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In an earlier post, Scott listed what he believed were the best (I presume
objectively, with possibly the exception of "I Married A Monster From Outer Space?) ten sci-fi films of the 1950s. I, OTOH, gave a partial list
of my favorites, ranked by sheer enjoyment (a complete list follows).
Here are the lists correlated with IMDb site ratings, Scott's first: (1)Forbidden
Planet-7.5/10(2229 votes)/War Of The Worlds-7.2/10(640v)- Tie; (2)The
Day The Earth Stood Still-7.8/10(2737v); (3)Them!-7.1/10(403v); (4) I
Married A Monster From Outer Space-6.2/10(62v); (5)Destination Moon-5.9/10
(105v); (6) It Came From Outer Space-6.5/10(136v); (7)When Worlds Collide-
6.7/10(195v); (8)Invasion Of The Body Snatchers-7.9/10(818v); (9)The 5000
Fingers Of Dr.T-6.8/10(197); (10)Invaders From Mars-6.4/10(164v).
Mine: (1)Forbidden Planet; (2)The Thing(From Another World-7.3/10(646v);
(3)Invasion Of The Body Snatchers; (4)The War Of The Worlds; (5) The Day
The Earth Stood Still; (6)20 Million Miles To Earth-6.1/10(81v); (7)Earth
Vs The Flying Saucers-5.8/10(169v); (8)Them!; (9)When Worlds Collide; (10)
This Island Earth-5.6/10(310v).
It is interesting to note that the averaged ratings of each of our lists
equal 6.9/10. Virtually identical, only 13/100ths of a point difference!
The IMDb Top 250 Film List currently has a top range at 8.9/10 down to
7.4/10. "The Day The Earth Stood Still" was the only 50s sci-fi film that
made the list at #216 with a 7.5/10 (weighted) rating (I wonder how many
voters realize the film and the original story are starkly different). Three sci-fi films
of the 50s got into IMDb's Top 50 Sci-Fi List: "The Day The Earth Stood
Still"-8.1/10 (weighted) at #20; "The Invasion Of The Body Snatchers"-7.9/
10 (weighted) at #35; and "Forbidden Planet"-7.8/10 (weighted) at #36.
Scott nominated "Angry Red Planet" as Dog Of The Decade; however, it got
a 4.9/10(99v) compared to "Plan 9 From Outer Space"-3.4/10(2231v). Furthermore, both have superior ratings when matched against the 1982
"Zaat", rated a measly 1.4/10(153v)! BTW, the film-bio "Ed Wood" garnered
admission into the IMDb Top 250 with a 7.5/10 rating, on par with "The
Day The Earth Stood Still" and above all other 50s sci-fi films; ironically
this bio is about the very man who made "Plan 9 From Outer Space"! - AH
I don't know from statistics, I just know what I like......Interesting to consider what it is exactly that makes for a great science fiction movie. What elements do these movies have in common that allows them to stand the test of time? How does a SF film like Forbidden Planet become a "classic", just as Casablanca and Gone with the Wind are considered classics?
Here's something to think about.... early on in the War of the Worlds, the preacher approaches the Martian War Machines with bible in hand and is promply burned down..... indicating that man's belief in god was limited to our own little planet... a shocking concept for mid-50's audiences. Or consider the scene in The Time Machine, in which the Time Traveler is entombed in rock after an atomic blast. The Time Travel narrates his feelings: "....darkness.... darkness lasting for centuries. I wondered if there was still a world above in which man could live..... there, alone in the dark, I prayed.... and still the centuries rolled on..... (until at last) I put my trust in time and waited". Pretty shocking dialogue, which would be fairly unpalatable if presented in any other form than SF.
Food for thought.
> > > "The Day The Earth Stood Still" -- (I wonder how many voters realize the film and the original story are starkly different < < <
...Or that the artwork used to illustrate Harry Harrison's story when it appeared in Amazing Stories was later recycled as a cover for a Queen album?
> > > I don't know from statistics, I just know what I like...... < < <Precisely my point.
H.G. Wells is one of my favorite sci-fi authors, having read most of his
"scientific romances"; he had a habit of shocking people, not only in the 50s
"War of the Worlds", but in other stories like "The Island of Dr. Moreau",
which was filmed in the 1930s and initially banned in England.> > > Or that artwork used to illustrate Harry Harrison's story when it
appeared in Amazing Stories that was later recycled as a cover for a
Queen album? < < <Are you referring to Harry Bates?
.
I remember seeing "The Giant Claw" upon initial release in 1957 as a kid, and
was really taken in by it at the time. However, upon a subsequent viewing
some years ago as an adult, I recoiled at how bad the special effects
were. If I recall correctly, the acting is better than the acting in
"Plan 9 From Outer Space", but undoubtedly, "P9FOS's" effects are better.
"The Giant Claw" currently is rated 3.0/10(55v), compared to "P9FOS's"
3.4/10(2231v). - AH
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