79% (2) Tarantula 80 min, Approved, [Horror, Sci-Fi] [Jack Arnold] [20 Feb 1956]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 65%, Rotten Tomatoes: 93%, External Reviews
Actors: John Agar, Leo G. Carroll, Mara Corday, Nestor Paiva
Writer: Robert M. Fresco (screenplay), Martin Berkeley (screenplay), Jack Arnold (story), Robert M. Fresco (story)
External Links: Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Language: English Country: USA
Plot: In the Arizona desert, Professor Gerald Deemer is experimenting with growth hormones in the hopes of finding a way to increase the world's food supply. His partner in the project was recently found dead in the desert, suffering from a disease that normally takes years to advance but, in his case, seems to have afflicted him in only a few days. The local doctor, Matt Hastings, is puzzled by the strange case and, with Deemer's recently arrived (and very pretty) assistant, Stephanie Clayton, tries to figure out what is going on. When cattle remains are found in the countryside, evidence points to a giant tarantula as the culprit.
Rotten Tomatoes: Professor Gerald Deemer has been working fervently on a new project: a special growth formula. After he tests it on his lab tarantula in Arizona, the thing somehow escapes into the desert and grows to gargantuan size, destroying all in its path.
Scroll To: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% [ / 5]
56% (2) The Black Scorpion 88 min, APPROVED, [Horror, Sci-Fi] [Edward Ludwig] [11 Oct 1957]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 52%, Rotten Tomatoes: 60%, External Reviews
Actors: Carlos Rivas, Mara Corday, Mario Navarro, Richard Denning
Writer: David Duncan (screenplay), Robert Blees (screenplay), Paul Yawitz (story)
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Language: English, Spanish Country: USA, Mexico
Plot: Giant scorpions demolish Mexico City. They have been released from underground caverns by a series of volcanic eruptions, and it's up to Hank, an American geologist to stop them.
Rotten Tomatoes: Filmed in Mexico, The Black Scorpion was the last theatrical feature to bear the imprimatur of special-effects maven Willis O'Brien. Allegedly an outgrowth of a ten-minute "test" film, the story is set in motion by a volcanic eruption which releases dozens of giant scorpions from a cave. American geologist Richard Denning and his cohorts try to drive the scorpions back into their lair, but the huge arachnids are soon at large in civilization, munching on innocent bystanders as they go their merry way. The authorities are able to destroy all but one scorpion, who unfortunately is the nastiest of the bunch. The climax takes place in a Mexico City bullring, where the scorpion does battle with a fleet of military helicopters.
Scroll To: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% [ / 5]
68% (1) Naked Gun 69 min, Approved, [Western] [Eddie Dew, Paul Landres] [01 Nov 1956]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 68%, External Reviews
Actors: Barton MacLane, Mara Corday, Tom Brown, Willard Parker
Writer: Jack Lewis, Ron Ormond, Guy Tedesco (additional dialogue)
External Links: Wikipedia IMDb Language: English Country: USA
Plot: Don Pablo Salazar steals a fortune in jewels from an Indian tribe and an Aztec medicine man puts a curse on the jewels until they are returned. Years later an American insurance man, Breen Mathews (Willard Parker) promises to deliver the Salazar fortune to the rightful heir after Luis Salazar, son of Don Pablo, is killed. Breen heads for Topaz, where he hopes to find the surviving heir, Teresa. He finds instead, Louisa, daughter of Teresa, and is forced to fight a crooked group of townspeople, who are after the Salazar fortune, cursed or otherwise. Included in the group are Judge Cole (Billy House), known as "the Hanging Judge" and Barnum (Barton MacLane), local saloon owner. After defeating all the crooks, Breen is told by Louisa that she, the last of the Salazars, is going to return the treasure to its rightful owners, and lift the curse.
Scroll To: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% [ / 5]
61% (1) Foxfire 92 min, APPROVED, [Drama, Romance, Western] [Joseph Pevney] [23 Aug 1955]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 61%, External Reviews
Actors: Dan Duryea, Jane Russell, Jeff Chandler, Mara Corday
Writer: Anya Seton (story), Ketti Frings (screenplay)
External Links: Wikipedia IMDb Language: English Country: USA
Plot: Amanda Dartland accompanies her half-Apache husband Jonathan to a mining community where he will supervise the excavation of an almost mythical Apache treasure. His jealous rages and macho attitude cause her much misery, while the excavation project is threatened by prejudice and fear. Amanda tries to bridge the cultural gap, and Jonathan must do the same, or he will lose her. Mesmerizing brief performance by Celia Lovsky as Princess Saba.
Scroll To: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% [ / 5]
43% (1) The Giant Claw 75 min, Approved, [Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi] [Fred F. Sears] [01 Jun 1957]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 43%, External Reviews
Actors: Jeff Morrow, Louis Merrill, Mara Corday, Morris Ankrum
Writer: Samuel Newman, Paul Gangelin
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Language: English Country: USA
Plot: When electronics engineer Mitch MacAfee spots a UFO as "big as a battleship," from his plane, the Air Force scrambles planes to investigate. However, nothing shows up on radar, and one of the jets is lost during the action. MacAfee is regarded as a dangerous crackpot until other incidents and disappearances convince the authorities that the threat is real. Some believe it is a French-Canadian folk legend come to life, but it turns out to be an extraterrestrial giant bird composed of anti-matter whose disregard for human life and architecture threatens the world.
Rotten Tomatoes: With wires barely showing to the naked eye, a gigantic low-budget bird from outer space swoops down, lays an egg on Quebec and threatens to destroy New York City until two romantically involved scientists team up with the US Air Force to stop it. Old-fashioned '50s horror movie fun.
Scroll To: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% [ / 5]