Frankenstein (1910)

For anyone who hasn't seen this version of Mary Shelley's 1818 classic novel, Frankenstein is worth checking out.  The running time is only a little over 12 minutes.  The image is a little rough in spots but overall very viewable.  Produced by Edison Studios in 1910 (Edison himself actually had nothing to do with the film), and directed by J. Searle Dawley, this was the first screen adaptation of the novel.  It stars Augustus Phillips as Frankenstein, Mary Fuller as Elizabeth, and Charles Ogle as the monster.  Ogle must have been a pretty busy guy (almost as busy as William Schallert) as he appeared in over 300 films and shorts (mostly shorts) in his career.

I find it funny that instead of using lightning and electricity to create the monster, Frankenstein just mixes him up in a big bowl like a cake.  And throwing the film into reverse, the monster is "created" out of the flames to wreak havoc on the good doctor and any innocent bystanders. There are plenty of uber-dramatic and over-exaggerated gestures for one and all. 

All kidding aside, take a few minutes and check it out.

See it here on YouTube.  Or here on Archive.org.

The Monolith Monsters (1957)

"From time immemorial the earth has been bombarded by objects from outer space, bits and pieces of the universe piercing our atmosphere in an invasion that never ends".  With these words begins the classic 50s sci fi monster film The Monolith Monsters.  Released by Universal-International films and with the introduction narrated by Paul Frees, the master narrator of countless science fiction films, you already know that you're in for a great time.

The story begins as a meteorite from the depths of space hits the earth creating a massive crater and scattering pieces of it about the landscape of the desert.  "Ben" (Phil Harvey) a geologist from the Department of the Interior picks up a sample of a strange rock and returns it to his lab.  He analyzes the rock but doesn't recognize any of the components.  During the night an accident in the lab causes water to be spilled on the sample which causes the rock to grow out of control.  "Dave Miller" (Grant Williams) arrives at the lab the next morning and finds everything in a shambles and then also discovers Ben's body which seems to have been petrified, turned to solid stone.  Ben is the first to fall victim to the Monolith Monsters.

Meanwhile school teacher "Cathy Barrett" (Lola Albright) takes some of her students on a field trip to the desert where one of the children unknowingly picks up one of the pieces of meteorite and brings it home totally oblivious of the danger. 

As Dave and the authorities begin an investigation they soon discover more destruction.  Homes, farms, people, all crushed under tons of the alien rock, and then they find many more pieces of it scattered about the area as well as finding people who are still alive, but are beginning to turn to stone.  Newspaper reporter "Martin Cochrane" (Les Tremayne) also aids the authorities with the investigation.  Recruiting Professor "Arthur Flanders" (Trevor Bardette) a geologist from the local college, the group soon finds that not only do they need to find a way to stop the monolith stones from growing and advancing towards the town they must also find a cure for the people who have been infected.

Dave and Prof. Flanders venture out in the pouring rain into the desert and find the crater where the meteorite landed and watch as the stones grow and collapse right before their eyes.  They race back to the lab to attempt to solve the mystery.  The clock begins to tick as the rainstorm continues and the pieces of meteorite grow and collapse uncontrollably advancing towards and threatening the town and all it's inhabitants.  The group notifies the Chief of Police "Dan Corey" (William Flaherty) that the town may need to be evacuated.  They explain that the town of San Angelo will be destroyed like "an avalanche sweeps over an anthill" and that "each one that shatters will make a hundred more".  They hurry to find a solution knowing that if they don't, the town is doomed.

This is a great story with an excellent musical score.  There are some pretty tense moments as the monoliths approach the town and the panic starts.  The film also has some really good special effects. and the makeup is done courtesy of Bud Westmore of the Westmore dynasty of makeup artists.  I think this is one of the best of the 50's science fiction monster films, because I've actually seen it quite a few times and I'm never disappointed.  The film is also unique in that it doesn't involve atomic testing, radiation exposure or giant mutated bugs or animals.

To be honest with you, there's really not a lot of action in the film but it seems to keep the viewer interested and on the edge of their seat.  Oh, I almost forgot.  Keep an eye out for one of the hardest working people in film and television William Schallert who appears briefly as a meteorologist at the weather bureau.  So get the popcorn ready because this film is definitely worth checking out.

On Screen -- Them! (1954)

During the 1950s the effects of nuclear and atomic radiation helped to spawn many monster films from around the globe.  One of the best, with one of the most recognizable sound effects of any science fiction/monster film, is "Them!."  There's a great cast to keep the film moving along and at no time does it leave the viewer bored.  And there are a couple of fun surprises if you really pay attention.

The story begins in the New Mexico desert.  Two policemen, Sgt. Ben Peterson and Patrolman Ed Blackburn (James Whitmore and Chris Drake), find a young child wandering in the desert apparently suffering from shock.  As they investigate where the child could have come from they discover mysterious and unexplainable deaths, disappearances, and property damage.  When the local authorities find strange animal prints at all the crime scenes they call in FBI agent "Robert Graham" (James Arness) to help.  The FBI in turn seeks the help of two scientists, "Dr. Harold Medford" and his daughter "Dr. Patricia Medford" (Edmund Gwenn and Joan Weldon), who are Department of Agriculture entomologists.  As the investigation progresses everyone's worst fears come to light and the search begins for "Them."  The tension builds until the final showdown which takes place in the claustrophobic system of storm drains beneath the streets of  Los Angeles.

All the starring actors do a great job as do the supporting players.  The script and dialogue is exceptional and very prophetic at times.  The elder Dr. Medford quotes "'And there shall be destruction and darkness come upon creation and the beast shall reign over the earth."  And to balance out the serious overtones of the demise of the human race, some dry humor seeps through unexpectedly.  In my opinion the film comes across as fairly believable, probably because the theories seem to be based on actual scientific fact.

As for the surprises, see if you can spot a young Leonard Nimoy as an Air Force sergeant, and look for a quick glimpse of the "Superman building" from the opening credits of  "The Adventures of Superman" (in reality it's the LA city hall) in the distance of a shot of downtown Los Angeles.  And don't forget one of the hardest working people in the business William Schallert in a brief appearance as an ambulance attendant and Fess Parker in a small role as pilot "Alan Crotty."

On Screen -- The Man From Planet X (1951)


 

MGM DVD


 "The Man From Planet X" is pretty well done considering the budget for it was only about $50,000.  It's a moody story about a scientist, Professor Elliot, who sets up an observatory on a Scottish island to study an uncharted planet that is passing very close to the Earth.  A news reporter John Lawrence,  is there to cover the story.  Also staying with the professor is his daughter, Enid,  and his assistant Dr. Mears who just happened to arrive there a couple of weeks earlier and who has a shady and questionable past. 

While walking out on the moors John and Enid find an alien object and bring it back to the lab to examine it.  Not long afterwards, Enids' car breaks down along the road and as she's walking back home she notices strange flashing lights coming from a spacecraft and very shortly thereafter comes face to face with an alien, "The Man From Planet X."  Everyone goes to investigate and when the alien follows them back to the observatory, the professor and doctor try to communicate with the alien to determine if he is here peacefully or with hostile intentions.  We soon find out as the alien begins taking control of the villagers by mental telepathy.  Basic 50s low budget sci fi.

"Professor Elliot" is played by Raymond Bond, and his daughter "Enid" is played by Margaret Field (mother of actress Sally Field).  The reporter is played by Robert Clarke, and "Dr. Mears" is played by one of the hardest working people in film and television William Schallert.
MGM fun facts - Edgar G. Ulmer filmed "The Man From Planet X" using some of the same sets that were used during the filming of "Joan of Arc" (1948) starring Ingrid Bergman.  The alien can only communicate in musical tones, a concept used over 25 years later in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."