The Killer Shrews (1959)
During World War II, Ray Kellogg was a US Navy Lieutenant as part of the O.S.S. Field Photographing Branch. That’s where he met John Ford and when Kellogg came back to the U.S., he headed off to 20th Century Fox, where he eventually became the head of the special effects division and helped invent CinemaScope. […]
Girls Town (1959)
Mamie Van Doren was the bad girl of her era and this movie is one of the many reasons why. Despite being 27 at the time of filming, she plays 16-year-old Silver Morgan, who fends off an assault by knocking a man off a cliff. That is enough to send her to Girls Town, a […]
The Great Gila Monster (1959)
Filmed near Dallas, Texas, this movie was produced by Dallas drive-in theater chain owner Gordon McLendon who wanted his own movies. This was shot back-to-back with The Killer Shrews. Unlike most regional drive-in films, both received national and even foreign distribution. This movie is also a lie. That’s no Gila Monster. It’s a Mexican Beaded Lizard. A […]
Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959)
There are so many movies worse than Plan 9 From Outer Space. This is a movie that should have had the budget of an epic, yet had the budget of your grocery store visit. Yet it doesn’t stop trying to be that movie, no matter what. I blame the Medved brothers who named it the “worst […]
House On Haunted Hill (1959)
William Castle is one of my heroes. While he isn’t a world-class director, he was a top of the line showman. His book Step Right Up!…I’m Going to Scare the Pants off America is required reading. You can also check out the great documentary Spine Tingler! The William Castle story to learn more. One of his gimmicks […]
Terror Is a Man (1959)
Call it Blood Creature, Creature from Blood Island, The Gory Creatures, Island of Terror, Gore Creature, or its most well-known title, Terror Is a Man, but what you should really call it is the first of the Blood Island films. These movies, produced by Eddie Romero and Kane W. Lynn, include Brides of Blood, The Mad Doctor […]
The Wasp Woman (1959)
Produced and directed by Roger Corman, this movie was originally a double feature with Beast from Haunted Cave. When it was released to TV two years later, a new prologue was added by director Jack Hill to add to its running time. The musical score from this film may seem familiar, because it’s the same […]
Invasion of the Animal People (1959)
Known internationally as Terror In the Midnight Sun and in its native Sweden as Space Invasion of Lapland, this movie was brought to the U.S. by Jerry Warren, who cut 25 minutes from its running time — including a nude shower scene with lead actress Barbara Wilson — as well as shooting a new beginning featuring narrator […]
Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959)
Gene Corman broke into the film industry before his brother Roger, working as an agent before becoming vice president of MCA, representing such clients as Joan Crawford, Fred MacMurray, Richard Conte, Harry Belafonte and Ray Milland. By the late 50’s, he moved to produce his own films before starting his own producing unit at MGM. […]
PURE TERROR MONTH: The Manster (1959)
Thanks to Dustin Fallon from Horror and Sons for this entry. He’s always been a big promoter of our site and has been instrumental when it comes to getting writers for this project. I’ve always had fun writing for his Halloween projects and am so glad that he repays the favor. The Manster is a […]
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