ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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What if there was a 1950s movie about strange woman in a skintight silver outfit who comes to Earth in search of human blood because her race needs it to survive against giant crabs from another world.

Well, there’s no such movie, but . . . we do have The Astounding She-Monster (1959), Not of This Earth (1957), and Attack of the Crab Monsters (1956).

So, watch a triple feature and use your imagination. You know, the way I;m using mine right now!

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The Astounding She-Monster (1959)

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__________ The Astounding She-Monster Trailer


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The early sections of this film, or the first act, remind of Ed Wood's films (I read somewhere that Wood was rumored to be involved). There's narration about cosmic suicide, and that another planetary civilization of Antares decides that Earth must be wiped out before we wipe out the rest of the universe — it's nonsensical.

The narration is also poorly worded and poorly delivered; the narrator sounds like he's reclining on a couch, sotted with wine.

There is an interesting technique used for such a low budget film — the scenes of the alien female (Shirley Kilpatrick) usually fluctuate and warp, as if she's giving off waves of energy.

In the plot, the strategy of this more advanced civilization appears to be the sending of a female-shaped monster to the backwoods to terrorize a few animals and people who happen to be there.

A couple of crooks kidnap an heiress and take her to a cabin in the woods where resides a geologist (Robert Clarke). I was quite bored by this up to this point but then something happens at around the 20-minute mark.

The head crook (who looks like a slim Broderick Crawford, played by Keene Duncan) gets into this debate with the hero (Clarke). The crook obviously despises rich folk (hence the kidnapping) and also favors distribution of wealth, to the disgust of the hero.

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The set-up is clear: the crooks represent the Marxists or the communists, though these days they would be liberals. The hero is the standard capitalist and the conservative.

And the invading she-monster alien? Well, her touch kills — she dispenses radium poisoning to whomever she comes in contact with. Perhaps she represents military might or simply atomic weaponry, which kills regardless of political affiliation — though two guesses as to who manages to avoid her touch by the conclusion.

There's some minor tension generated since the female alien is invulnerable to bullets and appears to get more motivated to touch others as the film progresses. There's an out-of-left field revelation at the end which also makes no sense.

Directed by Ronnie Ashcroft.

BoG's Score: 3 out of 10

Astounding Trivia: one of the lowest-budgeted films ever, even by the standards of low budget films in the fifties; in The American International Pictures Video Guide write-up, the figure mentioned is $18,000.

Ashcroft drew inspiration from Roger Corman's The Day the World Ended, in terms of a small scope. Also, very short, at 62m. Ashcroft, also the producer, was on his last dollar by the time he finished this, but he managed to sell it to Sam Arkoff for $60,000 because Arkoff thought it cost $40,000 to make.


BoG
Galaxy Overlord Galactus
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Not of This Earth (1957)

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A small alien invasion tale from Roger Corman (producer-director), who - even by this early point of his career — had already gained a rep as a quick, proficient filmmaker.

Allied Artists hired him for a couple of projects, including this one. This is essentially a one-man invasion plot (the "man" — calling himself Johnson — of course is not human), represented by Paul Birch, a stocky figure dressed in a suit and dark glasses. When he takes his glasses off — watch out, you see white, pupil-less eyes which literally can kill you.

He's out for blood — so this is a vampire from outer space plot. He had teleported here in the recent past, on a mission for his planet, setting up shop in a large house with a shady assistant (Jonathan Haze). In the first act, he acquires an on-site nurse (Beverly Garland) to handle blood transfusions on him.



The plot doesn't make all that much sense — there's a good attempt at covering up this weakness with elaborate exposition involving the six phases of Johnson's mission during Johnson's meeting with a head image of his commander, but it's all mostly nonsense.

Phase Four, for example, involves Johnson ascertaining if he can survive on Earthling blood, but Phase Two was already an increase to the amount of earth blood transmitted to Davanna (the alien's planet). Shouldn't Phase Four and Phase Two be reversed?

In all, it's questionable how only one agent can supply any significant amount of blood to help his planet.

________________ Not of This Earth 1957 2/6


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________________ Not of This Earth 1957 4/6


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There are some entertaining moments, as is usual for a Corman feature: Dick Miller has a one-scene role as a door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman who falls victim to the alien invader. His death scene is bizarre and off-beat.

Haze's goon scenes with Garland are close to hilarious. And some of the alien's quirky outlook and decisions, such as inviting a trio of homeless bums to his house, are amusing.

Overall, though, it's a bit on the slow side. The climactic scene, though a standard twist, does suggest that there was more to this invasion than we thought and makes more sense than the rest of the film.

BoG's Score: 5 out of 10


BoG
Galaxy Overlord Galactus
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Attack of the Crab Monsters (1956)

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____ Roger Corman Double Feature (Trailer 1957)


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The title of this one may seem self-explanatory - giant crabs attack and kill humans — but not necessarily.

Some people forget that Roger Corman tried to add something extra to his little films, even though his rep now is just as the B-film schlock producer.

The film takes place in one of those very isolated locations, on an island. Things go bad swiftly, as several people are marooned and then it gets a lot worse as they find out that a couple of crabs on the isle have apparently mutated into larger specimens.

But, there's more; the crabs can absorb the minds of their victims — it gets pretty eerie.



In Keep Watching the Skies, author Bill Warren opines that lead hero Richard Garland looked more like a villain. The more standard heroic-looking guy was played by Russell Johnson. He did a few of these Golden Age Sci-fi pics, notably It Came From Outer Space (1953). He went on to more fame in the sixties as the Professor in Gilligan's Island.

Also in a small role is Ed Nelson, who also appeared in stuff like Teenage Caveman (1957)

BoG's Score: 6.5 out of 10




BoG
Galaxy Overlord Galactus
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)