The first science fiction film directed wholly and declaredly by Roger Corman opens with the inevitable happening – what was inevitable for 1955, anyway.
In the wake of nuclear war, a handful of survivors hole up in a house huddled in some lead-containing Californian hills, where they ride out the apocalypse by talking, arguing, talking, contemplating reproduction, talking, fighting, talking, swimming, talking, drinking, talking, mock-stripping, talking, murdering, talking, smoking, talking, mutating, and talking.
I’d like to say that from time to time a hideous atomic mutation wanders in to liven up the proceedings, but that would only be a half-truth.
#1 by Alaric on November 20, 2010 - 8:58 pm
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I’ve always had a fondness for this movie. My younger brother and I saw it on tv many, many years ago, when we were kids. Fortunately for us, the reception was bad enough to obscure just how bad that monster costume was…
#2 by lyzard on November 20, 2010 - 9:26 pm
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As Sam and Jim often said, Paul Blaisdell always insisted on playing the monster himself, and was much too short to do so convincingly. The problem here is that there’s nothing going on below the waist (so to speak), just a couple of scrawny legs. Between those and the vestigial arms, we don’t exactly believe in his “super mutant strength”.
But yeah, I kinda like the film anyway.
#3 by Luke Blanchard on November 20, 2010 - 10:56 pm
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Captive Women, from 1952, is another early post-WWIII movie. But it’s set long after the war.
#4 by Jen S on November 21, 2010 - 12:45 pm
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May I just say that Snabble is my new favorite word?
#5 by Mr. Rational on November 21, 2010 - 1:38 pm
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I’ve been waiting for you to take a crack at a movie like this — you know, one that was clearly cheap but not entirely without merit? The result proved as entertaining and insightful as I’d hoped. Thanks.
#6 by The Beerman on November 21, 2010 - 2:00 pm
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Short Monsters got no reason
Short Monsters got no reason
Short Monsters got no reason
To live
They got little hands
Little eyes
They walk around
Tellin’ great big lies
They got little noses
And tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty little feet
Well, I don’t want no Short Monsters
Don’t want no Short Monsters
Don’t want no Short Monsters
`Round here
Short Monsters are just the same
As you and I
(A Fool Such As I)
All Monsters are brothers
Until the day they die
(It’s A Wonderful World)
Short Monsters got nobody
Short Monsters got nobody
Short Monsters got nobody
To love
They got little baby legs
That stand so low
You got to pick ’em up
Just to say hello
They got little cars
That got beep, beep, beep
They got little voices
Goin’ peep, peep, peep
They got grubby little fingers
And dirty little minds
They’re gonna get you every time
Well, I don’t want no Short Monsters
Don’t want no Short Monsters
Don’t want no Short Monsters
‘Round here
#7 by lyzard on November 21, 2010 - 3:31 pm
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“The monster should always be bigger than the leading lady.”
— R.W. Corman
#8 by Ed on November 21, 2010 - 5:49 pm
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Type your comment here
A lesson he learned well after Beverly Garland demonstrated the inadequacy of a small Venusian Cucumber with nothing more than a purse. Sure he just went for a slightly larger Venusian Cucumber but still!
#9 by lyzard on November 21, 2010 - 5:51 pm
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It was an unfair fight to start with. Bevvie kicks ass, even cucumber ass.
#10 by Read MacGuirtose on November 22, 2010 - 10:29 pm
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Goofy-looking though the monster may be, I at least give props to the poster designer for a reasonably accurate depiction. No bait and switch here; the poster promises a cone-headed monster with three eyes and a ridiculous metallic-looking beaky nose, and that, apparently, is just what the movie presents…
#11 by EGM3 on November 24, 2010 - 12:04 pm
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Two Corman reviews so far… Next week is going to be pretty busy.
And maybe someday if we’re lucky we’ll get Stomp Tokyo’s review of Godzilla vs Space Godzilla.
#12 by Frankie B. on November 28, 2010 - 10:11 am
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Just saw this movie for the first time a few days ago. Thought it was interesting how it places a nuclear apocalypse under the sovereignty of the God of the Christian Bible. The voiceover (at the beginning) and the comments of the virtuous woman (at the end) make that clear.