TV and Movies

[Oznell]

Do many vintage film fans love classic science fiction from the Fifties?   I think it's the greatest.  Love the overwrought atmosphere, the fledgling special effects, the typical often clumsy but sweet sub-plot romance, usuallly between male and female scientists baffled by whatever "menace' is threatening the Earth. 

6:00 a.m. Eastern:  "The Thing From Another World"    A spaceship has crashed in the Arctic, near a scientific outpost.  The scientists find a frozen "body" from it, that turns out to be some sort of plant-based life that resembles a man.  It gets accidentally thawed while they're still investigating it, and wreaks havoc.

Both this and the next sci fi are considered top examples of the Fifties genre.  This one is fun for the hot house atmosphere of the scientists' little outpost, where they all live together protected against the elements at their remote Arctic station.

7:30 a.m. Eastern:  "Them!"    Has as an opening scene the famous one of a stunned little girl wandering the New Mexico desert, traumatized.  Of course, the cause is giant killer ants, who have mutated and run rampant.  A very cute young James Arness (Matt Dillon from the classic TV Western, "Gunsmoke") is a prototypical FBI guy (at least, the prototypical FBI guy of the past)--  smart, dogged, deadpan. (Incidentally, John Wayne saw Arness in this and recommended him for the "Gunsmoke" part, which had been offered to him.)  Oh, and Fess Parker has a showy small part in this where he plays an excitable crop-duster or something, and that led to HIS TV career!   Even Leonard Nimoy has a bit part in this!

This is suspenseful, action-packed, with a totally Fifties atmsophere, and a dramatic showdown in the concrete sewers and aqueducts of Los Angeles.  

[phoenixbrd]

@Oznell  Already recorded including Attack of the 50' woman for a giggle!  And tonight we are enjoying a series of W.C. fields just for fun!  

[Oznell]

Oh, good for you, @phoenixbrd, the W.C. Fields did look fun!

[twinsister]

@Oznell  I enjoy those 1950's sci fi movies and have seen both you mentioned many times.    Another favorite is Forbidden Planet with  a very young Anne Francis - great special effects.

[Oznell]

You have great taste, @twinsister!  They're showing that one at 6:15 p.m. Eastern!

[kaydee50]

The original "The Thing" is one of DH's favorites.  We both watch Them over and over and don't forget Godzilla, my personal favorite monster movie, followed by Rodan.  Perfect movies for a cold snowy day here in Chicago!