Meanwhile, at Universal, where their monsters had built an empire, the last of their famous monsters was unleashed in 1954. The Creature From the Black Lagoon spawned two sequels and remains popular to this day, but a change was on the horizon.
It was even double billed with another 3D film, It Came From Outer Space (1954)
That change came in the form of a flying saucer. Even the various Universal Abbott & Costello meet the monster vehicles couldn’t hold back the change that was landing in theaters. In fact, the comedy duo joined in with Abbott & Costello Go to Mars (1953).
Bud Abbott & Lou Costello with Mari Blanchard for Abbott & Costello Go to Mars (1953)
In 1951 both RKO & 20th Century Fox released science fiction films. RKO horrified movie goers with, The Thing From Another World, and Fox scored with, The Day the Earth Stood Still. In spite of the Thing’s resembling a jacked-up Frankenstein’s Monster, this was an invader from outer space.
The Thing From Another World (1951)
It is interesting to note the two different approaches these films took. The Thing From Another World reflected a hostile alien that was bent on destruction, while The Day the Earth Stood Still presented an alien that was on Earth to attempt to reason with the planet’s leaders about the dangers of atomic weapons. Their Federation of Planets is warning the people of Earth to find their way to peace or suffer the consequences.
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
Universal’s first entry in looking skyward was 1953’s It Came From Outer Space, (see Part 4 of this series of posts) based on a story by Ray Bradbury, it took a very different turn on the alien question. Richard Carlson plays John Putnam, an amateur astronomer who discovers an alien spacecraft after watching what he thought was a very large meteor, as he and his girl friend (Barbara Rush) were struggling toward a first kiss.
Lobby Card, It Came From Outer Space (1953)
Typical 50’s scientist, pipe smoking and awkward with woman, he immediately contacts a friend with a helicopter to to take them to the site of the meteor landing. Going down into the smoking crater by himself–he sees an alien ship, but when the ship door closes, it causes a rock slide that he narrowly escapes.
It Came From Outer Space (1953)
Against the advice of his girl and his pilot friend, he tells the arriving Sheriff that it was not a meteor, but a space ship. Of course, no one believes him. Even his girl friend seems to have doubts. It looks like an invasion for sure, but it is only an unscheduled crash landing and the aliens need help to get back in the sky. They seem to have no interest in the planet Earth at all.
This Island Earth (1955)
With This Island, Earth, Universal takes an entirely different approach to the alien question. Though it was science fiction, some of the aliens could have joined the parade of Universal monsters.
This film is important because it’s not an invasion at all, but a group of alien’s asking for Earth’s assistance in repairing the protective shield around their planet which is under attack from a hostile race from another planet.
This Island Earth (1955) Faith Domergue, Rex Reason, Jeff Morrow & Regis Parton
The cast is led by Jeff Morrow, Rex Reason, (who would also the appear in the 1956 Universal production of The Creature Walks Among Us), and Faith Domergue (Cult of the Cobra also Universal 1955) rounds off the cast and is a hit with the aliens.
20 Million Miles to Earth is an entertaining spectacle brought to life largely through Ray Harryhausen’s animated special effects.
William Hopper & Joan Taylor in 20 Million Miles to Earth (1957) Lobby Card & Promotional Art
William Hopper who plays Col. Robert Calder is best know for his role of Paul Drake in long running TV show, Perry Mason. Joan Taylor was in a number of westerns and guest starred in TV shows throughout the 1950’s & 60’s.
This Island Earth
It took 2 years altogether to complete the special effects – which were very expensive for the time.
20 Million Miles to Earth
The film was originally going to be set in Chicago, with the rocket crashing in Lake Michigan. Before submitting the idea, Ray Harryhausen decided to change the setting to Italy at the last minute because he’d always wanted to travel there.
It Came From Outer Space
The mutant costume originally had legs that matched the upper body. Making the legs look and work properly was so difficult, and they were pressed by studio deadlines they decided to have the mutant wear a pair of slacks. Movie posters show the mutant as it was supposed to appear.