Eight of the Best Sci Fi Films of the 1950s (RMR 8th Anniversary Celebration Part 7/8)

Redmanwriter

June 15

Julien Neaves, Sci Fi Head Writer

I was chatting with a work colleague this week and she mentioned that she was not a fan of watching black and white movies. And I can understand that it would be an adjustment for people used to viewing films in colour, but not watching them would mean missing out on so many fantastic movies. Citizen Kane, Casablanca and It's a Wonderful Life are some of the iconic ones that come to mind.

And some of the films that those who avoid monochromatic movies would be science fiction movies from the golden era of the 1950s. For the penultimate list in celebration of eight years of Robot Mango Reviews, we will be counting eight of the greatest 50s Sci Fi flicks. And do beware SPOILERS which apparently are still applicable even decades later.

Honourable Mention - When Worlds Collide

This 1951 film is the sole Sci Fi disaster movie on this list, and it is a decent watch. It does capture some of the tension of the Earth facing imminent destruction from a rogue star if not the global scale of it. But with solid performances and competent visual effects When Worlds Collide deserves an honourable mention on this ranking.

#8 Earth vs the Flying Saucers

And speaking of effects, 1956's Earth vs the Flying Saucers has some of the best of the era and they hold up well to this day. Watching those ships blast the crap out of buildings never gets old and the alien design is pretty intimidating. If you are looking for a film heavy on alien action but relatively light on story, then this will be right up your alley.

#7 Them!

There are a few giant creature flicks from this era, but Them! (1954) is easily the best. The massive ants may look hokey by today's standards, but the way they are shot still delivers on the chills and thrills. The high-pitched sound they make is the stuff of nightmares and the scene with the little girl screaming "It's them" remains iconic.

#6 This Island Earth

This 1955 film by Jack Arnold (It Came from Outer Space, Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Tarantula (1955), and our number three entry on this list) is the one I most recently watched and reviewed for this site. There are some pacing issues, but things pick up superbly in the third act when two Earth scientists arrive on the embattled planet of Metaluna. The mutant they encounter on that planet has to be one of the most memorable designs of the decade and I still want to get my hands of a figure of him.

#5 The Thing from Another World

John Carpenter's 1982 Sci Fi/Horror masterpiece The Thing is one of my all-time favourite movies. But the original (and less faithful) adaptation of the novella Who Goes There? 1951's The Thing from Another World is also a great movie in its own right. With a lively cast, brilliant production design, tense atmosphere and a creepy alien performance by a pre-Gunsmoke James Arness and you have quite the thrilling watch.

#4 The Incredible Shrinking Man

This 1957 film is our second entry from director Jack Arnold, and I absolutely love it. Grant Williams is terrific as Robert "Scott" Carey, a man who keeps shrinking after being exposed to a mysterious mist. The production design and visual effects are top notch, and the tragic story stays with you long after the credits rolled. Scott may have shrunken away but the stature of this film has only grown with time.

#3 Invasion of the Body Snatchers

I truly could not leave out 1956's Invasion of the Body Snatchers. This invasion of alien pod people upon a small town is easily the most terrifying film on this list and features one of the best lead performances on this list courtesy of Kevin McCarthy as Dr Miles Bennell. You'll never look at your neighbours the same way again after checking out this Sci Fi horror gem.

#2 The Day the Earth Stood Still

Come on. You know with a list like this that 1951's The Day the Earth Stood Still was going to appear at some point. And what can I say that hasn't already been said about this iconic and influential work of cerebral Sci Fi? From Michael Rennie's enigmatic performance as the thoughtful alien Klaatu, the cool design of the robot Gort and the resonant message about the ultimate cost of war The Day the Earth Stood Still riveted audiences more than seven decades ago and still does so to this day.

#1 Forbidden Planet

I was a bit torn between having The Day the Earth Stood Still or 1956's Forbidden Planet as number one on this list, but I think the latter is more rewatchable and more influential than the former. The tale of a starship crew traveling to the mysterious planet of Altair IV just ticks off so many boxes on what makes a great Sci Fi film of the 1950s or any decade for that matter.

What happens when you mix together an extremely talented cast led by Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis and a pre-comedy Leslie Nielsen, pitch perfect production design, gorgeous visual effects, a plot that wonderfully blends thriller, action and cerebral science fiction, and one of the most memorable robots in Robby the Robot and you have the best 50s Sci Fi movie. The film also helped inspire Star Trek (among several other science fiction projects) and as a lifelong Trekkie that is just another reason to love this groundbreaking film.

So that's my list. What other 1950s Sci Fi film would you add? And you can check out more Sci Fi lists from Robot Mango Reviews below:

Julien "Editor Jules" Neaves is a TARDIS-flying, Force-using Trekkie whose bedroom stories were by the Cryptkeeper, learned to be a superhero from Marvel, but dreams of being Batman. I love promoting Caribbean film (Cariwood), creating board games and I am an aspiring author. I say things like "13 flavours of awesome sauce". Read more.