The 13 Greatest Horror Films Of The 1950s in '50s Horror and Sci-Fi Forum

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The 13 Greatest Horror Films Of The 1950s

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jamesenstein31	The 13 Greatest Horror Films Of The 1950s	Lead	[-]
Apr 24 12 3:51 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	A follow-up to the previous lists I made, this one has proved rather difficult. The 50s was rich in science fiction and monster movies, but not as many full-blooded horror films. Several on this list could be interchangeable and I could easily see someone picking say, THE THING, as number one. Here's the list: http://monstermania-batcat31.blogspot.com/2012/04/atomic-fear-13-greatest-horror-films-of.html
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Lieutenant Faris	13 Greatest Horror Films of the 1950's	#1	[-]
Apr 24 12 6:42 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	CURSE OF THE DEMON !!!!!!!!
jamesenstein31		#2	[-]
Apr 24 12 8:03 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Pass the parchment, please.
Monsterpal		#3	[-]
Apr 24 12 9:37 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	One could argue about some of the choices, but it's a good list. REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN and CURSE OF THE DEMON were, without a doubt, the best horror double bill released in the USA in the fifties.
Rick		#4	[-]
Apr 24 12 9:46 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	All of these lists you've done recently must be tough to compile, for different reasons. For the silents, there are so few overall from which to pick, what with all the "big" lost films. For the '30s, well, that's where almost all the real greats live, so the problem is deciding what to leave out. For the '40s, you basically have to decide which Lewtons are in, then fill out the list with other random stuff (unlike the '30s, when you can always go back to Universal for one more possibility.) But things really changed in the '50s. Horror was out and sci-fi was in. Of course, as your list properly reflects, many of the s-f movies were really just horror films in disguise. Also in the '50s, it became more acceptable -- probably because of the rise of Monster Kid-dom -- for movies that really weren't that good to still be beloved and accepted. So, the problems in the '50s are -- which of those sci-fi flicks are really horror films at heart, and, how bad can a movie be and yet still be good? I think you've done an excellent job of answering those questions and it's a terrific list. But...it's also, predictably, a list with more to quibble about. I agree wholeheartedly with your top three (though perhaps not in that order). After that there would be some jumbling goin' on. I woud have to include LES DIABOLIQUES, X THE UNKNOWN, and NIGHT OF THE HUNTER. Perhaps you don't consider those last two as horror films? To include these three, I'd jettison FLESH AND THE FIENDS, CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, and HOUSE OF WAX. Though they admittedly have problems, I'd kinda like to sneak HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL and I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF onto the list. If I were gonna shoehorn those two in, I guess I'd lose REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN and CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON. But when I look at it in print, that's a silly trade. Forget I said it. (But since I'm doing this off the top of my head I could be forgetting something. So, for the time being, consider REVENGE and CREECH as on the bubble.) And, if we could just lose the last few minutes (though I know we can't), I'd have to find a place for I BURY THE LIVING. I think that movie is one of the all-time great missed opportunities.
Rick		#5	[-]
Apr 24 12 9:50 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Had another thought right after I posted, so I went back to check your list once more. And, sure as shootin', there's no sign of QUATERMASS II / ENEMY FROM SPACE. Hmmm. I'm not as crazy about it as most folks are, but it's pretty darn good. I think I'd add it to the list and bid a fond, loving farewell to CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON.
Frankensteinhead		#6	[-]
Apr 24 12 10:44 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON has to be there!! Another terrific list James. About the only thing I would like to see in there is HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM. I agree that ROF is a better movie than COF but I don't know which one I'd knock out. COF really started it all.
jamesenstein31		#7	[-]
Apr 24 12 10:59 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Rick wrote: Had another thought right after I posted, so I went back to check your list once more. And, sure as shootin', there's no sign of QUATERMASS II / ENEMY FROM SPACE. Hmmm. I'm not as crazy about it as most folks are, but it's pretty darn good. I think I'd add it to the list and bid a fond, loving farewell to CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON. Thank you, Rick, as usual, you have great insight. This was a tough list and I considered doing my old cheat and extending to a top 15(maybe I still will, what do you guys think?) because there were some real classics. LES DIABOLIQUE is a truly classic thriller, but I have a hard time calling that horror, even though it has a few scenes that are so unnerving. NIGHT OF THE HUNTER was on the original cut, but upon reviewing the film again, I found it to be more in the lines of a drama/thriller, though that does not mean it isn't scary! I do love that movie. X-THE UNKNOWN is a nice honorable mention, and I enjoy it pretty well. QUATERMASS 2...that could have made it. That's a damn good one and may be a better film than the first. HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL was originally on the list, but got swiped for HOUSE OF WAX, which had the edge in influence and impact, but I got to tell you, it nearly broke my heart. HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL is probably the funnest horror film of the decade and that woudl surely be number 14. I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF...well, I still got my VHS that I got when I was six What a cool movie that was! That one is CRYING for a DVD release! If I extend the list, i'll gladly put it on. By the way, I am probably cutting M on the 30s list and replacing it with the greatly admired, MAD LOVE. Do you guys agree? P.S. I BURY THE LIVING. If ever there is a list made for most underrated genre films, that one is going on, That one is scary as hell and Richard Boone is excellent. The only flaw is that cop-out of a conclusion, but man, is that a wonderful creepy film! Good call!
jamesenstein31		#8	[-]
Apr 24 12 11:01 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Monsterpal wrote: One could argue about some of the choices, but it's a good list. REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN and CURSE OF THE DEMON were, without a doubt, the best horror double bill released in the USA in the fifties. Somebody should re-release that double feature! I wish I could have seen it
jamesenstein31		#9	[-]
Apr 24 12 11:05 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Frankensteinhead wrote: CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON has to be there!! Another terrific list James. About the only thing I would like to see in there is HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM. I agree that ROF is a better movie than COF but I don't know which one I'd knock out. COF really started it all. CREATURE was the best loved monster of the 50s, plus it's so well-directed and it's popular til this day. Great call on HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM. That would make a wonderful runner-up, and if I ever do a top 100 horror performances list, Gough's character is on there. ("Clever. Fiendishly clever.") I could have tied both CURSE and REVENGE, as I will have to do on future lists(EVIL DEAD 1 and 2 will be tied on the 80s list, you betcha.) REVENGE is a better film, more in tone with James Whale in humor and execution, but that first was a real trendsetter and is so iconic. What a headache! Thanks, for the kind words, by the way P.S. The 60s list is gonna suck. That's like the 1930s all over again. So much diversity!
Rick		#10	[-]
Apr 24 12 11:23 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	What can I tell ya? I do like CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON. Just not that much. I actually prefer REVENGE OF THE CREATURE (and let's not even mention WALKS AMONG US.) I think it's because I didn't see CREATURE when I was a kid. I was in my 20s (though that first viewing was in a theatre, in 3-D.)
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jamesenstein31		#11	[-]
Apr 24 12 11:37 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Rick wrote: What can I tell ya? I do like CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON. Just not that much. I actually prefer REVENGE OF THE CREATURE (and let's not even mention WALKS AMONG US.) I think it's because I didn't see CREATURE when I was a kid. I was in my 20s (though that first viewing was in a theatre, in 3-D.) REVENGE was fun. I always liked the idea of the Gillman being at Sea world(or Marineland, like in the film). If he was at Sea World, I would have enjoyed THAT more as a kid! I bet seeing CREATURE in 3-D was cool! I heard they played it at some Philly theater like that last summer. I wish I knew, as I would have loved to see it!
MacXoftheMounted		#12	[-]
Apr 25 12 10:58 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I don't get the hate for Walks Among Us. I've always preferred it to Revenge. Is it the lack of 3D? I love that you get TWO distinct versions of the gill man AND a pretty decent Dr. Frankenstein in Jeff Morrow's character... not to mention what I think is the series' best scare scene when the creature suddenly jumps right out of the water, after a very suspenseful buildup, into the small boat and is set alight. And I find the ending very poignant. I would not, however,place it amongst the decade's best horror films. MacXoftheMounted.....................formerly known as Professor Von X
jamesenstein31		#13	[-]
Apr 25 12 11:19 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	MacXoftheMounted wrote: I don't get the hate for Walks Among Us. I've always preferred it to Revenge. Is it the lack of 3D? I love that you get TWO distinct versions of the gill man AND a pretty decent Dr. Frankenstein in Jeff Morrow's character... not to mention what I think is the series' best scare scene when the creature suddenly jumps right out of the water, after a very suspenseful buildup, into the small boat and is set alight. And I find the ending very poignant. I would not, however,place it amongst the decade's best horror films. The ending is what i'll always remember best about that film. It was very poignant.
Frankensteinhead		#14	[-]
Apr 25 12 11:35 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	jamesenstein31 wrote: MacXoftheMounted wrote: I don't get the hate for Walks Among Us. I've always preferred it to Revenge. Is it the lack of 3D? I love that you get TWO distinct versions of the gill man AND a pretty decent Dr. Frankenstein in Jeff Morrow's character... not to mention what I think is the series' best scare scene when the creature suddenly jumps right out of the water, after a very suspenseful buildup, into the small boat and is set alight. And I find the ending very poignant. I would not, however,place it amongst the decade's best horror films. The ending is what i'll always remember best about that film. It was very poignant. I think it's a classic lesson in how to end a film franchise. On a personal note, back when I was a gigging musician/singer/songwriter I had a plan for a trilogy of albums to be called 13 SONGS, ANOTHER 13 SONGS, and 13 SONGS WALKS AMONG US.
jamesenstein31		#15	[-]
Apr 25 12 12:39 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Frankensteinhead wrote: jamesenstein31 wrote: MacXoftheMounted wrote: I don't get the hate for Walks Among Us. I've always preferred it to Revenge. Is it the lack of 3D? I love that you get TWO distinct versions of the gill man AND a pretty decent Dr. Frankenstein in Jeff Morrow's character... not to mention what I think is the series' best scare scene when the creature suddenly jumps right out of the water, after a very suspenseful buildup, into the small boat and is set alight. And I find the ending very poignant. I would not, however,place it amongst the decade's best horror films. The ending is what i'll always remember best about that film. It was very poignant. I think it's a classic lesson in how to end a film franchise. On a personal note, back when I was a gigging musician/singer/songwriter I had a plan for a trilogy of albums to be called 13 SONGS, ANOTHER 13 SONGS, and 13 SONGS WALKS AMONG US. That sounds like a true monster kid
horrorfilmx		#16	[-]
Apr 30 12 11:28 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Creature walks Among Us is not only my favorite of the series it's the only one I like at all. The other two just bore the hell out of me.
pringly		#17	[-]
May 2 12 9:25 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Its a great list. However, I would find a spot for Diabolique (if you consider it a horror movie). Edit: sorry I didn't see Ricks comments or your response. Last Edited By: pringly May 2 12 11:47 AM. Edited 2 times.
bobzilla		#18	[-]
May 2 12 9:50 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	A little off topic, but do you need or did you get permission to use all the photos and video clips on your blog?
emoore7		#19	[-]
May 2 12 3:00 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I always consider The Thing a flat-out horror. I like it that it's on your list. Any movie that has a monster in it that wants to rip the heads off of people to me, is a horror movie. Makes no diff if it came from outer space or a castle in Europe or whatever.
Bobtheman		#20	[-]
May 2 12 5:47 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Say what? No place for The Incredible Shrinking Man, The Fly, It The Terror beyond outer Space, Invaders from Mars, Indestructible Man, Godzilla, Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake, Return of the Fly,???
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The 13 Greatest Horror Films Of The 1950s

The 13 Greatest Horror Films Of The 1950s