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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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 grew up in the 50's, am now 83, became a sci/fy fan early on and had a steady 'diet' of them, but have never seen "The Blob"....and have NO idea at all of what it's about, except....It SOUNDS quite Uninviting! I'm the eldest of five...NONE of my siblings nor my parents had any interest in sci/fy, so noone in my family to share it with.
@@blackholeentry3489 It's a classic---especially for the drive-in theaters of decades ago. And it's in color. It doesn't have the serios bent of a classic like "The Day the Earth Stood Still," but it is a lot of fun. I like the scene when the "blob" enters the crowded movie theater.
@@rongenung Well, Thank You. I'll put it on my 'short' list. Facts are.....once I really discovered sci/fy (With the 1st movie, "Invaders From Mars" in '53, and 2nd...."It Came From Outer Space," shortly thereafter, all else failed to catch my interest.... ''Shoot Em Up Oaters" moved to the bottom of the pile!...and have remained there ever since!)
@@blackholeentry3489 When I was in the fifth grade, one day our very cool teacher closed the blinds and showed the class a movie. It was "The Incredible Shrinking Man." I have never forgotten it. Superbly done, intelligent with award-winning special effects, it is unforgettable---and is still my favorite sci-fi movie.
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'....
Well, Frederick Rik, my folks never got a TV until 1956, we they made the long trip from Oregon to CA (800 miles one way), and at the age of 15, with just a 'learner's permit, I did 90% of the driving......My dad had went on ahead of us, we joined him six months later....my mother had a 'bad' right leg which often swelled to three times normal size....and driving really bothered her. We rented the biggest two wheel trailer on the lot.....my mother had canned several hundred quarts of bing cherries and just couldn't bear to leave them all behind, so we ended up making two long trips. In my late teen years, I used to 'hang around' a minister I really liked (NOT that I was ever actually religious) He used the church's huge back yard as a 'Flea Market' and often went to the area's Good Will stores (and others), picking up whatever they couldn't sell and bring it to his own "market." He once came up with a huge collection of "Galaxy" science fiction magazines, (Filled several boxes) Which I got the distinct feeling he neither wanted nor was intellectual enough to fully comprehend.... and which I then wound up with. Of course, as I read them, I tossed them....sure wish I had them today! One of the tales, which I still recall today, was entitled "Far Centaurus" written by none other than L Ron Hubbard...who once made the statement (That eventually came back to haunt and 'bite' him)....."Can't make any money writing Sci/fy for a penny a word...If you want to make some REAL money, create a religion", and then proceeded to start his own, "Scientology." In the story, the first line goes... "Man is small, Space is deep, and Time is his relentless enemy." In the story, people were born, lived their entire lives aboard the ship, and eventually died there..... and, in a final 'kick'....when the ship finally does arrive at Alpha Centauri after several centuries of traveling, they find a ''welcoming commitee" awaiting them. Seems while the ship was en route on it's long Star Trek type journey, improvements in traversering the huge distances had drastically improved. My mother was a big Zane Grey fan, had a huge collection, and I did read a few....but when I discovered Sci/fy, there was NO returning to boring westerns! (Or, as we termed them at the time, "Oaters").....and while it seemed so many talked about TV's Bonanza.....After seeing the 1953 epic movie, 'Invaders From Mars", boring westerns never appealed to me!.....except, perhaps, the "Loan Arranger" Of course, I imagine you know the REAL reason why The Lone Ranger and Tonto suddenly broke up? Well, seems HE finally discovered what 'Kemo Sabe' REALLY meant! BHE
@@blackholeentry3489 I know far centauri. Very well it's s SF classic. It was, if I remeber in the anthology "Adventures in Time and Space". So many fabulius thought provoking stories. You summarized that one very well. I used to have it Published in 1946 when I was 5 years old and I was reading fluently not t much later. Msybe it wasn't,but thst id one of thr greatest golden age Collections. Actually i may have read kt in "Destination Universe" in 1952 in those days I had subscriptions to Galaxy, the Magazine of Fantazy and Science Fiction, Workds if and Astounding, its a long time ago but you brought back a lot if memories from the late forties to the early seventies wben I Read almost all the major SF literature inuding Verne, Wells and most of the authors in the fantasy,adventure erc. When SF became mainstream mh reading declined, Thank You Rik
@@rikspector Ist....If you were 5 years old in '46, you and I must be close to the same age as I was born in Oct, 1940.....and..... You're welcome. I honestly cannot say in which magazine I first read the story, but the plot has long 'stuck' within my mind, and, just for the hec of it, would love to reread it...and I'm quite sure it was written by L Ron Hubbard.....which his quote referencing religion has long stuck in my head. My sweet wife just gave me "Dinner Call'', so, gotta go, but again, Thank You so much! BHE
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.
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 !
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.
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
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!!
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....
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 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.
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!
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!
super effing great brother! i'm 63. saw all of these with my brother in the revival theaters when i was a kid! saw them again on tv on the chiller theater midnight movies and afternoons!
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
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.
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.
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!
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
Great show~!! I am 78 and was crazy about these films but my favorite of them all was Rocket Man and his Serials like "Radar Men from The Moon" and I still own them on VHS and DVDs' and they conjure up sweet memories of better times. Thanks for bringing back some of the best times in America~! 👽👽👽👽👽
I’m 82 and vividly remember as a kid being frightened out of my socks when the mysterious force rips open the defensive wall in "Forbidden Planet". Besides its physical danger, that film raised some fundamental questions about human’s relationship to power. Also introducing Robbie the Robot, this one deserves to be very high on anybody’s list.
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.
@@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.
Great list! I always loved the horror movies disguised as Sci fi, such as, First Man into Space, The Creature from the Black Lagoon trilogy and It! The Terror from Beyond Space.
Great selection. I even agree with the ranking order. I'm in my 70's and remember all of these movies. I have them in my own collection.of 61 (so far) sci-fi movies from the 1950's.
"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.
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!
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 was happy to have stumbled upon this video by chance, and decided to check it out. I grew up as a Sci-Fi fan boy watching Saturday afternoon matinees on local TV. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) was one of my top 10's, as was Body Snatchers & Blob. But there was one above all that has been my #1 vintage Sci-Fi film fave of the 50's (and 60's for me). I've raved about this film since I was 10, as well thru High School. Even in college, I took ONE film studies class while majoring in clinical psychology. Over the years I've probably rec'd as gifts 4 or 5 VHS cassettes/CD's & even a DVD about this film. All my family, friends, relatives, my ex's all knew my #1 film is also YOUR #1 film: The Forbidden Planet! To say I've watched it 100 times in my life is not out of the question. I recognized as a young boy this was different. It was the first high-budget, well written, a great cast, excellent SFX for a film in its day, especially for Sci-Fi. As many films took social & cultural themes of its time and weaved them into the story-line, as they did (for example, with the Red Scare) in The Day the Earth Stood Still... with one distinction. With the ascendance of Freud in the 50's, this film centered around the potential detrimental power of a dominant Id, and the over-active defense mechanisms of the super-ego (human conscience) deployed to try to keep the Id in check, & to have a well balanced Ego. Sorry to have written a tome on the subject matter, but this is how much I've regarded The Forbidden Planet as my (and apparently others') #1 Sci-Fi film of the 50's! It's a great list of videos you've curated for the genre and the decade! Thanks!
What a kick it was watching your video. Being almost 70 and a sci-fi nut I’ve seen all these and more. Special effects before cgi, though corney were much more fun. Now that I’m older what I really enjoy now is reading the original books and novels. Comparing the original plot and message to the movie is fascinating and also quite telling.
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.
Great Job!!! Thank You. I would also recommend The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms,.Creature From The Black Lagoon, The Creeping Unknown, and The Curse Of Frankenstein.
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.
Basil, thank you so much for your comments. We are very glad you enjoyed the video, there are more 1950's sci-fi videos on the way. Thank you again for the great comment, stay tuned, and have a great day.
Im 65 and love these old Si Fi movies. Especially with Robbie the Robot. Creature from the Black Lagoon is a super favorite. Thank you so much for your Channel and keep the content coming. Im a Disabled Veteran and it really helps my PTSD.🇺🇸
@armyone1239, Thank you so much for your comment, it is greatly appreciated. I wanted to include The Creature From the Black Lagoon, but there were so many great movies to choose from and very difficult to get it down to just 10. But I have a second Top 1950’s in the works right now, so hopefully I can post that very shortly. And I’m with you brother, I’m a disable veteran as well. And getting into TH-cam videos and creating something people enjoy seeing has given me some great satisfaction. Thank you again for your comment, stay tuned there is more to come. Mike
Nice work. Forbidden Planet is one of my all-time favorites. I saw it first in 1958 when I was 7. It was the first time I saw homo sapiens emerge from a flying saucer. Only when I saw it again as an adult did I appreciate the significance of the theme "how much energy is enough?" that destroyed the Krell. Great film!
#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 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.
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
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 effects meant a bad story, and a good story meant bad effects. That didn’t change until Star Wars came along.
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
At the beginning of the introduction, you mention Pepsodent toothpaste. In the movie Tarantula they had dead cattle and a pool of some white substance. I saw this at the theater; at that spot, they broke for an advertisement for “Powder your teeth. Don’t paste them.” Now I think about that each time I pull out the toothpowder.
Great video.. And yes.. even though I love robot from Lost in space.. .. Robbie is Boss. .. .. one last thing.. 1950s war of the world.. IT CAN STILL HOLD ITS OWN TODAY.. amazing
BC, I couldn't agree more. Robbie was just a straight up BOSS during the 50's and 60's. As far as War of the Worlds goes, I could not have said it any better. I would rather watch the original 50's version of it instead of the newer Tom Cruise version. The 50's version ages very well. Thanks for the comment, stay tuned, more videos to come, and have a great day.
1st the movie, then the classics illustrated comic book, followed by the actual book and finally the spielberg remake....this story never gets 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.
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!
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.
Great video. The movie the Blob was filmed in my hometown in Pa. My number one favorite 1950's sci-fi movie is War of the Worlds but the Day the Earth Stood still is a close second along with Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Destination Moon and the book it's based on along with Tarantula are among my very favorites as is Journey to the Center of the Earth which I catch often on Showtime.
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.
I agree with your selections you chose. They are all my favorites. Some they tried doing sequels, but the original movies are still the best, in my opinion. I try to watch them whenever shown on TV. Others I like from the 1950's: no specific order 1. Rodan - (came out after Godzilla) 2. It came from beneath the Sea 3. Target Earth 4. This Island Earth 5. Earth vs The Flying Saucers 6. X The Unknown 7. Beginning of the End (Giant Grasshoppers) 8. The Black Scorpion 9. The Deadly Mantis 10. Kronos And many others. The 1950's was the Golden Era for Sci Fi movies. Thanks for this video.
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
@@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' .
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 !
War of the worlds was my favourite as a kid, I'm in my 60s now and still watch it every now and again. Jeff Wayne's album still one of my favourite LP's, bought it in the mid 70s and still have it in mint condition.
I'm thoroughly impressed by this video. The information, writing, clips and editing, music, and good voice-over. This sets a very high bar. If you maintain quality even near this level, you should have a hit. Good luck, and I'll be watching.
L. Riggins, Thank you very much I appreciate your comment. So far I've only made a few scripted videos, and I really started this as a hobby. Over the few videos I've done, I've had to find a good mix with the audio, sometimes the background music can be louder than it needs to be, but I think I've finally found a good mix. But now that I've seen, particularly with this video, how it has positively impacted the majority of people that have seen it especially because of this era of sci-fi movies, I'm going to not treat this as a hobby, but rather productions I would feel proud of with the goal hitting that bar you mentioned again. There will be more 1950's sci-fi videos before I get into the 60's. So far I have three 50's videos planned. So stay tuned, there is more to come. Thank you again for the comment, it is very much appreciated. Have a great day. Mike
Outstanding! I recall a movie of giant silver robots taking over a city and a witch on a country road. Just fragments from my 1950's childhood. LOVE old Sfi Fi movies.
I _loved_ these early SciFi movies, both the American and Japanese movies, but not so my family. I would take every opportunity to spend the night with my best friend, Marty, because his family loved these movies and watched on every time I was there. Kevin McCarthy and John Hoyt (When Worlds Collide) (Invasion of the Body Snatchers) starred in a bunch of 50's SciFi movies and shows, but some of these had some really high profile mainstream actors. The Blob: Steve McQueen. Journey to the Center of the Earth: James Mason Godzilla: Takashi Shimura. You probably won't know him but he was absolutely _brilliant_ as the leader of the samurai mercenaries in "Seven Samurai", as well as starring in a ton of other great movies. Them: James Whitmore and James Arness (also in The Thing) The Day the Earth Stood Still: Patricia Neal. And of course. Forbidden Planet: Walter Pidgeon, Leslie Neilson and Ann Francis. My favorite is Mothra, but it wasn't made until 1961. It also stars Takashi Shimura.
@@robertmallory1877 I agree. I think, for me, Mothra had a whimsical feel to it that I liked (plus the tow chics singing Mothra into appearing were kinda sexy). Also, it was the first of this sort of movie I saw, so there's a but of sentimentality to my love of Mothra.
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've gotcha beat....now 83 and Mad magazine, together with Great Sci/fy movies gave me a "different'' perspective! I started out reading my mother's Zane Gray "Oaters", but after my 1st true sci/fy movie (Invaders From Mars) lost ALL interest in Westerns. ....and, this still holds true to ths day.
'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. 🙂
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
Great movies all. I still put one of the worlds number one but that’s just me. These movies didn’t have multi million dollar special effects or anything like that. It was the story that mattered. And having a lot of fun watching them. Thanks for sharing this. It was fun to watch.
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!
Great list. Forbidden Planet and the Day the Earth Stood Still are so close to be number one. Some more 50's classics off the top of my head : The Black Scorpion, TARANTULA also Clint Eastwood first movie, The Monolith Monsters.
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.
Great Selection!- Forbidden Planet definitely ahead of its time-the Krell"s demise- probably forshadows our demise as well-process is repeating itself-
I turned 15 around 1961 in the South side and Northwest suburbs of Chicago. Watching Dr Dan Q. Posin on PBS Saturday mornings, seeing Picasso's works at the art Institute and watching "creature Features" on late night TV. Plan 9 from Outer Space, Mysterious Island, The Thing From Another world and even the movie theater serials like Buck Rodger, Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe and El Shaitan before cartoons and Abbot and Costello. The highlights of my Mid Western adolescence which include playing football and wrestling in Highschool (which exempted me from bullying for being an intellectual dork).
There's a book by Dr. Posin which you may well have already, Out of This World, from 1959. You will no doubt be interested if you have somehow missed this until now.
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 87 วันนี้!! คู่เอก "ก้องชัย vs โชคปรีชา"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YN6e7HVnekw/mqdefault.jpg)
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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
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 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.
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
I grew up in the 50's, am now 83, became a sci/fy fan early on and had a steady 'diet' of them, but have never seen "The Blob"....and have NO idea at all of what it's about, except....It SOUNDS quite Uninviting!
I'm the eldest of five...NONE of my siblings nor my parents had any interest in sci/fy, so noone in my family to share it with.
@@blackholeentry3489 It's a classic---especially for the drive-in theaters of decades ago. And it's in color. It doesn't have the serios bent of a classic like "The Day the Earth Stood Still," but it is a lot of fun. I like the scene when the "blob" enters the crowded movie theater.
@@rongenung Well, Thank You. I'll put it on my 'short' list. Facts are.....once I really discovered sci/fy (With the 1st movie, "Invaders From Mars" in '53, and 2nd...."It Came From Outer Space," shortly thereafter, all else failed to catch my interest.... ''Shoot Em Up Oaters" moved to the bottom of the pile!...and have remained there ever since!)
@@blackholeentry3489 When I was in the fifth grade, one day our very cool teacher closed the blinds and showed the class a movie. It was "The Incredible Shrinking Man." I have never forgotten it. Superbly done, intelligent with award-winning special effects, it is unforgettable---and is still my favorite sci-fi movie.
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'....
Well, Frederick Rik, my folks never got a TV until 1956, we they made the long trip from Oregon to CA (800 miles one way), and at the age of 15, with just a 'learner's permit, I did 90% of the driving......My dad had went on ahead of us, we joined him six months later....my mother had a 'bad' right leg which often swelled to three times normal size....and driving really bothered her. We rented the biggest two wheel trailer on the lot.....my mother had canned several hundred quarts of bing cherries and just couldn't bear to leave them all behind, so we ended up making two long trips.
In my late teen years, I used to 'hang around' a minister I really liked (NOT that I was ever actually religious) He used the church's huge back yard as a 'Flea Market' and often went to the area's Good Will stores (and others), picking up whatever they couldn't sell and bring it to his own "market." He once came up with a huge collection of "Galaxy" science fiction magazines, (Filled several boxes) Which I got the distinct feeling he neither wanted nor was intellectual enough to fully comprehend.... and which I then wound up with. Of course, as I read them, I tossed them....sure wish I had them today!
One of the tales, which I still recall today, was entitled "Far Centaurus" written by none other than L Ron Hubbard...who once made the statement (That eventually came back to haunt and 'bite' him)....."Can't make any money writing Sci/fy for a penny a word...If you want to make some REAL money, create a religion", and then proceeded to start his own, "Scientology."
In the story, the first line goes...
"Man is small, Space is deep, and Time is his relentless enemy."
In the story, people were born, lived their entire lives aboard the ship, and eventually died there..... and, in a final 'kick'....when the ship finally does arrive at Alpha Centauri after several centuries of traveling, they find a ''welcoming commitee" awaiting them. Seems while the ship was en route on it's long Star Trek type journey, improvements in traversering the huge distances had drastically improved.
My mother was a big Zane Grey fan, had a huge collection, and I did read a few....but when I discovered Sci/fy, there was NO returning to boring westerns! (Or, as we termed them at the time, "Oaters").....and while it seemed so many talked about TV's Bonanza.....After seeing the 1953 epic movie, 'Invaders From Mars", boring westerns never appealed to me!.....except, perhaps, the "Loan Arranger"
Of course, I imagine you know the REAL reason why The Lone Ranger and Tonto suddenly broke up?
Well, seems HE finally discovered what 'Kemo Sabe' REALLY meant!
BHE
@@blackholeentry3489 I know far centauri. Very well it's s SF classic.
It was, if I remeber in the anthology "Adventures in Time and Space".
So many fabulius thought provoking stories.
You summarized that one
very well.
I used to have it
Published in 1946 when I was 5 years old and I was reading fluently not t much later.
Msybe it wasn't,but thst id one of thr greatest golden age
Collections. Actually i may have read kt in
"Destination Universe" in 1952
in those days I had subscriptions to Galaxy, the Magazine of Fantazy and Science Fiction, Workds if and Astounding, its a long time ago
but you brought back a lot if memories from the late forties to the early seventies wben I
Read almost all the major SF literature inuding Verne, Wells
and most of the authors in the fantasy,adventure erc.
When SF became mainstream
mh reading declined,
Thank You
Rik
@@rikspector Ist....If you were 5 years old in '46, you and I must be close to the same age as I was born in Oct, 1940.....and..... You're welcome.
I honestly cannot say in which magazine I first read the story, but the plot has long 'stuck' within my mind, and, just for the hec of it, would love to reread it...and I'm quite sure it was written by L Ron Hubbard.....which his quote referencing religion has long stuck in my head.
My sweet wife just gave me "Dinner Call'', so, gotta go, but again, Thank You so much!
BHE
@@blackholeentry3489 Feb 18 1942
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.
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 !
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.
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
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!!
I agree! War Of The World's ( both the original & the remake) is the best Sci Fi movie ever made❤
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....
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!
Very well done. Did not realize that so many good SciFi movies were made in the 1950s.
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".
@@zunipus Good call! Forbidden Planet is indeed a sci-fi version of The Tempest.
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"
The 1950s Journey to the Centre of the Earth is far more fun than the three modern ones from 2000 forwards.
Yes indeed!
Wow, thank you for this. So many great memories.
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.
super effing great brother! i'm 63. saw all of these with my brother in the revival theaters when i was a kid! saw them again on tv on the chiller theater midnight movies and afternoons!
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!!!
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.
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.
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.
Great list ,I would have chosen them myself. Although I would have chosen Godzilla as number 1.very nicely put together. Thanks for the memories.
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!
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
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.
Great show~!! I am 78 and was crazy about these films but my favorite of them all was Rocket Man and his Serials like "Radar Men from The Moon" and I still own them on VHS and DVDs' and they conjure up sweet memories of better times. Thanks for bringing back some of the best times in America~! 👽👽👽👽👽
I’m 82 and vividly remember as a kid being frightened out of my socks when the mysterious force rips open the defensive wall in "Forbidden Planet". Besides its physical danger, that film raised some fundamental questions about human’s relationship to power. Also introducing Robbie the Robot, this one deserves to be very high on anybody’s list.
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 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
Great list! I always loved the horror movies disguised as Sci fi, such as, First Man into Space, The Creature from the Black Lagoon trilogy and It! The Terror from Beyond Space.
A fine selection. The Time Machine isn't extraterrestrial but could still qualify.
Great selection. I even agree with the ranking order. I'm in my 70's and remember all of these movies. I have them in my own collection.of 61 (so far) sci-fi movies from the 1950's.
"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).
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 ♥
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 was happy to have stumbled upon this video by chance, and decided to check it out. I grew up as a Sci-Fi fan boy watching Saturday afternoon matinees on local TV. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) was one of my top 10's, as was Body Snatchers & Blob. But there was one above all that has been my #1 vintage Sci-Fi film fave of the 50's (and 60's for me). I've raved about this film since I was 10, as well thru High School. Even in college, I took ONE film studies class while majoring in clinical psychology. Over the years I've probably rec'd as gifts 4 or 5 VHS cassettes/CD's & even a DVD about this film. All my family, friends, relatives, my ex's all knew my #1 film is also YOUR #1 film: The Forbidden Planet!
To say I've watched it 100 times in my life is not out of the question. I recognized as a young boy this was different. It was the first high-budget, well written, a great cast, excellent SFX for a film in its day, especially for Sci-Fi.
As many films took social & cultural themes of its time and weaved them into the story-line, as they did (for example, with the Red Scare) in The Day the Earth Stood Still... with one distinction. With the ascendance of Freud in the 50's, this film centered around the potential detrimental power of a dominant Id, and the over-active defense mechanisms of the super-ego (human conscience) deployed to try to keep the Id in check, & to have a well balanced Ego.
Sorry to have written a tome on the subject matter, but this is how much I've regarded The Forbidden Planet as my (and apparently others') #1 Sci-Fi film of the 50's! It's a great list of videos you've curated for the genre and the decade! Thanks!
Yeah Totally a jewel 😀 of movies and old times
Thank you so much. Those were indeed the top 10 si-fi movies from the 50's. I couldn't have done better myself.
What a kick it was watching your video. Being almost 70 and a sci-fi nut I’ve seen all these and more. Special effects before cgi, though corney were much more fun. Now that I’m older what I really enjoy now is reading the original books and novels. Comparing the original plot and message to the movie is fascinating and also quite telling.
"Creature from the Black Lagoon" another favorite.
Oh yes!
On part 2
How about the crawling eye
@@williamburns4088 Good one!
@@williamburns4088 Saw that as the TV series "The Trollenberg Terror" in the UK in 1956! The movie "The Crawling Eye" was a remake.
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.
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.
Great Job!!! Thank You. I would also recommend The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms,.Creature From The Black Lagoon, The Creeping Unknown, and The Curse Of Frankenstein.
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
I've seen them all, and I own several! I completely agree with your list!
I have seen all these movies and...well, I agree with ALL your choices; and in the order you presented them. Well done, Mike & Team!
Basil, thank you so much for your comments. We are very glad you enjoyed the video, there are more 1950's sci-fi videos on the way. Thank you again for the great comment, stay tuned, and have a great day.
Your presentation has been intelligent and articulate. Well done.
Soldier was an episode from the Outer Limits wasn't it?
Im 65 and love these old Si Fi movies. Especially with Robbie the Robot. Creature from the Black Lagoon is a super favorite. Thank you so much for your Channel and keep the content coming. Im a Disabled Veteran and it really helps my PTSD.🇺🇸
@armyone1239,
Thank you so much for your comment, it is greatly appreciated. I wanted to include The Creature From the Black Lagoon, but there were so many great movies to choose from and very difficult to get it down to just 10. But I have a second Top 1950’s in the works right now, so hopefully I can post that very shortly. And I’m with you brother, I’m a disable veteran as well. And getting into TH-cam videos and creating something people enjoy seeing has given me some great satisfaction. Thank you again for your comment, stay tuned there is more to come.
Mike
Nice work. Forbidden Planet is one of my all-time favorites. I saw it first in 1958 when I was 7. It was the first time I saw homo sapiens emerge from a flying saucer. Only when I saw it again as an adult did I appreciate the significance of the theme "how much energy is enough?" that destroyed the Krell. Great film!
#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 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!
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?
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 effects 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. 😂
Thanks for resurrecting this list. A great one that was left out is "The Crawling Eye."
When, I was a kid, this movie scared me so bad.
Great list. I watched Rodan and The Crawling Eye incessantly as a kid on a local channel. Always scared the heck out of me.
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
At the beginning of the introduction, you mention Pepsodent toothpaste. In the movie Tarantula they had dead cattle and a pool of some white substance. I saw this at the theater; at that spot, they broke for an advertisement for “Powder your teeth. Don’t paste them.”
Now I think about that each time I pull out the toothpowder.
I love how Miles reprises the ending to Body Snatchers at the start of its 1970s remake. Continuity.
I grew up watching all these gems!
Me too...
Great video..
And yes.. even though I love robot from Lost in space..
.. Robbie is Boss. ..
.. one last thing.. 1950s war of the world.. IT CAN STILL HOLD ITS OWN TODAY.. amazing
BC, I couldn't agree more. Robbie was just a straight up BOSS during the 50's and 60's. As far as War of the Worlds goes, I could not have said it any better. I would rather watch the original 50's version of it instead of the newer Tom Cruise version. The 50's version ages very well. Thanks for the comment, stay tuned, more videos to come, and have a great day.
1st the movie, then the classics illustrated comic book, followed by the actual book and finally the spielberg remake....this story never gets old......
@@scifiandmore gotta'' have those tripods!
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.
Me Too and I'm 67 years old.... I've been waiting a long time
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!
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.
Great video. The movie the Blob was filmed in my hometown in Pa. My number one favorite 1950's sci-fi movie is War of the Worlds but the Day the Earth Stood still is a close second along with Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Destination Moon and the book it's based on along with Tarantula are among my very favorites as is Journey to the Center of the Earth which I catch often on Showtime.
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.
Great list! Grandsons still talk about watching these with me, in their 20’s now! I’ve done my job ❤️
Loved all ten !...cheers. RIP Calculon
andymouse123,
I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Thank you so much for your comment and stay tuned, there is more to come. Have a great day.
Mike
I agree with your selections you chose. They are all my favorites. Some they tried doing sequels, but the original movies are still the best, in my opinion. I try to watch them whenever shown on TV.
Others I like from the 1950's: no specific order
1. Rodan - (came out after Godzilla)
2. It came from beneath the Sea
3. Target Earth
4. This Island Earth
5. Earth vs The Flying Saucers
6. X The Unknown
7. Beginning of the End (Giant Grasshoppers)
8. The Black Scorpion
9. The Deadly Mantis
10. Kronos
And many others. The 1950's was the Golden Era for Sci Fi movies.
Thanks for this video.
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
Great selections, excellent synopses & reviews! Thank you!
GREAT. Thanks !! (PS - one of my favorite was When Worlds Collide 1957)
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' .
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 !
When Worlds Collide absolutely facinated me as a kid. How about a top 10 campy sci fi movies like " Queen of Outer Space ?
Spot on. I didnt watch these until 7-10 years after they were released in theaters. I continue to watch most of them with my grandchildren every year.
War of the worlds was my favourite as a kid, I'm in my 60s now and still watch it every now and again. Jeff Wayne's album still one of my favourite LP's, bought it in the mid 70s and still have it in mint condition.
I must wholeheartedly agree with your choices. The scene in The Blob when the doctor tears down that venetian blind gave me nightmares.....
I watched most of these as a kid. They were wonderful to me as a kid.
They still are!
I'm thoroughly impressed by this video. The information, writing, clips and editing, music, and good voice-over. This sets a very high bar. If you maintain quality even near this level, you should have a hit. Good luck, and I'll be watching.
L. Riggins,
Thank you very much I appreciate your comment. So far I've only made a few scripted videos, and I really started this as a hobby. Over the few videos I've done, I've had to find a good mix with the audio, sometimes the background music can be louder than it needs to be, but I think I've finally found a good mix. But now that I've seen, particularly with this video, how it has positively impacted the majority of people that have seen it especially because of this era of sci-fi movies, I'm going to not treat this as a hobby, but rather productions I would feel proud of with the goal hitting that bar you mentioned again. There will be more 1950's sci-fi videos before I get into the 60's. So far I have three 50's videos planned. So stay tuned, there is more to come. Thank you again for the comment, it is very much appreciated. Have a great day.
Mike
The introduction and sponsors segment was exquisite atop a great list of films and your description.
Outstanding! I recall a movie of giant silver robots taking over a city and a witch on a country road. Just fragments from my 1950's childhood. LOVE old Sfi Fi movies.
I _loved_ these early SciFi movies, both the American and Japanese movies, but not so my family. I would take every opportunity to spend the night with my best friend, Marty, because his family loved these movies and watched on every time I was there.
Kevin McCarthy and John Hoyt (When Worlds Collide) (Invasion of the Body Snatchers) starred in a bunch of 50's SciFi movies and shows, but some of these had some really high profile mainstream actors. The Blob: Steve McQueen. Journey to the Center of the Earth: James Mason Godzilla: Takashi Shimura. You probably won't know him but he was absolutely _brilliant_ as the leader of the samurai mercenaries in "Seven Samurai", as well as starring in a ton of other great movies. Them: James Whitmore and James Arness (also in The Thing) The Day the Earth Stood Still: Patricia Neal. And of course. Forbidden Planet: Walter Pidgeon, Leslie Neilson and Ann Francis.
My favorite is Mothra, but it wasn't made until 1961. It also stars Takashi Shimura.
"Gojira" is a great anti-nuclear movie. Toho had quality talent and used it well.
I always liked Rodan better than Mothra. When pictures photographed by a downed plane showed a gigantic wing they had me!
@@robertmallory1877 I loved Rodan., too. One of the many movies I watched with Marty.
@@pickleballer1729 Always felt Rodan was the most underrated of the bunch!
@@robertmallory1877 I agree. I think, for me, Mothra had a whimsical feel to it that I liked (plus the tow chics singing Mothra into appearing were kinda sexy). Also, it was the first of this sort of movie I saw, so there's a but of sentimentality to my love of Mothra.
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
I love Mad magazine.
I've gotcha beat....now 83 and Mad magazine, together with Great Sci/fy movies gave me a "different'' perspective!
I started out reading my mother's Zane Gray "Oaters", but after my 1st true sci/fy movie (Invaders From Mars) lost ALL interest in Westerns. ....and, this still holds true to ths day.
'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. 🙂
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
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
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?
Great movies all. I still put one of the worlds number one but that’s just me. These movies didn’t have multi million dollar special effects or anything like that. It was the story that mattered. And having a lot of fun watching them. Thanks for sharing this. It was fun to watch.
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?
Great list. Forbidden Planet and the Day the Earth Stood Still are so close to be number one. Some more 50's classics off the top of my head : The Black Scorpion, TARANTULA also Clint Eastwood first movie, The Monolith Monsters.
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.
Great Selection!- Forbidden Planet definitely ahead of its time-the Krell"s demise- probably forshadows our demise as well-process is repeating itself-
I turned 15 around 1961 in the South side and Northwest suburbs of Chicago. Watching Dr Dan Q. Posin on PBS Saturday mornings, seeing Picasso's works at the art Institute and watching "creature Features" on late night TV. Plan 9 from Outer Space, Mysterious Island, The Thing From Another world and even the movie theater serials like Buck Rodger, Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe and El Shaitan before cartoons and Abbot and Costello. The highlights of my Mid Western adolescence which include playing football and wrestling in Highschool (which exempted me from bullying for being an intellectual dork).
There's a book by Dr. Posin which you may well have already, Out of This World, from 1959. You will no doubt be interested if you have somehow missed this until now.
Cannabis is like alien pods changing men into women