Classic Science Fiction Movies

1950s Science Fiction - Part 1

My research showed that a tremendous number of science fiction movies were produced during the 1950s -- almost as many (if not more than) all the other decades of the 20th Century combined! With that many films, it's not surprising that the full range of sub-genres was again represented. Many of these films, however, had an undercurrent of the Cold War era by incorporating references either to the Soviet Union, world wars, atomic bombs, or the effects of atomic radiation. Some standouts include The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), War of the Worlds (1953), Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Forbidden Planet (1956), and Earth vs the Flying Saucers (1956). There were so many 1950s films to choose from that I just couldn't narrow my list down to just ten. So, here are my "Top 25" science fiction movies of the 1950s, presented in three separate pages.

Destination Moon
(1950 - 91 min) ****

Plot: Straightforward and forward-looking story of mankind's first expedition to the Moon. (Script cowritten by Robert Heinlein.)

John Archer
Warner Anderson
Tom Powers
Directed by Irving Pichel

The Flying Saucer
(1950 - 70 min) ***

Plot: UFO sightings are linked to a secret Soviet aircraft. (The first film to focus on UFOs and to use the term "flying saucer.")

Mikel Conrad
Pat Garrison
Russel Hicks
Denver Pyle
Directed by Nikel Conrad

Rocket Ship X-M
(1950 - 77 min) ***

Plot: An early space mission to the Moon goes off course and ends up on Mars.

Lloyd Bridges
Osa Massen
Hugh O'Brian
John Emery
Directed by Kurt Neumann

The Day the Earth Stood Still
(1951 - 92 min) *****

Plot: An alien lands on Earth with his gigantic robot companion to impart an urgent message -- live in peace or be annihilated.

Michael Rennie
Patricia Neal
Hugh Marlow
Sam Jaffe
Directed by Robert Wise

The Man from Planet X
(1951 - 70 min) ***

Plot: A visitor from outer space uses a ray gun to control a scientist, his daughter, and others in a remote Scottish village.

Robert Clarke
Margaret Field
Raymond Bond
William Shallert
Directed by Edgar G. Ulmer

Thing from Another World
(1951 - 80 min) ****

Plot: Arctic researchers dig up and defrost an alien creature who turns out to be an unstoppable predator.

Kenneth Tobey
Margaret Sheridan
Douglas Spencer
James Arness
Directed by Christian Nyby

Remake:

The Thing (1982 - 108 min) **

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When Worlds Collide
(1951 - 81 min) *****

Plot: When scientists discover a rogue planet on a collision course with Earth, a plan is developed to save a handful of people to repopulate a new Earth.

Richard Derr
Barbara Rush
Peter Hanson
Larry Keating
Directed by Rudolph Mate

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Red Planet Mars
(1952 - 87 min) ***

Plot: In the midst of the Cold War, earthlings get messages from the cosmos -- or perhaps from God?

Peter Graves
Andrea King
Marvin Miller
Herbert Bergof
House Peters
Directed by Harry Horner

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The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
(1953 - 80 min) ****

Plot: A nuclear blast awakens a dinosaur, who leaves his Arctic stomping ground and heads to Manhattan to terrorize the natives. (Based on a story by Ray Bradbury. Features stop-motion animation by Ray Harryhausen.)

Paul Christian
Paula Raymond
Cecil Kellaway
Lee Van Cleef
Directed by Eugene Lourie

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Invaders from Mars
(1953 - 78 min) ****

Plot: A boy sees a flying saucer land in the desert, but no one believes him until his friends, family, and neighbors start acting strangely.

Helena Carter
Arthur Franz
Jimmy Hunt
Leif Erickson
Directed by William Cameron Menzies

Remake: