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HE 50s WERE DRAWING TO A CLOSE. It seemed that many of the genre films of the last few years were shifting their emphasis. Lofty ideas were being left in the dirt by more standard fare. Films like The Alligator People and The Brain That Wouldn't Die were the norm now. A notable exception was the adventure film Journey To The Center Of The Earth. If it was an attempt to cash in on Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, at least it picked good source material to do so. Other films to be released were The Black Scorpion, (notable for being King-Kong animator), Willis O'Brien's last film, Roger Corman's The Wasp Woman, Return Of The Fly and The 4D Man.
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Basically a remake of The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, this film shows a dinosaur waking up in the aftermath of an atomic explosion and running rampant in London. The monster is even killed in a fashion similar to that from Beast. It is shot with a radium-filled torpedo and as it dies, the monster takes out London Bridge. Another film to make use of animator Willis O'Brien (the other being The Black Scorpion)this year. My Personal Views - "Any time stop-motion animation is used in a film I feel is a treat. Monster suits and masks can look cheesy but the animator can make things come alive that, up till now with CGI effects, a monster suit just can't." |
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This low budget film follows a scientist working on a serum derived from alligators to help those who have lost limbs to regenerate them. When a man takes the serum however, he finds himself growing scales and craving human flesh. My Personal Views - "Saw this film way back in the 70s on Super8 film. I can remember next to nothing about it, but hey, that just makes me want to rent it and watch it all over again." |
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Journey To The Center Of The Earth is based on the Jules Verne novel and it is a true adventure. James Mason plays Professor Lindenbrook who finds evidence of a passage which could lead to the Earth's core and he leads an expedition to find it. Along the way, he encounters treachery from a rival expedition, flooded caverns, dinosaurs, and the lost city of Atlantis. Solid entertainment. My Personal Views - "Like 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, this is the kind of good old fashioned adventure film I wish Hollywood still made. I'll have my people get in touch with this Verne fellow who writes this stuff. He's got a future in writing if he wants it." |
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Another "big bug" film, The Black Scorpionhas one thing going for it: Willis O'Brien. The original animator of King Kong, O'Brien bring the titular monsters to vivid life. Deep underground a large number of giant scorpions, worms, spiders and other monsters get stirred up and invade the surface world. They create havoc (a scene where a train is attacked by a group of scorpions is the standout) and the authorities are hard pressed to stop them. As they fight amongst themselves they begin eliminating one another until the largest scorpion goes on a rampage. Richard Denning plays the hero who finally electrocutes the Black Scorpion. My Personal Views - "I just saw this film for the first time about 10 years ago and I wondered why it doesn't have a reputation. It was very well done." |
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In an effort to find the proverbial "fountain of youth" a woman turns to a (unfortunately) demented scientist who uses a formula derived from wasp enzymes. She loses her wrinkles but by night turns into a human/wasp hybrid. A low budget effort from director Roger Corman. My Personal Views - "I saw this years ago but don't remember too much. Might be time for another look." |
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