therealfuster Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 so I can thank TCM for the Sci-Fi films being shown this month! Tonight these classic films from the sci-fi genre will be shown: June 07, 2005 8:00 pm Thing From Another World, The (1951) 9:30 pm Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) 11:00 pm Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers (1956) 12:30 am Village Of The Damned (1960) 2:00 am Wild, Wild Planet, The (1965) 4:00 am Devil Doll, The (1936) All are worthy members of the sci-fi film pantheon, and the only one I've not seen...but am looking forward to is, "Wild Wild Planet" which seems to be a sort of Giallo horror from Italy from what I read, and which was directed by Antonio Margheriti [aka Anthony Dawson] who also directed the fantastic Queen of Horror, Barbara Steele in "Castle of Blood". Both "The Thing" and "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" are certifiable winners, and though both were remade successfully, to my mind "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" is the most internally frenetic and unnerving. Adapted from the great Jack Finney tale, by Daniel Mainwaring [who himself wrote the great book, "Build My Gallows High" which was adapted into the Mitchum noir, "Out of the Past"]...one can perhaps attribute some of the adult dialogue to Mainwaring's partipation in this film. Ever since I first saw this movie on tv as a kid, if I see trucks at night on the highway, I think there may be alien seed pods in them, coming to take over my town! Seeing Kevin McCarthy still running around on the highway screaming "They're here!" in the much later remake with Donald Sutherland, was pretty frightening too. Bizarrely...music for this film was composed by Carmen Dragon, the father of the Captain of Captain and Tennile fame. Watch for the bedside manner of Doctor Miles Bennell, as he tries to work Becky, even though she got no dinner during their date! One does not have to be a member of Project Blue Book or have visited Hanger 18 at Wright Patterson Air Base to enjoy "Earth Vs. the Flying Saucers" which has wonderful special effects by pioneer Ray Harryhausen, and stars Hugh Marlowe [who rightfully got dumped by Patricia Neal for Klaatu in "The Day the Earth Stood Still" if you recall]. "Village of the Damned" is a spooky film with Martin Stephens, who is more terrifying than Damian and Jason put together. Oh yes, also the wonderful George Sanders is cast against cad type, and a good guy in it! Martin Stephens [also good in the Joan Fontaine thriller, "The Witches"] in "Village of the Damned" as one of the seemingly cloned towheads, can almost kill one with a well directed stare. Martin [who looks a lot now like the present Peter Frampton mixed with a touch of Jay North of "Dennis the Menace" fame] is retired from the screen. I've heard that the Catholic Legion of Decency wanted this Jack Finney tale banned, with its undercurrents of connubial non-bliss that created monster children, which is good enough reason to watch the film. Finally if you've never seen it, don't pass up a chance to watch the master of the macabre, Tod Browning in his direction of the film "The Devil Doll". Way ahead of its time in the special effects department, in portraying Lionel Barrymore shrink people into doll size and make them do his evil biddings, this film adds to the Browning allure, and is well worth taping if one cannot stay up that late. Excuse my ramblings, but these are films that any film buff of sci-fi would want to share with others. Are any of them favorites of yours, ones you've hoped to see, or are you looking forward to ones coming up in TCM's fine sci-fi schedule for later in the month? Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vallo13 Posted June 9, 2005 Share Posted June 9, 2005 space helmets on Captain video..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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