Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957)

Scientists become trapped on a shrinking island with intelligent, murderous giant crabs.

Rock All Night (1957)

Cloud Nine, the local teen hangout, has been taken over by a pair of escaped killers, who hold the local teens hostage. The bartender realizes it's up to him to save the kids.

Not-so-bad closed-room drama with lots of jive mumbo jumbo, and the music performances take up almost half of the running time.

Halliwell (no star): "Talky, cheap rock movie, with some occasionally bright dialogue, and a single set in which heavy drinkers philosophise and listen to a few indifferent numbers; at least, it doesn't take itself too seriously."

Maltin**: "OK Corman potboiler with better-than-average performances, and dig this - Johnson's one of the bad guys and Miller's the hero!"

This Island Earth (1955)

Aliens come to Earth seeking scientists to help them in their war.

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).]

Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki (1955)

Ma and Pa, along with daughter Rosie, go off to Hawaii in answer to cousin Rodney's call for help running his pineapple farm while he recovers from an illness.