 
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
|
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
24.91.201.174
Reading in my recently posted "2001:..." trivia that Kubrick and Clarke watched "Conquest..." a number of times caused me to dig out my DVD and give it a run trhrough last night after the Red Sox victory."Conquest of Space" is one of the first sci fi films to treat space exploration realisticly, insofar as what was known at that time. Parts are a little ridiculous (building a ship that is supposed to go to the Moon and at the last minute heading it toward Mars) but the hardware is very well executed and the s-pecial effects very well done. One of the best fifties sci fi outings and only recently available on DVD. Surprisingly, anamorphic wide screen as well.
Follow Ups:
I think The Time Machine was early 60's.But lest we forget some other '50s jewels"
Godzilla King of the Monsters- if you havn't seen the original
Japanese sans Raymond Bur, you havn't seen it. Fucking awesome.
Fuck Joseph Campbell and his dopey shit. Star Wars a modern myth?- well my sons, wellcome to the real stuff.Americana:
Attack of the Crab Monsters- a triumph. Imortalized later by the American poet Lawrence Raab, in his poem by the same name.
The Monster that Challenged the World- with an opening hook and a later autopsy scene that Spielberg stole for Jaws and a finale that Kubrik stole for The Shining.
The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms- A fun collaboration by Jean Renoir's art director Eugine Lorrie, and a little kid just starting out, named Ray Harryhousen, who here made a dinosaur pad through the high-con sun-sliced canyons of 50' Manhattan and burn to death in a dark Connie Island roller coaster at the hand of Lee Van Cleef. They were working from a Ray Bradburry short story. Its also one of the inspirations for the Godzilla film above, (aside from other inspirations, like Hiroshima).
The Creature From the Black Lagoon- Jack Arnold in the Amazon. He faired better than Orson Wells in Brazil. The title's a cliche in itself, but there's someting about those scenes with a hottie swimmin' in a swamp with monster a'watching....
Other Oddities- all English for some reason:The Giant Behomoth- Eugine Lorrie again, trying to score another paycheck. This time with Harryhousen's mentor, Willis O'brien in a shameless English "version" of The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms. Despite even more apparrant budget anemia, its got wonderful moments of amazing atmosphere. One brief scene- a few words between two actors, in front of a window with the sun drencehed Benjiman Brittain-esque sea beyond- are what fifties monster movies are all about- or should have been about.
The Crawling Eye, aka The Trollenberg Terror- Forest Tucker and giant tellepathic tentacled alien puss ball creatures. Can you honestly ask for more? Atmospheric, brilliant, untouchable.
The Creeping Unkown- Trully one of God's films. The Tobe Hooper theft from the late '80s, "Life Force", has no class by comparsion, despite the hotties.
The Day the Earth Caught Fire- saw it so long ago I remember nothing.
Except it was special.
I bought that recently and agree is was pretty good, except that some of the characters were just too much. I bought this movie in my effort to collect old "B" movies from the 50's. Some friends of mine and I have decided to have a once a month "B-movie buffet" with dinner and a movie. I'm sure we'll end up with commentary that will sound like Mystery Science Theater 3000 and here's a list of the movies in my first order.4D Man (not bad, actually, about a fellow who can move through things)
First Spaceship on Venus (really cheesy about a mission to save Earth from a rogue space station)
Atomic War Bride/This Is Not a Test ("War Bride" is from Yugoslavia and is actually pretty good and "Test" has the cop (and dialog) of your worst nightamare in it. There's also some extras including old fallout shelter commercials).
H.G. Wells - Things to Come (classic and a must for any sci-fi fan)
Assignment:Outer Space (really, REALLY cheesy...I never quite figured this one out)
Invisible Invaders / Journey to the Seventh Planet (haven't watched this one yet but "Invaders" looks like an early attempt at "Night of the Living Dead")
Conquest of Space (you nailed it, not bad)
Hmm. How does it compare to "Forbidden Planet", which is widely considered the best science fiction space movie of the fifties?
IMHO it is not as good as "Forbidden Planet" although it is less fanciful and there are no aliens involved. Still, it's up there with the best.Again IMHO the best sci fi film of the fifties is "The day the earth Stood Still".
The War of the Worlds
The Thing from Another World
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
The Fly
The Time MachineAll great '50's Sci Fi !
I'd add Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers and Invaders From Mars to the list as well. Both are low budget movies but were made by craftsmen who cared about what they produced, unlike today's hacks. The former has wonderful Harryhausen effects and some genuinely creepy moments such as when Dr. Marvin climbs over a dune and sees the flying saucer sitting on the beach. Invaders From Mars scared the hell out of me when I saw it as a 7 year old. The movie is cleverly told from the POV of a child and the sets have a nightmarish, distorted quality. Every authority figure he turns to has been taken over by the Martians. I can't imagine a scarier situation for a child.
I totally agree. The fifties was a great time for film sci fi buffs.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
