Classic Science Fiction Movies

1950s Science Fiction - Part 3

The Incredible Shrinking Man
(1957 - 81 min) *****

Plot: After encountering a radiation cloud, a man starts shrinking until he's trapped in his basement where cats and even spiders are dangerous monsters to him.

Grant Williams
Randy Stuart
April Kent
Paul Langton
William Shallert
Directed by Jack Arnold

From the Earth to the Moon
(1958 - 100 min) ****

Plot: Straightforward film adaptation of Jules Verne's classic, yet prophetic, novel about mankind's first trip to the Moon.

Joseph Cotten
George Sanders
Debra Paget
Don Dubbins
Patric Knowles
Directed by Byron Haskin

It! The Terror from Beyond Space
(1958 - 69 min) ***

Plot: A rocketship blasts off from Mars with a stowaway on board, who prowls for human snacks during the return trip. (Considered to be a forerunner of "Alien.")

Marshall Thompson
Shawn Smith
Kim Spalding
Ann Doran
Directed by Edward Cahn

Journey to the Center of the Earth
(1959 - 129 min) ****

Plot: A group of explorers journey underground to a beautful but dangerous land at the center of the Earth. (Based on the novel by Jules Verne.)

James Mason
Pat Boone
Arlene Dahl
Directed by Henry Levin

Plan 9 from Outer Space
(1959 - 78 min) *

Plot: Aliens try to conquer Earth by reviving the dead. [Note: This is one of those rare films which is so bad that it gains wide recognition, and I felt it deserved to be included in this directory. "Plan 9 . . ." is often cited as being perhaps the worst movie ever made!]

Tor Johnson
Lyle Talbot
Bela Lugosi
Vampira Criswell
Directed by Edward D. Wood, Jr.