ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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Two classic sci-fi movies I saw at a drive-in, and one relatively recent movie that some fo[ks and some folks don't like.

In my opinion, I, Robot (2004) is a stunning science fiction movie, and I really don't understand the critics who claimed it isn't faithful to the Asimov short stories, which he start writing in 1940.

The other two post are for movies I saw in 1957 as a double feature at the Roosevelt Drive-in. It was popular theater which local residents filled up on the weekends — along with some "out of town" guests as well.



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I, Robot (2004)

Well, hallelujah -- a kindred spirit! I love this movie, too. Can't imagine why anyone wouldn't.

Thanks for the great write-up for this enjoyable film -- and all the others you've posted about. I was worried that asking our members to start all over again with The New All Sci-Fi after the old one was killed off by it's incompetent web host -- AtFreeForums -- after seven years would be too much for them. But the new board is already up to 571 threads and 30 members.

Thanks for being part of this noble effort to rise like the phoenix from the flames of etc. etc. etc.
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THE 27th DAY (1957)

This one is a personal favorite of mine. It's fun and intelligent — which is practically a cinematic miracle.





Five Earthlings from different countries (including Gene Barry of War of the Worlds and lovely English actress Valerie French) are kidnapped by a Klaatu-like alien who gives each of them a strange transparent case containing silver capsules.





The capsules have the power to make millions of humans vanish, without harming animals or causing destruction. The alien's race desperately needs the planet Earth, but they are morally opposed to conquering it, so they give the war-prone Earthlings the ability to finish themselves off without devastating the planet in a nuclear war.





Don't expect any special effects except for two brief clips from Earth versus the Flying Saucers, one space scene from The Day the Earth Stood Still —





— and a small-scale test of the alien weapon, performed far out in the Pacific so that millions of people aren't wiped out by the alien weapon.





But despite the film's modest budget, the interior of the spacecraft is nicely done.





This is an intelligent and uplifting movie, done on a small budget, although it's a bit too talky and actionless for some tastes. Director William Asher was a busy fellow in Hollywood from 1948 until 1990, and his work includes two Beach Party movies, one Twilight Zone episode, and lots of sitcoms — including 132 episodes of Bewitched!

John Mantley wrote both the screenplay and the original novel. In the novel the capsules had a somewhat more far-reaching (and disturbing) effect on humans than they do in the film.

The film was originally co-billed with 20 Million Miles to Earth, and that's exactly how I saw it — at the Roosevelt Drive-In, in College Park, Georgia in 1957. I was nine years and didn't sleep a wink that night after we got back home. How could I? A night of flying saucers, aliens, crashing rockets, and a rampaging monster in Rome, Italy!

Aaaah yes, heaven -- 1950s style!






Available from Amazon for $20.95.

UPDATE FROM 2017: It was $16.87 when I first started this thread, in September 2014!


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20 Million Miles to Earth (1957)

Bongo! How could anybody not like the Ymir?


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Sure, the rocket crashing it great —





— but Pepe is the unsung hero of this sci-fi classic.

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A noble young cowboy-wannabe at heart, one of the true Sons of the Pioneers, it is Pepe who rescues the poor unborn ymir from a watery grave and delivers it safe-and-sound to a brilliant scientists who appreciates this unique discovery even before he knows what it is!

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And what about Pepe after the film's narrative leaves him behind?

Why, he turns into a fine young man!

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A brilliant scholar and scientist in his own right!

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And a distinguished older gentleman —

white] ______________

— who certain people have rumored to be the most interesting man in the world!

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