Tarantula (1955)

A spider escapes from an isolated desert laboratory experimenting in giantism and grows to tremendous size as it wreaks havoc on the local inhabitants.

Classic 50s monster movie is still fun and in so many ways much better than its present-day clones.

On renewed viewing: A guilty pleasure since my childhood, I rewatch it every view years.

Halliwell  (no star): "Moderate monster hokum with the desert setting which became a cliche; the grotesque faces are more horrific than the spider, which seldom seems to touch the ground."

Maltin ***: "One of the best giant-insect films, with fast-pacing, convincing special effects, and interesting subplot detailing formula's effect on humans. That's Clint Eastwood as the jet squadron leader in final sequence."

The Movies I Watched in November

Albert Nobbs 2011  7

Anon 2018  7

The Ballad of Lefty Brown 2017  6
The Bride and the Beast 1958  4
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey 2007  6
The Creeper 1948  5
Crime, Inc. 1945  5
The Diabolical 2015  5
The Edge of Love 2008  5
Hannah Arendt 2012  6
Hell's House 1932  5
Invasion of the Body Snatchers 1978  7

The King 2019  7

Lady in the Death House 1944  5
The Legend of Tarzan 2016  6
Manbiki katoku 2018  7

Miss Sloane 2016  6
The Mob 1951  6
Mr. Brooks 2007  6
Quiet Please: Murder 1942  6
The Sisters Brothers 2018  7

Sniper 2 2002  6
Suite Francaise 2014  6
Tarantula 1955  8

Tomb Raider 2018  6
The Trigger Effect 1996  6
The Unforgiven 1960  6
 

It Came from Outer Space (1953)

A spaceship from another world crashes in the Arizona desert, and only an amateur stargazer and a schoolteacher suspect alien influence when the local townsfolk begin to act strange.

Good old-fashioned sci-fi 'invasion' movie that - for a change - doesn't portrait the aliens as belligerent conquerors; special effects still convincing, though dated in comparison.

Halliwell**: "Quite bright science fiction, the first to use this theme of borrowing bodies and the first to utilize the Western desert locations. 3-D adds a shock moment or two."

Maltin***: "Intriguing science fiction...Remarkably sober for its era, with crisp performances and real restraint, even in its use of 3-D."

[NB: We played this movie complete in 3-D and providing the audience with the necessary green/red glasses with enormous success in our Lyssa humana night movies series (in the late 80s).]

New Stuff: It Came from Outer Space

Another Jack Arnold classic.

The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)

When a man begins to shrink because of exposure to a combination of radiation and insecticide, medical science is powerless to help him.

Magnificent sci-fi classic manages to create an existentialist drama out of a simple story with some very memorable scenes and a now famous closing monologue.

Halliwell*: "Horrifyingly inevitable sci-fi with imaginative touches gracing a cheap production."

Maltin***1/2: "Intelligent, serious approach, exceptional effects for the period, and a vigorous leading performance result in a genuine sci-fi classic, unsurpassed by later attempts."

Tarantula (1955)

A spider escapes from an isolated desert laboratory experimenting in giantism and grows to tremendous size as it wreaks havoc on the local inhabitants.

Classic 50s monster movie is still fun and in so many ways much better than its present-day clones.


On renewed view: I still enjoy this movie, one of the best B pictures ever, and a favourite from my childhood on.

Halliwell  (no star): "Moderate monster hokum with the desert setting which became a cliche; the grotesque faces are more horrific than the spider, which seldom seems to touch the ground."

Maltin ***: "One of the best giant-insect films, with fast-pacing, convincing special effects, and interesting subplot detailing formula's effect on humans. That's Clint Eastwood as the jet squadron leader in final sequence."

New Stuff: Tarantula

Third movie from the pack is one of my favourites!

A Global Affair (1964)

As an employee at the United Nations building in New York City, Bob Hope finds himself in charge of an infant abandoned at the UN.

The original idea notwithstanding this is a pedestrian and quite unfunny comedy.

Halliwell (no stars): "Flat sentimental farce which embarrassingly tries to say something about the UN."

Maltin**1/2: "Unwitty Hope vehicle..."

Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

A strange prehistoric beast lurks in the depths of the Amazonian jungle and a group of scientists try to capture the animal and bring it back to civilization for study.

Classic monster movie with lots of wonderful moments.

New Stuff: The Incredible Shrinking Man

Another Jack Arnold favourite!

New Stuff: Creature from the Black Lagoon

Collecting some of my childhood favourites...

From my vaults: Jack Arnold

Bio:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Arnold_%28director%29