TOP 10 50's & 60"s SCI-FI / MONSTER MOVIES Part 1

This is part 1 of a look at my 10 favorite 50's & 60's Sci-Fi / Monster movies....

(these are not in any particular order)

1. THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS



The beast from 20, 000 fathoms was the first film Animation god Ray Harryhausen was asked to do. It's based on a short story written by Harryhausen's good friend Ray Bradbury.
The film focuses on a prehistoric creature awoken after nuke tests are carried out in the Arctic, The creature finds it's way to America where it unleashed a ton of destruction of new york. The film stars Paul Hubschmid, Paula Raymond and Kenneth Tobey and was directed by Eugene Lourie (Gorgo). The Film has one of the most astounding pieces of stop-motion animation during it's end scene where the Beast is defeated by a rollercoaster...

2. WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953)



George Pal's 1953 adaptation of H.G Well's War of The Worlds became an instant classic and garnered a special Oscar for special F/X. The film stars Gene Barry and Ann Robinson and was directed by Byron Haskin. The F/X in WOTW was outstanding for the era and George Pal went on to Produce many more Science fiction films.

3. DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951)



The undeniable genius that was Robert Wise, directed this great anti-war movie. Michael Rennie starred as interplanetary explorer Klaatu who arrives on earth, accompanied by his gigantic protector Gort to warn the inhabitants of earth to life peacefully or face destruction.
The film also stars Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlow and Sam Jaffe and was written by Edmund H. North, based on a story by Harry Bates...

4. DAY THE EARTH CAUGHT FIRE (1961)



The DAY THE EARTH CAUGHT FIRE is one of those rare occasions where the Brits are able to out-do the American's when it comes to big budget Sci-Fi. The film deals with The super-powers detonating simultainious nuclear weapons causing the orbit of the earth to alter, sending it on a collision course with the sun. The staff at Fleet street's Express newspaper, try and uncover the truth. The Film stars Edward Judd, Janet Munro and Leo Mckern and was directed by Val Guest. The screenplay was written by Wolf Mankowitz and Val Guest. As the Earth gets Closer to the sun, The picture changes from B&W to a sepia color to show the heat of the sun. I highly Recommend this film...

5. WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE (1951)



WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE is one of the first films to show epic destruction of cities. The last
25 minutes are fantastic as the film makers built a replica city, and completely destroyed it to show the effects of gravity. The Plot of the film follows a new star and planet on a collision course with earth and the panic at the realisation that ensues. The film stars Richard Derr and Barbara Rush and was directed by Rudolphe Mate.