Me too!...I am a fellow Boomer guy, who spent quite a few Saturdays at my local cinema, spending a whole 25 cents, to catch the latest TWO Sci-Fi/horror movies--that's right...in those days, you got two movies, plus a cartoon, usually preceded by some newsreel and the "coming attractions"! Such a deal, and usually my parents would "pony up" another 50 cents for the candy and/or popcorn found in the lobby. Times were not really any better, but they certainly were more basic, and more innocent. Everything changed--including the price of admission--as the 1960s began to unravel.
Me too ! I turn 71 this month, and these movies are the wallpaper of my very soul. “Nice climate you have here. High in oxygen.” “I RARELY USE THE STUFF, SIR. IT PROMOTES RUST.”😂 Anne Frances in a miniskirt jumpstarted my puberty.
The Day the Earth Stood Still is my #1 from this list. The complexity of the plot and quality of the acting put on top. The Invasion of the Body Snatchers scared the pants off me as a kid.
Chiller, The Day the Earth Stood Still is outstanding as a movie. I appreciate the story so much more as an adult just because the story dealt with the global complexities of the time, and obviously I understand the politics of the movie much more. But when that movie would come on Saturday afternoons when I was a kid, Gort was just the man. Thank you so much for the comment. Stay tuned, there is more to come. Have a great day. Mike
I agree with you . When I went back to college later in life, the Philosophy teacher referenced this film. I knew then that I had chosen the right school and that the faculty had open minds.
Saw Forbidden Planet at the theater when I was six. Nightmares galore. Lucky me - I had a TV in my room because my Dad repaired them and someone just gave it to us. A 12" round screen in a cabinet with two or three knobs in front and tubes in the back. Twilight Zone, One Step Beyond, and Marx Brothers movies on Sunday. Sky King, Roy Rogers, and those westerns! Bonanza, Have Gun Will Travel, Cheyenne, Sugarfoot, Bronco Lane, Tombstone Territory, and on and on.
"Forbidden Planet" fried me for life! The Monster from the Id on that big screen terrified me and I loved it! I still collect Fifties horror/sci-fi posters to this day. From there I went to "Curse of Frankenstein and I was off & running. Good times.
@@TramJizzle It was the drive-in. Many good movies at the drive-ins. The cartoons were excellent. A little playground area. That speaker in the window. Mom made popcorn and stuff. $1.50 for the whole family. Saw Auntie Mame - a genuine classic when I was bit older. I tend to ramble.
Even though I was born in '40, grew up in the 50's, Five popular movies of the era which I have still never seen to this very day..... 1) Forbidden Plants 2) The Day the Earth Stood Tall 3) Investors From Mars 4) It Came From Out of Inner Space 5) She wore a Yellow Spaceship BHE
I couldn't agree more Sir 👏, I grew up on classic films such as these, mostly seen on English T.V. stations. There's an abundance of praise from everyone on this blog, and we all have different opinions on the best of these films, I find it really satisfying that we are all as one with our fondness and appreciation for these Fabulous old films👍
all the 50's space ships...for all their bells and whistles...lacked the one key component that would actually make space flight possible....the computer....it's the same reason the flying wing would crash...but not the B-2...which is based on the same design....
Agreed. There’s a part that alwaye gets cut (presumably to accommodates more commercials) on the free versions where our intrepid team of scientists manage to shoot one of the aliens dead when he was outside his saucer’s force field, the others on his sis sheep leave him and take off
Excellent selection that I agree with. I remember the first time I saw "The Blob" in color (on the late show, once we had a color TV), I was so surprised that the blob was red! And the two stars went on to bigger fame---Steve McQueen became a cinema superstar and his girlfriend Aneta Corsaut became Andy's love interest Helen Crump on "The Andy Griffith Show." "Journey to the Center of the Earth" was a big budget production with major stars that is still one of my favorites today.
Al, you and me both. I used to watch the reruns over and over again. I wanted to put more classic sci-fi movies into this video, but that would make the video too long. So there are a couple more coming soon. Glad you enjoyed the video, stay tuned, and have a great day. Mike
yea...remember when going to the movies was a real treat, almost like a special occasion... and you didn't have to take out a mortgage to go? The movie (maybe a double feature), cartoon, newsreel, coming attractions. Along with popcorn and a soda, a big selection of candy (Good N Plenty, Jordan Almonds, Baby Ruth, Chuckels, Chunky, etc....All that entertainment for about 40 cents...then we'd walk home and discuss the movie. Even when t.v. became more and more popular, going to the movies was still something to look forward to, young and old alike, and there was something for every for everyone. So glad that many of us are still around to share those times.
@@jenniferdjaslowskj993 And in earlier days they would have a chapter of a movie serial! I have quite a few of them in my DVD collection. Sheer fun and lots of Science Fiction elements from the 1930's on. Would we have had the SF craze of the 1950's without their influence?
@@jenniferdjaslowskj993 I bit different for us in UK . But similar . The flicks would be a whole morning , or afternoon of joy . For less than a shilling !
Matt, thanks for that. To be honest, I forgot about that one. And I loved that movie when I was a kid. Great catch thought. And you just gave me a great idea. I think what I will do to make it up to you and do a This Island Earth for its own video. Glad you liked the video. More to come stay tuned.
This Island Earth was the one that I was going to suggest to be added. I see that I am the last person in comments to feel that way. I liked Invasion of the Saucer Men from that time period too.
While I agree with most of your picks, I feel “War of the Worlds” should be number one. I’m biased because it’s my all time favorite sci-fi film. Thank you for this content!!
What a fantastic list! Being born in 1952 I remember my parents taking us to the all night drive-in theater shows (4 movies in one night!) and watching these great movies. Then the sixties started with Gorgo, Angry Red Planet, Village of the Damned, and on and on. Then Star Trek started on TV. I was in Heaven. What a great time to live!!! That with the space race just made my childhood exceptional.
When I was a kid, the Old Orchard theater showed a double feature of scary movies every Saturday. We could walk there and get in for 25 cents. I don't recall many of them, but "The Angry Red Planet" scared the bejeezus out of me, and since it was paired with "Circus of Horrors," which was terrifying within the first couple of minutes, I had a lot of nightmares.
Freddie, Thank you for your comment, it is greatly appreciated. When I put this list together, it was very hard to get it down to just ten. But I wanted to at least get the ball rolling to see if there was a good response to create another one. And, there has been such a positive response to this video that I am working on a second one right now, and I have an outline for a third one. The next one will be based on the comments I received on movies that did not make the list the first time. I guess you could say like a fan based top ten. So stay tuned. Also, I am a big fan of the 60's sci-fi movies and TV as well. However if I ever do a 60's Top Ten Sci-Fi shows, which seems very likely, I would have to leave Star Trek off the list. Star Trek is my favorite franchise, so it would automatically be number one by default in my world, and that would not really be a fare list. So stay tuned tuned, thank you again for your comment and have a wonderful day. Mike
@@philr5497 I hope you didn't think I was slamming it. I don't think it would terrify me so much now, but I was no more than 10, maybe younger, and the giant amoeba sucking in Sammy (? why do I think that was the character's name) and then infecting Gerald Mohr's (? again) character did me in then. As for Circus of Horrors (on the double-bill), I don't know why I didn't run out of the auditorium too, like my friend did. Deformed faces have always been one of my triggers - that's the reason I completely quit watching Twilight Zone and Thriller.
What does it say about me that I have seen all of these back in the day… AND LOVED THEM ALL!!! Back when there were only three channels these were played on a Saturday afternoon.
Larche, This Island Earth more than deserves a spot. It was one of my favorites when I was a kid, and I literally forgot about it for this video. I could kick myself for that one. But stay tuned, I am going to do at least two more 1950's Sci-Fi movie videos. It will be showing up. Thanks for enjoying the video, and have a great day. Mike
Yes..if only for allowing my pre-pubescent thoughts to run wild, checking out Faith Domergue--a rare beauty of a "B" movie queen!...Turns out, she had been a lover of the infamous Howard Hughes, when she was 17 years old!
Yup...because it demanded a more mature, thoughtful participation from the viewer..I caught this magnificent movie a few years after it came out...local theatres would have "second run" formats, in the mid-1950s, when I was, by that time, old enough to attend movies with my fellow pre-teen friends. I viewed this movie again a few weeks ago, and was struck by how it portrayed pretty accurately, the day-to-day appearance, and activities of the general public back then. I remembered how people were more conventionally dressed, men usually still wore hats in 1951, women dressed in a more conservative manner, folks were more "formally social"...etc. I found the scenes of the folks having breakfast at the boarding house, to be nostalgically heart-warming. Nontheless, I welcomed the more liberating, less conforming aspects of American life, that my generation embraced during the 1960s, and onwards. Underneath the staid lifestyle of the 1950s, many problems were lurking beneath the surface!
So am I! I still have the paperback that I bought and read decades ago. I would love to see the movie based on the book, with some 21st Century updates and appropriate CGI.
Norman, Thank you for your comment. There were so many good movies to choose from. But I am not finished with the 50's yet. I will be putting out a second 1950's sci-fi movie list so thay tuned. Have a great day. Mike
@@vampthat You remember well. James Arness was one also of the main actors in THEM. Gunsmoke began in 1955-1975, one of the longest television series ever.
From the age of 7 or so, I read almost everything Science -Fiction and Fantasy, WE had a TV in the late forties and I devoured Captain Video, SF Theater and more. These movies and the runners up were my childhood. War of the Worlds, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Forbidden Planet, The Time Machine, the list is much longer, will forever be in my memory!. Thanks you, Frederick "Rik" Spector
In my early years I read a lot of varying books....then I discovered science fiction....everything else paled and seemed boring after that....especially western movies labled as 'oaters'....
Some of my all time favourites that weren't mentioned are The Deadly Mantis (1957), The Monster That Challenged The World (1957), The Monolith Monsters (1957), Kronos (1957), Rodan (1956), The Mysterians (1957), The Black Scorpion (1957) and Fiend Without a Face (1958). These ones aren't 50s movies but Gorgo (1961) and The Day of the Triffids (1962) are two of my favourite movies of all time and don't get enough recognition
I want to thank you for your list because when you mentioned The Monolith Monsters I finally found the answer to a search I've been on since I was 20 years of age (I am now 66). When I was growing up inthe early to mid-1960s they would play that movie on a local TV station and for years the one memory that always stuck with me were when the the monolith crystals would rise up fall over repeat. I could never recall the title until now and the clips I found online confirm that one sole memory. Thanks again. And Fiend Without a Face is one cool little movie. My brother and I loved it.
Day of the Triffids was supposed to be remastered a few years back because of serious issues with the original film elements but nothing has been mentioned since. And I just ordered Gorgo on 4k. Looking forward to it......
@@rogershore3128 I never knew that! Do you know where you saw this? I'm not sure what print they would've used but the British Film Institute has a 16mm print thats in pretty good condition
Pete, I loved the incredible shrinking man when I was a kid. I'm going to do a second movie list for the 50's since there were so many great ones to choose from, and too many for just one list. So stay tuned, and thank you for your comment. Have a great day. Mike
As I recall: War of the Worlds was an 1898 HG Wells novel; Journey to the Center of the Earth was an 1864 Jules Verne novel; Invasion of the Body Snatchers was a 1954 Jack Finney novel "The Body Snatchers"; The Thing was a 1938 John W Campbell Jr Novella "Who goes There?"; The Day The Earth Stood Still was a 1940 Harry Bates short story "Farewell to the Master"; When Worlds Collide was a 1933 novel written by Edwin Balmer and Phillip Wylie who also published a sequel After Worlds Collide. Just saying.
One thing almost all these movies have in common is that, unlike contemporary remakes and other scifi, they know how to build suspense and character around a meaningful idea. The fact that their special effects were limited makes them concentrate on the elements of story that make these works last, unlike the violent, mindless stuff today.
I dunno man, this sort of movie is rather silly and definitely close to fantasy than science fiction. Don't romanticize the past or these movies. Simply accept them for what they are.
John Doe, Thank you for your comment, I really appreciate it, and I agree with you completely. These older movies didn't have the benefit of modern day special effects. They had to rely on good story telling. I also agree, that even the remakes of the 1950's sci-fi movies don't necessarily rely as much on the story element, but focus more on the special effects. The best example I have in that regard is War of the Worlds. The 1950's War of the Worlds, for the time, had ground breaking effects, and introduced a different looking Martian alien warship, even if you can see the strings the alien ship were hanging from. But the story is what kept you at the edge of your seat,. The more recent version, took more elements from the H.G.Wells book that did not get presented in the 50's film, but didn't deliver the same emotional or suspenseful impact. Rather, relied on the special effects to fill in the story, vs telling the story. The Day the Earth Stood Still is a better modern remake in my opinion. While there were heavy special effects, the story wasn't lost to the effects. Anyway, thank you so much for your comment. Stay tuned, there are more 1950's Sci-Fi videos coming. I'm glad you liked our video, and we are happy to hear any suggestions you have. Have a great day, and stay tuned, more to come. Mike
Back in the day, science fiction fans had a rule that good special affects meant a bad story, and a good story meant bad effects. That didn’t change until Star Wars came along.
The Invasion of the Body Snatchers main character Kevin McCarthy was also in the 1978 remake. Kind of felt like he survived the 1st movie only to be killed in the 2nd. I liked the cameo.
I am old, in my 70's now but saw all of these as a kid as our family owned all the movie theatres in town. I cannot dispute any on your list, as I loved every one, and certainly "Forbidden Planet" deserves the number one spot as it was innovative in so many ways, not the least of which was the electronic music score, listed as "Electronic Tonalities" by Louis and Beebe Barron. One film I would add is "It! The Terror From Beyond Space", often overlooked because of its low-budget origins. We all know the big-dollar later film "Alien" (1979) ripped off the plot shamelessly but "It!" had a (mostly) wonderful cast of character actor pros, good suspense build-up by not clearly showing the monster until about 1/3 way into the movie and a suspensful claustrophobic setting by the different floors or levels of the rocket ship separated by thick, metal lockable hatches. Paul Blaisdell did the monster costume, one of his best efforts IMHO. And despite a running time of barely over an hour, there are at least a half-dozen truly memorable set-pieces in the film. Greatly enjoyed your presentation. Keep up the good work.
Those were my two favorites also. I saw IT in the theatre when I was a kid...I lasted up until I saw the creatures face...then ran my screaming, crying, 6 year old ass out of the theatre. Didn't see the whole movie till it came out on VHS...still freaked me out 😂. Saw Forbidden Planet on the big screen also...LOVED the special effects...the monster spooked the HELL out of me, but I made it through the whole movie ... 😊 "This Island Earth" was another big screen winner. I was so lucky my mother loved the movies when I was young.
@@lefantomer FP also was the firds big bidgryt sci fi movie shot in color in wiodfrer screen. I laughed when the cook had Robby whip up 60 gallons of "Ksnsas City Rocket Boiurbon"...it's SMOOTH!
In a Part 2... 'The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms', 'Fiend Without a Face', 'Creature from the Black Lagoon', 'It Came from Outer Space', 'It Came from Beneath the Sea', 'The Deadly Mantis', 'The Giant Behemoth', (and there's one with Martians that inject alcohol into teenagers, but I can't recall its title). Another teen-age/Rock n' Roll/ Monster movie was 'The Giant Gila Monster'. ...these are what comprised my Saturday afternoons spent at the movies in the Fifties. Pretzel sticks and a mos'ly seltzer drink from the soda machine. These movies and MAD magazine made me the unbalanced 75-year-old I am today.
Fellow Clevelanders will remember Ghoulardi airing these and other cheesy sci-fi movies every Friday and Saturday nights in the 60’s ! Ernie Anderson’s Ghoulardi character will be spun off by many others, most notably Svengoolie currently airing on MeTV !
This was a well Done Compilation! Subscribed. My Ultimate Favourite is WAR OF THE WORLDS... The "scariest and Smartest" of them all! A tip of the Hat to THEM which as a toddler scared me to death!
THEM really scared me too!...and years later, when viewing it again, it was striking to see several actors who went on to greater fame in various TV shows!..Arness, Fess Parker, and even Leonard Nimoy (likely his first speaking role, one line, when he answers a phone, and tells an Army officer the call is for him!) are spotted in this excellent, fast-paced movie. BTW, the huge mutated ants, that seem to be all over the place, were actually just two large props..one was inert--not mobile-and the other was grafted on the front half-of a forklift!...Skillful editing made us think otherwise.
When I was in 3rd grade, a friend and I went to see Them. The movie scared his pansy ass and we had to leave, so I didn't know how it ended. Decades later, it was shown on late Saturday night TV and I was able to finish the movie. Well worth the wait! Day of the Triffids (1962) will get my vote if you do a 1960,'s sci-fi movies follow-up. Excellent bring back the memories production! Thank you!
@@patrickdougherty6390 Check out who wrote it; if I remember correctly, it was a major screen writer. Also look at the part where the ship's doctor dissects the animal that the captain killed, and finds it to be a robot, not alive at all. Star Trek Season 1 stole this idea for 'Shore Leave' .
H,G,Wells was walking down a country lane in England, with his brother. They were talking about him writing a book. And his brother mentioned that it was a beautiful day, and added that a invasion from Mars. I have read the book many times. A narration of a invasion from mars. What a legend.
Ah the memories. I'm now 66 and as a child my Aunt who used to baby sit would let me stay up late to watch these types of movies. She would give me all the kool-ade, and popcorn I wanted while watching. Being only 5 years old, they were despite the bad animation, very scary to me. But I loved the rush I got from the scare. Immagine a five year old huddled against this Aunt sitting on the couch munching popcorn and drinking Kool-aid. Thing is, that Aunt is still alive, 81 years old, and still razzes me to this day about how she used to make me litterally pee my pants at the scariest moments by grabbing me and screaming. She remains to this day, my favorite Aunt.🙂🙂🙂
In my opinion, "Journey to the Center of the Earth" is more of a fantasy movie. Movies I miss "Tarantula", "It came from Outer Space" and "The Beast from 20000 Fathoms"
Andreas, I agree. There were so many fantastic to movies to pick choose from the 50's era, I kept it to 10 just in the interest of time of the video. But I am working on the second 1950's Sci-Fi video, and a third will be behind that. So stay tuned. Thank you for the awesome comment, and have a great day. Mike.
These movies all came out before my time, but I still remember watching some of these in the 60's on Saturday afternoons. It was great to be young with imaginations running wild.
Nice list! Fun facts: Forbidden Planet is based on Shakespeare’s “ The Tempest,” and Gene Barry from War of the Worlds has a small cameo at the end of Spielberg’s 2005 remake.
@@edwardpike3386 The studio decided that the original huge tripod machines the Martians used in the book The War of the Worlds were tooo dangerous to use. They decided on the ships used in the in the 1953 movie instead.
I grew up in Boston. I remembered Creature Double Feature Saturday! My dad would kick me out of the house to go play and it was horrible! I would wait all week for these movies lol
The Invasion of the Body Snatchers was a perfect match for the McCarthy era and the "communists hiding among your friends" paranoia. The Thing (From Another World) couldn't be made according to the original story in the 1950s, but John Carpenter did a good job on the original story, "Who Goes There?" Forbidden Planet so CLEARLY influenced Gene Roddenberry that it can be said to be the origin of the Star Trek franchise.
66 year old here. My favorite is The Day Earth Stood Still and Thing from another World. "Them" and Creature from Black Lagoon always enjoyed too. Clato Barada Nictoe
As a boy in the early sixties, my Mom insisted I sit and watch "War of the Worlds" and "The Day the Earth Stood Still". She was quite the fan and soon I was too. Two more that came to mind while watching this were "The Brain from Planet Arras" and "Robinson Crusoe on Mars" . I don't remember how good they were but they left an impression. The giant floating brain was gross and Crusoe had a sidekick on Mars that suspiciously resembled a Native American. I remember I liked him.
"World Without End" should have a place since I believe it's the first movie where the crew of a space ship travel into the future. "Destination Moon" should also have a place as it pretty much predicted the way the moon missions would actually work, and this in 1950! I can also recommend "Flight to Mars" for its introduction of alien humanoid beauties wearing extremely revealing outfits. That got my attention as a young boy! I should also like to mention that many of these movies re-used props from previous films. Forbidden Planet sourced many of the props, uniforms, Altaira's dresses, various gauges, etc. I get a kick out of recognizing these!
Robert Heinlien was involved with Destination Moon. They attempted to keep the movie scientificly correct to known science of the time. One thing they missed was not having staged rockets.
*> Destination Moon* was " *lamo!* " - More of an Informative. docudrama than really a scify thriller. Because it didn't have any hot babes or monsters in it. > That's like drinking southern sweet tea that has no sugar in it.
Whiskey Victor, I've seen the Invisible Boy, and I thought it was a great movie. But I didn't know it was a partial inspiration for the Terminator. That is just AWESOME. Thank you for pointing that out. I really appreciate your comment. I feel like I learned something. Stay tuned, and have a great day. Mike
Please do not forget that this was WALTER Piegons his first sci fi picture..it was tremendous! Superb cast and great play. The lazer pistols gave off a humming sound!
My mother once had quite a large collection of Zane Gray westerns, and I read a few of them....then, I discovered Sci/Fy. How could ANYone return to boring westerns featuring uncouth & smelly horses after that? So much more interesting reading about smelly and uncouth (but intelligent) alien beings ALL the way from Betelguese and/or Antares!
A nod to THIS ISLAND EARTH certainly seems appropriate, but missing, as it was a big influence on FORBIDDEN PLANET (the process the crew goes through in FP to prepare for conditions on Altair was directly derived from TIE, which has often been suggested as an influence on Star Trek's "beam-me-downer" set-up. It originated with the earlier film.) How about INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN? Certainly a better film than THE BLOB. Or either of the Quatermass films, far more influencial and lasting that WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE. BUT, then again, these just may be your personal favorites, and as such, are very individualistic. Thanks for the video!
A nod to This Island Earth, is more than appropriate. I could actually kick myself for that one. That was one of my favorites when I was a kid. But have no fear, more 1950's videos are on the way, and this time I have the benefit of quality input from viewers. It's definatley going to be in the next one. Thank you for the great comment, stay tuned, more to come. And, have a great day. Mike
I would have put This Island Earth (1955) at the #3 position, The Day the Earth Stood Still at #2 and Forbidden Planet at #1 just as you did, which is where it rightfully belongs. I wish the studios would re-release these on the silver screen so those of us who had to watch them on tv screens could experience the full impact of viewing them the way they were intended to be presented.🤠
'The Blob' was Steve McQueen's first film.... also, the Blob is transparent when it hatches but becomes red after it starts eating people because of the blood!!! Also - 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth' isn't strictly sci-fi ... more a fantasy/escapist film perhaps? ... I agree with other comments - 'The Incredible Shrinking Man' is a 100% classic!!! Honourable mention for 'Them' and 'I Married A Monster from Outer Space'
YES! Thank you for mentioning 'I Married A Monster From Outer Space' and 'The Incredible Shrinking Man'. 'I Married A Monster' is a gem that is so much better than the cheesy title would suggest. Grant Williams, who plays the shrinking Scott Carey, also started in 'Monolith Monsters' - which is also worth checking out. 🙂
Them! was an awesome movie. Worked like a mystery movie until the payoff halfway through. Lived in Lancaster,Ca as a kid and found out years later the desert scenes were filmed less than five miles from my home. The sound the ants make creeps me out to this day.
JamesF, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I had a list that was larger than this for 50's Sci-Fi, so I'm going to break it into two or possibly 3 videos to properly cover all the favorites of 50's Sci-Fi. Stay Tuned, there is more to come. And thank you so much for your comments. Have a great day. Mike
There was a blog remake in the 80’s. Compared to the original, it was awful. But today Hollywood has the tech to make an awesome version of it. Melting ice caps freeing the 50’s blob, now that’s a story, lol.
#1, The Thing From Another World (1951) #2, War of the Worlds (1953) #3, The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951) #4, Forbidden Planet (1956) #5, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) Top 5 ...... All Great with meaning !! 👍📽
The Amazing Colossal Man (1957) is a movie that stuck with me since seeing it as a kid. Now that I live in Vegas I love the scenes where he wonders around old Las Vegas. A movie like it but showing a man that starts getting smaller is "The Incredible Shrinking Man", also from 1957.
Seen both. For some reason shrinking man captured my imagination. The final scene where he is microscopic in the universe (yet no smaller than anyone else) really moves me
I'm actually a Universal monster freak. Frankenstein is the pinnacle . When the monster first appears and there are 3 shots that home in on his face. The best. Made my 7 year old self shit in his drawers.!
excellent video. all top movies, 50s sci fi was the best, no need for all the gore and crap of today. nothing like grabbing a bowl of popcorn and sitting down to watch movies like these, and Monolith Monsters, it came from beneath the sea, beast from 20000 fathoms and others
Charles, thank you for the comment. I’m with you on the 50’s Sci-fi movies. When I was a kid, and before Star Wars hit the big screen, these movies got me hooked to sci-fi. There seems to be a lot of unnecessary elements to modern day movies. But the 50’s movies had originality, innovation, and great story telling. I greatly appreciate the comment, stay tuned there is more to come. Have a great day.
The Blob is one of my favorites. I have been to Phoenixville PA a few times. The town hasn't changed since the movie. The Colonial Theater, the school where they get the fire extinguishers and the doctor's house, are still the same. They had Blobfest during the summer. The guest of honor? The Blob prop itself. In a paint can was a pound or two of silicone. Journey To the Center Of The Earth is another favorite.
11:47 The novels _When Worlds Collide_ and _After Worlds Collide_ by Philip Wylie and Edwin Balmer are among the greatest sci-fi novels of the twentieth century, well worth the few hours it takes to read them.
Johnnie, There were so many great childhood memories memories for me as well. But I'm not done yet. There will be a second 1950's Sci-Fi movie list coming soon, so stay tuned. Have a great day, and thank you again. Mike
These are all classics and much better to watch than a simple description would lead you to believe. I have CDs of Metropolis and Forbidden Planet and I watch them occasionally. My younger sister and I saw "The Blob" in a theater when it was first released. The Blob was under my bed for months afterward. When the Blob first ate the old guy's hand, we were out the door! All great movies. Good job.
“Invaders from Mars”was a B&W sci-fi movie released the same week as the great “War of the Worlds”! But Invaders was seen through the eyes of a young boy (I was 9 when I saw both these movies)! He is awakened by the sight and sound of a Space Ship landing just beyond eyesight of his home! He tells his father who goes out to investigate. He returns saying didn’t see anything but his personality seems entirely changed! When the boy goes to town he notices some peoples personalities seem different as well! He then notices something small on their necks at the top of their spine! The people who walk in the sand outside of town are disappearing into the ground and return significantly changed as if they are being controlled! I’ll stop there and say it was a eerie, scary sci-fi having some elements of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (‘56)! The ending was effective & left you wondering (a dream or?)
@@justicegusting2476 As a nine year old “Invaders” was a bit more scary for me than War of the Worlds! But I haven’t run across it on TV (though it was remade in ‘86! Maybe it was my age but didn’t think the remake was memorable!
A great list of films. I have not seen invasion of the body snatchers. The Blob is a great "B" fllm. When World's Collide is excellent. Them is a great film. I wish that the James Whitmore character had lived. The Thing should have been tied for #1. War of the Worlds is a great film. And how can anyone argue with Forbidden Planet being #1. The Deadly Mantis from 1957 will always be a top 5 sci-fi /horror film for me. There is just something about that film I really like. I also love The Monster that Challenged the World from 1957. Great Sci-fi /Horror film as well.
Next 10 should be - 1.This island earth 2.The incredible shrinking man 3.It came from outer space 4.The Beast from 20000 Fathoms 5.The Quatermass Xperiment 6.The creature from the black lagoon 7.The Fly 8.Fiend Without a Face 9.Invaders from mars 10. I Married A Monster from Outer Space
Of all the movies in your list, which I’ve seen many, many times, The Day the Earth Stood Still is by far my #1 because it was the most believable and “adult” in its message. While made in black and white, the special effects were awesome for the time as was the saucer’s exterior and especially interior. There were undoubtedly scary moments, but they weren’t overdone or “in your face”. And even though Gort’s suit appears hokey by 2023 standards, Gort’s helmet head, rising visor, and ominous flashing light are still quite terrifying. Great list, BTW.
didn't find it all that scary...for all we know something like this may have actually happened...having them fly over DC in '52 was a telling moment....
I saw “Forbidden Planet” the year it came out. I still consider this the best sci-fi movie of all time, and have wondered why a modern-day sequel (or prequel) hasn’t somehow been created. But then I am glad it was not because no sequel could stand up to this original great movie.
There is been some talk in recent years of creating a prequel to forbidden planet. 1 guy suggested was Michael strace trazynski who created Babylon 5 he seemed interested in creating the lost civilization concept
Most remakes are failures, done by far less talented people, for the wrong motives. What we need are fresh ideas by innovative people. Let’s leave Forbidden Planet alone.
Did you see the movie 'Serenity' ? Did you notice that the alliance ship who's emergency beacon Mal and crew track down has the same designation as the space cruiser from forbidden planet?
I have two connections to the movies presented. Growing up I Southern California I had the privilege of seeing a number of actors in different locations during my youth. The gentleman who played one of men who stood guard at the Martian Ship in War of the Worlds was Paul Birch who was in a number of Sci Fi films during the 50's. As a boy I stood next to him while playing an arcade game in Big Bear California. I was about 10 at the time. I had the opportunity to visit Warner Bros studios in the 70's and while visiting the Police Woman set Earl Holloman of Forbidden Planet fame stood about 15 feet from me. My claim to fame.
meeting movie stars is not that big of a deal if they come to your town...."A Man Called Otto" was shot right around the corner from where i'm typing this...shoot a lot of movies around here...easy to get extra work...always something going on......
I don’t know if anyone else has commented here on this issue, but the video maker made an error when talking about “When Worlds Collide “. He says that Earth gets destroyed by colliding with Zyra, but that’s not right. Zyra’s close passing causes the initial damage to Earth, but it’s actually the star Bellus that ultimately ends up colliding with Earth destroying it. If Zyra had hit Earth, both would have been destroyed meaning the rocket ship would have had no planet to land on. Other than the one mistake I really enjoyed the video! 😊
Hi David, I really appreciate the feedback. When I made this, I tried to do some thorough research before I put the video out. And the research source I consulted actually had Zyra colliding with Earth. And Honestly, I haven't seen When Worlds Collide in probably 30-40 years. But that was still my error, because I normally double check with a secondary research source. For that one, I didn't. But thank you so much, I really glad you pointed that out. Also, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. There are two more 1950's sci-fi videos in the hopper right now, so stay tuned, more to come. Thank you again for your constructive comment, and have a great day. Mike
The Book "When Worlds Collide" by Philip Wylie and Edwin Balmer plot differs a bit in detail with "When Worlds Collide" 1951 American science fiction film. In the book two gravitational bound planets, Bronson Alpha, a gas giant, and Earth like Bronson Beta, are the culprits. The two planets will pass close enough for gravitational forces to cause catastrophic damage to the Earth. Sixteen months later, after swinging around the Sun, Bronson Alpha will return to collide with the Earth and depart. Bronson Beta will remain and assume a stable orbit. As the planets approach, observers see through their telescopes cities on Bronson Beta. In the movie it is the rogue star named Bellus, accompanied by an Earth-sized planet named Zyra that cause all the commotion. As mentioned above Zyra makes a close approach first, causing massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis that wreak havoc around the world. The book does as often the written plots do, outline more in-depth drama about rocket engine material, other world rockets and the complexities thereof. There was a follow on book "After Worlds Collide."
a bit fanciful when viewed in a modern context...with over 2,000 planets discovered we've yet to find one where you could just open the spaceship door and walk out
Earth vs the Flying Saucers, the Crawling Eye, It, the Terror From Outer Space, Journey To the Center Of the Earth, Lost World and Day the Earth Stood Still are my favorites among another 20 honorable mentions.
Love all these movies! I also remember when my mom took my brother and me to see the Japanese sci-fi movie The Mysterions. Oh I still have a copy of the original War Of The Worlds.... made some popcorn and watched it again not too long ago ... hehehe
"Quatermass and the Pit" is incredibly surreal and eerie even though the special effects are rather primitive. It's difficult to make your hair stand on end with Martian locusts but they did it.
@@lefantomer Somehow the recovered film of the ritual is spookier for being grainy and crude, with the nasty little bugs buzzing around slaughtering each other. 'The Quatermass Xperiment' is also noteworthy. Richard Wordsworth as the astronaut who has absorbed his space shipmates' personalities is haunting.
Even in the mid 1960s... these 50s Sci Fi movies were fun to watch. I was just a little kid growing up during the turbulent 60s era. My particular 10 best would have omitted The Blob, where it's difficult to see Steve McQueen pretending to play a teenager (he was actually 27 yrs old then),.. and Godzilla (man in a costume). I definitely would have included "Invaders from Mars" , where one of the stars of the movie is indeed a child!... and "20 Million Miles to Earth"... featuring the fantastic special effects stop action magic by the late, great Ray Harryhausen! That's just me though.
I always hated the ending of Invaders From Mars (though better than the movie ending of The Wizard Of Oz) and I liked Earth Vs. Flying Saucers better than 20 Million. The movie was the living embodiment of the Flying Saucer scares of the time!
Ray Harryhausen’s work was awesome, I can’t even imagine how much time/effort it must have taken to produce such animation. Creative people back in the 30s, 40s, 50s were much more dedicated to their craft than succeeding decades.
Forbidden Planet definitely number 1 for me. The Quatermass Xperiment would be my number 2 but i have a real soft spot for Them! which i loved as a child.
I can remember seeing all of them while growing up. I would pass our small local theater and look at the posters of upcoming movies. I hoped there would be a sci-fi or monster movie among them. If one was on display, I also knew it would be worth my fifty cents. Because a young, beautiful, and very well-endowed lady would be shown in the arms of an alien or monster.
I loved watching monster movies when I was a kid and saw all of these movies. The 50s had so many great sci-fi movies. A couple of other movies from that time period I enjoyed was "From Hell it Came" (Tabanga!) and "Attack of the Crab Monsters" (with "the professor"). But there are so many others, so good and some so bad they're good!
I have seen all 10 at the theater back in the 50's every one was and still is great to the memory of an 83 year old Man. I do have a favorite and it's Forbidden Planet,
vacarro warren, The creature from the black lagoon was and is just fantastic. I loved that movie when I was a kid. I haven't seen it in years, but it may be time to watch it again. Thank you so much for the comment. Stay tuned, more to come. Have a great day. Mike
that damn tv ad with that clawed hand coming up out of the water accompanied by that scary music used to freak me out...especially when I was home alone........
I'm now 80; I grew up watching these films on Saturdays at the local theaters...
Thanks for the clips !
"GORT, KLATU BARADA NICTO"
Me too!...I am a fellow Boomer guy, who spent quite a few Saturdays at my local cinema, spending a whole 25 cents, to catch the latest TWO Sci-Fi/horror movies--that's right...in those days, you got two movies, plus a cartoon, usually preceded by some newsreel and the "coming attractions"! Such a deal, and usually my parents would "pony up" another 50 cents for the candy and/or popcorn found in the lobby. Times were not really any better, but they certainly were more basic, and more innocent. Everything changed--including the price of admission--as the 1960s began to unravel.
Translated: “It’s on”! 😂
right behind you bud, looks like we made it to this point anyway
Me too ! I turn 71 this month, and these movies are the wallpaper of my very soul.
“Nice climate you have here. High in oxygen.”
“I RARELY USE THE STUFF, SIR. IT PROMOTES RUST.”😂
Anne Frances in a miniskirt jumpstarted my puberty.
I'm 83 and have NEVER seen most of these movies.
The Day the Earth Stood Still is my #1 from this list. The complexity of the plot and quality of the acting put on top. The Invasion of the Body Snatchers scared the pants off me as a kid.
Chiller,
The Day the Earth Stood Still is outstanding as a movie. I appreciate the story so much more as an adult just because the story dealt with the global complexities of the time, and obviously I understand the politics of the movie much more. But when that movie would come on Saturday afternoons when I was a kid, Gort was just the man. Thank you so much for the comment. Stay tuned, there is more to come. Have a great day.
Mike
Agreed and agreed. "Body Snatchers" creeped me out; But, "Invaders From Mars" reeky scared me. I think it was the music that really got to me,
My favorite Sci-Fi Movie without question was “THEM”. Love those giant Ants.
@@itsgreat7150 The army should have used Ant powder , their guns were no good
Day the Earth Stood Still presents Klatu as a good guy. But he's offering subjugation not peace.
The forbidden planet holds concepts that are unsurpassed even to this very day. The best pure sci fi ever made, period.
Forbidden Planet is certainly one of my very faaaaavorites.
I agree with you . When I went back to college later in life, the Philosophy teacher referenced this film. I knew then that I had chosen the right school and that the faculty had open minds.
Shakespeare did it first in "The Tempest".
Saw Forbidden Planet at the theater when I was six. Nightmares galore. Lucky me - I had a TV in my room because my Dad repaired them and someone just gave it to us. A 12" round screen in a cabinet with two or three knobs in front and tubes in the back. Twilight Zone, One Step Beyond, and Marx Brothers movies on Sunday. Sky King, Roy Rogers, and those westerns! Bonanza, Have Gun Will Travel, Cheyenne, Sugarfoot, Bronco Lane, Tombstone Territory, and on and on.
....Hoppy was king in the 50's....still have those glasses around here somewhere.....
"Forbidden Planet" fried me for life! The Monster from the Id on that big screen terrified me and I loved it! I still collect Fifties horror/sci-fi posters to this day. From there I went to "Curse of Frankenstein and I was off & running. Good times.
Seeing in the theater must have been amazing 👍👍
@@TramJizzle It was the drive-in. Many good movies at the drive-ins. The cartoons were excellent. A little playground area. That speaker in the window. Mom made popcorn and stuff. $1.50 for the whole family. Saw Auntie Mame - a genuine classic when I was bit older. I tend to ramble.
First time I've heard anyone mention 'Sky King' in many decades and used to listen to that on the radio.
I agree The Day the Earth Stood Still is the best ever not just the 50s
Too preachy .Where were the aliens when people were thrown into ovens,alive
That's cause it's the only one directed by a future 2 time Oscar Winner for Best Director
Great movie but My favorite has to be Forbidden Planet.
Even though I was born in '40, grew up in the 50's, Five popular movies of the era which I have still never seen
to this very day.....
1) Forbidden Plants
2) The Day the Earth Stood Tall
3) Investors From Mars
4) It Came From Out of Inner Space
5) She wore a Yellow Spaceship
BHE
The 50s was such an incredible decade for such movies, you could easily have picked 20 instead of just 10.
I couldn't agree more Sir 👏, I grew up on classic films such as these, mostly seen on English T.V. stations. There's an abundance of praise from everyone on this blog, and we all have different opinions on the best of these films, I find it really satisfying that we are all as one with our fondness and appreciation for these Fabulous old films👍
Cannabis is like alien pods. Changing men into women.
Yes for sure~!!
Agreed
all the 50's space ships...for all their bells and whistles...lacked the one key component that would actually make space flight possible....the computer....it's the same reason the flying wing would crash...but not the B-2...which is based on the same design....
Earth vs. The Flying Saucers ought to have made it onto the list; it's one of the best 50's sci-fi movies, imho.
The most realistic ufo movie ever made!👋👳♂️🤜🚏🤛👽☠🤖🛸😱
You are right!
One of my favorites. One of the best lines:"Fire at saucer till it crashes." No shit,Hugh.
Right up there with Forbidden Planet
Agreed. There’s a part that alwaye gets cut (presumably to accommodates more commercials) on the free versions where our intrepid team of scientists manage to shoot one of the aliens dead when he was outside his saucer’s force field, the others on his sis sheep leave him and take off
Excellent selection that I agree with. I remember the first time I saw "The Blob" in color (on the late show, once we had a color TV), I was so surprised that the blob was red! And the two stars went on to bigger fame---Steve McQueen became a cinema superstar and his girlfriend Aneta Corsaut became Andy's love interest Helen Crump on "The Andy Griffith Show." "Journey to the Center of the Earth" was a big budget production with major stars that is still one of my favorites today.
I'm 69 and will not watch the blob, scared the hell out of me as a kid and still gives me the big heebie jeebies
The Day The Earth Stood Still. Best SF movie ever made. It is a parody of The Greatest Story Ever Told.
Agreed
@@jaimenegron1871 agree too
Parody
@@nickgov66
Right. Never was good at spelling.
Yup....Still one of my favorite sci/fy movies.
Thank you for this, 50s sci/fi movies are how I grew up.
Al, you and me both. I used to watch the reruns over and over again. I wanted to put more classic sci-fi movies into this video, but that would make the video too long. So there are a couple more coming soon. Glad you enjoyed the video, stay tuned, and have a great day. Mike
What I loved about these old Sci-Fi movies is that one could really exercise ones imagination. As a child it was thrilling!
Guess that makes me a 67 year old kid!
@@robertmallory1877 Try 75!
yea...remember when going to the movies was a real treat, almost like a special occasion... and you didn't
have to take out a mortgage to go? The movie (maybe a double feature), cartoon, newsreel, coming attractions. Along with popcorn and a soda, a big selection of candy (Good N Plenty, Jordan Almonds, Baby Ruth, Chuckels, Chunky, etc....All that entertainment for about 40 cents...then we'd walk home and discuss the movie. Even when t.v. became more and more popular, going to the movies was still something to look forward to, young and old alike, and there was something for every for everyone. So glad that many of us are still around to share those times.
@@jenniferdjaslowskj993 And in earlier days they would have a chapter of a movie serial! I have quite a few of them in my DVD collection. Sheer fun and lots of Science Fiction elements from the 1930's on. Would we have had the SF craze of the 1950's without their influence?
@@jenniferdjaslowskj993 I bit different for us in UK . But similar . The flicks would be a whole morning , or afternoon of joy . For less than a shilling !
I know each and every one of those movies and I have them all on VHS in my personal collection!!!!!! What a fantastic decade of sci fi movies!!!!!!!
I had the VHS but I became a DVD convert!
I have copies of most. A great collection, esp. the Black Lagoon creature trio! Filmed in Florida.
The 1950s Journey to the Centre of the Earth is far more fun than the three modern ones from 2000 forwards.
Yes indeed!
Nicely done. THIS ISLAND EARTH should have deserved at least a brief mention, though.
Matt, thanks for that. To be honest, I forgot about that one. And I loved that movie when I was a kid. Great catch thought. And you just gave me a great idea. I think what I will do to make it up to you and do a This Island Earth for its own video. Glad you liked the video. More to come stay tuned.
Absolutely! My mother took me and my older brother, thinking it was some kind of nature movie. I was like 8 and scared near the end.
Agree. TIE should be too 10
This Island Earth should have been 3 right after War of the Worlds
This Island Earth was the one that I was going to suggest to be added. I see that I am the last person in comments to feel that way. I liked Invasion of the Saucer Men from that time period too.
While I agree with most of your picks, I feel “War of the Worlds” should be number one. I’m biased because it’s my all time favorite sci-fi film. Thank you for this content!!
What a fantastic list! Being born in 1952 I remember my parents taking us to the all night drive-in theater shows (4 movies in one night!) and watching these great movies. Then the sixties started with Gorgo, Angry Red Planet, Village of the Damned, and on and on. Then Star Trek started on TV. I was in Heaven. What a great time to live!!! That with the space race just made my childhood exceptional.
We did not have drive in,s in the UK but we still had picture houses though ( cinema)
When I was a kid, the Old Orchard theater showed a double feature of scary movies every Saturday. We could walk there and get in for 25 cents. I don't recall many of them, but "The Angry Red Planet" scared the bejeezus out of me, and since it was paired with "Circus of Horrors," which was terrifying within the first couple of minutes, I had a lot of nightmares.
@@DalokiMauvais People slam Angry Red Planet, I still like it at 70 yo. Hey Irish. maybe you could make some coffee.
Freddie,
Thank you for your comment, it is greatly appreciated. When I put this list together, it was very hard to get it down to just ten. But I wanted to at least get the ball rolling to see if there was a good response to create another one. And, there has been such a positive response to this video that I am working on a second one right now, and I have an outline for a third one. The next one will be based on the comments I received on movies that did not make the list the first time. I guess you could say like a fan based top ten. So stay tuned. Also, I am a big fan of the 60's sci-fi movies and TV as well. However if I ever do a 60's Top Ten Sci-Fi shows, which seems very likely, I would have to leave Star Trek off the list. Star Trek is my favorite franchise, so it would automatically be number one by default in my world, and that would not really be a fare list. So stay tuned tuned, thank you again for your comment and have a wonderful day.
Mike
@@philr5497 I hope you didn't think I was slamming it. I don't think it would terrify me so much now, but I was no more than 10, maybe younger, and the giant amoeba sucking in Sammy (? why do I think that was the character's name) and then infecting Gerald Mohr's (? again) character did me in then. As for Circus of Horrors (on the double-bill), I don't know why I didn't run out of the auditorium too, like my friend did. Deformed faces have always been one of my triggers - that's the reason I completely quit watching Twilight Zone and Thriller.
What does it say about me that I have seen all of these back in the day… AND LOVED THEM ALL!!! Back when there were only three channels these were played on a Saturday afternoon.
And two of the channels were at least a little fuzzy.
@@marcbahn5487 send dad back up on the roof as we yelled back an forth to each other!...actually, most of us saw these for the first time in a theater
Perhaps This Island Earth deserves a spot on this list"
Larche, This Island Earth more than deserves a spot. It was one of my favorites when I was a kid, and I literally forgot about it for this video. I could kick myself for that one. But stay tuned, I am going to do at least two more 1950's Sci-Fi movie videos. It will be showing up. Thanks for enjoying the video, and have a great day. Mike
@@scifiandmore Looking forward to seeing them. I think many SF films of the '50 remain vastly underraded.
Agreed
Yes..if only for allowing my pre-pubescent thoughts to run wild, checking out Faith Domergue--a rare beauty of a "B" movie queen!...Turns out, she had been a lover of the infamous Howard Hughes, when she was 17 years old!
@@curbozerboomer1773 ♥
Only one.
“ The Day The Earth Stood Still”
Still the best today
And the remake was rubbish.
@@michaelsegriff3362 you think 🤣
@@chipcook6646 🤮
my favorite as well
Yup...because it demanded a more mature, thoughtful participation from the viewer..I caught this magnificent movie a few years after it came out...local theatres would have "second run" formats, in the mid-1950s, when I was, by that time, old enough to attend movies with my fellow pre-teen friends. I viewed this movie again a few weeks ago, and was struck by how it portrayed pretty accurately, the day-to-day appearance, and activities of the general public back then. I remembered how people were more conventionally dressed, men usually still wore hats in 1951, women dressed in a more conservative manner, folks were more "formally social"...etc. I found the scenes of the folks having breakfast at the boarding house, to be nostalgically heart-warming. Nontheless, I welcomed the more liberating, less conforming aspects of American life, that my generation embraced during the 1960s, and onwards. Underneath the staid lifestyle of the 1950s, many problems were lurking beneath the surface!
To this day, I am still waiting for the sequel to "When Worlds Collide", "AFTER Worlds Collide". Great Book.....could be a great movie!
So am I! I still have the paperback that I bought and read decades ago. I would love to see the movie based on the book, with some 21st Century updates and appropriate CGI.
I'am old enough to remember ALL these movies. Thank you for the memories!! I think THEM and THE THING are tied for first place!!
Norman,
Thank you for your comment. There were so many good movies to choose from. But I am not finished with the 50's yet. I will be putting out a second 1950's sci-fi movie list so thay tuned. Have a great day.
Mike
I agree
Them was such a great movie
..."Them" was originally supposed to be shot in color...but they settled for the opening shot
Me too, born in 1942 and a forever Sci-Fi Fantasy reader!
I agree. Two great movies!
“The Thing” (1951) was actually titled “The Thing from Another World”.
And, if I recall corrector, James Arnes of "Gunsmoke" fame played "the Thing..
@@vampthat You remember well. James Arness was one also of the main actors in THEM. Gunsmoke began in 1955-1975, one of the longest television series ever.
@@vampthat George Fenneman, who was Groucho Marx’ announcer on the show “You Bet Your Life” was one of the scientists.
@@GGE47 Marshall Dillon From Another World
From the age of 7 or so, I read almost everything Science -Fiction and Fantasy,
WE had a TV in the late forties and I devoured Captain Video, SF Theater and more.
These movies and the runners up were my childhood.
War of the Worlds, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Forbidden Planet, The Time Machine, the list is much longer,
will forever be in my memory!.
Thanks you,
Frederick "Rik" Spector
In my early years I read a lot of varying books....then I discovered science fiction....everything else paled and seemed boring after that....especially western movies labled as 'oaters'....
Some of my all time favourites that weren't mentioned are The Deadly Mantis (1957), The Monster That Challenged The World (1957), The Monolith Monsters (1957), Kronos (1957), Rodan (1956), The Mysterians (1957), The Black Scorpion (1957) and Fiend Without a Face (1958). These ones aren't 50s movies but Gorgo (1961) and The Day of the Triffids (1962) are two of my favourite movies of all time and don't get enough recognition
I want to thank you for your list because when you mentioned The Monolith Monsters I finally found the answer to a search I've been on since I was 20 years of age (I am now 66). When I was growing up inthe early to mid-1960s they would play that movie on a local TV station and for years the one memory that always stuck with me were when the the monolith crystals would rise up fall over repeat. I could never recall the title until now and the clips I found online confirm that one sole memory. Thanks again. And Fiend Without a Face is one cool little movie. My brother and I loved it.
I agree - The Mysterians (1957) was one of my childhood favs 👍
Day of the Triffids was supposed to be remastered a few years back because of serious issues with the original film elements but nothing has been mentioned since. And I just ordered Gorgo on 4k. Looking forward to it......
@@rogershore3128 I never knew that! Do you know where you saw this? I'm not sure what print they would've used but the British Film Institute has a 16mm print thats in pretty good condition
@@RobotGooseStudios Are you talking Day of the triffids?
Honorable mention for "The Incredible Shrinking Man".
And if there's a 1960s list coming up, then "Village of the Damned" should definitely be on it.
Pete,
I loved the incredible shrinking man when I was a kid. I'm going to do a second movie list for the 50's since there were so many great ones to choose from, and too many for just one list. So stay tuned, and thank you for your comment. Have a great day.
Mike
@@scifiandmore I'll enjoy seeing that myself.
Village of The Damned gave me nightmares.
Oh yes!, Definitely, excellent choices 👏, perhaps also The Fly ?......
@@501sqn3 "Andre help me" gives me the creeps sixty years later!!!
As I recall: War of the Worlds was an 1898 HG Wells novel; Journey to the Center of the Earth was an 1864 Jules Verne novel; Invasion of the Body Snatchers was a 1954 Jack Finney novel "The Body Snatchers"; The Thing was a 1938 John W Campbell Jr Novella "Who goes There?"; The Day The Earth Stood Still was a 1940 Harry Bates short story "Farewell to the Master"; When Worlds Collide was a 1933 novel written by Edwin Balmer and Phillip Wylie who also published a sequel After Worlds Collide. Just saying.
Good research!
The Creature from the Black Lagoon played a huge part in my life as a kid in the 60’s
The creature swimming beneath the girl was really scary.
Yet another I would have put on the list. The last Great Universal Monster!
- It sucked in my book.
Great movie
Definitely should have made Top Ten. Anyone who digs these movies should agree.
One thing almost all these movies have in common is that, unlike contemporary remakes and other scifi, they know how to build suspense and character around a meaningful idea. The fact that their special effects were limited makes them concentrate on the elements of story that make these works last, unlike the violent, mindless stuff today.
I dunno man, this sort of movie is rather silly and definitely close to fantasy than science fiction. Don't romanticize the past or these movies. Simply accept them for what they are.
John Doe,
Thank you for your comment, I really appreciate it, and I agree with you completely. These older movies didn't have the benefit of modern day special effects. They had to rely on good story telling. I also agree, that even the remakes of the 1950's sci-fi movies don't necessarily rely as much on the story element, but focus more on the special effects. The best example I have in that regard is War of the Worlds. The 1950's War of the Worlds, for the time, had ground breaking effects, and introduced a different looking Martian alien warship, even if you can see the strings the alien ship were hanging from. But the story is what kept you at the edge of your seat,. The more recent version, took more elements from the H.G.Wells book that did not get presented in the 50's film, but didn't deliver the same emotional or suspenseful impact. Rather, relied on the special effects to fill in the story, vs telling the story. The Day the Earth Stood Still is a better modern remake in my opinion. While there were heavy special effects, the story wasn't lost to the effects. Anyway, thank you so much for your comment. Stay tuned, there are more 1950's Sci-Fi videos coming. I'm glad you liked our video, and we are happy to hear any suggestions you have. Have a great day, and stay tuned, more to come.
Mike
Too right mate. People are so devolved these days they can't understand what they see and hear in classic movies. Goes right through them.
Back in the day, science fiction fans had a rule that good special affects meant a bad story, and a good story meant bad effects. That didn’t change until Star Wars came along.
Great points. And I’m not referring to Faith Domergue in This Island Earth. 😂
The Invasion of the Body Snatchers main character Kevin McCarthy was also in the 1978 remake. Kind of felt like he survived the 1st movie only to be killed in the 2nd. I liked the cameo.
I am old, in my 70's now but saw all of these as a kid as our family owned all the movie theatres in town. I cannot dispute any on your list, as I loved every one, and certainly "Forbidden Planet" deserves the number one spot as it was innovative in so many ways, not the least of which was the electronic music score, listed as "Electronic Tonalities" by Louis and Beebe Barron. One film I
would add is "It! The Terror From Beyond Space", often overlooked because of its low-budget origins. We all know the big-dollar later film "Alien" (1979) ripped off the plot shamelessly but "It!" had a (mostly) wonderful cast of character actor pros, good suspense build-up by not clearly showing the monster until about 1/3 way into the movie and a suspensful claustrophobic setting by the different floors or levels of the rocket ship separated by thick, metal lockable hatches. Paul Blaisdell did the monster costume, one of his best efforts IMHO. And despite a running time of barely over an hour, there are at least a half-dozen truly memorable set-pieces in the film.
Greatly enjoyed your presentation. Keep up the good work.
Those were my two favorites also. I saw IT in the theatre when I was a kid...I lasted up until I saw the creatures face...then ran my screaming, crying, 6 year old ass out of the theatre. Didn't see the whole movie till it came out on VHS...still freaked me out 😂. Saw Forbidden Planet on the big screen also...LOVED the special effects...the monster spooked the HELL out of me, but I made it through the whole movie ... 😊 "This Island Earth" was another big screen winner. I was so lucky my mother loved the movies when I was young.
@@mauricepowers8079 "Forbidden Planet" is partially based on Shakespeare's "The Tempest" as well. First class production all around.
Forbidden planet "1 (also, my personnal taste, "the shrinking man" which struck me as a kid!)
@@lefantomer FP also was the firds big bidgryt sci fi movie shot in color in wiodfrer screen. I laughed when the cook had Robby whip up 60 gallons of "Ksnsas City Rocket Boiurbon"...it's SMOOTH!
@@crankychris2 Earl Holliman was the cook.
In a Part 2... 'The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms', 'Fiend Without a Face', 'Creature from the Black Lagoon', 'It Came from Outer Space', 'It Came from Beneath the Sea', 'The Deadly Mantis', 'The Giant Behemoth', (and there's one with Martians that inject alcohol into teenagers, but I can't recall its title). Another teen-age/Rock n' Roll/ Monster movie was 'The Giant Gila Monster'. ...these are what comprised my Saturday afternoons spent at the movies in the Fifties. Pretzel sticks and a mos'ly seltzer drink from the soda machine. These movies and MAD magazine made me the unbalanced 75-year-old I am today.
I know the one you could remember.the name of the movie you were mentioning. I's Invasion of the saucernen. I hope that helped you.
YES! Thanx, Pam. @@pamelaflanigan5935
Fellow Clevelanders will remember Ghoulardi airing these and other cheesy sci-fi movies every Friday and Saturday nights in the 60’s ! Ernie Anderson’s Ghoulardi character will be spun off by many others, most notably Svengoolie currently airing on MeTV !
"Creature from the Black Lagoon" another favorite.
Oh yes!
On part 2
How about the crawling eye
@@williamburns4088 Good one!
This was a well Done Compilation! Subscribed.
My Ultimate Favourite is WAR OF THE WORLDS... The "scariest and Smartest" of them all!
A tip of the Hat to THEM which as a toddler scared me to death!
James Arness(The Thing) and James Whitmore in "Them", a great movie
Them is in my top 5 👍🏿
THEM really scared me too!...and years later, when viewing it again, it was striking to see several actors who went on to greater fame in various TV shows!..Arness, Fess Parker, and even Leonard Nimoy (likely his first speaking role, one line, when he answers a phone, and tells an Army officer the call is for him!) are spotted in this excellent, fast-paced movie. BTW, the huge mutated ants, that seem to be all over the place, were actually just two large props..one was inert--not mobile-and the other was grafted on the front half-of a forklift!...Skillful editing made us think otherwise.
Thank you so much. Those were indeed the top 10 si-fi movies from the 50's. I couldn't have done better myself.
When I was in 3rd grade, a friend and I went to see Them. The movie scared his pansy ass and we had to leave, so I didn't know how it ended. Decades later, it was shown on late Saturday night TV and I was able to finish the movie. Well worth the wait!
Day of the Triffids (1962) will get my vote if you do a 1960,'s sci-fi movies follow-up. Excellent bring back the memories production! Thank you!
First Men On The Moon deserves to be on a list of early 60's SF films!
Sure it was 'him'.... we ALL KNOW IT WAS YOU! LOLOLOL
@@robertmallory1877 Actually, "First Men in the Moon"
My two all time favorites as a young teen: "When Worlds Collide" and "The thing". Great movies for their time.
I wish that they had made a sequel to to " When Worlds Collide ",from the book "After Worlds Collide ".
James Arness, who later played Marshall Dillon on Gunsmoke was The Thing. I found When Worlds Collide you be a very moving film.
@@williamclarke4510 In the movie called a giant carrot😀
The Thing from another world, 1951, great!!!
,
@@dalewilliams2063 The movie is ok, but it does not do justice to the book and After Worlds Collide.
If you read the novelization of 'Forbidden Planet' you will find that Altaira is not Morbius' daughter, but a clone of his wife. Even creepier!
What?? Never knew that one...
Why, the dirty old man.
I will have to re read it again. I have missed that over the years. My copy of “Forbidden Planet” is a mini prized possession!
@@patrickdougherty6390 Check out who wrote it; if I remember correctly, it was a major screen writer. Also look at the part where the ship's doctor dissects the animal that the captain killed, and finds it to be a robot, not alive at all. Star Trek Season 1 stole this idea for 'Shore Leave' .
H,G,Wells was walking down a country lane in England, with his brother. They were talking about him writing a book. And his brother mentioned that it was a beautiful day, and added that a invasion from Mars. I have read the book many times. A narration of a invasion from mars. What a legend.
Ah the memories. I'm now 66 and as a child my Aunt who used to baby sit would let me stay up late to watch these types of movies. She would give me all the kool-ade, and popcorn I wanted while watching. Being only 5 years old, they were despite the bad animation, very scary to me. But I loved the rush I got from the scare. Immagine a five year old huddled against this Aunt sitting on the couch munching popcorn and drinking Kool-aid. Thing is, that Aunt is still alive, 81 years old, and still razzes me to this day about how she used to make me litterally pee my pants at the scariest moments by grabbing me and screaming. She remains to this day, my favorite Aunt.🙂🙂🙂
In my opinion, "Journey to the Center of the Earth" is more of a fantasy movie. Movies I miss "Tarantula", "It came from Outer Space" and "The Beast from 20000 Fathoms"
I was always partial to “Attack of the Crab Monsters”.
Andreas, I agree. There were so many fantastic to movies to pick choose from the 50's era, I kept it to 10 just in the interest of time of the video. But I am working on the second 1950's Sci-Fi video, and a third will be behind that. So stay tuned. Thank you for the awesome comment, and have a great day. Mike.
I like "Them"....
@@TOPDadAlpha
Except it was a stupid way to name the movie. You would think the girl would have said “Ants”!
20000 Leagues Under the Sea. The 1955 one produced by Walt Disney
These movies all came out before my time, but I still remember watching some of these in the 60's on Saturday afternoons. It was great to be young with imaginations running wild.
Nice list! Fun facts: Forbidden Planet is based on Shakespeare’s “ The Tempest,” and Gene Barry from War of the Worlds has a small cameo at the end of Spielberg’s 2005 remake.
So did Ann Robinson.
@@edwardpike3386 The studio decided that the original huge tripod machines the Martians used in the book The War of the Worlds were tooo dangerous to use. They decided on the ships used in the in the 1953 movie instead.
I grew up in Boston. I remembered Creature Double Feature Saturday! My dad would kick me out of the house to go play and it was horrible! I would wait all week for these movies lol
The Invasion of the Body Snatchers was a perfect match for the McCarthy era and the "communists hiding among your friends" paranoia. The Thing (From Another World) couldn't be made according to the original story in the 1950s, but John Carpenter did a good job on the original story, "Who Goes There?" Forbidden Planet so CLEARLY influenced Gene Roddenberry that it can be said to be the origin of the Star Trek franchise.
Agreed. Robby the Robot appeared in many movies and tv shows, inclidimg Sat morning kid shows. The sa ucer shaped spaceship also got around!
I totally agree with everything you said, especially The Forbidden Planet being the inspiration for Star Trek!
Ironically, there Was communist plants though
McCarthy was right though.
@@dansmith1661 Evidently so but I wish he had gone about it differently. Long term results were the Commies being helped by the backlash!
I love how Miles reprises the ending to Body Snatchers at the start of its 1970s remake. Continuity.
66 year old here. My favorite is The Day Earth Stood Still and Thing from another World. "Them" and Creature from Black Lagoon always enjoyed too. Clato Barada Nictoe
As a boy in the early sixties, my Mom insisted I sit and watch "War of the Worlds" and "The Day the Earth Stood Still". She was quite the fan and soon I was too. Two more that came to mind while watching this were "The Brain from Planet Arras" and "Robinson Crusoe on Mars" . I don't remember how good they were but they left an impression. The giant floating brain was gross and Crusoe had a sidekick on Mars that suspiciously resembled a Native American. I remember I liked him.
Robinson Crusoe on Mars was made in the 60s.
@@ChrisPBacon-ok7ir 1964
"World Without End" should have a place since I believe it's the first movie where the crew of a space ship travel into the future. "Destination Moon" should also have a place as it pretty much predicted the way the moon missions would actually work, and this in 1950! I can also recommend "Flight to Mars" for its introduction of alien humanoid beauties wearing extremely revealing outfits. That got my attention as a young boy! I should also like to mention that many of these movies re-used props from previous films. Forbidden Planet sourced many of the props, uniforms, Altaira's dresses, various gauges, etc. I get a kick out of recognizing these!
Robert Heinlien was involved with Destination Moon. They attempted to keep the movie scientificly correct to known science of the time. One thing they missed was not having staged rockets.
don't forget the Disney animated features "Man in Space" and "Mars... and Beyond".....
👍🏽
*> Destination Moon* was " *lamo!* "
- More of an Informative. docudrama than really a scify thriller. Because it didn't have any hot babes or monsters in it.
> That's like drinking southern sweet tea that has no sugar in it.
The space suits from Destination Moon were reused in Flight to Mars (I think).
Robbie was also in a pretty good movie called The Invisible Boy, which, in part, was inspiration for The Terminator, of all things!
Whiskey Victor,
I've seen the Invisible Boy, and I thought it was a great movie. But I didn't know it was a partial inspiration for the Terminator. That is just AWESOME. Thank you for pointing that out. I really appreciate your comment. I feel like I learned something. Stay tuned, and have a great day.
Mike
Been looking for that movie on DVD.
I’ve seen it a couple times.
Good movie.
📻🙂
@@scifiandmore If I am not mistaken, Robbie was in 3 episodes of The Twilight Zone.
And an episode of Columbo
I grew up watching all these gems!
Me too...
Please do not forget that this was WALTER Piegons his first sci fi picture..it was tremendous! Superb cast and great play. The lazer pistols gave off a humming sound!
I assumed the humming was the sound of air burning as the rays passed through it. Did the movie specify the guns were lazers?
I'm a fan of sci-fi films of the 50s and 60s, and this is one of the best "ten best of" lists (I own most of the films on it). Nice work.
I have many of them too. :-)
My mother once had quite a large collection of Zane Gray westerns, and I read a few of them....then, I discovered Sci/Fy. How could ANYone return to boring westerns featuring uncouth & smelly horses after that? So much more interesting reading about smelly and uncouth (but intelligent) alien beings ALL the way from Betelguese and/or Antares!
A nod to THIS ISLAND EARTH certainly seems appropriate, but missing, as it was a big influence on FORBIDDEN PLANET (the process the crew goes through in FP to prepare for conditions on Altair was directly derived from TIE, which has often been suggested as an influence on Star Trek's "beam-me-downer" set-up. It originated with the earlier film.)
How about INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN? Certainly a better film than THE BLOB. Or either of the Quatermass films, far more influencial and lasting that WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE. BUT, then again, these just may be your personal favorites, and as such, are very individualistic.
Thanks for the video!
I liked This Island Earth, it should be on the list. But which of them now there gets kicked off?
A nod to This Island Earth, is more than appropriate. I could actually kick myself for that one. That was one of my favorites when I was a kid. But have no fear, more 1950's videos are on the way, and this time I have the benefit of quality input from viewers. It's definatley going to be in the next one. Thank you for the great comment, stay tuned, more to come. And, have a great day. Mike
Source of the immortal line" "your Earth logic is not like our logic".
I LOVE This Island Earth. it would be my #2 just behind The Day The Earth Stood Still.
@@richardrose2606 ? What is?
I would have put This Island Earth (1955) at the #3 position, The Day the Earth Stood Still at #2 and Forbidden Planet at #1 just as you did, which is where it rightfully belongs.
I wish the studios would re-release these on the silver screen so those of us who had to watch them on tv screens could experience the full impact of viewing them the way they were intended to be presented.🤠
Thanks for resurrecting this list. A great one that was left out is "The Crawling Eye."
'The Blob' was Steve McQueen's first film.... also, the Blob is transparent when it hatches but becomes red after it starts eating people because of the blood!!! Also - 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth' isn't strictly sci-fi ... more a fantasy/escapist film perhaps? ... I agree with other comments - 'The Incredible Shrinking Man' is a 100% classic!!! Honourable mention for 'Them' and 'I Married A Monster from Outer Space'
It was many years before I saw The Blob in color so until I got the videotape the blood red angle had escaped me. B&W TV, what can I say?
YES! Thank you for mentioning 'I Married A Monster From Outer Space' and 'The Incredible Shrinking Man'. 'I Married A Monster' is a gem that is so much better than the cheesy title would suggest. Grant Williams, who plays the shrinking Scott Carey, also started in 'Monolith Monsters' - which is also worth checking out. 🙂
Very well done. Did not realize that so many good SciFi movies were made in the 1950s.
Them! was an awesome movie. Worked like a mystery movie until the payoff halfway through. Lived in Lancaster,Ca as a kid and found out years later the desert scenes were filmed less than five miles from my home. The sound the ants make creeps me out to this day.
Definitely an underrated, overlooked film. I loved this movie a a kid, and I believe that it still holds up today.
Thank you for this video. I had a huge rush of nostalgia for some of these gems. I plan to watch them and read the books again.
JamesF,
I'm glad you enjoyed it. I had a list that was larger than this for 50's Sci-Fi, so I'm going to break it into two or possibly 3 videos to properly cover all the favorites of 50's Sci-Fi. Stay Tuned, there is more to come. And thank you so much for your comments. Have a great day.
Mike
We should totally get a Blob remake due to melting polar ice caps!
There was a blog remake in the 80’s. Compared to the original, it was awful. But today Hollywood has the tech to make an awesome version of it. Melting ice caps freeing the 50’s blob, now that’s a story, lol.
What an awesome spin Love it.
@@scifiandmore Both are good, but the remake isn't as good as the original!
In 1972, a sequel was released, entitled “Beware The Blob”. There was a 1988 remake of “The Blob”.
They already made one I watch it on ROKU last week.
Great list of some of the best sci-fi films ever produced. To this day, very few scifi movies can match the creativeness of these classic films
I love old Sci-Fi movies, there's something so sincere about them, most lovers of Sci-Fi were made fans by these Movies!
#1, The Thing From Another World (1951)
#2, War of the Worlds (1953)
#3, The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951)
#4, Forbidden Planet (1956)
#5, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Top 5 ...... All Great with meaning !! 👍📽
The Amazing Colossal Man (1957) is a movie that stuck with me since seeing it as a kid. Now that I live in Vegas I love the scenes where he wonders around old Las Vegas. A movie like it but showing a man that starts getting smaller is "The Incredible Shrinking Man", also from 1957.
Two totally enjoyable movies. "The Amazing Colossal Man" and its sequel "War of The Colossal Beast" are both on TH-cam.
Seen both. For some reason shrinking man captured my imagination. The final scene where he is microscopic in the universe (yet no smaller than anyone else) really moves me
Forbidden Planet was unmatched. A work of genius filmmakers. Still holds up today!
I'm actually a Universal monster freak.
Frankenstein is the pinnacle .
When the monster first appears and there are 3 shots that home in on his face.
The best. Made my 7 year old self shit in his drawers.!
When Worlds Collide absolutely facinated me as a kid. How about a top 10 campy sci fi movies like " Queen of Outer Space ?
excellent video. all top movies, 50s sci fi was the best, no need for all the gore and crap of today. nothing like grabbing a bowl of popcorn and sitting down to watch movies like these, and Monolith Monsters, it came from beneath the sea, beast from 20000 fathoms and others
Charles, thank you for the comment. I’m with you on the 50’s Sci-fi movies. When I was a kid, and before Star Wars hit the big screen, these movies got me hooked to sci-fi. There seems to be a lot of unnecessary elements to modern day movies. But the 50’s movies had originality, innovation, and great story telling. I greatly appreciate the comment, stay tuned there is more to come. Have a great day.
The Blob is one of my favorites. I have been to Phoenixville PA a few times. The town hasn't changed since the movie. The Colonial Theater, the school where they get the fire extinguishers and the doctor's house, are still the same. They had Blobfest during the summer. The guest of honor? The Blob prop itself. In a paint can was a pound or two of silicone. Journey To the Center Of The Earth is another favorite.
11:47 The novels _When Worlds Collide_ and _After Worlds Collide_ by Philip Wylie and Edwin Balmer are among the greatest sci-fi novels of the twentieth century, well worth the few hours it takes to read them.
Great list & wonderful commentary. I watched every one of those movies as a kid on Saturday mornings. Bravo!
Johnnie,
There were so many great childhood memories memories for me as well. But I'm not done yet. There will be a second 1950's Sci-Fi movie list coming soon, so stay tuned. Have a great day, and thank you again.
Mike
I saw most of these at drive-in theaters. Wow - I MUST be old!
The least believable thing about the Blob is that Steve McQueen's character is 17. Steve was 27 but looked 40.
Billed as 'Steven McQueen'. Aneta Corsaut was so pretty.
Hollywood would do that to you!
These are all classics and much better to watch than a simple description would lead you to believe. I have CDs of Metropolis and Forbidden Planet and I watch them occasionally. My younger sister and I saw "The Blob" in a theater when it was first released. The Blob was under my bed for months afterward. When the Blob first ate the old guy's hand, we were out the door! All great movies. Good job.
“Invaders from Mars”was a B&W sci-fi movie released the same week as the great “War of the Worlds”!
But Invaders was seen through the eyes of a young boy (I was 9 when I saw both these movies)!
He is awakened by the sight and sound of a Space Ship landing just beyond eyesight of his home! He tells his father who goes out to investigate. He returns saying didn’t see anything but his personality seems entirely changed!
When the boy goes to town he notices some peoples personalities seem different as well!
He then notices something small on their necks at the top of their spine!
The people who walk in the sand outside of town are disappearing into the ground and return significantly changed as if they are being controlled!
I’ll stop there and say it was a eerie, scary sci-fi having some elements of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (‘56)!
The ending was effective & left you wondering (a dream or?)
It actually may have been in color but certainly didn’t have the production values of War of the Worlds!
@@darrellsmith3602
I’ll take a stirring of the imagination over fancy production every time.
@@justicegusting2476 As a nine year old “Invaders” was a bit more scary for me than War of the Worlds! But I haven’t run across it on TV (though it was remade in ‘86! Maybe it was my age but didn’t think the remake was memorable!
Good selection. The phrase is "Klaatu barada nicto" and was deliberately used as an homage in the 3rd Evil Dead movie with Bruce Campbell.
Army of Darkness, those three words made the movie for me. Emoera Klaatu.
Does Bruce Campbell remind anyone of Jim Carrey?
I must wholeheartedly agree with your choices. The scene in The Blob when the doctor tears down that venetian blind gave me nightmares.....
A great list of films. I have not seen invasion of the body snatchers. The Blob is a great "B" fllm. When World's Collide is excellent. Them is a great film. I wish that the James Whitmore character had lived. The Thing should have been tied for #1. War of the Worlds is a great film. And how can anyone argue with Forbidden Planet being #1. The Deadly Mantis from 1957 will always be a top 5 sci-fi /horror film for me. There is just something about that film I really like. I also love The Monster that Challenged the World from 1957. Great Sci-fi /Horror film as well.
Never understood why that giant Mantis had no atenna!
Congratulations, you got the top 3 spot on. Especially #1. FORBIDDEN PLANET especially could stand today and take its place with STAR WARS.
Wow, thank you for this. So many great memories.
Next 10 should be - 1.This island earth 2.The incredible shrinking man 3.It came from outer space 4.The Beast from 20000 Fathoms 5.The Quatermass Xperiment 6.The creature from the black lagoon 7.The Fly 8.Fiend Without a Face 9.Invaders from mars 10. I Married A Monster from Outer Space
Excellent list, there's no end to those pictures we grew up with.
" I Married A Monster from Outer Space" was a very intelligent love story. Quite remarkable (and scary!)
Of all the movies in your list, which I’ve seen many, many times, The Day the Earth Stood Still is by far my #1 because it was the most believable and “adult” in its message. While made in black and white, the special effects were awesome for the time as was the saucer’s exterior and especially interior. There were undoubtedly scary moments, but they weren’t overdone or “in your face”. And even though Gort’s suit appears hokey by 2023 standards, Gort’s helmet head, rising visor, and ominous flashing light are still quite terrifying. Great list, BTW.
We all still remember what Gort, the robot, had to be told to keep him from destroying the Earth.
One of my favorites also but the Narrator mispronounced Klaatu barada Nikto
didn't find it all that scary...for all we know something like this may have actually happened...having them fly over DC in '52 was a telling moment....
@@frankpienkosky5688 I was 7-years old the first time I saw TDTESS and Gort scared the hell out of me!
@@kevinjensen7752 Lol… Yeah, he kind of butchered that!
I saw “Forbidden Planet” the year it came out. I still consider this the best sci-fi movie of all time, and have wondered why a modern-day sequel (or prequel) hasn’t somehow been created. But then I am glad it was not because no sequel could stand up to this original great movie.
There is been some talk in recent years of creating a prequel to forbidden planet. 1 guy suggested was Michael strace trazynski who created Babylon 5 he seemed interested in creating the lost civilization concept
Well, the robot certainly went on to a million other movies and TV shows...
-As sergeant Schultz would say; "Remake? ( Forbidden Planet) Das ish verboten!"
Most remakes are failures, done by far less talented people, for the wrong motives. What we need are fresh ideas by innovative people. Let’s leave Forbidden Planet alone.
Did you see the movie 'Serenity' ? Did you notice that the alliance ship who's emergency beacon Mal and crew track down has the same designation as the space cruiser from forbidden planet?
I have two connections to the movies presented. Growing up I Southern California I had the privilege of seeing a number of actors in different locations during my youth. The gentleman who played one of men who stood guard at the Martian Ship in War of the Worlds was Paul Birch who was in a number of Sci Fi films during the 50's. As a boy I stood next to him while playing an arcade game in Big Bear California. I was about 10 at the time. I had the opportunity to visit Warner Bros studios in the 70's and while visiting the Police Woman set Earl Holloman of Forbidden Planet fame stood about 15 feet from me. My claim to fame.
Paul Birch ---} Not Of This Earth (don't remember the year)
meeting movie stars is not that big of a deal if they come to your town...."A Man Called Otto" was shot right around the corner from where i'm typing this...shoot a lot of movies around here...easy to get extra work...always something going on......
Awesome, what great memories.
I don’t know if anyone else has commented here on this issue, but the video maker made an error when talking about “When Worlds Collide “. He says that Earth gets destroyed by colliding with Zyra, but that’s not right. Zyra’s close passing causes the initial damage to Earth, but it’s actually the star Bellus that ultimately ends up colliding with Earth destroying it. If Zyra had hit Earth, both would have been destroyed meaning the rocket ship would have had no planet to land on. Other than the one mistake I really enjoyed the video! 😊
Hi David, I really appreciate the feedback. When I made this, I tried to do some thorough research before I put the video out. And the research source I consulted actually had Zyra colliding with Earth. And Honestly, I haven't seen When Worlds Collide in probably 30-40 years. But that was still my error, because I normally double check with a secondary research source. For that one, I didn't. But thank you so much, I really glad you pointed that out. Also, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. There are two more 1950's sci-fi videos in the hopper right now, so stay tuned, more to come. Thank you again for your constructive comment, and have a great day. Mike
@@scifiandmore Thanks! I really did enjoy the video! I’ll be sure to like and subscribe!
The Book "When Worlds Collide" by Philip Wylie and Edwin Balmer plot differs a bit in detail with "When Worlds Collide" 1951 American science fiction film. In the book two gravitational bound planets, Bronson Alpha, a gas giant, and Earth like Bronson Beta, are the culprits. The two planets will pass close enough for gravitational forces to cause catastrophic damage to the Earth. Sixteen months later, after swinging around the Sun, Bronson Alpha will return to collide with the Earth and depart. Bronson Beta will remain and assume a stable orbit. As the planets approach, observers see through their telescopes cities on Bronson Beta. In the movie it is the rogue star named Bellus, accompanied by an Earth-sized planet named Zyra that cause all the commotion. As mentioned above Zyra makes a close approach first, causing massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis that wreak havoc around the world. The book does as often the written plots do, outline more in-depth drama about rocket engine material, other world rockets and the complexities thereof. There was a follow on book "After Worlds Collide."
a bit fanciful when viewed in a modern context...with over 2,000 planets discovered we've yet to find one where you could just open the spaceship door and walk out
@Frank Pienkosky That is why they call it fiction. There were numerous errors in fact and great stretches of improbability throughout the story.
Earth vs the Flying Saucers, the Crawling Eye, It, the Terror From Outer Space, Journey To the Center Of the Earth, Lost World and Day the Earth Stood Still are my favorites among another 20 honorable mentions.
"It the Terror from Beyond Space" was a good one too. A precursor of "Alien" - monster from Mars gets on a space ship.
Love all these movies! I also remember when my mom took my brother and me to see the Japanese sci-fi movie The Mysterions.
Oh I still have a copy of the original War Of The Worlds.... made some popcorn and watched it again not too long ago ... hehehe
I've seen them all, and I own several! I completely agree with your list!
The British 'Quatermass and the Pit' and 'The Day the Earth Caught Fire' merit consideration.
"Quatermass and the Pit" is incredibly surreal and eerie even though the special effects are rather primitive. It's difficult to make your hair stand on end with Martian locusts but they did it.
@@lefantomer Somehow the recovered film of the ritual is spookier for being grainy and crude, with the nasty little bugs buzzing around slaughtering each other.
'The Quatermass Xperiment' is also noteworthy. Richard Wordsworth as the astronaut who has absorbed his space shipmates' personalities is haunting.
Quatermass and the pit has always fascinated me, it has a lot of good acting.
Even in the mid 1960s... these 50s Sci Fi movies were fun to watch. I was just a little kid growing up during the turbulent 60s era. My particular 10 best would have omitted The Blob, where it's difficult to see Steve McQueen pretending to play a teenager (he was actually 27 yrs old then),.. and Godzilla (man in a costume). I definitely would have included "Invaders from Mars" , where one of the stars of the movie is indeed a child!... and "20 Million Miles to Earth"... featuring the fantastic special effects stop action magic by the late, great Ray Harryhausen! That's just me though.
I always hated the ending of Invaders From Mars (though better than the movie ending of The Wizard Of Oz) and I liked Earth Vs. Flying Saucers better than 20 Million. The movie was the living embodiment of the Flying Saucer scares of the time!
@@robertmallory1877
Speaking of films not from the 50s, I always liked the movie and ending of Time Bandits.
@@justicegusting2476 Not SF but as a Fantasy film it was quite a lot of fun!
Godzilla has to be number one, and the best Godzilla is, and always was, 'man in a costume'.
Ray Harryhausen’s work was awesome, I can’t even imagine how much time/effort it must have taken to produce such animation. Creative people back in the 30s, 40s, 50s were much more dedicated to their craft than succeeding decades.
I once entertained an idea for makig a B-grade 1950s style science fiction movie called "It's Them! - From There!"
Meanwhile, why does the TOC for this video call it "Me"?
Forbidden Planet definitely number 1 for me. The Quatermass Xperiment would be my number 2 but i have a real soft spot for Them! which i loved as a child.
I can remember seeing all of them while growing up. I would pass our small local theater and look at the posters of upcoming movies. I hoped there would be a sci-fi or monster movie among them. If one was on display, I also knew it would be worth my fifty cents. Because a young, beautiful, and very well-endowed lady would be shown in the arms of an alien or monster.
Saw Forbidden Planet in a theater as a kid. Every last person in the theater gasped when the creature was revealed in the force field.
I loved watching monster movies when I was a kid and saw all of these movies. The 50s had so many great sci-fi movies. A couple of other movies from that time period I enjoyed was "From Hell it Came" (Tabanga!) and "Attack of the Crab Monsters" (with "the professor"). But there are so many others, so good and some so bad they're good!
"The Incredible Shrinking Man" was one of the best, still hold's up.
Honey, I Shrunk The Kids.
@@glennso47 1980's
I have seen all 10 at the theater back in the 50's every one was and still is great to the memory of an 83 year old Man. I do have a favorite and it's Forbidden Planet,
I can't think of any of my favorites that you missed, I agree that was the classic age of film sci-fi, well done.
The creature from the black lagoon, will always my favorite!!!!!
vacarro warren,
The creature from the black lagoon was and is just fantastic. I loved that movie when I was a kid. I haven't seen it in years, but it may be time to watch it again. Thank you so much for the comment. Stay tuned, more to come. Have a great day.
Mike
Additionally, Roger Corman and Ray Harryhausen ought to be given credits and videosof their own!!
Listed near the top on most 50s horror movies list.
that damn tv ad with that clawed hand coming up out of the water accompanied by that scary music used to freak me out...especially when I was home alone........