not seen, Griffin volunteers on becoming Drury's human subject. As an invisible man, Griffin can get his revenge on those who left him for dead in Africa.

Nice follow-up “Invisible Man” outing for Jon Hall who had previous played the transparent one in Invisible Agent (1942) - see above

The Invisible Woman (1940) - 72 mins

Starring Virginia Bruce, John Barrymore, John Howard, Charles Ruggles & Oskar Homolka

Directed by A. Edward Sutherland

Kitty Carroll (Virginia Bruce) is an outspoken department store model fired from her job by the tyrannical Mr. Growley (Charles Lane). Intrigued by an ad in the personal columns requesting the services of an "adventurous woman", Kitty offers her services to eccentric scientist Professor Gibbs (John Barrymore). Much to the dismay of his timorous butler George (Charles Ruggles), his housekeeper Mrs. Jackson (Margaret Hamilton), and his nephew-financier Richard Russell (John Howard), Gibbs has been experimenting with an invisibility formula, and Kitty turns out to be a most willing guinea pig. Cloaked in her new invisibility, our heroine gets even with her old nemesis Growley and sets out for new escapades, while Gibbs and his entourage anxiously search for the girl lest harm befall her. The whole affair ends up in the Mexican refuge of gangster Blackie (Oscar Homolka), who hopes to use Gibbs' formula for his own nefarious purposes.

The Invisible Woman is consistently funny and inventive, enhanced by Universal's excellent special effects which garnered a Academy Award Nomination.

It Came From Beneath the Sea (1955) - 79 mins

Starring Kenneth Tobey, Faith Domergue, Donald Curtis, Ian Keith & Harry Lauter

Directed by Robert Gordon

After an encounter at sea with an unknown underwater creature, a naval commander works with two scientists to identify it. The creature they are dealing with is a giant, radioactive octopus that has left its normal feeding grounds deep in the sea and has risen towards the surface in search of new sources of replenishment. As the creature attacks San Francisco, the Navy tries to trap it at the Golden Gate Bridge but it manages to enter the Bar area leading to a final confrontation with a submarine.

It Came From Beneath the Sea was the first of several fruitful collaborations between producer Charles H. Schneer and special-effects wizard Ray Harryhausen. "It" is a giant, six-tentacled octopus, and the stop-motion animation utilized by Harryhausen is convincingly frightening.

It Came From Outer Space (1953) - 81 mins

Starring Richard Carlson, Barbara Rush, Charles Drake, Joe Sawyer & Russell Johnson

Directed by Jack Arnold

Based on a story by Ray Bradbury, It Came From Outer Space tells of writer John Putnam, a new arrival to the town and an amateur astronomer. One night he is looking at the skies with his fiancée, schoolteacher Ellen Fields, when they see what looks like a huge meteor crash into the desert. Putnam and Ellen go to the site of the crash and find a huge crater. When he goes down inside, Putnam sees what is very obviously some kind of vehicle or device embedded in the ground, but before he can show it to anyone, a rock slide buries what he saw. He reports that a spacecraft of some kind is buried there and is duly ridiculed by the local press and some of his own colleagues in the astronomical community, and even Ellen has her doubts. Putnam is at a loss as to what to do when various townspeople start to disappear, including Ellen, to be replaced by alien "duplicates."

A Classic!

It! The Terror From Beyond Space (1958) - 69 mins

Starring Marshall Thompson, Shirley Patterson, Kim Spalding, Ann Doran, Dabbs Greer & Paul Langton

Directed by Edward L. Cahn

A rescue ship travels out to Mars to retrieve the only survivor of a space probe that has experienced some sort of cataclysm. That survivor, Col Ed Carruthers (Marshall Thompson) is accused of murdering his fellow crewmen. But Ed claims that the killer was a Martian monster, and hopes to prove his assertions when he gets back to Earth. On the long voyage back home, mysterious sounds precede a violent confrontation between the crew members and an unknown assailant - they are being systematically killed off, and it looks as though Ed is up to his old tricks. As it turns out, however, there is a monster on board, the savage descendant of the once-mighty Martian civilization, who came secretly aboard ship just before blast-off. The monster stays alive by absorbing the vital body fluids of its victims and there seems to be no way to stop this parasitic creature!

A truly frightening sci-fi talewhich is full excitement and action all-the-way. Fans of Dabbs Greer will love his contribution here.

One of the best of the medium-budgeted science fiction flicks of the 1950s, It! The Terror from Beyond Space is set in the future: 1973! If the plot of It! The Terror from Beyond Space seems vaguely familiar, it is because it was one of the primary inspirations for the 1979 sci-fi classic Alien.

Jason and the Argonauts (1963) - 104 mins

Starring Todd Armstrong, Nancy Kovak, Gary Raymond, Laurence Naismith, Niall MacGinnis & Nigel Green

Directed by Don Chaffey

Jason (Todd Armstrong), rightful heir to the throne of Thessaly, is spared from death through the intervention of the goddess Hera (Honor Blackman). The other celestial inhabitants of Mount Olympus watch in amusement as Hera surreptitiously aids Jason in his search for the Golden Fleece. Obstacles to this goal include a giant come-to-life statue named Talos, the screeching harpies plaguing blind prophet Phineas (Patrick Troughton), a set of huge clashing rocks, the seven-headed hydra, and an army of skeletons - this bravura climactic sequence assured special-effects guru Ray Harryhausen place in the hearts of 13-year-old boys of all ages. Bernard Herrmann's surging musical score was icing on the cake for this greatest of all Ray Harryhausen creations

Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969) aka Doppelgänger - 101 mins

Starring Roy Thinnes, Ian Hendry, Patrick Wymark, Lyn Loring, George Sewell, Ed Bishop & Herbert Lom

Directed by Robert Parrish

A previously unknown planet is discovered within our solar system, orbiting on the far side of the sun exactly opposite the position of the Earth, and at precisely the same speed. The European space agency Eurosec, headed by Jason Webb (Patrick Wymark), whose solar probe made the discovery, decides to send a manned mission to investigate, teaming America's top astronaut Glenn Ross (Roy Thinnes) and British astro-physicist John Kane (Ian Hendry). Their voyage aboard the space vehicle Phoenix is supposed to take six weeks, but when the ship returns to orbit in only three weeks - ending in a crash of their landing vehicle that kills Kane - Eurosec can only conclude that Ross has engaged in some sort of sabotage. The astronaut is at a loss as to how they could have done a round-trip in just three weeks, until he makes a startling discovery - that everything that he sees, from the layout of rooms and buildings to all of the writing around him, is reversed, left to right and right to left.

Absorbing well made sci-fi employing the skills of Gerry & Sylvia Anderson of The Thunderbirds fame - they also wrote the story

Journey to the Seventh Planet (1962) - 80 mins

Starring John Agar, Greta Thyssen Carl Ottosen, Peter Monch, Ove Sprogøe & Louis Miehe-Renard

Directed by Sidney W. Pink

Travelling by spaceship to the planet Uranus in year 2010, a group of astronauts discovers a bizarre world right out of their own heads, featuring places and people the crew-members recall from childhood. and a gargantuan one-eyed monster. It's all part of a fantasy created by the planet's master, a giant, pulsating brain that can also turn their worst thoughts into reality!

Filmed in Denmark with a largely Danish cast except for Hollywood actor John Agar and Greta Thyssen (a former Miss Denmark who had doubled for Marilyn Monroe and appeared opposite The Three Stooges) added a bit of box-office value to the otherwise mundane proceedings. Apparently filmed in English, the Danish actors speak their lines with utmost care and deliberation, presumably to make it easier for dubbing purposes.

Note: this is a very nice print - much better than commercial offerings!

Kronos (1957) - 78 mins

Starring Jeff Morrow, Barbara Lawrence, John Emery, George O’Hanlon & Morris Ankrum

Directed by Kurt Neumann

An alien satellite enters close orbit around the Earth and releases a projectile that takes over the body and mind of Dr. Hubbell Eliot (John Emery), the director of Lab Central, America's top astrophysics research facility. Even as Elliot is falling victim to the invaders, Lab Central scientist Dr. Leslie Gaskell (Jeff Morrow) and his colleagues, Vera Hunter (Barbara Lawrence) and Dr. Arnie Culver (George O'Hanlon), have begun tracking the object - not certain what it is - and determine that it is going to hit the Earth in less than 24 hours. An attempt to destroy it with nuclear warheads fails, and the vehicle comes down off the coast of Mexico. While Eliot tries to resist the invaders' control and is hospitalized in a state of collapse, Gaskell, Vera, and Culver fly to the site of the landing, where the submerged craft emits a powerful energy pulse that spreads across the surface of the ocean and toward the beach. When it clears, there stands on the beach a huge metallic object: a towering robot, Kronos - hundreds of feet tall and possessing immense power, Kronos proceeds to rampage across the countryside, destroying everything in its path as it seeks out and absorbs all sources of electrical and atomic energy. Back at Lab Central, Eliot temporarily breaks free of the aliens' control, long enough to tell Gaskell of the robot's purpose and mission -- Kronos is a accumulator, sent to Earth by a race whose own planet is depleted of energy, and it will continue to grow stronger unless someone can find a way of reversing the process; worse yet, if Kronos isn't destroyed, other accumulators will be sent to drain the Earth of all its energy.

Enjoyable Sci-Fi film with Jeff Morrow returning to the genre after success in This Island Earth (1955). Jeff followed up with the equally impressive The Giant Claw (1957) - both of which are available from this website.

The Land That Time Forgot (1975) - 90 mins

Starring Doug McClure, John McEnery, Susan Penhaligon, Keith Barron, Anthony Ainley & Godfrey James

Directed by Kevin Connor

Its 1916 and the US Montrose is fired on and sunken by a German U-boat. However the survivors manage to sneak aboard and capture the U-boat. In between subsequent coups, the British and Germans agree to an uneasy truce until they can reach a neutral port. But they become lost and instead arrive on the mythical continent of Caprona where dinosaurs and cavemen still roam. Amid this savage, primitive environment they attempt to survive and repair the submarine

(Kevin Connor sandwiched these 4 films between equally enjoyable sci-fi / fantasy romps: From Beyond the Grave (1973) & Arabian Adventure (1979) - both of which are available from this website)

The films all also feature charismatic acting from lantern-jawed lead man Doug McClure and talented support players.

All of these films are available from within this section of the website - they are also available in a 5 DVD set from within the Classic Movie Combination section of this website

The Land Unknown (1957) - 78 mins

Starring Jock Mahoney, Shirley Patterson, William Reynolds, Henry Brandon, Phil Harvey & Douglas Kennedy

Directed by Virgil W. Vogel

Cmndr. Harold 'Hal' Roberts (Jock Mahoney) and Lt. Jack Carmen (William Reynolds) are leaders of an expedition to the South Pole. Along for the ride is girl reporter Maggie Hathaway (Shirley Patterson), over whose affections Hal and Jack constantly battle. Making a forced landing in the Antarctic, the intrepid explorers find that they've descended well below sea level. Before long, they are attacked by prehistoric beasts which have been preserved in this heretofore uncharted region. When not fending off Tyrannosauri and Pterodactyls, Hal, Jack, Maggie and copter pilot Steve Miller (Phil Harvey) try to steer clear of an unwieldly carnivorous plant. Further complicating things is the presence of a long-lost and demented scientist (Henry Brandon) who craves after Maggie!

Quite convincing special effects

Fans of "Jocko" won't be disappointed!

The Last Man on Earth (1964) - 86 mins

Starring Vincent Price, Franca Bettoia, Emma Danieli, Giacomo Rossi-Stuart & Umberto Raho

Directed by Sidney Salkow

Dr. Robert Morgan (Vincent Price) is the only survivor of a devastating world-wide plague due to a mysterious immunity he acquired to the bacterium while working in Central America years ago. In this post-epidemic nightmare world, the entire population of the Earth have become vampire-like creatures and Morgan is the monster slayer that the vampire-society fears. Curing one of them, Ruth (Franca Bettoja), with a transfusion of his blood gives Morgan hope for the future. But the vampires will never give up in their quest to kill him.

Excellent print - much superior to commercial offerings

This dark tale, based on Richard Matheson's even darker novel "I Am Legend" was later remade as The Omega Man (1971) with Charlton Heston in the Dr. Robert Morgan role.

The Omega Man (1971) is also available from this website.

The Leech Woman (1960) - 77 mins

Starring Grant Williams, Coleen Gray, Phillip Terry, Gloria Talbot & John Van Dreelen

Directed by Edward Dein

June Talbot (Colleen Gray) goes on a trip to Africa with her husband Dr. Paul Talbot (Phillip Terry), only to discover that she is to be the trial balloon in one of his experiments on an anti-aging compound. Not willing to jump off into the unknown, the already unbalanced June kills her husband after she learns of a tribal ritual that will keep her youthful if she can obtain a hormone from the pineal gland of a human male. The problem is that she will revert back to a wrinkled woman unless she keeps replenishing her stock of the hormone. That, of course, leads to gruesome killings and ultimately, one disastrous mistake.

Logan’s Run (1976) - 119 mins

Starring Michael York, Richard Jordan, Jenny Agutter, Roscoe Lee Browne, Farrah Fawcett & Michael Anderson Jr.

Directed by Michael Anderson

In a hermetically sealed, post-apocalyptic urban environment several hundred years in the future, Logan 5 (Michael York) and his friend Francis 7 (Richard Jordan) lead unquestioning lives of hedonism. Entertainment comes in the form of casual sexual liaisons and gladiatorial games in which those who do not wish to undergo euthanasia at the age of 30 vie for the illusory chance of continued life. As ‘Sandmen’, Logan and Francis are charged with tracking down and killing "runners" - those citizens who will submit to neither "renewal" (a peaceful death) nor "carousel" (a gladiatorial battle) when their time comes. When Logan grows intrigued by a beautiful young woman, Jessica 6 (Jenny Agutter), who plans to become a runner, he is forced to question the fundamental principles of his society. And when his superiors force him to pose as a runner himself to weed out Jessica's guerilla underground, Logan finds himself fleeing the city in search of a mythical place called Sanctuary where people are allowed to live out their natural life-spans.

Academy Award Nominations for Best Art Direction & Cinematography - also an Academy Special Achievement Award for Visual Effect

A great book becomes a marvellous and visually stimulating movie experience!

Gorgeous wide-screen Technicolor print!

Lost Continent (1951) - 83 mins

Starring Cesar Romero, Hillary Brooke, Chick Chandler, John Hoyt & Hugh Beaumont

Directed by Sam Newfield

An American rocket ship crashes upon a remote island in the South Pacific and Air Force pilot Major Joe Nolan (Cesar Romero) and scientist Michael Rostov (John Hoyt) are assigned to find it. They get to the island and suddenly discover that the island is populated by a myriad of extinct animals, including dinosaurs.

Good sci-fi stuff!

Nice print - much better than commercial offerings!

The Lost Missile (1958) - 70 mins

Starring Robert Loggia, Ellen Parker, Phillip Pine, Larry Kerr & Marilee Earle

Directed by William Berke

A rogue missile, apparently from outside our solar system, ends up plunging into the Earth's atmosphere. Driven by atomic power, it cruises at an altitude of five miles and a speed of 4,000 miles per hour, generating a temperature of one million degrees in its wake, in a field five miles across, destroying anything and anyone it passes over; most of the planes that try to shoot it down miss and are destroyed, and no missile within range can get near enough to damage it with conventional explosives. Starting from the Bering Strait, the rogue missile lays waste to ever more populated real estate as it heads in an arc that will carry it over Ottawa and then New York, 63 minutes away. If it isn't stopped, the missile will lay waste to the entire surface of the Earth as it arcs across the skies. Only one missile, the Jove which is still in the experimental stage, may be able to intercept it, and it doesn't have a warhead. The only answer is a "baby warhead," using the plutonium trigger projected by the American booster fast enough and exploded close enough to destroy the rogue - but can Dr. David Loring (Robert Loggia) assemble and launch it in time?

The Lost Missile is a very cleverly constructed low-budget sci-fi thriller with some fascinating twists - the final film of director William Berke (his son, Lester William Burke, took over shooting following his father's death during filming).

The Lost World (1960) - 97 mins

Starring Michael Rennie, Jill St. John, David Hedison, Claude Rains, Fernando Lamas & Richard Haydn

Directed by Irwin Allen

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic story of an expedition to a remote plateau rumoured to be the home of prehistoric beasts is again brought to the screen in this fabulous production by Irwin “Poseidon Adventure” Allen. Professor Challenger (Claude Rains) leads a team of fellow scientists and adventurers deep into the Amazon jungle. The team must battle unforgiving jungle conditions before arriving at the isolated plateau where they discover a strange group of prehistoric beasts and unexpectedly find themselves in a fight for survival.

Memorable Sci-Fi Classic

The Love War (1970) - 74 mins

Starring Lloyd Bridges, Angie Dickinson, Harry Basch, Daniel J. Travanti & Allen Jaffe

Directed by George McCowan

The ongoing war between the planets Argon and Zinan is slated to be resolved in a winner-take-all battle, to be held on the "neutral" planet Earth. Among the six representatives of the two planets is Argon warrior Kyle (Lloyd Bridges), who upon assuming human form arrives in a sleepy California town. Kyle's militaristic resolve is challenged by the curious emotions stirred up via his relationship with local resident Sandy (Angie Dickinson). The Love War was originally telecast on March 10, 1970 as an "ABC Movie of the Week" presentation.

The "cultist of cult" sci-fi films (actually an Aaron Spelling TV movie), this is an intelligent and excellently written piece.

Quality Note: Not the greatest of prints but sure to please in terms of content

The Man From Planet X (1951) - 70 mins

Starring Robert Clarke, Margaret Field, Raymond Bond, William Schallert, Roy Engel & David Ormont

Directed by Edgar G. Ulmer

A New York City newspaper reporter, John Lawrence (Robert Clarke) flies to a remote island off Scotland, on the invitation from scientist and long-time friend, Professor Elliot (Raymond Bond) to cover the news of the approach of a previously-unknown planet (called Planet X) which has entered the solar system and is travelling close to Earth. A spaceship from Planet X soon lands and reveals a strange little man who has come to make contact with friendly Earthlings. But evil scientist Dr. Mears (William Schallert) wants to exploit the spaceman's highly developed intellect for his own selfish ends and his nastiness turns the alien against the other Earthlings, enslaving their minds and transforming them into zombies.

This atmospheric sci-fi film is an early collaboration between legendary sci-fi director Edgar G. Ulmer and star Robert Clarke. They were to combine again almost a decade later for Beyond the Time Barrier (1960) - which is also available from this website

The Man With X-Ray Eyes (1963) - see X: The Man With X-Ray Eyes (1963) below

Master of the World (1961) - 102 mins

Directed by Vincent Price, Charles Bronson, Henry Hull, Mary Webster & David Frankham

Directed by William Witney

Its 1868 and an ominous warning of impending doom is delivered in a disembodied but resonant voice from a huge mountain just outside Morgantown, Pennsylvania. Hoping to find the source of the warning, the members of the Weldon Balloon Society, headed by munitions manufacturer Prudent (Henry Hull), send a motorized balloon to investigate. Also aboard Prudent's balloon is his daughter Dorothy (Mary Webster), her fiance Phillip (David Frankham), and taciturn pilot John Strock (Charles Bronson). Before long, the little party is captured by the brilliant but unbalanced Robur (Vincent Price), captain of the gigantic, state-of-the-art airship "Albatross." Robur explains that he is a man of peace, and that he is using his huge airship to wipe out all warfare by obliterating every weapon of mass destruction on earth.

Master of the World was adapted by Richard Matheson from two Jules Verne novels, Robur le Conquerant (1896) and its sequel, Maitre du Monde (1904).

Vincent Price - Master of the Macabre - starred in several horror films during his career, so much so that he eventually became typecast in the genre. A nice selection of his better horror films are available from this website: House of Wax (1953), House on Haunted Hill (1959), House of Usher (1960), Pit and the Pendulum (1961), The Raven (1963), The Masque of the Red Death (1964) & Witchfinder General (1968)

He also lead the cast in some nice sci-fi films: The Fly (1958), Return of the Fly (1959), Master of the World (1961), The Last Man on Earth (1964) & War-Gods of the Deep (1965)

Not forgetting his only western as star: The Baron of Arizona (1950) - his favorite film. All of the above are available from this website.

Missile to the Moon (1958) - 78 mins

Starring Richard Travis, Cathy Downs, K. T. Stevens, Tommy Cook, Nina Bara & Gary Clarke

Directed by Richard E. Cunha

Two escaped convicts are caught hiding in a rocket by scientist Dirk Green, who forces them to pilot the ship to the moon. Dirk, who's secretly a moon being, wants to return home. Meanwhile Dirk's partner Steve Dayton and his fiancé June (Richard Travis & Cathy Downs) stowaway on the ship by accident.

Cult sci-fi extraordinaire!

Excellent print - much better than commercial releases

The Mole People (1956) - 80 mins

Starring John Agar, Cynthia Patrick, Hugh Beaumont, Alan Napier & Nestor Paiva

Directed by Virgil W. Vogel

A party of archaeologists discovers the remnants of a mutant 5 000 year old Sumerian civilization living beneath a glacier atop a mountain in Mesopotamia. This race of albinos are afraid of light of any kind and keep mutant humanoid mole men as their slaves. Expedition leader Dr. Roger Bentley (John Agar) and Dr. Jud Bellamin (Hugh Beaumont) realize that they must do something despite the fact that they are interfering with an entire civilation.

Neat Universal sci-fi

The Monolith Monsters (1957) - 77 mins

Starring Grant Williams, Lola Albright, Les Tremayne, Trevor Bardette & Phil Harvey

Directed by John Sherwood

A strange black meteor crashes near the town of San Angelo and litters the countryside with fragments. When a storm exposes these fragments to water, they grow into skyscraper-sized monoliths which then topple and shatter into thousands of pieces that grow into monoliths themselves and repeat the process. Any humans in the way are crushed or turned into human statues. The citizens of San Angelo desperately try to save themselves and the world from the spreading doom

Screenplay by Norman Jolley who wrote the legendary sci-fi TV series “Space Patrol” (which is available from the TV Series section of this website)

Monster on Campus (1958) - 77 mins

Starring Arthur Franz, Joanna Moore, Judson Pratt, Nancy Walters & Troy Donahue

Directed by Jack Arnold

Professor Donald Blake (Arthur Franz) must deal with the cataclysmic consequences that ensue when a transmogrifying dragonfly bites a prehistoric fish from Madagascar. Soon after the bite, the strange fish becomes gigantic and develops the ability to cause those in contact to regress to their primal forms. When it bites a dog, the dog becomes a wolf. When some fish slime ends up in the professor's pipe, he becomes infected and turns into a rampaging Neanderthal, terrorising the college campus.

The Monster That Challenged the World (1957) - 83 mins

Starring Tim Holt, Audrey Dalton, Hans Conried, Harlan Warde, Max Showalter & Mimi Gibson

Directed by Arnold Laven

An underwater earthquake in the Salton Sea releases prehistoric and radioactive giant molluscs. They then start to kill people by feeding on their bones. Navy officers and scientists from the nearby remote naval base investigate and try and stop them, but the molluscs escape into the nearby canal and start to threaten the world. Meanwhile, an unhatched egg is brought to the naval base for examination - however it hatches after a little girl raises the temperature of the water tank in which it has been kept releasing another monster!

The Monster That Challenged the World is the misleadingly title for one of the more well-regarded second-echelon horror films of the 1950s. And it stars Tim Holt the renown cowboy who appeared in so many of those exciting RKO westerns (which are available from within the "B" westerns section of this website)

Mysterious Island (1961) - 101 mins

Michael Craig, Joan Greenwood, Michael Callan, Gary Merrill & Herbert Lom

Directed by Cy Endfield

During the Civil War, several P.O.W.s led by Gideon Spilitt (Gary Merrill) escape from a southern stockade in a huge observation balloon. Buffeted about by a violent storm, the balloon lands on an unchartered island somewhere near New Zealand. The fugitives soon discover that this is no ordinary desert isle, especially after being attacked by a giant-sized crab. Joined by a pair of shipwrecked British women Lady Mary & Elena Fairchild (Joan Greenwood & Beth Rogan), the castaways find evidence that the island has been previously inhabited and that they're all being watched. It turns out that the island is the domain of Captain Nemo (Herbert Lom), skipper of the futuristic underwater vessel Nautilus. Having failed to end all wars by blasting battleships out of the sea, Nemo is now experimenting with new means of ending starvation in the world: hence the outsized crabs and birds that the castaways have confronted.

Jules Verne's Mysterious Island received its most popular filming in this wonderful movie. In the hands of producer Charles Schneer, director Cy Endfield and special-effects maestro Ray Harryhausen along with musical composer Bernard Herrmann, the result is unbeatable

The Night Caller (1965) - 85 mins

Starring John Saxon, Maurice Denham. Patricia Haines, Alfred Barlow & Warren Mitchell

Directed by John Gilling

A spacecraft from Ganymede, the moon of Jupiter, lands in a small community, and the alien visitors set out to find women. It seems that their population has become dangerously low and they need human females for breeding purposes. Dr. Jack Costain (John Saxon), an American scientist investigating the UFO reports, joins forces with Police Detective Hartley (Alfred Burke) in this top flight Sci-Fi thriller from the Brits

Released in the US as Blood Beast from Outer Space

1984 (1956) - 90 mins

Starring Edmond O'Brien, Michael Redgrave, Jan Sterling, David Kossof & Donald Pleasance

Directed by Michael Anderson

From the George Orwell novel, 1984 is set in a futuristic totalitarian society where individuality is forbidden. The ruler is the never-seen "Big Brother," whose minions have monitored and bugged the activities of the populace so that no one can harbor any "subversive" thoughts. Edmond O'Brien plays Winston Smith, a government functionary satisfied with his lot, until he commits the illegal act of falling in love with Julia (Jan Sterling), a member of the anti-sex league. The lovers try to escape the all-powerful influence of Big Brother, but their every move is recorded by listening and viewing devices.

The Omega Man (1971) - 98 mins

Starring Charlton Heston, Anthony Zerbe, Rosalind Cash, Paul Koslo, Eric Laneuville & Lincoln Kilpatrick

Directed by Boris Sagal

Unfolding in a post-apocalyptic 1976, we have Charlton Heston as Robert Neville, the sole recipient of a serum that enabled him to survive an onslaught of germ warfare between Russia and China - which seemingly rendered him the last (normal) human alive. Neville lives in a garish, antique-strewn L.A. penthouse. During the day, he roams through the vacant city. At night, he fends off a bloodthirsty horde of mutant scavengers led by Matthias (Anthony Zerbe) and his half-human vampires who want to kill Neville. Neville's last man on earth status is shattered when he comes across a group of young people, presided over by the cynical Lisa (Rosalind Cash). Neville begins to form an interest in her, as the two try to keep Matthias and his minions at bay.

Excellent Sci-Fi!

Based on Richard Matheson's novel "I Am Legend" which was previously made as The Last Man on Earth (1964) with Vincent Price in the Dr. Robert Morgan/Neville role - The Last Man on Earth (1964) is also available from this website.

Chuck Heston made a trio of “significant” sci-fi films in the late 60s / early 70s: Planet of the Apes (1968), The Omega Man (1971) & Soylent Green (1973) - all three are available from this website

On the Threshold of Space (1956) - 98 mins

Starring Guy Madison, Virginia Leith, John Hodiak, Dean Jagger, Warren Stevens & Martin Milner

Directed by Robert D. Webb

Capt. Jim Hollenbeck (Guy Madison) is an Air Force physician and Maj. Ward Thomas (John Hodiak) a research chief. They make record jumps and balloon flights in the interest of science as well as testing the now famous “rocket-sled”.

The greater part of the film is devoted to the exciting tests and risks that make for a forceful and exciting adventure. The crews, who worked under William Bloom, producer, and Robert D. Webb, director, on location at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and Holoman Air Force Base in New Mexico, have come up with impressive color footage.

Yes - they are ejected in "capsules" from jet planes at 520 miles an hour and parachute from a height of 45,000 feet. And the now well-known rocket sled tests take on an awesome fascination in color as the projectile-like vehicle screams toward the camera at a speed reported at 1,000 miles an hour. An ascent into a 100,000-foot wild blue yonder in a balloon-borne metal gondola builds to an exciting climax.

Dr. Hugh Thornton (Dean Jagger) is a middle-aged doctor-scientist who lends support to this always fascinating film which realistically does justice to the deeds of dedicated men.

Great stuff from the Right Stuff

John Hodiak’s last appearance before his untimely death at age 41

Panic in the Year Zero! (1962) - 93 mins

Starring Ray Milland, Jean Hagen, Frankie Avalon, Mary Mitchel, Joan Freeman & Rex Holman

Directed by Ray Milland

En route from Los Angeles to a vacation in the mountains, Harry Baldwin (Ray Milland, who also directs), his wife, Ann (Jean Hagen), and his teen-aged children, Rick (Frankie Avalon) and Karen (Mary Mitchell), are appalled to see a mushroom cloud forming over the L.A. skyline. With the highways clogged by panicking motorists, Baldwin and his family decide to head to the shelter of their fishing spot, there to wait until more news about the nuclear disaster is available. Everywhere they drive, however, the family is confronted by rampaging looters, heavily armed survivalists, and doped-up motorcycle punks. Attempting to remain calm and collected in the face of Armageddon, Baldwin ends up as violent and animalistic as everyone else.

The People That Time Forgot (1977) - 90 mins

Starring Doug McClure, Patrick Wayne, Sarah Douglas, Dana Gillespie, Thorley Walters & Shane Rimmer

Directed by Kevin Connor

Major Ben McBride (Patrick Wayne) organises a mission to the Antarctic wastes to search for his friend (Doug McClure) who has been missing in the region for several years. McBride's party find themselves in a world populated by primitive warriors and terrifying prehistoric creatures, all of whom they must evade in order to get back safely to their ship.

(Kevin Connor sandwiched these 4 films between equally enjoyable sci-fi / fantasy romps: From Beyond the Grave (1973) & Arabian Adventure (1979) - both of which are available from this website)

The films all also feature charismatic acting from lantern-jawed lead man Doug McClure and talented support players.

All of these films are available from within this section of the website - they are also available in a 5 DVD set from within the Classic Movie Combination section of this website

The Phantom From 10,000 Leagues (1955) - 80 mins

Starring Kent Taylor, Cathy Downs, Michael Whalen, Helene Stanton & Phillip Pine

Directed by Dan Milner

A series of mysterious deaths of fishermen and swimmers along a stretch of beach attract the attention of scientist Dr. Ted Stevens (Kent Taylor) and government investigator Bill Grant (Rodney Bell) - they both want to know why the victims and their boats all show signs of exposure to atomic radiation, and if there's a connection between these deaths and the nearby Pacific College of Oceanography, run by Professor King (Michael Whalen). They're also interested in why King's assistant, George Thomas (Phillip Pine), is always lurking around the beach, often armed with a spear gun. Stevens establishes a friendship with King's daughter Lois (Cathy Downs) that turns to romance, but he's principally concerned with finding out about an apparent source of radiation on the ocean floor, and what its connection might be with the unearthly sea creature rumoured to be stalking that section of the beach.

Good 50s Sci-Fi

The Phantom Planet (1961) - 82 mins

Starring Dean Fredericks, Coleen Gray, Anthony Dexter, Francis X. Bushman, Richard Weber & Dick Haynes

Directed by William Marshall

In this off-beat sci-fi adventure, astronaut Capt. Frank Chapman (Dean Fredericks) must make a forced landing upon a remote asteroid. His ship is damaged and he must breathe the planet's atmosphere. Soon he begins shrinking and once he gets down to six inches discovers the place populated by diminutive people who have turned this "phantom planet" called Rheton into a ship which has the ability to move in and out of galaxies to escape their enemies. He soon joins forces with the little people to defeat the monstrous Solarites, terrifying creatures out to eat them.

Planet Earth (1974) - 74 mins

Starring John Saxon, Janet Margolin, Ted Cassidy, Christopher Cary & Diana Muldaur

Directed by Marc Daniels

Planet Earth is a sequel to Gene Roddenberry's Genesis II (1973) made-for-TV movie, in which a NASA scientist, Dylan Hunt, is revived from suspended animation in the post-nuclear war United States. In Planet Earth, Dylan is now a sworn member of PAX, the colony of people who revived him. Dylan and his PAX team find another colony which is ruled by women and where all men are slaves. He is captured and sold as a slave, but escapes and organizes a rebellion. Dylan once again has a profound influence in the new world that he finds himself in, in the year 2233.

Planet of the Apes (1968) - 112 mins

Starring Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, James Whitmore & James Daly

Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner

Originally intended as a project for Blake Edwards, the film version of Pierre Boule's semisatiric sci-fi novel came to the screen in 1968 under the directorial guidance of Franklin J. Schaffner. Charlton Heston is Colonel George Taylor, one of several astronauts on a long, long space mission whose spaceship crash-lands on a remote planet, seemingly devoid of intelligent life. Soon the astronaut learns that this planet is ruled by a race of talking, thinking, reasoning apes who hold court over a complex, multilayered civilization. In this topsy-turvy society, the human beings are grunting, inarticulate primates, penned-up like animals. When ape leader Dr. Zaius (Maurice Evans) discovers that the captive Taylor has the power of speech, he reacts in horror and insists that the astronaut be killed. But sympathetic ape scientists Cornelius (Roddy McDowell) and Dr. Zira (Kim Hunter) risk their lives to protect Taylor - and to discover the secret of their planet's history that Dr. Zaius and his minions guard so jealously.

Scripted by Rod “Twilight Zone” Serling, Planet of the Apes has gone on to be an all-time sci-fi classic! It won a special Academy Award for John Chambers's convincing simian makeup. Also Oscar Nominated for Best Costume Design & Best Music (Jerry Goldsmith)

It spawned four successful sequels, as well as two TV series, one live-action and one animated.

All 5 films are also available from within the Classic Movie Combinations section in a nice 5 DVD set

There was also a 14 episode Planet of the Apes TV Series which can be found in the TV Series section of this website

Project Moon Base (1953) - 63 mins

Starring Donna Martell, Hayden Rorke, Ross Ford, Larry Johns, Herb Jacobs & Barbara Morrison

Directed by Richard Talmadge

In the not-too-distant future of 1970, the United States is considering building bases on the Moon, and send a female colonel and two men to investigate. One of the men turns out to be a foreign spy, and the entire operation--and the future of the free world is in danger.

Co-scripted by sci-fi novelist Robert A. Heinlein, Project Moonbase is a "feature film" cobbled together from several episodes of the unsold TV science fiction series "Ring Around the Moon."

The Quatermass Xperiment (1955) - 82 mins

Starring Brian Donlevy, Jack Warner, Margia Dean, Thora Hird & Gordon Jackson

Directed by Val Guest

A rocket crash-lands in England after a flight of more than 57 hours into deep space. The design of forceful, misanthropic scientist Professor Bernard Quatermass (Brian Donlevy), the Q-1 had three astronauts aboard when it left Earth, but only one of them, engineer Victor Carroon (Richard Wordsworth), is on board upon landing, and in a near-comatose state. Even more baffling, the spacesuits of the other two men are still aboard the wrecked ship and are still interlocked, as though they were in them when whatever transpired. Quatermass's investigation is complicated by the presence of Inspector Lomax (Jack Warner) of Scotland Yard, who is treating the disappearance of the two men as a potential murder case, and by Carroon's wife Judith (Margia Dean), who blames the scientist for what has happened to her husband. An on-board camera, although damaged, shows an encounter with some form of energy that invaded the ship and attacked the crew, seemingly killing the other two astronauts and rendering Carroon unconscious. Caroon's condition keeps worsening and Quatermass's medical expert, Dr. Gordon Briscoe is alarmed by the man's impossible heart- and pulse-rate, his degenerating skin and apparent changes in his bone and facial structure. Judith Carroon tries to spirit her husband out of the hospital where he's being cared for, not knowing that something horrific is happening to him. Quatermass and Briscoe soon realize that Carroon is little more than the shell of a man, masking an invading alien life form that can literally draw the life out of any living thing that it touches. The manhunt turns into a fight for survival as the creature continues to kill and mutate, threatening to release spores into the air and spread itself by the millions throughout the Earth.

Great sci-fi from 1950’s Britain!

This theatrical feature was adapted from the successful 1953 UK TV serial The Quatermass Experiment and filmed in the UK, becoming the most successful Hammer production ever (at the time).

Released in the US as The Creeping Unknown (1955)

US actor Brian Donlevy returned to the UK, two years later and again teamed with cult director Val Guest for a second Quatermass adventure, Quatermass 2 (1957).

A third Quatermass film, Quatermass and the Pit (1967) completed the trilogy, each of which was based on the corresponding trilogy of TV serials from the 1950s.

A 4^th TV serial followed in 1979 with an edited version thereof appearing theatrically as The Quatermass Conclusion (1979)

All 4 Quatermass films are available from both the INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES & SCI-FI FILMS sections.

They are also available as part of Quatermass … Complete … which comprises all four films, all three TV serials from the 1950s plus the later 4^th TV serial from 1979.

Quatermass … Complete … can be found in both the Movie Series and TV series section of this website.

Quatermass 2 (1957) - 85 mins

Starring Brian Donlevy, John Longden, Sid James, Bryan Forbes, William Franklyn & Vera Day

Directed by Val Guest

Professor Quatermass, still shook up from London's refusal to proceed with his project to colonize the Moon, is intrigued by the mysterious traces that have been showing up on his radar. Are they merely meteorites crashing down? Proceeding to the place where they should be landing he finds a destroyed village and a mysterious factory which is very similar to his designs for the Moon colony. Officially, the factory is producing synthetic food; but despite the veil of secrecy surrounding it Quatermass succeeds in finding out it harbours aliens with deadly designs on the Earth.

More great sci-fi from 1950’s Britain!

This UK filmed theatrical feature was adapted from the successful 1955 UK TV serial Quatermass II.

Released in the US as Enemy from Space (1957)

US actor Brian Donlevy had returned to the UK and again teamed with cult director Val Guest for this excellent sci-fi story. The pair had combined two years earlier for the equally impressive The Quatermass Xperiment (1955)

A third Quatermass film, Quatermass and the Pit (1967) completed the trilogy, each of which was based on the corresponding trilogy of TV serials from the 1950s.

A 4^th TV serial followed in 1979 with an edited version thereof appearing theatrically as The Quatermass Conclusion (1979)

All 4 Quatermass films are available from both the INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES & SCI-FI FILMS sections.

They are also available as part of Quatermass … Complete … which comprises all four films, all three TV serials from the 1950s plus the later 4^th TV serial from 1979.

Quatermass … Complete … can be found in both the Movie Series and TV series section of this website.

Quatermass and the Pit (1967) - 97 mins

Starring Andrew Keir, James Donald, Barbara Shelley, Julian Glover & Duncan Lamont

Directed by Roy Ward Baker

While digging a new subway line in London, a construction crew discovers first: a skeleton, then what they think is an old World War II German missile. Upon closer examination the "missile" appears to be not of this earth! In a baffling scientific discovery the missile proves to be an alien space ship, alive after 5 000 000 years. The craft is able to cause psychic disturbances in individuals genetically connected to the machine; it also prompts them to see dead Martians as ghostly entities nearby. In time, conclusions drawn from these events lead scientists to shocking conclusions about the origins of the human race.

Great UK Sci-Fi - beautiful Technicolor print!

This UK filmed theatrical feature was adapted from the successful 1959 UK TV serial Quatermass and the Pit.

Released in the US as Five Million Years to Earth (1967)

Preceded by two earlier Quatermass films which starred Brian Donlevy: The Quatermass Xperiment (1955) and Quatermass 2 (1957). Followed by The Quatermass Conclusion (1979).

All 4 Quatermass films are available from both the INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES & SCI-FI FILMS sections.

They are also available as part of Quatermass … Complete … which comprises all four films, all three TV serials from the 1950s plus the later 4^th TV serial from 1979.

Quatermass … Complete … can be found in both the Movie Series and TV series section of this website.

The Quatermass Conclusion (1979) - 102 mins

Starring John Mills, Simon MacCorkindale, Barbara Kellerman, Margaret Tyzack, Brewster Mason & Ralph Arliss

Directed by Piers Haggard

After the mysterious destruction of the new space station, young people find themselves drawn to a stone circle in England, and other locations around Earth. They believe they'll be taken to a better place by a higher power. Only Professor Quatermass (John Mills) realizes that the young people are being tricked by an alien power, who wants to "harvest" humanity. It's up to Quatermass and a young astromoner, Joe Kapp (Simon MacCorkindale) to find a way to stop the deadly plans of the aliens.

This theatrically released film represents an editing down of the 4^th Quatermass TV serial: Quatermass.

Preceded by three earlier Quatermass films: The Quatermass Xperiment (1955), Quatermass 2 (1957) & Quatermass and the Pit (1967).

All 4 Quatermass films are available from both the INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES & SCI-FI FILMS sections.

They are also available as part of Quatermass … Complete … which comprises all four films, all three TV serials from the 1950s plus the later 4^th TV serial from 1979.

Quatermass … Complete … can be found in both the Movie Series and TV series section of this website.

Red Planet Mars (1952) - 87 mins

Starring Peter Graves, Andrea King, Herbert Berghof, Walter Sande, Marvin Miller & Morris Ankrum

Directed by Harry Horner

A husband-and-wife scientist team Chris & Linda Cronyn (Peter Graves & Andrea King) are experimenting with a "hydrogen tube" invention which was obtained from a missing Nazi scientist) when they get signals back from what appears to be Mars. The culture-shock of that event is serious enough, and the couple and their family are suddenly thrust into the spotlight. But then they begin to translate the increasingly complex messages (which started out as mathematical equations) that they receive back, and find that Mars is a perfect world, a true Utopia, and that the messages are quoting Scripture!

A cult classic!

Return of the Fly (1959) - 80 mins

Starring Vincent Price, Brett Halsey, David Frankham, John Sutton, Dan Seymour & Jack Daly

Directed by Edward Bernds

Vincent Price returns as Francois Delambre, the brother of Andre Delambre, who died as a result of his experiments with a matter transmitting device in The Fly (1958). It is now a dozen years later, and Andre's son, Philippe (Brett Halsey), has just laid his mother to rest, having witnessed the final years of her life blighted by the memory of Andre's horrid death. He convinces Francois to tell him what happened and of the device that destroyed his parents' happy life together. Philippe vows to perfect the matter transmitter, so that all of the heartache and sacrifice by his parents will not have been in vain. He employs as his assistant a scientist friend, Alan Hinds (David Frankham), who, unbeknownst to him, has shady business connections and a dark secret in his own past. The same disaster that befell Philippe's father now appears likely to happen again, this time to Philippe!

Preceded by The Fly (1958) - again with Vincent Price & Curse of the Fly (1965) - with Brian Donlevy. Both of which are available from this website

Revenge of the Creature (1955) - 82 mins

Starring John Agar, Lori Nelson, John Bromfield, Nestor Paiva & Robert Williams

Directed by Jack Arnold

Revenge of the Creature is, the sequel to Universal's and like its predecessor, the film was lensed in 3-D (though released "flat" in most theatres). Two Oceanographers Joe Hayes & George Johnson (John Bromfield & Robert Williams) capture the Creature (from the Black Lagoon) and put him on display at Florida's Ocean Harbor Park. Here the hapless Gill-Man is taught a few words of English by compassionate ichthyologists Professor Clete Ferguson (John Agar) and Helen Dobson (Lori Nelson). Eventually, however, the creature reverts to type, kills one of his captors and goes on a rampage, abducting Helen in the process.

Director Jack Arnold returned to helm this sequel to his fabulously successful The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). A follow-up third outing, The Creature Walks Among Us (1956) wasn’t directed by Arnold but still registered considerable attention at the box-office (both are available from this website)

Riders to the Stars (1954) - 81 mins

Starring William Lundigan, Herbert Marshall, Richard Carlson, Martha Hyer & Dawn Adama

Directed by Richard Carlson

In this wonderful sci-fi adventure, a team of scientists is studying meteors and is baffled by how and why they are often destroyed when they enter the Earth's atmosphere. They have previously determined that they require metal from these meteors if they are to build spacecraft that can withstand the rigors of space travel and to that end they specially recruit 12 scientists and ask them to undergo a series of tests. The men don't quite know exactly what they are being tested for but in the end, three are selected to go into space, Richard Stanton (William Lundigan), Jerry Lockwood (Richard Carlson), and Walter Gordon (Robert Karnes). Their mission, in a specially designed spaceship, is to capture a meteor and bring it back to earth safe and sound. Third billed, Richard Carlson who is famous for other classic sci-fi films in It Came From Outer Space (1953) and Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954), also directed whilst noted sci-fi scribe Curt Siodmak wrote the screenplay from an Ivan Tors story.

Very nice Technicolor print

William Lundigan and Producer Ivan Tors were to combine again for another sci-fi outing: the 1959-60 TV series Men Into Space

Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964) - 110 mins

Starring Paul Mantee, Victor Lundin & Adam West

Directed by Byron Haskin

Spaceship commander, Commander Christopher ‘Kit’ Draper (Paul Mantee) is in a similar situation to the original Robinson Crusoe - but rather than being stranded on an island, he is on a hostile planet, Mars! It all happens when Draper, Colonel Dan McReady (Adam West) and Mona, a monkey look as if they are going to collide with a meteor. Draper and the chimp are able to eject themselves from the vessel, but McReady is not so lucky. The two survivors safely land on Mars and figure out how to breathe, drink, and eat on the inhospitable planet. After some time, Draper crosses paths with a human, Friday (Victor Lundin), who has recently escaped slavery on an alien planet. As the two find a means of communication, they become friends. They soon work together to survive the incredible odds, including an alien attack and meteorological phenomena.

Filmed on location in California's Death Valley, this impressive feature (spun from Daniel DeFoe's legendary tale) owes much to cinematographer Winton C. Hoch and special effects master Lawrence W. Butler.

Rocketship X-M (1950) - 77 mins

Starring Lloyd Bridges, Osa Massen, John Emery, Noah Beery Jr., Hugh O'Brian & Morris Ankrum

Directed by Kurt Neumann

Sometime in the future, the first manned space flight to the moon finds Dr. Karl Eckstrom (John Emery) in charge of the expedition, with Col. Floyd Graham (Lloyd Bridges), Dr. Lisa Van Horn (Osa Massen), Harry Chamberlain (Hugh O'Brian) and Maj. William Corrigan (Noah Beery Jr.) in the crew. Blown off its course by a meteor shower, Rocketship X-M misses the moon and lands on Mars instead (the Mars scenes were tinted orange). During an exploratory expedition, the crew finds evidence of a once-mighty civilization, evidently destroyed by atomic warfare. A savage band of surviving Martians attack the earthlings, killing two and wounding a third. The survivors head back to the ship, but run out of fuel before reaching Earth.

Rocketship X M is an intelligent and well told sci-fi story - produced for $94,000, Rocketship X-M reportedly grossed over a million dollars!

Satellite in the Sky (1956) - 85 mins

Starring Kieron Moore, Lois Maxwell, Donald Wolfit, Bryan Forbes & Jimmy Hanley

Directed by Paul Dickson

The story concerns the first manned space satellite, launched from England with commander Michael Hayden (Kieron Moore) at the controls. It is the mission of Hayden and his crew to test out the deadly "tritonium" bomb in outer space. Once he's left the atmosphere, Hayden discovers that he's been harboring a stowaway: reporter and anti-weapons activist Kim Hamilton (Lois Maxwell). Everyone's life is placed in peril when the bomb affixes itself to the side of the satellite. As tension mounts, the crew and Kim race against time to either remove or defuse the ticking weapon.

Saturn 3 (1980) - 88 mins

Starring Kirk Douglas, Farah Fawcett, Harvey Keitel, Ed Bishop & Roy Dotrice

Directed by Stanley Donen

In the distant future, single man and woman scientific team living on one of Saturn's moons to grow food for the starving Earth, have their isolation shattered when a deranged killer, masquerading as a visiting technology expert, arrives at their lonely outpost to take over their work and build a lethal creation: a super-intelligent 8-foot robot which later takes a murderous mind of its own

She (1935) - 95 mins

Starring Helen Gahagan, Randolph Scott, Helen Mack, Nigel Bruce & Lumsden Hare

Directed by Irving Pichel

Leo Vincey (Randolph Scott) is an explorer who is searching for the "flame of life," a radioactive element hidden in the Arctic parts of Manchuria which, according to Vincey family lore, can bestow eternal life. Setting out on the fearful journey along with British scientist Horace Holly (Nigel Bruce), Vincey is soon joined by Dugmore (Lumsden Hare), a brutish trader, and his daughter Tanya (Helen Mack). In the mountains north of the legendary civilization of Kor, where the "flame of life" is said to be located, Dugmore stumbles over a frozen corpse laden with gold. Greedily hacking away at the corpse, the trader causes an avalanche that seals off Vincey, Holly, and Tanya from the expedition. The avalanche, however, also exposes a volcanic cave where the trio is taken into custody by Billali (Gustav Von Seyffertitz), Prime Minister of Kor, who brings them before the almighty ruler She, Hash-A-Mo-Tep (She, Who Must be Obeyed). The mysterious female potentate mistakes Vincey for his ancestor John Vincey, for whose return she has been waiting for 500 years.

Created by the makers of King Kong (1933) - producer Merian C. Cooper and screenwriter Ruth Rose - She, from H. Rider Haggard's 1886 novel garnered an Oscar nomination for (oddly) Best Dance Direction!

Hammer Films remade this classic story with Ursula Andress as She in She (1965) - which also available from this website (see below)

She (1965) - 106 mins

Starring Ursula Andress, Peter Cushing, Bernard Cribbins, John Richardson & Christopher Lee

Directed by Robert Day

Hammer Films co-produced this lavishly mounted adventure, the fourth adaptation of the novel by H. Rider Haggard. In Jerusalem, Leo Vincey (John Richardson) meets with a slave girl, Ustane (Rosenda Monteros), who has been charged with bringing him to an immortal queen, Ayesha (Ursula Andress). “She”, who desires Leo because of his resemblance to her long-dead lover, offers riches if he will travel to her lost city in the mountains, where a magical flame will also give him eternal life. Accompanied by his adventurous friend Major Horace Holly (Peter Cushing), Leo sets out for the fabled city across the desert, but along the way Ustane causes trouble when she decides she wants Leo for her own.

This classic story had received the “Hollywood treatment” when filmed in 1935 by producer Merian C. Cooper and screenwriter Ruth Rose as their follow up to King Kong: She (1935) - which also available from this website (see above)

The She-Creature (1956) - 77 mins

Starring Chester Morris, Marla English, Tom Conway, Cathy Downs & Ron Randell

Directed by Edward L. Cahn

Using hypnosis, Dr. Carlo Lombardi (Chester Morris) claims that he can have his patients regress and recover memories from their past lives, thereby proving that reincarnation exists. He also claims that the spirit of these past lives can be brought forth to take physical form.. A series of violent murders by a creature that seems to disappear into the sea suggests that Lombardi's claim may be correct. The medical and scientific community believe him to be a complete fraud but one enterprising businessman sees the opportunity to make a small fortune with Lombardi's ability.

The monster costume was created by master make-up artist Paul Blaisdell and is considered one of his best.

Nice roles for 40’s “B” movie series veterans Chester “Boston Blackie” Morris & Tom “The Falcon” Conway.

Slaughterhouse-Five (1972) - 104 mins

Starring Michael Sacks, Ron Leibman, Eugene Roche, Sharon Gans, Valerie Perrine & Perry King

Directed by George Roy Hill

The opening words of Kurt Vonnegut's famous novel make an effective summary of this haunting and memorable film: "Billy Pilgrim has come unstuck in time."

Director George Roy Hill’s valiant attempt at “filming the unfilmable” faithfully renders Vonnegut's black anti-war comedy which centres on Pilgrim - he survives the horrendous 1945 fire bombing of Dresden then lives simultaneously in his past as a naïve American POW and in the future as a well-cared-for zoo resident on the planet Tralfamadore.

Watch for Ron Leibman as Pilgrim's crazed nemesis - outrageous!

Excellent print!

Soylent Green (1973) - 97 mins

Starring Charlton Heston, Leigh Taylor-Young, Chuck Connors, Joseph Cotton & Edward G. Robinson

Directed by Richard Fleischer

Richard Fleischer directed this nightmarish science fiction vision of an over-populated world, based on the novel by Harry Harrison. In 2022, New York City is a town bursting at the seams with a 40-million-plus population. Food is in short supply, and most of the population's food source comes from synthetics manufactured in local factories - the dinner selections being a choice between Soylent Red, Soylent Yellow, or Soylent Green. When William Simonson (Joseph Cotten), an upper-echelon executive in the Soylent Company, is found murdered, police detective Thorn (Charlton Heston) is sent in to investigate the case. Helping him out researching the case is Thorn's old friend Sol Roth (Edward G. Robinson, in his final film role). As they investigate the environs of a succession of mad-from-hunger New Yorkers and the luxuriously rich digs of the lucky few, Thorn uncovers the terrible truth about the real ingredients of Soylent Green.

Fabulous and Thank God, our society hasn’t ended up looking like Fleischer future-vision.

The Space Children (1958) - 69 mins

Starring Michel Ray, Adam Williams, Peggy Webber, Johnny Washbrook, Johnny Crawford & Jackie Coogan

Directed by Jack Arnold

Dave Brewster (Adam Williams) arrives to take his new job as an electronics technician at a top-secret Air Force base in California. With him are his wife Anne (Peggy Webber) and their two children, Bud (Michel Ray) and Ken (Johnny Crawford), who are all apprehensive about this sudden transplant, as well as the spartan existence that all of the families live under. No sooner do they arrive, however, then Bud and Ken see a strange light in the sky pointing to the beach, and soon after that seem to be receiving increasingly powerful and detailed telepathic communications from an unseen source. The boys are drawn, along with the children from the other families, to a lonely cave near the beach, where an alien presence, in the form of a huge (and ever-growing) brain, has hidden itself. At first, it uses the children to try and persuade the more reasonable of the parents that their project - a missile called The Thunderer, which will place a hydrogen bomb in orbit, capable of being used on any target in the event the United States is threatened - is too dangerous to complete. But the parents aren't prepared to listen. As the launch approaches and the children's entreaties are ignored, the alien takes more direct action with their help, and they soon find a potential ally in Dr. Wahrman (Raymond Bailey), the inventor of The Thunderer, who is also the only man on the project who realizes that the project is overtly dangerous on a number of levels. But the military head of the project (Richard Shannon) is still prepared to launch The Thunderer, regardless of its inventor's doubts.

Classic Sci-Fi from the doyen of sci-fi directors: Jack Arnold

Spaceflight IC-1 (1965) - 65 mins

Starring Bill Williams, Norma West, John Cairney, Jeremy Longhurst & Donald Churchill

Directed by Bernard Knowles

In this sci-fi film set in 2015, the civilized world is controlled by an all-powerful computerized government that is carefully choosing colonists for its newest space launch. The candidates are selected on the basis of their age, health and IQ. They are only in space a few weeks when the crew begins to rebel against the inhuman control of the computer. They then mutiny and in place of the autocracy, they establish a small democratic society and begin searching for a planet to call their own.

Space Master X-7 (1958) - 71 mins

Starring Bill Williams, Lyn Thomas, Robert Ellis, Paul Frees & Rhoda Williams

Directed by Edward Bernds

A space probe returns to Earth covered with a strange fungus. The fungus is accidentally tinged with human blood and is transformed into an ever-growing pile of space rust, dubbed "Blood Rust". It is up to John Hand (Bill Williams) and Joe Rattigan (Robert Ellis) to find the one woman who can stop the rust from spreading and taking over the world.

Good Sci-Fi with Bill Williams well on top of things

Spaceways (1953) - 76 mins

Starring Howard Duff, Eva Bartok, Alan Wheatley, Philip Leaver, Cecile Chevreau & Andrew Osborn

Directed by Terence Fisher

American rocket scientist Stephen Mitchell (Howard Duff) works day and night to realize his goal of sending the first man-made satellite into outer space. Meanwhile, Mitchell's wife Vanessa (Cecile Chevreau) is carrying on an affair with fellow-scientist Crenshaw (Andrew Osborn). Not long after Mitchell discovers this, the satellite is launched ahead of schedule. Since both his wife and her lover have disappeared at the same time, Mitchell is accused of murdering the pair and stuffing their corpses into the spaceship. To prove his innocence, Mitchell volunteers to go up in a second ship with mathematician Lisa (Eva Bartok) to conduct a search of the satellite.

Adapted from the popular British radio serial of the same name, Spaceways is a dual-market science fiction effort, co-financed by England's Hammer Films and America's Lippert Studios.

Other Howard Duff films of which Trev is a huge fan and which are available from this website are Illegal Entry (1949), Spy Hunt (1950) & Shakedown (1950).

Strange New World (1975) - 100 mins

Starring John Saxon, Kathleen Miller, Keene Curtis, James Olson & Reb Brown

Directed by Robert Butler

High above floats the PAX Space Laboratory, an orbital station launched by the science group PAX and manned by three astronauts: Captain Anthony Vico (John Saxon), former test pilot and now commander of this particular team; Dr. Allison Crowley (Kathleen Miller), navigation and communications expert; and Dr. William Scott (Keene Curtis), the team's physician. These astronauts are currently involved in PAX Earth Orbital Experiment No. 743: Suspended Animation, which is being tested for long-term space travel. While the astronauts are asleep, NASA detects a mass of asteroids headed directly for them. The astronauts - and all of Earth - are doomed. As a last ditch effort to save the space station and the sleeping astronauts, their hibernation period is extended 180 years as their space station is re-routed to loop around the sun. Programmed into their computer is their new mission: when their ship returns to Earth, they are to land and seek out the PAX scientists who have been cryogenically frozen at the PAX headquarters, and re-establish civilization on the planet.

Stranger From Venus (1954) - 75 mins

Starring Patricia Neal, Helmut Dantine, Derek Bond, Cyril Luckman, Willoughby Gray & Kenneth Edwards

Directed by Burt Balaban

An alien comes to our planet to deliver an ultimatum concerning our ill-advised use of nuclear weapons. He lands in England and despite coming with openness and peace, the officials respond with lies and a foolish attempt to steal his space ship.

Sounds like a UK version of The Day The Earth Stood still - and it is (even down to the starring role of Patricia Neal) - but there are some neat twists in this version with Helmut Dantine in excellent form as "The Stranger"

Tarantula (1955) - 80 mins

Starring John Agar, Mara Corday, Leo G. Carroll, Nestor Paiva & Ross Elliott

Directed by Jack Arnold

Professor Gerald Deemer has been working on a special nutrient to help ease a predicted food shortage that is expected to come with the increase in human population. His experiments have been moderately successful but there have been some failures as a result. One day while he is gone two of his colleagues inject themselves with the nutrient with disastrous results and die a few days later. One however goes mad and injects Deemer with the formula. During a struggle, a giant tarantula injected with the formula escapes its cage and grows even larger and starts to attack cattle as well as human beings.

Clint Eastwood has a small (uncredited) but very significant role here!

Target Earth (1954) - 75 mins

Starring Richard Denning, Kathleen Crowley, Virginia Grey, Richard Reeves, Robert Roark & Arthur Space

Directed by Sherman A. Rose

Set in Chicago, this sci-fier concentrates on four people who've congregated in the deserted city after a sudden and mysterious evacuation. The ill-matched foursome are Vicki Harris (Virginia Grey), a flashy, trashy blonde; Nora King (Kathleen Crowley), a young widow; Frank Brooks (Richard Denning), a man with a questionable past; and Jim Wilson (Dick Reeves), a brutish transient. Though they don't get along at first, the four strangers are compelled to unite against a common enemy: an invading army from outer space who use huge robots to do their dirty work.

Target Earth was adapted from Paul W. Fairman's short story Deadly City.

The Terminal Man (1974) - 107 mins

Starring George Segal, Joan Hackett, Ricahrd Dysart, Donald Moffat & Jill Clayburgh

Directed by Mike Hodges

As the result of a head injury, brilliant computer scientist Harry Benson (George Segal) begins to experience violent seizures. In an attempt to control the seizures, Benson undergoes a new surgical procedure in which a microcomputer is inserted into his brain. Unfortunately, the mechanism malfunctions, and he becomes a vicious killer.

Based on a novel by Michael Crichton

Them! (1954) - 94 mins

Starring James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, Joan Weldon, James Arness, Onslow Stevens & Sean McClory

Directed by Gordon Douglas

After several people in the New Mexico desert wind up missing or dead, including an F.B.I. agent and most of his family, police Sgt. Ben Peterson (James Whitmore) teams up with F.B.I. agent Bob Graham (James Arness) to find out what's causing the strange occurrences. They find a strange footprint found at one of the crime scenes and it is sent to the Department of Agriculture. Doctor Harold Medford (Edmund Gwenn) and his daughter Doctor Patricia Medford (Joan Weldon) arrive and ask to be taken to the scene of some of the disappearances. When they get there they are shocked to find gigantic ants, whose mutations were caused by the first atomic bomb explosion nine years earlier. They manage to destroy the nest of ants, but not before two winged queen ants and a couple of drones have hatched and escaped the nest. Now it is a race against time to find the two queen ants before they can establish more nests and hatch more queens.

Them! is also one of those vintage science-fiction thrillers that holds up as well today as it did when first released.

Oscar Nominated for Best Special Effects.

These Are the Damned (1963) - 93 mins

Starring Macdonald Carey, Shirley Anne Field, Viveca Lindfors, Alexander Know & Oliver Reed

Directed by Joseph Losey

Simon Wells (MacDonald Carey) is an American visiting England, where he meets a woman named Joan (Shirley Ann Field). Simon is immediately attracted to Joan, but there's a considerable obstacle in their budding romance: Joan's brother King (Oliver Reed), the leader of a violent pack of motorcycle rockers. King has a barely concealed incestuous attachment to his sister, and he sometimes uses her to lure victims into his gang's clutches. King and his cronies attack Simon, take his money, and leave him stranded, where he's eventually found by a pair of military security men. Simon is brought to the home of Bernard (Alexander Knox), a scientist working on a secret project for the government, and his girlfriend Freya (Viveca Lindfors), a sculptor. Joan eventually tracks Simon down in hopes of winning his forgiveness, but another run-in with King causes Simon and Joan to discover a cave that holds a terrible secret: a group of strange, cold-blooded children who were the products of one of Bernard's experiments gone wrong. The children were genetically engineered to survive a nuclear war, and, as a result, they are radioactive enough to kill anyone who comes in close contact with them.

An unusual science fiction effort, which has won a small but fervent cult following - aka The Damned

The Thing From Another World (1951) - 87 mins

Starring Kenneth Tobey, Margaret Sheridan, Robert Cornthwaite, Dewey Martin, Douglas Spencer & James R. Young

Directed by Christian Nyby & Howard Hawks (uncredited)

The scene is a distant Arctic research station, where a UFO has crashed. The investigating scientists discover that the circular craft has melted its way into the ice, which has frozen up again. While attempting to recover the ship, Captain Patrick Hendry (Kenneth Tobey) accidentally explodes the vessel, but the pilot remains frozen in a block of ice. The body is taken to base headquarters, where it is inadvertently thawed out by an electric blanket. The alien attacks the soldier guarding him and escapes into the snowy wastes. An attack dog rips off the alien's arm, whereupon Dr. Carrington (Robert Cornthwaite) discerns that "The Thing" (played by future Gunsmoke star James Arness!) is not animal but a member of the vegetable family, subsisting on blood. While the misguided Carrington attempts to spawn baby "Things" with the severed arm, the parent creature wreaks murderous havoc all over the base. Female scientist Nikki (Margaret Sheridan) suggests that the best way to destroy a vegetable is to cook it. Over the protests of Carrington, who wants to reason with the "visitor", the soldiers devise a devious method for stopping The Thing once and for all.

The Thing delivers an incredible mix of sci-fi and high octane drama - a superior blend of science fiction, horror, naturalistic dialogue, and flesh-and-blood characterizations, The Thing is a model of its kind.

Is this the Best Ever Sci-Fi film! (Trev thinks so - he watched it many times over on both late night & midday movie TV screenings in the mid 1960s … the TV prints were so crudely censored that one never got to see The Thing).

This print is the restored original print ... one now gets to see The Thing - an incredible film experience!

This Island Earth (1955) - 87 mins

Starring Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex Reason, Lance Fuller & Russell Johnson

Directed by Joseph M. Newman & Jack Arnold

The story begins when the image of Exeter, a huge-domed scientific genius from the planet Metaluna, appears on an experimental 3D television screen, inviting several noted scientists from around the world to work on a top-secret project at Exeter's earthly mansion. Among those accepting the invitation are Cal Meacham and his ex-fiancee Ruth Adams. Soon, Cal and Ruth learn Exeter's true motives; to use the Earth's atomic knowledge in building a defense shield to protect Metaluna against the enemy planet Zahgon.

This film is certainly one of the most intelligent and elaborate sci-fi films of the 50's - based on a novel by Raymond F. Jones.

The first of a nice trio of sci-fi entries starring Jeff Morrow - followed by Kronos (1957) & The Giant Claw (1957) - both of which are available from this website.

Thunderbirds are GO (1966) - 93 mins

Starring Jeff Tracy, Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward, Scott Tracy, Virgil Tracy, Alan Tracy, Gordon Tracy & John Tracy

Directed by David Lane

The manned exploration mission, Zero-X, crashes during lift-off on its maiden flight. Two years later an investigative committee finally concludes sabotage, and decides to call on the services of International Rescue to oversee security at the impending second launch. The second Zero-X successfully reaches its destination, but encounters unexpected hazards, ultimately leading to another call for assistance on its return to Earth. International Rescue respond, and once again Thunderbirds are GO!

Fabulous widescreen Technicolor excitement from Gerry & Sylvia Anderson

First of two big screen adaptations of the legendary 60s TV series.

Followed by Thunderbird 6 (1968) which is also available from this website (see below)

Thunderbird 6 (1968) - 89 mins

Starring Jeff Tracy, Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward, Scott Tracy, Virgil Tracy, Alan Tracy, Gordon Tracy & John Tracy

Directed by David Lane

The International Rescue team is faced with one of its toughest challenges yet, as the revolutionary lighter-than-air craft Skyship One is hijacked while on her maiden voyage around the world. Against backdrops including the Statue of Liberty and the Sphinx, Lady Penelope, Parker, Alan and Tin-Tin fight the hijackers from on-board, while the rest of the team tries to stop the airship crashing into a missile silo.

Fabulous widescreen Technicolor excitement from Gerry & Sylvia Anderson

Second of two big screen adaptations of the legendary 60s TV series.

Preceded by Thunderbirds are GO (1966) which is also available from this website (see above)

Time After Time (1979) - 120 mins

Starring Malcom McDowell, David Warner, Mary Steenburgen, Charles Cioffi & Kent Williams

Directed by Nicholas Meyer

H.G. Wells has just invented a time machine but hasn't tried it out yet. Then he discovers that one of his friends John Leslie Stevenson, is actually Jack the Ripper - and further Stevenson has made his escape using the time machine. H.G. follows Stevenson into the late 1970's where he meets Amy Robbins, a bank clerk, who teaches H. G. about life in 70's while they pursue Stevenson, who is enjoying the more violent society in which he continues his murderous activities

Great music score by Miklós Rózsa

Fabulous sci-fi adventure and a worthy companion piece to George Pal's The Time Machine (1960) - see below

The Time Machine (1960) - 103 mins

Starring Rod Taylor, Alan Young, Yvette Mimieux, Sebastian Cabot, To Helmore & Whit Bissell

Directed by George Pal

H. G. (George) Wells is a young scientist fascinated with the concept of time travel. On December 31, 1899, George seats himself in his jerry-built time machine and thrusts himself forward into 1917. A dyed-in-the-wool pacifist, George is distressed to see that World War I is raging all about him. He moves past the 1920s and 1930s into the 1940s, only to be confronted by another, even more terrible war. Next he stops in 1966, just as London is destroyed in a nuclear explosion. Retreating to his Time Machine, George is sealed in his cellar by molten lava. By the time he and his machine manage to escape their tomb, the year is 802,701. Looking around, George observes a seemingly idyllic world populated by gentle people. But he also notices that the citizens of the future, known as "Elois," behave more like mindless sheep than human beings. Befriending the lovely Weena (Yvette Mimieux), George learns to his dismay that humankind has forgotten all that it has learned through the centuries, preferring instead to frolic endlessly under the sun.

Oscar Winner for Best Special Effects

Excellent sci-fi adventure and a worthy companion piece to Nicholas Meyer's Time After Time (1979) - see above

Fans of aussie actor Rod Taylor are well catered for on this website with the following titles available: The Time Machine (1960), Seven Seas to Calais (1962), The Birds (1963), Fate Is the Hunter (1964), 36 Hours (1965), Young Cassidy (1965), The Liquidator (1965), Chuka (1967), Dark of the Sun (aka The Mercenaries) (1968), The High Commissioner aka Nobody Runs Forever (1968), The Hell With Heroes (1968), Powderkeg (1971) & Cry of the Innocent (1980) - all of which are available from the INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section of this website.

The TV Series section of this website also contains DVD sets of Rod's two TV series: Hong Kong (1960-61) and Bearcats! (1971)

Timeslip (1955) - see The Atomic Man

The Time Travelers (1964) - 82 mins

Starring Preston Foster, Phillip Carey, Merry Anders & John Hoyt

Directed by Ib Melchoir

In 1964, a team of scientists are trying to develop a view screen into the future. What they in fact get is a portal and they soon find themselves on the other side, 127 years into the future with the portal collapsing behind them. The Earth of the future is barren and they are soon attacked by mutated humans but rescued by a group of scientists who are building a spaceship to take them to a new planet. They learn that much of Earth was destroyed as the result of a nuclear war. When it's determined that the visitors from the past cannot be included in the planned voyage, they work furiously to rebuild the portal and return to their own time before departure day.

Has a profound (and memorable) ending?

Director Ib Melchior who also wrote the screenplay had previously wrote and directed another excellent (color) sci-fi film: The Angry Red Planet (1959) which is also available from this website.

(Melchior also wrote one of the best of The Outer Limits TV series: The Premonition)

Tobor the Great (1954) - 77 mins

Starring Charles Drake, Karin Booth, Billy Chapin, Taylor Holmes & Steven Geray

Directed by Lee Sholem

Dr. Harrison and Prof. Nordstrom develop the robot Tobor for space flight, intending that he should be controlled by ESP. They announce their plans at a press conference which will spread the news worldwide. But the press conference security has been breached by a spy, who with his henchmen kidnap Nordstrom and his grandson (Brian 'Gadge' Robertson) and Tobor with a view to making the latter do their evil bidding. Fortunately, Tobor who unlike other machines, was endowed with human emotions, is mind-linked to his creator and cannot be easily reprogrammed. The real adventure begins when the boy and the scientists attempt to save the robot.

12 To The Moon (1960) - 74 mins

Starring Ken Clark, Michi Kobi, Tom Conway, Anthony Dexter, John Wengraf & Robert Montgomery Jr.

Directed by David Bradley

A very motley crew is winging its way through space with the moon as its objective. On board the spaceship are a dozen scientists, engineers, and researchers from the U.S., Sweden, Russia, Israel, Germany, and even Turkey. The flight captain has not only a variety of nationalities to juggle but must also contend with the dissension between the German and Israeli due to a certain holocaust tragedy in World War II. The romance between the magnificent Swedish chemist and the Turkish biologist is also heating up. But the worst is yet to come. After landing on the moon, the crew discovers that underneath the lunar surface is a whole civilization of peace-loving moon-beings who never asked for visitors. They conclude that the human race is too immature and dangerous and must be destroyed.

20 Million Miles to Earth (1957) - 82 mins

Starring William Hopper, Joan Taylor, Frank Puglia, John Zaremba, Thomas Browne Henry & Tito Vuolo

Directed by Nathan Juran

When the first manned flight to Venus returns to Earth, the rocket crash-lands in the Mediterranean near a small Sicilian fishing village. The locals manage to save one of the astronauts Colonel Robert Calder (William Hopper), the mission commander whilst a young boy also recovers what turns out to be a specimen of an alien creature. While being subjected to laboratory experimentation, the "Ymir" begins growing by leaps and bounds, and before long the gigantic monstrosity has escaped and is wreaking havoc in Rome.

Another of special-effects wizard Ray Harryhausen's efforts - and it’s a winner!

The Deadly Mantis (1957) is also available from this website.

The 27th Day (1957) - 75 mins

Starring Gene Barry, Valerie French, George Voskovec, Arnold Moss & Stefan Schnabel

Directed by William Asher

Five different people from five different countries suddenly disappearing from view. They have been gently abducted by the agent (Arnold Moss) of a faraway dying planet, who gives each of the five earthlings a "killing capsule" that will destroy everything on Earth and allow the residents of the alien planet to re-colonize the planet - but which will be ineffective if not used after 27 days. In typical Cold War fashion, the representatives of the "good" countries (including Gene Barry) refuse to utilize the capsules, while the Soviets, (personified by Azemat Janti and Stefan Schnabel) intend to deploy the capsules for their own nefarious purposes.

Yes, its a locked-in-the-fifties science fiction film, with Gene Barry returning to the genre after the success of The War of the Worlds 4 years earlier. Lower in budget (and back to B&W), its nonetheless a good action / adventure film.

Unknown Island (1948) - 75 mins

Starring Richard Denning, Virginia Grey, Phillip Reed, Barton MacLane & Dick Wessel

Directed by Jack Bernhard

John Fairbanks (Richard Denning) is a former Marine who, while on duty, discovered a previously unknown island in the Pacific where dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals have somehow managed to escape extinction and live as they did millions of years ago. Still traumatized by the experience, Fairbanks is persuaded to return by Ted Osborne (Philip Reed), a photographer who thinks that a few shots of some real live dinosaurs could shift his career into high gear. Accompanying John and Ted are the latter's sweetheart Carol (Virginia Grey) and Capt. Tarnowski (Barton MacLane), the ship's pilot - who is not a man to be trusted. Ted and his crew soon find out that John's story is true, and they discover why the danger has taken such a toll on him, as they soon find themselves on the run from hungry dinosaurs.

Nice Cine-color print!

Unknown World (1951)

Starring Bruce Kellogg, Otto Waldis, Jim Bannon, Tom Handley & Dick Cogan

Directed by Terry O. Morse

Dr. Jeremiah Morley (Victor Kilian) theorizes that mankind could save itself during a nuclear attack by resettling far beneath the earth's surface. To prove his theory, Morley builds the Cyclotram, a combination drill and exploratory vehicle, with the financial assistance of playboy Wright Thompson (Bruce Kellogg), who insists upon joining the expedition to the earth's core. After several hair-raising adventures, the Cyclotram and its surviving passengers reach a cavern nearly 2000 miles beneath the surface. The cavern contains all the necessities of survival except for one: the atmosphere renders anyone living within its walls sterile!

Assembled by the same production team responsible for the minor sci-fi classic Rocketship X-M (1950) which is also available from this website.

Nicely restored print - much superior to commercial offerings

The Valley of Gwangi (1969) - 96 mins

Starring James Franciscus, Gila Golan, Richard Carlson, Laurence Naismith & Freda Jackson

Directed by Jim O'Connolly

When a traveling Wild West show comes to town, the locals are frightened by a one-foot-tall horse that is believed to be a bad omen. Superstitious ones try to return the horse to The Valley of Gwangi to avert disaster. Tuck (James Franciscus) and T.J. (Gila Golan) try to help archaeologist Bromley (Laurence Naismith) find the tiny equine in the valley, but they unleash a prehistoric giant monster in the process.

Another tour-de-force from special effects maestro Ray Harryhausen

Village of the Damned (1960) - 77 mins

Starring George Sanders, Barbara Shelley, Martin Stephens, Michael Gwynn, Laurence Naismith & Richard Warner

Directed by Wolf Rilla

Something is seriously amiss in the tiny British village of Midwich. At 11 a.m. one morning, every village resident suddenly falls asleep and then, just as suddenly, everyone wakes up, completely unaffected by the phenomenon. Well, not completely: virtually every woman of childbearing years has become pregnant. All the babies are born on the same night, at precisely the same moment. All look the same, weigh the same, and even have the same curious cross-hatched hair and underdeveloped fingernails. Four years later, the children have all prematurely reached the age of nine or so and all behave in a weird, conspiratorial manner, comporting themselves more like adults than kids. Resident scientist Gordon Zellaby (George Sanders), one of the fathers, surmises that the bizarre manner of the children from their zombie-like movements to their cold, staring eyes is the result of radioactivity, possibly extraterrestrial in nature. One thing is certain: the children possess powers far beyond those of ordinary mortals. And they must be stopped.

One of the most influential science fiction films of the 1960s, Village of the Damned was based on the equally eerie John Wyndham novel The Midwich Cuckoos.

The sequel: Children of the Damned (1963) is also available from this website

-NEW TITLE-

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961) - 105 mins

Starring Walter Pidgeon, Joan Fontaine, Barbara Eden, Peter Lorre, Robert Sterling, Michael Ansara & Frankie Avalon

Directed by Irwin Allen

Admiral Harriman Nelson (Walter Pidgeon) is the designer of the submarine Seaview, a glass-nosed research submarine, which has embarked on its shakedown cruise under the polar ice cap. Upon surfacing, however, the crew discovers that the entire sky is on fire: the Van Allen radiation belt has been ignited by a freak meteor shower, and the Earth is being slowly burnt to a cinder. Nelson and his colleague, Commodore Lucius Emery (Peter Lorre), devise a plan to extinguish the belt using one of the Seaview's nuclear missiles, but they are denounced at an emergency meeting of the United Nations. Disregarding the UN vote against him, Nelson decides to go forward with his plan before the Earth is destroyed, hoping to get the approval of the President of the United States while his ship races from New York to the Marianas in the Pacific to launch its missile on time and target. With the world's navies hunting them down and communication with Washington impossible because of the fire in the sky. Nelson must combat not only the threats from other ships but also the doubts of his own protégé, Commander Lee Crane (Robert Sterling), the captain of the Seaview. There is also growing suspicion of his plan and his methods, being spread by Dr. Susan Hiller (Joan Fontaine), a psychiatrist who was visiting the vessel - she doubts his sanity! As well, there is significant discontent among the crew, who would like to see their families before the end of the world, Thrown into the mix is religious fanatic Miguel Alvarez (Michael Ansara) who thinks the fire in the sky is God's will. Worse still, there appears to be a saboteur -- and possibly more than one -- aboard.

Undersea manoeuvres to tap the trans-Atlantic telephone cable (in order to reach Washington), a battle with a giant squid, a duel with an attack submarine, and a harrowing tangle with a WWII mine field bring further drama to the situation.

Great Sci-Fi! - and fabulous wide-screen Technicolor print!

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961) begat a popular TV series (of the same name) which ran for 4 seasons and 110 episodes - all of which can be purchased from the TV Series section of the website

War-Gods of the Deep (1965) - 84 mins

Starring Vincent Price, David Tomlinson, Tab Hunter, Susan Hart & John Le Mesurier

Directed by Jacques Tourneur

On the Cornish coast in 1903, a group of people discover an underwater society of smugglers who never age - they living in a lost underwater city along with their gill-man slaves. Sir High, The Captain (Vincent Price) is the widowed ruler of this sub-oceanic kingdom and when spies a woman on the land who closely resembles his late wife, he believes that she is the reincarnation of his beloved spouse. Sir Hugh orders his gill men to kidnap her. But two courageous divers and their pet rooster brave the mysterious depths and the deadly gill-men to rescue her.

The last film made by distinguished director Jacques Tourneur.

This sci-fi fantasy was supposedly inspired by a line from an Edgar Allen Poe poem!

Also known as City Under the Sea (1965)

He also lead the cast in some nice sci-fi films: The Fly (1958), Return of the Fly (1959), Master of the World (1961), The Last Man on Earth (1964) & War-Gods of the Deep (1965)

Not forgetting his only western as star: The Baron of Arizona (1950) - his favorite film. All of the above are available from this website.

Warlords of Atlantis (1978) - 96 mins

Starring Doug McClure, Peter Gilmore, Shane Rimmer, Lea Brodie, Michael Gothard & Hal Galili

Directed by Kevin Connor

In 1896 the aging Professor Aitken and his son charter an expedition aboard the Texas Rose and descend into the depths in an experimental bathysphere designed by engineer Greg Collinson. But under the water they are snatched by a giant octopus and taken down to one of the five remaining of the seven sunken cities of Atlantis. As they marvel at the Atlantean super-science, they learn that the Atlanteans are really survivors from a dying Mars who are using their superior mental abilities to influence the outcome of human history and bring out mankind’s most warlike tendencies.

(Kevin Connor sandwiched these 4 films between equally enjoyable sci-fi / fantasy romps: From Beyond the Grave (1973) & Arabian Adventure (1979) - both of which are available from this website)

The films all also feature charismatic acting from lantern-jawed lead man Doug McClure and talented support players.

All of these films are available from within this section of the website - they are also available in a 5 DVD set from within the Classic Movie Combination section of this website

War of the Colossal Man (1958) - 69 mins

Starring Sally Frazer, Roger Pace, Duncan Parkin, Russ Bender & Rico Alaniz

Directed by Bert I. Gordon

Joyce Manning (Sally Fraser), sister to Lt. Col. Glenn Manning (Duncan Parkin), believes that her brother is still alive, despite his fall off of Boulder Dam at the denouement of The Amazing Colossal Man (1957). Her hope is based on reports out of Mexico about a "very big man" attacking truckers and other passersby in a remote part of the country. As it turns out, Manning is alive and hiding somewhere in the mountains, bigger than ever and suffering from serious brain damage, with a hideously deformed face that is covered in scar tissue and missing an eye. Every effort at communicating with the giant fails, and he breaks out of the place where he is being held and goes on a rampage.

Writer / director Bert I. Gordon also penned (& helmed) the prequel, The Amazing Colossal Man (1957) as well as The Cyclops (1957) - both of which are available from this website

The War of the Worlds (1953) - 85 mins

Starring Gene Barry, Ann Robinson, Les Tremanye, Robert Cornthwaite, Sandro Giglio & Paul Frees

Directed by Byron Haskin

A meteorlike object crash-lands near the small town of Linda Rosa. Among the crowd of curious onlookers is Pacific Tech scientist Dr. Clayton Forrester (Gene Barry), who strikes up a friendship with Sylvia Van Buren (Ann Robinson), the niece of local minister Pastor Dr. Matthew Collins (Lewis Martin). Because the meteor is too hot to approach at present, Forrester decides to wait a few days to investigate, leaving three townsmen to guard the strange, glowing object. Left alone, the three men decide to approach the meterorite, and are evaporated for their trouble. It turns out that this is no meteorite, but an invading spaceship from the planet Mars. The hideous-looking Martians utilize huge, mushroomlike flying ships, equipped with heat rays, to pursue the helpless earthlings. When the military is called in, the Martians demonstrated their ruthlessness by "zapping" Pastor Collins who'd hoped to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the standoff. As Forrester and Van Buren seek shelter, the Martians go on a destructive rampage. Nothing, not even an atom bomb blast can halt the Martian death machines. The film's climax occurs in a besieged Los Angeles, where Forrester fights through a crowd of refugees and looters so that he may be reunited with Van Buren in Earth's last moments of existence.

George Pal's Oscar winning camera trickery is awesome to behold - like Orson Welles' infamous 1938 radio adaptation, the film eschews H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds original Victorian England setting for a contemporary American locale, in this case Southern California.

Oscar Winner for Best Special Effects. Oscar Nominated for Best Sound

This one will blow you away!

Westworld (1973) - 88 mins

Starring Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin, James Brolin, Alan Oppenheimer, Victoria Shaw & Dick Van Patten

Directed by Michael Crichton

Writer/Director Michael “Jurassic Park” Crichton has concocted a futuristic "Disneyland for adults", a remote resort island where, for a hefty fee, one can indulge in one's wildest fantasies. Businessmen John Blane (James Brolin) and Peter Martin (Richard Benjamin) are just crazy about the Old West, thus they head to the section of Westworld comprising robotic desperadoes, lawmen and dance-hall gals, etc. Benjamin's first inkling that something is amiss occurs when, during a mock showdown with the robot Gunslinger (Yul Brynner), Blane is shot and killed for real. It seems that the "nerve center" of Westworld has developed several serious technical glitches: the human staff is dead, and the robots are running amok.

A genuine piece of “horror sci-fi”

A sort-of- sequel followed a few years later with Futureworld (1976) - which is also available from this website

When Worlds Collide (1951) - 83 mins

Starring Richard Derr, Barbara Rush, Peter Hansen, John Hoyt & Larry Keating

Directed by Rudolph Maté

Dr. Cole Henderson (Larry Keating) announces that an extraterrestrial planet is on a collision course with the Earth. No one believes Henderson's story, save for crippled financier Stanton (John Hoyt), who finances the construction of a gigantic spaceship, built for the purpose of transporting selected survivors from the doomed Earth to the “incoming” planet which is expected to take up the same celestial position as Earth (after collision). As it becomes obvious that Henderson's predictions will come true, a worldwide lottery is held to select those people who will be rescued from oblivion by Stanton's spaceship. In the climactic scenes, the worlds do indeed collide, with appropriately spectacular results. But will the spaceship, overloaded with humanity, be able to take off and seek out a Brave New World?

Oscar Winner for Best Special Effects. Oscar Nomination for Best Color Cinematography

First published in 1932, Philip Wylie and Edwin Balmer's speculative novel When Worlds Collide was immediately purchased by Paramount as a possible project for director Cecil B. DeMille. But because none of Paramount's scriptwriters were able to come up with an adequate screen treatment, the property lay on the shelf until 1950, when producer George Pal was casting about for a follow-up to his successful sci-fier Destination Moon (1950) - also available from this website.

World Without End (1956) - 80 mins

Starring Hugh Marlowe, Nancy Gates, Rod Taylor, Nelson Leigh & Christopher Dark

Directed by Edward Bernds

The first spaceship to Mars rounds the Red Planet and heads back toward Earth but runs into an unexplained phenomenon in space that accelerates the craft to such a high speed that all four men aboard black out. When they awake, they've crash-landed on a planet that they only gradually realize is Earth - but of the distant future: they have crashed through the time barrier. After they are chased by ugly "Mutates," they are taken in by the declining remnants of human civilization who live underground. It's now 2508 A.D, 400 years after an atomic war almost wiped out the human race. John Borden (Hugh Marlowe) falls in love with Garnet (Nancy Gates), daughter of Timmek, leader of the underground people - a fact that enrages Mories, who's always assumed she would someday be his. The scheming Mories tries to turn his people against the space/time travelers, but falls victim to his own nefarious plans. Learning from Deena, a servant girl from the surface of Earth, that most people up there are normal though cruelly ruled by the deformed ones, Borden and his friends take on the mutates with modern weaponry in an effort to reclaim the Earth for normal humanity.

The very first American feature film to deal with scientific time travel, World Without End had the following tagline: CinemaScope's First Science-Fiction Thriller Hurls You into the Year 2508!

X-15 (1961) - 107 mins

Starring Charles Bronson, David McLean, Ralph Taeger, Brad Dexter, Kenneth Tobey & James Gregory

Directed by Richard Donner

In this drama, three test pilots prepare the X-15 rocket plane for a test flight in the California desert. During the test something goes awry and one of them dies heroically trying to save the lives of his co-pilots. The story centers on both their professional and their private lives. It also provides interesting explanations of the new aeronautical technology. The film is narrated by Jimmy Stewart.

Yes - that’s Superman the Movie (1978) director Richard Donner. X-15 (1961) was his first ever helming of a movie (after a short career in TV)

X: The Man With X-Ray Eyes (1963) - 79 mins

Starring Ray Milland, Diana Van der Vlis, Harold J. Stone, John Hoyt & Don Rickles

Directed by Roger Corman

Dr. James Xavier (Ray Milland) is a brilliant but unorthodox researcher whose work with human sight has yielded an experimental chemical that may vastly increase the range of what can be seen. Despite the misgivings and warnings of the two people closest to him, Dr. Diane Fairfax (Diana Van Der Vlis) and Dr. Sam Brant (Harold J. Stone), Xavier uses it on himself and finds that he is able to look inside the human body in real-time. This gives him the ability to save the life of a patient in surgery, but in the process, he offends a top physician and calls his own judgement into question. He won't stop or even slow his experiments, however, and when Sam is accidentally killed trying to stop him, he is forced to flee. Soon he is living the life of a hunted man, and is protected and exploited by Crane (Don Rickles), a larcenous carnival man who sets him up as a "healer" on skid row, taking peoples' pennies while Xavier makes his diagnoses.

A Roger Corman “cult” classic!

X The Unknown (1956) - 81 mins

Starring Dean Jagger, Edward Chapman, Leo McKern, Anthony Newley, Jameson Clark & William Lucas

Directed by Leslie Norman

A group of soldiers on maneuvers in Scotland stumble across a gravel pit which emanates an unusual amount of radiation. Several deaths occur before the radioactive material is mysteriously stolen. Researcher Dr. Adam Royston (Dean Jagger) speculates that the thief is some sort of inhuman monstrosity dwelling at the Earth's core. He points out that past radioactive disturbances have been occurring at 50-year intervals, each followed by sudden deaths and the disappearance of the material. Royston suggests that the unknown monster has been resuscitated by humankind's recent atomic experiments.

A well-crafted piece of British horror/sci-fi from the 1950s.

This early Hammer effort has secured a "cult" following over the years - much deservedly so!

Zardoz (1974) - 105 mins

Starring Sean Connery, Charlotte Rampling, Sara Kestelman, John Alderton & Sally Anne Newton

Directed by John Boorman

Its 23^rd Century Earth and Zed (Sean Connery) is a member of the Exterminators, a band of skilled assassins who exact a reign of terror over the lesser Brutals. The Exterminators answer only to their God, a gigantic stone image known as Zardoz. Haunted by doubt about Zardoz's true divinity, Zed chooses to investigate. His disbelief is confirmed when the God proves to be a fraudulent tool of the Eternals, a secret society of brilliant immortals who pretend to divinity in order to exploit the masses. Knowing the truth, Zed sets out to reveal the hoax and destroy the Eternals' unjust rule

Oblique and “cult” to the extreme!

BAFTA Nominee for Best Cinematography (Geoffrey Unsworth)

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