Pre-1965 Science Fiction Movies--Your favorites?

Question

Classics or trash, no matter---What are your pleasures?
(The why would be nice too)

Answer 1

Oh my ...I could go on and on!

The Time Machine (1960)
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
Forbidden Planet (1956)
It Came from Outer Space (1953)
The Flesh Eaters (1964)
The Blob (1958)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Fail-Safe (1964)
Godzilla (1956)
Invaders from Mars (1953)
Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)
The War of the Worlds (1953)
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

I could explain the why of it - but let me just say that even the stinkers give me nostalgia. When I was a kid, my brother and my dad and I would all go to the Saturday matinee at local movie theater where we could watch films for a dime. My dad had to pay 25 cents. I learned to love sci-fi films from those days. I haven't even touched on Monster movies which would include Godzilla and the Blob but they had to do with science as well so I included them here.

Answer 2

1) The Thing From Another World - the best of the 'alien comes to our planet' movies. Intelligent script, uncomplicated plot, effective acting/directing, I can watch this one over and over.
2) Them! - big ants, how could you NOT love this?!
3) Forbidden Planet - Shakespeare done outer space style, very well done.
4) Invasion of the Body Snatchers - creepy and stylistic suspense story, could happen in any town.
5) The Day the Earth Stood Still - maybe the smartest science fiction movie ever made, though just a bit heavy-handed. Great acting, very effective score.
6) Gojira (Godzilla) - not the best movie, but captured a generation of viewers who rooted for or against a 400-ft, fire breathing dinosaur.
7) War of the Worlds - good movie, beautifully shot in color. Nice to see the aliens winning for a change.
8) Journey to the Center of the Earth - exciting adventure, not really a typical sci-fi feature, but fun to watch and a good storyline.
9) 20 Million Miles to Earth - only mentioned because of Ray Harryhausen's great models - the creature fighting the elephant at the end is fantastic.
10) The Fly - what a scary, creepy movie this was when I was a kid. The worst part was at the end when he hears the fly scraming for help from the spider web.

Answer 3

"The Day the Earth Stood Still". Classic drama, noted more for the story than the science fiction aspects. The societal underpinings in the message of the film conveyed the impatience regarding America's new role in the world, as well as the hooplah surrounding McArtheyism. "The Boy with Green Hair". This one also was more about drama than the actual science fiction or fantasy aspects, and dealt with isolationism, cliques, and being humane towards one another. My personal favorite, "Metropolis". The movie is a classic in many regards, most notably for its (then) advanced designs and truly remarkable filming. While bits of the movie have been lost, it is a silent classic that should be required of any true Sci-Fi fan AND art student to see. It does little for me to explain it, as one must see it to appreciate this wonderful movie. BTW, this is available on KENO Video as a DVD. "THEM"..a story about giant ants..what's not to love? These are the ones off the top of my head, and I know there are more, primarily B-movies, but I needed to list the classics.

Answer 4

I would have to say hands down the best pre 65 sci fi movie was Forbidden Planet. It had incredible special effects for the time, the best monster ever even though you only see it for a short time, an all star cast and a great plot, having to do with a race reaching the point in their mental development where they could accomplish anything with their minds, but forgot about the id and destroyed themselves and the repercussions of playing around with technology that mankind couldn't truly understand. I also have a special fondness for The Thing, and Them.

Answer 5

There are so many good one and so many more bad ones. The classics, The Day the Earth Stood Still, War of the Worlds are cinematic gems. The baddies, Them!, The Thing, and Radar Men from the Moon are guilty pleasures. To me they are all watchable and fun because of The era they were shot in. A strange blend of cold war paranoia and Ward and June Cleave innocence. I like the bulk of them because it's like looking into a time capsule.

Answer 6

Fahrenheit 451 (1966)
First Men in the Moon (1964)
Flash Gordon (TV, 1953-1965)
It Came From Outer Space (1953)

Answer 7

Journey to the Center of the Earth and The Day the Earth Stood Still. I love journey to the Center of the Earth because for that time it is incrtedible that a movie like that could ever be made. The day the earth stood still is just a classic and always will be.

Answer 8

1951 "War of the Worlds" - Why, because it had lots of suspense, action, and it was very scientific instead of blood and gory like the 2006 remake with Tom Cruise.

"The Day the Earth Stood Still" - Why, because it suspenseful and interesting, showing how ignorant and plain human beings are and how shallow we can be as a people. I really thought Patricia O'Neal did a wonderful job with this movie.

"The Blob" - Why, interesting thinking that a blob could not only scare everyone in a town but could also kill.

"The 50 foot man" - Why, because look at what he went through and it wasn't even his fault. It scared me to think people can be so cruel.

Answer 9

The original Invasion of the Body Snatchers!! (actually I am not sure if that is pre-1965 for sure - it's b&w though) It's just a great movie...that poor guy! Also ANY Twilight Zone episode...not a movie but, still one of the greatest TV shows ever made!

Answer 10

I have three
1. Forbidden Planet - 1956 - Leslie Nielsen with Robbie the Robot

2. The Day the Earth Stood Still - 1951 - Klaatu barata nekto!

3. When Worlds Collide - 1951 - Oscar award for best special effects, another nomination for best color cinematography.

Cindy J - I checked. Invasion came out in 1956.