Pre-1980 Sci Fi Movie Thread

[jmilsom]

To complement Tom-Hobbes' thread for upcoming movies, how about one to discuss old classics. Last night I watched a movie called:<br /><br /><b>First Spaceship on Venus</b> from 1960<br /><br />What a classic! A strange spool is discovered in the Tunguska region of Siberia. The world's greatest minds set about studying it and they discover it is an alien artifact that can only have come from Venus. A team of eight astronauts set off in the <i>Cosmostrator</i> (cool name for a spaceship), to discover the secrets of Venus. The film, apparently originally German but dubbed into English (one of the best dub jobs I've ever seen), has a multinational cast, and projects a future (1985) in which issues of race and nationality are a thing of the past. Zooming past the moon, through a meteor shower and on to Venus, they find the remains of a lost civilisation. <br /><br />Here is a picture of the Cosmostrator, which I got from this site: http://www.scifilm.org/reviews/spaceshipvenus.html - which has a review of the film as well. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[jmilsom]

I saw an absolute shocker last night:<br /><br /><b>Octaman</b> made in 1971<br /><br />The premise of this story is that in the future, the seas are so polluted with radioactivity that all sortsof bizarre mutations are possible. A Scientist in South America then discovers a strange octopus specimen and then gets funding for a mission to find more of the creatures. But they step in the territory of Octaman!!!! The only good thing about this film is the cool Octaman outfit, other than that the acting is terrible, the story makes no sense, the editing is terrible. But it is a laugh for the old B-grade Sci-Fi movie buff. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[jmilsom]

I've got to see <i>Five Million Years to Earth / Quartermass and the Pit</i>. I recall you have talked about it before. Some of the very old films are brilliant, but some (as I learned last night) are incredibly bad!!! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[vogon13]

This was good and very unusual to see it these days.<br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[calliann]

<font color="yellow">Quatermass and the Pit</font><br /><br />I just added it to my Netflix queue. Wow! I would watch that movie on the basis of that one photo you posted, Crazy Eddie! It looks intriguing.<br /><br />Okay, it looked really primitive when I saw it again after all these years, but I loved <font color="orange">"Colossus: The Forbin Project"</font>(1970) the first time I saw it. It's about a super-computer built to run U.S. defense systems. Soon after becoming operational, it asks to be linked to a similar computer in the USSR and together they take over the the world. Then Forbin and his colleagues must try to deactivate the system.<br /><br />Anybody else ever see this one?

 

[wmdragon]

for the Nth time I feel compelled to praise Five Million Years to Earth/Quatermass and the Pit in this forum. one of my favorite scifi movies of all time. it certainly left a mark on me when I watched it as a kid too. coincidentially a few days ago a coworker asked which were the best Hammer studios horror movies. he was impressed, and agreed, when I mentioned this one.<br /><br />I also saw the original mini-series, which is almost the exact same script as the movie, in black & white with a few more scenes and lesser special FX. even the actors looked similar. years ago I read there was a theater adaptation as well. the movie is the one to watch though.<br /><br />I sometimes wonder how cool a faithful modern remake would be, but this is one story Hollywood would almost surely mess up. it is a mystery that craftily builds up, with little action until the climax. not a mainstream crowd pleaser. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

The Octoman suit seems to be inspired by "The Creature From The Black Lagoon" trilogy. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[wmdragon]

<i>Forbidden Planet</i> is always mentioned as a classic, but I havent seen it since I was a kid so I really should check it out again. I do remember enjoying it back then and being very impressed with the energy monster or whatever that was (or am I confusing it with another movie?). <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[telfrow]

IMHO, no list of Sci-Fi Classics would be complete without <i>The Day The Earth Stood Still</i> (1951). In spite of a heavy dose of Cold War allusions, it holds up well. <br /><br /><b>Klaatu barada nicto!</b> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[wmdragon]

was the original black and white and then colorized? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[jmilsom]

<font color="yellow">The Octoman suit seems to be inspired by "The Creature From The Black Lagoon" trilogy.</font><br /><br />Perhaps. Apparently the only thing significant about that film is that the special effects guy (who made the Octaman suit) had won awards for special effects in the past. I wonder if he designed the suit for Dr. Who's Zygons as well.<br /><br />wmdragon - I just got a copy of Forbidden Planet. I'll watch it this week and post my thoughts! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[jmilsom]

A few minutes later following some enlightening research on the internet..........<br /><br />No he had nothing to do with Zygons. The Octaman suit designer was Rick Baker who, in 1981, was the very first recipient of the Oscar for Best Make-Up for "An American Werewolf in London."<br /><br />However, there is a link to <i>Creature from the Black Lagoon</i>. One, Harry Essex wrote the screenplay for <i>Creature from the Black Lagoon</i> and was in fact both the writer and Director of <i>Octaman</i>! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[telfrow]

I believe so. The orginal was in B & W, but IIRC, there was a colorized version floating around, and colorized stills from the movie (like the one shown). <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[lampblack]

Well... how 'bout the old "Planet of the Apes" series? As best I can recall, the first one aired in the late '60s or thereabouts?<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[telfrow]

Let's not forget <i>The Thing From Another World</i> (1951).<br /><br />Classic. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[telfrow]

James Arness as <i>The Thing.</i> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[5stone10]

<font color="yellow">...no list of Sci-Fi Classics would be complete without The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951).</font><br /><br />I've found it interesting that Robert Wise could do The Day the Earth Stood Still - and then turn around and direct movies such as West Side Story and The Sound of Music.

 

[5stone10]

I've always liked The Fly -- "Help Me, Help Me !!"<br />http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:17924<br /><br /><br />Roger Corman did a really good low budget 50s sci-fi - Not of This Earth --<br />http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:104311~T1<br /><br /><br />And I thought The Incredible Shrinking Man was a really well done 'Inner Space' sci-fi --<br />http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:24721

 

[lampblack]

<font color="yellow">And let's not forget the 1951 George Pal classic, When World's Collide....which I hear may soon be re-made </font><br /><br />For some reason, that image sparked a faint memory from early childhood. A science fiction movie in which earthlings accompany an advanced race back to their home planet, which is under constant bombardment. I forget whether by an enemy or by natural phenomena.<br /><br />At some point, one of the advanced aliens says, "This is the beginning of the end..."<br /><br />Does this ring any bells with anyone? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[yevaud]

It does, but damned if I can place it either. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[vogon13]

This Island Earth.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[wmdragon]

"The Americans and Soviets up the nuclear ante by simultaneously detonating extra large H-bombs, one at each pole which pitches the Earth into a closer orbit of the sun"<br /><br />reminds me of the the movie in which they built humungous "rocket thrusters" on the south pole to push the earth out of the way of an incoming planetoid. cant remember the title. was there a guy with a steering wheel on the north pole? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[jmilsom]

Wow. I watched <i>Forbidden Planet</i> last night. While I enjoy these films I sort of expect them to be dated and a bit amusing - however, with this one I was astounded as it was such a remarkably good film. The effects are amazing for 1956. The storyline is tight, suspenseful and intelligent. It works exceptionally well and makes so many films that come after pale in comparison. This one takes pride of place in my collection. It is amazing to see Leslie Nielsen in one of his earlier serious roles. An absolute classic!<br /><br /><font color="yellow">And be prepared to be delighted by the best robot in cinematic film history: Robbie! </font><br /><br />I agree! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[lampblack]

<font color="yellow">This Island Earth.</font><br /><br />I've done a bit of googling of this title -- and by Jove, I think you've got it! <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[vogon13]

I get one right once in a while . . . . .<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>