I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958) Movie Review
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- čas přidán 18. 06. 2021
- Here are some of my thoughts on this surprisingly serious sci-fi flick which I saw last month. Enjoy the review! (No spoilers.)
Link to the film on YT: • Video - Zábava
I love how in-depth your videos go.
It's a review, behind-the-scenes look, and history lesson all in one.
This movie was originally shown in theaters along with The Blob, another classic, as a double feature. Nice to see a younger generation get into classic 50s sci Fi. This movie was old when I first seen it. In the 1970s these movies were often broadcast late at night on TV. Scary stuff for a kid back then
One of my favorite '50s sci-fi potboilers. It never showed up in the usual local creature features for some reason, but, instead, I caught it on our "Dialing for Dollars" afternoon movie. Over the years, I very rarely ever saw it rerun and only in the past decade or so have I seen fan sites mention it.
You are quite perceptive. I appreciate your analysis.
You have covered so many facets of this film
including broader social topics. Excellent work.
You included so much information in 15 minutes and
present it in ways that are both subtle and impressive.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Thanks! I'm glad you got so much out of the video!
Your commentary on marriage and the unfortunate pitfalls that sometimes happens is pertinent and insightful. Well done.
I remember discussing this movie when I was at university. As you said it was surprising that a creature feature had such deeper connotations. I learned usually it was the B and C level movies that were allowed to take on controversial side topics because of their low risk of high profile notice.
Not enough action in this one for me to truly like the movie. I always see it as a drama masquerading as a scifi movie. Thank you for the review
I have also read that this movie was one of many that were allegory for the Red Scare of the 50s. The husband & his co-conspirators were threats to the "American Way." But I really like Jerome's take. You never really know what you're getting into in a marriage.
Oh, and Gloria Talbot died on my birthday.
Another spot-on review of an obscure, rough little gem. Like you, I've always felt this movie deserved a better title than it got. I wonder if the marketing people at Paramount felt it would scare away the most likely audience (teenagers) if it had a more serious title.
Anyway, you have once again captured this worthy film's essence very perceptively, particularly that it is -- unexpected though it may be -- actually a "woman's film", in what was primarily a male-dominated genre at the time. Thus, in its own small way, IMAMFOS amounts to something of a pioneering work; a metaphor, as you so insightfully point out, for a woman's fear that a loving courtship relationship transforms "monstrously" into a cold, loveless, even dangerous, marriage.
Kudos for your background on John P. Fulton. And, my goodness, you do turn up with some of the most amazing factoids, such as the actors who played aliens, and their other credits. Delightful stuff!
Here are a couple more. The music was a hodgepodge of cues written by a number of composers for other films, including Franz Waxman (innumerable credits) and Leith Stevens ("Destination Moon", "War of the Worlds", and "The Wild One"). The scenes of earth suspended in space used for the title sequence are backgrounds from "Conquest of Space". Several of the alien sound effects, including the sound of the disintegrator gun the aliens used, originated with "War of the Worlds".
Thanks so much once again for another outstanding review of a movie that deserves more respect than its title implies.
I like your reviews of older movies 👍 more please,especially sci-fi.
I don’t think I’ve seen this one but it’s got a great premise and I think it would have worked just as well if it had been the woman who’d been taken over.I can’t even Imagine the horror discovering such a thing in someone you love.
Thanks! Fortunately there are plenty of classic sci-fi films I haven't covered yet, so there's lots of material to choose from in the future. :)
This is the film that ignited my love for Gloria Talbott (I especially love her as the bratty daughter in All That Heaven Allows). She's fantastic in these B-horror films. The title brings to mind the goofy articles that you'd see in the hayday of Weekly World News/ The National Enquirer, so I've always thought it was kinda perfect, in a silly way. haha. As always, your videos are a pleasure.
The special effects were by John P Fulton, who did The Ten Commandments.
Nice comments about the underlying subtext. I’ve alway loved this film, but it took many viewings to realize there was more to it than alien invasion stuff. I also think the two leads are great, particularly Gloria Talbott, who probably gave the best performance of her career. She actually had a long career, mostly on TV, but she was also effective as Jane Wyman’s annoying and selfish daughter in the excellent ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS in 1955. You mentioned IMAMFOS was remade as I MARRIED A MONSTER, which I never knew, so I found it on CZcams and watched it. It’s nowhere near as good, and the subtext got really watered down, but it wasn’t a bad remake, except for the cheesy CGI. Great score, however, by one of my favorites, David Shire. Thanks for keeping on keeping on!
I had a real ball with this. I loved all the sci-fi elements and visual effects, but what worked best for me was the tension-filled domestic drama. The situation was becoming so increasingly uncomfortable for Marge that I felt almost relieved when she found out he was an alien. Gloria Talbott (who I'm unfamiliar with) is sensational in the role, and it's a surprisingly good character piece. On the fun side, I enjoyed the 'one against the wind' scenario with Marge hopelessly trying to convince others of the conspiracy. And I loved those bullets going into the aliens ~ that was such a cool effect. Overall, it's a very enjoyable and entertaining movie.
I agree with your criticism of alien-Bill discovering human emotions. Feels like it was sledgehammered in.
Special mention for the dude in the hat caught loitering outside the house. He was only onscreen briefly but I loved his 50s hipster talk.
Thank you for recommending this movie and making an excellent review video. I have still yet to see "Creature From the Black Lagoon" and "It! Terror From Beyond Space." Both on my list.
Footnote: There was one particular sequence in this movie that gave me chills. The scene where the policeman is dismissive of Marge's fears and tells her to go home and the following scene in the house have such a dark undertone. That sequence seemed to be alluding to a domestic abuse situation ~ purely in regards to tone rather than as a direct analogy. I found it very chilling. Especially the way the scene in the house is shot and blocked. (I've tried to be careful and avoid spoilers there, but it's something that I felt was worth mentioning. Miss Weiselberry, if you do feel this counts as a spoiler, please feel free to let me know and I will gladly edit it from my post.)
I liked “I was a teenage werewolf” . Wish the director made more monster films. Seems like he was trying to do something more interesting than just a creature feature
Thank you for this, Rome. It's funny, I think I've had an eye on Gloria Talbott ever since the rather throwaway 1955 Christmas movie We're No Angels, starring Humphrey Bogart, Peter Ustinov, and Aldo Ray as escapees from Devil's Island. (Yes, I did say it's a comedy.) It might be interesting to compare this to a more recent movie like The Astronaut's Wife. TAW may have more solid production values and more nuanced acting -- but does it necessarily have more impact? If not, that may be proof that IMAMFOS really does have more going for it than just its title. Much appreciated, Rome, and owl be seeing you.
The title, as you mentioned, makes it seem it's a superfluous film, and that's most likely why I have yet to see it. But after this review, I'll definitely look out for it. Thanks Jerome for bringing this one to our attention! This entire review btw, including ALL subjects touched upon, was excellent. Outstanding work, but I expect nothing less from you ))
With close to 600 YT reviews that you have done, I might never get a chance to watch all. I just wanted to say thank you for the your thoughtful reviews on a wide variety of genres. Your enthusiasm to your craft garners my increasing viewership. I do recall seeing IMAMFOS many years ago....30 or more... so your review brought back some memories. Seeing the key actress, Gloria Talbott, I had a dilemma of trying to figure out where I'd seen her before....so had to look up her long tenure acting in many films and TV shows. Turns out she was also in the 1955 film "We're No Angels" playing as Isabelle Ducotel with Humphrey Bogart, Peter Ustinov, Aldo Ray, Basil Rathbone, Leo G. Carroll and others. My senior play in high school was the same, with me playing Leo G. Carroll's part of the doddering shop keeper and Isabelle's father. It is labeled as comedy, crime and romance. If you haven't seen it, it sometimes shows up around Christmas on TCM. I think you'd enjoy it. 😊
When I was a kid, in the sixties and early 70s, pre internet, pre cable, the cheap tv station in my home town would show movies like this late Friday and Saturday nights. What fun!
I just stumbled across your channel the other day Jerome, I have to say that the quality of your work is excellent. Keep up the good work!
Welcome! I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the content. Thank you very much!
Great review, your commentary on social aspects of the film is very good. Keep them coming.
This film's cheesy title has obscured its positive qualities for decades now, and I'm delighted that you enjoyed viewing it. While it is indeed a b-movie of sorts, it's an extremely well-executed one that never overshoots its production capabilities. I hope that reviews like yours will help this film to reach new audiences in the years to come.
Hi, Rome. I have only just discovered your channel, as a result of searching youtube for this movie. I first viewed IMAMFOS as a student back in the 1960s and was surprised and pleased at how intelligently it had been made. As many comments observe, it was ill-served by an atrocious marketing-oriented title. I am now very glad I watched the whole of your review too - one commenter mentioned judging a book by its cover, which I try never to do. I found your depth of analysis very rewarding. My subsequent career has led to some years of advising about assisting victims of sexual and physical abuse, often within a marital relationship, and I was impressed with your comments on people's choices. I am now subscribed, because of a longtime interest in SF movies and in visual effects, so was well aware of Fulton's contribution. Keep up the good work. 👍 😎
I love the creepy imagery in this movie and think it proves my belief that works should not be judged based on relatively miner issues such as their titles.
I love '50's sci-fi/horror. Saw this one ages ago and liked it. Well made film. Great review, yet again. Your videos put a smile on my face.
Great review, as always. Wonderful movie, too; layers upon layers of subtext with a gloriously hokey title. Any plans to cover Gene Fowler's earlier classic I Was a Teenage Werewolf? That movie's just crying out for the Weiselberry touch! Plus it's also on CZcams...
Hi Jerome! I really enjoy your reviews of all types of films, but I absolutely love your reviews of classic sci-fi, horror, and monster movies. They're some of the most creative and quirky movies around and are so much fun to watch. Some people can talk kind of dismissively about them but their energy and innocent enthusiasm is so captivating and endearing. As you mentioned, they also often get to explore interesting themes and even risky or groundbreaking topics (for their time) and do it in a way that isn't preachy or pretentious. Your reviews of these types of movies are some of the most thoughtful and ebullient ones you do and I really appreciate that! Thanks!
Thanks, Ricardo!!
I love this movie !! So glad to see you review it ... Possibly one of your best, fascinating and informative videos.... You are getting deeper, more informative, and still al lot of fun .
I totally understand your point on marriage. I would love to get married someday, but I do have a little fear of marrying a guy with a hidden dark side or something. It's probably because I've seen too many true crime shows.
On a more positive note, I hope you have a good father's day weekend with your dad. I took my dad to a couple of bookstores today and bought him a few books.
Yep, I hear you there. Thanks for the Father's Day message! I'll pass it on to my dad, although he does read the comments himself, so I bet he's already seen it. :D Happy Father's Day to your dad!
Sadly paranoia and fear stops many people from living a happy life.It’s usually worth taking a little risk here and there I’d say.
@@JeromeWeiselberry if you want a great movie watch carnival of souls 😇
@@JeromeWeiselberry watch invasion of the saucer men one of the worst movies i saw when i was 7 in 1991 on cbs
@@only257 I saw that a few years ago. Definitely not a high-quality film, but it's amusing in its way. I really enjoyed the short story it was based on. If you're interested, I gave a mini review of the movie in this video: czcams.com/video/ZJbrmXYOWJ0/video.html
Another excellent review JW. This film is so much better than it's title would lead one to believe. Gloria Talbott is excellent.
Another movie I like her in that you might enjoy if you haven't seen it yet is We're No Angels. A comedy about convicts trying to escape Devil's Island. Its a fun little Christmas movie.
This a great analysis and appreciation of a sorely oft-overlooked classic❤
Really love this channel! 😁
One other film this reminds me of is “The Astronaut’s Wife” from 1999 (which I haven’t seen since then so I can’t recall a lot of details.) That movie also features a woman’s response to the slow discovery that some alien intelligence has taken over her husband.
Also, I strongly agree that the title “I married a Monster from Outer Space” doesn’t sound as serious as this film turns out to be. It sounds more like a movie that involves 1960s teenagers at the beach, with a kooky motorcycle gang leader & maybe starring Giget & Frankie Avalon.
One of my favorite 1950s sci-fi movies…and you’re right…surprisingly good, given the ridiculous title.
Oh wow ur setup and ur beauty looks like late 90s it's super cool dont change this setup it feels unique , retro . And great detailed review wow
Wow Jerome, speaking about not judging a book by its cover. Ha ha
I took one look at you and thought you would have very limited knowledge and experience regarding films. I was wrong. You are knowledgeable and insightful and I enjoyed your review. I’m about to go see the film on the big screen in Oaxaca city Mexico. It will be in English with Spanish subtitles. I’m now looking forward to it, thanks for your review.
Ha, yes, I get occasional viewers who stop by, form a quick impression, and dismiss me. I'm not sure why. But I'm glad you decided to stick around and enjoyed the review. I hope you had a good time seeing the film! I doubt it gets chosen often for big screen showings, so that would be a special experience.
This is a personal favorite and it’s cool to have a woman’s perspective on it. I honestly think Fowler got handed a title, a cashier’s check and was told to make a movie in 18 days. But like the catalog of Val Lewton, there were just too many smart and talented people in the same room so they made “one for themselves” as the saying goes. I disagree with the short scene about “Bill’s” emotions...I definitely skirts the surface but does a lot with a little. Marge admitting she’s frightened is something we almost never see in a main protagonist. Also very cool is how they find “real” men for their possee.
This film is a psychologist's dream. Themes abound here... from the dangers of comformity, economic dependence of white collar workers, problems of conception, marriage anxiety, the red scare, paranoia, and stolen identity to the exploration of women as normal, sexual beings in their own right.
And the booze flows like a river... alcoholism is accepted as the norm here; unless you're a freakin' alien! Excellent film.
Science fiction and fantasy are classic genres for telling tough truths or exploring topics that regular genres can't do all that well (or even at all). This film, like other stories speaking hard/uncomfortable truths, is well-ahead of its time.
CZcams has some interesting movies if you look. Both in the CZcams movies category officially, and random uploaded movies all over the site. Someone has even uploaded Lawrence of Arabia in 1080p (in full, including overture and intermission) and it's been up for a while. 😂
This was actually one of your best reviews. A nice commentary on relationships and marriage and the very real problem that exists when people do change after marriage.
I look forward to watching this one . I am in agreement with your thoughts on over analysis of symbolism in movies . It does dilute the enjoyment of a movie . That’s something that you never do in your reviews of movies . Sadly , I can’t enjoy Siskel and Ebert anymore , but I can now turn to your videos for thoughtful analysis . Many thanks !
Jerome I appreciated the person touch with the way you drew such realistic precautions to selecting a marriage partner. Your entirely correct and you drew those observations from this movie review. But it is only movie right I think I watch the movie .
I JUST SAW THIS MOVIE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO !!!! IT WAS VERY WELL PACED AND EERIE !!!! ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO I WAS WATCHING THE LEAD ACTOR OF THIS MOVIE, TOM TRION IN ANOTHER MOVIE, A 1960'S WESTERN, WHEN MY MOTHER RECOGNIZED HIM. SHE SAID THAT ACTOR TOM TRION LEFT HOLLYWOOD AND BECAME A SUCCESSFUL WRITER. THANK YOU Jerome Weiselberry FOR POSTING THIS GREAT FILM !!!! THANK YOU YOU/YUBE !!!!
Fun fact : I came across this movie while doing some quick research after your recommendation of of It ,the Creature From Outer Space! I watched the trailer for this movie , judged the film based on the direction quality of that (unfortunately) and noped out of it real fast .However now I feel highly inclined to back and watch it .Thanks! Yet another great movie recommendation from the wonderful and fantastic Jerome Weiselberry !!!😊
"The wonderful and fantastic Jerome Weiselberry !!!"
That would make a great T-shirt slogan. I'd buy one!
@@Ruby_Kang So would I,in a heartbeat!😄
@@adelaaire8861 Let's start a print shop!
I'm watching this film right now. It's brilliant. I'm about halfway through.
@@Ruby_Kang Boy ,I wish I could alas!😢
I'm going to find and watch the movie right now !
How can you NOT review The Giant Claw? Seriously, it’s a movie that you should have major appreciation for and will be able to do an excellent review of….. in between laughing hysterically! Your 2022 blooper compilation will honestly be 97% to do with Giant Claw! I’m so serious, if you disagree I’ll buy you a house!
I actually was contemplating doing it soon, as I think we could all use a laugh. Just to be clear, I have seen it a couple times. :)
@@JeromeWeiselberry I can’t wait!
Hey, thanks for this cool unplanned review! 🙆♀️
I've always appreciated Cold War era Sci-Fi. I remember watching "I Married A Monster From Outer Space" on NBC's "Saturday Night At The Movies." I liked it a lot. Earthers who are in positions of authority being controlled (or substituted) by aliens reminds me of "Invaders From Mars." Yeah, back in the early 1960s, network TV used to show major motion pictures. NBC also aired "The Time Machine," "The Day The Earth Stood Still" and "The War of The Worlds." Thank you, Jerome, for posting this video and including the link to the film.
You'll see that same "glowing" effect in earlier John Fulton effects film work, notably the Boris Karloff film THE INVISIBLE RAY (which is not totally without interest/another "metaphor"-type story).
The heads of the aliens in this film had a bit of a "plant-like/roots" quality to me, suggesting a "low-emotion quotient" type of being. I wonder if Gene Fowler was looking to cast someone with the same physically "angular" look as Michael Rennie in THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, which was (subtly) striking. Tryon had a somewhat unusually robotic physique (no insult or comment on his acting skills intended, tho he'd been criticized for "stiff" acting elsewhere. Btw, he became a best-selling author---which you may already know. His book THE OTHER was a big best seller and was made into a rather creepy film.)
Thanks for the review. Insightful, and methodically laid out! Glad this review may get others to look past the exploitation title and give it a chance.
Thanks for the additional information! I did figure out he was Thomas Tryon the writer, but only after watching the movie. I have a copy of The Other; it came in a box of books that a certain someone sent me. :)
@@JeromeWeiselberry Ah, yes. I just remembered hearing about that from someone . ;-7
It's a movie that shows you can still do a pretty captivating movie in the 50's and not have to use a ton of money behind it. You need like another picture for the editing Weiselberry. Just you wrapped up with a movie reel tape, with a pair of scissors in hand and stuff haha :)
Great review! I'm intrigued by this movie based on your review. I read that this movie was released in a double feature with "The Blob". Tom "Thomas" Tryon, have you read any of his books, or the movies made from the books?
Thanks! I haven't, but I do have a paperback copy of The Other in my possession.
Just stumbled onto this movie and it seemed better than average looking. Thanks for your thoughtful review. Going to give it a watch!
Hope you like it!
Great review, JW...👍
I now have something new to watch tomorrow and it's much appreciated Ms Weiselberry. I believe being a fan of the genre I must've heard of this film before but I'm unsure as a lot of films from that era have similar sounding titles like the one you've mentioned ' I Was A Teenage Werewolf' I'm also even more excited after hearing you talk about John P. Fulton as I hadn't heard of him but he's been involved with so many films I love. The Aliens to me look a bit like if Davy Jones from Pirates of the Caribbean appeared in the Star Trek episode ' The Tholian Web where Kirk becomes translucent. I have to say the way you spoke about marriage and relationships in general had so much conviction in it, so much truth, I hope when you meet the right person those aren't issues you have to face, or anyone, nobody deserves to be treated poorly, I mean the world is tough enough without your person, the person who's supposed to be your partner hurting you, abuse in any form should never be accepted. I have issues myself, running away from potential hurt, shutting down, hopefully I can fix those before I meet the one lol. I'm also fearful of being too attentive, also fearful of not learning to type shorter less embarrassing comments 😂, seriously though I feel what you've said might help or inspire that one person who needs a slight push to look at their situation and to consider changing it if their situation is an unhappy one , and it's a great science fiction film review too lol, you're the best. ~ Thank you Ms Weiselberry ~
Very insightful review! I've always liked the theme of the 'imposter' and the surrounding paranoia, and I think the '50s/early '60s period was the best setting for this concept. Probably because it seemed like America at the time was trying hard to put on an idyllic facade, like actors in an old toothpaste commercial. I'll have to see this movie, it sounds a lot like some of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes.
Good review & advice👍!
Maybe you did it this way as to not give away spoilers, and I respect that. But I would have enjoyed you taking us through the movie a bit more with your thoughts on certain scenes. Like one of my favorite parts is when lighting strikes and what he really is sort of shows through! Thought that was a pretty cool touch. Also, you barely touched on the fact that there was a remake, but you did not mention whether you had seen it to compare. MOST of the time remakes are not as good. But I am still curious about it. Thank you.
Wooh, commentary on this one took a serious turn.
Looking forward to checking this one out.
Look for Alien Trespass (2009), a loving homage to 50s sci-fi with similar story elements. I was looking for something to watch tonight and you handed me an answer.
If Hitchcock had ever made a sci-fi movie, I think it would have been similar to this and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Wild theory, I know!
The Birds is kind of Sci Fi
Thanks for the review, Jerome. I've always avoided this movie because of the dopey title. I'm gonna check it out.
The analogy to marriage and domestic violence was wonderfully put. I will definitely check this film out
A lot of woman are so intent on getting married, they choose to ignore the warnings, red flags, hints, and innuendos and go ahead with the wedding. But there are some instances where no matter how well you think you know and trust your partner, they do change or show their darker side after marriage.
This is why I would always recommend living with your partner before marriage, and taking several years to know each other (and each other’s families, if possible) before you are sure you want to tie the knot. It’s a lot harder to ignore warning signs when you are living together all the time, whether they are “smaller issues” that make you realize that you don’t really want to be together in that capacity, or serious red flags.
I think the term you are looking for is that the title of the movie sounds like a B low budget Sci Fi movie. One that MST3K would make fun of. But from your review it sounds like a movie that I would like to watch. The title did turn me off. Thank you so much for your recommndation.
These impostor movies were frightening to a me and my sibs back then. We enjoyed being scared by these movies. We did have nightmares at times, and sometimes had trouble falling asleep that night after watching them. In the same vein Invaders from Mars" and "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" were favorites. Picking apart a book or movie can become tedious, and drain all of the enjoyment of art from them.
"I Married a Monster from Outer Space... next on Maury!"
An excellent review of a very underrated movie. I believe George Carlise is correct and the title was studio originated, intended to appeal to youngsters. This also happened to Jacque Tourneur with a number of his movies. I'd advise anyone to ignore the title and delve into a compelling, moody and disturbing thriller which places Gloria Talbot center-stage. All the elements of a film noir add up to a worthwhile movie.
I first heard of this movie in the first Hap and Leonard book, Savage Season. I thought it was such an odd film to reference that I had to watch it. It's worth the watch. Great review.
Thanks for the video. I need to add this to my watchlist.
Another movie title that I always thought was at odds with the movie's tone is Robocop. It is a fairly silly title, apt for a children's cartoon, but the movie itself has extreme violence and other adult themes.
You can also stream from your phone or computer to Chromecast.
"It's a small... war of the, worlds!" bah ha ha ha!
As a child seeing movies at the local theater with my older brother and sister, I remember seeing Tom Tryon in a Disney movie "Moon Pilot" (1962). Also from 1962, I remember seeing the movie "Journey to the Seventh Planet." One more, have you seen "The Maze" from 1953?
No, I haven't seen The Maze.
Richard Carlson in an atmospheric mystery with a spooky castle sounds promising, though!
I got to see "The Maze" in its original 3D polarized version! Quite an experience.
Another good review. The Bachelor Party scene was typical of the time, the tongue in cheek jabs about how bachelor has come to the end of the line. Having the snatch take place right before the wedding is a good move. The bride's concern's about her husband being different can be written off by others as typical for newlyweds.
I have been really looking forward to this.A fine presentation.Saw this one not too long ago.A good example of 50,s invasion from the skies cinema.I assume from my observations of those betrothed that every married couple has had at some time the belief that I MARRIED A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE.Some may truly believe it.Let SETI worry about them.If I asked my mother,she would say " Isn,t it obvious.That makes you part xenomorph." If I asked my father,he would say " I don,t believe in aliens but what other explanation is there?" I bet drive-ins offered promotional deals for newlyweds."Get your husband to sign the monster confession available at the box office and you may win a Brocklehurst burger at the snack bar." The dogs are the heroes of the film.They stalk and fight the monsters like no one,s business.Have you seen It Conquered The World 1956.It tickles me that Lee Van Cleef shows sincere respect for a Venusian that looks like a toy vegetable.I guess it has a great mind.It is a good movie.You hold court well your majesty.
Hey Jerome! You should review Into the Grizzly Maze . It’s on Netflix. I think you’ll like it. GLADIATOR with Russel Crowe too ! That’s a good one
Great film..almost like an OUTER LIMITS episode.
Have it on DVD.
sounds like an awesome movie!
Thanks for the review JW. That a young girl watches movies in black & white is amazing these days.
I watched it on CZcams twice because of The Blob, which is part of the same double feature as this film.
I saw this movie in what likely was the late 60s or early 70s, and I thought it was great.
fyi, i saw a video in which you said you loved ice cream, but were very cold sensitive. i wanted to suggest to you sensodyne (no, i don't work for that company). i used that toothpaste for a year and it took care of my sensitivity very quickly, and even better, i then went back to colgate and the sensitivity did not return.
Ha, this is random but I appreciate it. :) I've used Sensodyne Pronamel for years and I definitely think it works. I still have some cold sensitivity, and probably always will, but it tends to act up when there are drastic temperature or humidity changes. The tooth/nerve that I've had the most trouble with recently (due to some trauma about 15 years ago) seems to have calmed down in the last six months too, which is nice.
I love your review. This is a truly great film and has a life of its own.
The remake is a fanatically loving tribute to this film. It does not try to be its own film; it is strictly for fans of IMAMFOS. It has a couple of over-the-top scenes thrown in that are fun, including the cliche of, "Goodbye Cruell World" where the main antagonist gets discovered by some poor guy in the bar and corners him in the bathroom and somehow manages to disintegrate him and flush him down the toilet at the same time ! . You see the guy's desperate face framed by the toilet seat above, a 50s ribald joke book come to life with realistic effects.
Val Lewton pioneered in the 40s the genre of extremely serious films with lurid off-putting titles. IMAMFOS stands out as being this moody Lewtonesque type of film but with a sci-fi spin. All the qualities that you mentioned are almost taboo in science fiction. Science Fiction is sometimes considered shallow for a reason. None of Lewton's films have a sci-fi element. Many have considered "Cat People" the very apex of film making. It is similar to this one though is from the point of view of the film itself. But it features a man who has married a woman who turns out to be a mental case. The psychiatrist he sends her to seems right off to be a despicable villain, but there is more to him than meets the eye as he plots to save her from her dullard semi-conformist husband. It turns out that HE is the one who needs saving. In the end her curse could be no better or worse if it were a real supernatural condition or a mental illness. This film is scary to many people, but I think you will be afraid FOR her rather than afraid OF her.
By the way, I think that the monster from outer space is the most haunting looking creature ever in a film, the greatest space alien ever. The storm troopers in Star Wars were patterned after this look.
Think you for reviewing this masterpiece and I hope you check out "Cat People", the original, not the shameless and pointless though stylish remake. If you like it, I promise that you will like all the Lewton films. It is wise not to automatically be put off by a lurid title.
Glad you enjoyed the review! Interesting that you draw a comparison to Val Lewton films. I hadn't made that connection, but there is an atmospheric and psychological resemblance there. I don't think of his films as having particularly lurid titles myself, though Curse of the Cat People has always stood out as being shamelessly misleading. I haven't reviewed Cat People on its own, but I did discuss it, along with several other Lewton films, in this video: czcams.com/video/_oOz3deZjcE/video.html
@@JeromeWeiselberry Thanks for that link. I am really into Val Lewton and Jacques Tourneur.
Regarding sound design: The sound of the Children's singing class at the beginning of "The 7th Victim" somehow transports one into an otherworldly portal. This film, a type of prequel to "Cat People", follows the adventures of Dr. Louis Judd. He was the original "Dr. Strange", resembling Dr. Strange and living in Greenwich Village while perusing occult mysteries. He is as close to being the hero in this film as he is to being the villain in "Cat People". The scene in which he fearlessly recites the Lord's Prayer to the Palladists is somehow funny and heroic at the same time, subtle rather than rip-roaring. It is full of ironies. Hugh Beaumont, who plays Ward Cleaver in "Leave it to Beaver" is so earnest and wholesome as he gleefully explains to the Femme Fatale's younger sister about how he helped her beloved sister flirt with suicide. You can almost imagine that next he'll be saying, "Well, Gee, Beaver ...". His name in "7th Victim" is ... WARD ! That can't be a coincidence. Calling him Ward in "Beaver" seems like a twisted inside joke. I can imagine the casting person saying, "Hey, lets get that guy from "7th Victim" who played the lawyer to play the dad." Bob Mosher produced some TV shows that were notoriously unwholesome. "7th Victim" is like a dark comedy that is not at all funny. It out Lynches David Lynch by being so quiet and subtle. Something outside the film itself seems to amplify all of Lewton's films. "The Anatomy Of Atavism" by Dr. Louis Judd is quoted in "Cat People" . Alice alludes to him being a ladies' man and a lothario as she recommends him to Oliver as a shrink for his wife. That is certainly odd, as though she knew that Judd would fall for Irena and maybe steal her from Oliver. Or, at least he could get her committed. Alice seemed scheming and dangerous by using niceness and status quo respectability as a facade to get what she wants and is self-righteous. "7th Victim" is like a comic relief where the closest thing to the self-righteous are the fanatical Palladists who are un-ambiguous losers and a clear danger to themselves and others, no redeeming social value at all. Dr. Judd had left his practice to focus full time on writing in "7th Victim". Jaqueline Gibson's suicide and his affair with her must have prompted him to get back into practice in "Cat People" and it shows that he was more of an anti-hero than a pure villain all along. It is easy to see how he was attracted to Irena with the tragic finale being, again, her death but also his own. He was a quietly reckless character, pulling strings and being admired. The social norms of that time were well showcased from the perspective of the hip counterculture of that day. If you watch "7th Victim" and "Cat People" in that sequence, you may find "Cat People" to be quite different.
Who would have thought that a review of a movie with such a dumb title would contain such wisdom regarding marriage.
A decently entertaining movie starring the former Miss Glendale, California Gloria Talbot and the very good actor, writer and producer, Yale University educated Tom Tryon.
The woman put me in mind of "The Brain That Wouldn't Die".
Wow ! This review was dark.
Have you seen the great race (1965)
Saw this movie i was 7 in 1991 on cbs great movie 😌
Hi! I only few days ago found your channel and I really love your videos and your knowledge on movies T_T! Instantly subbed.
I was wondering if you could review a movie The Lighthouse from 2019 with Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. It's one of my very favorite movies of the past decade and would love to watch your review of it~
I know you focus mainly on older movies but I think it's really worth it, and the way it mimics an old movie is pretty surreal too
Sounds like the producers sabotaged a good movie by giving it a ridiculous title.
Your advice about marriage is well put. I hope it's not because you or someone you know was badly burned.
The title came from the director-writer Gene Fowler, who had great success a year earlier with his I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF (which he directed). This "Married" movie was a 2nd feature with THE BLOB, another goofy-sounding title. The 2 films took in a lot of money. The silly title, in fact, was a deliberate hook to guarantee boxoffice, not the opposite. But, to me, even as a kid when this came out, I hated childish titles (I didn't see the excellent film THE CREEPING UNKNOWN because the title sounded cheap and silly). I didn't go to see this film which is actually a pretty solid little SF thriller. My loss. But I was in the minority: The title was a smart one from the studio's standpoint. I was just too serious I guess. ha.
Gloria Talbott admitted @ the time she was involved in the production of the film that it was an utterly ridiculous title and it may have killed its initial box office potential; but later on she believed that there couldn't be any better name for the movie (to which I agree w/) and it seems so perfect now, reflecting the "prosperous post-war, baby boomer, Eisenhower-era decade".
Gives me an idea for a modern horror movie: I MARRIED A CZcams COMMENTER.
Those pictures of the alien reminds me of Predator.
Havey you ever seen How to Steal a MIllion? I love Audrey Hepburn.
Yes, I have!
@@JeromeWeiselberry Sorry for being so random. I had just watched it for the first time, the day you uploaded the video so that's why I asked. Great review by the way!
There is an old expression, Jerome, about marriage. Understand this is an expression, not Gospel! It is said a woman marries a man hoping he will change, but a man marries a woman hoping she won't.
A fine little diamond in the coal that hides behind a ludicrous title. Sexual politics run rampant here. Tryon isn't the greatest actor, but Talbott was really solid in all her films, which seldom deserved her talents. There are some icky effects at the film's conclusion.
😎😊🎬great movie
Not a lot of Marges anymore.
Some, not many, ha - ha.
My cultural heritage means any time I hear the title of this film the first thing I think of is John Cooper Clarke's poem czcams.com/video/Ezm-uJv1dEk/video.html
A sentence in the title rather in just a few words.
Can anybody here come up with some alternative suggested shorter titles ?
It sounds Like “The Astronauts Wife”. That Johnny Depp film, no one remembers
Despite it's outrageous title it's actually, as you say, a pretty good movie! I own a copy of this film I bought on Amazon. As far as B-Films go, this one, The Hypnotic Eye, and The Brain From Planet Arous, are among the three best!
That thing about watching CZcams on TV is funny.
CZcams is already on Roku, so no phone is needed.
In any case , CZcams is a good source for movies, but a lot of movies are either bad quality, or they get taken down for copyright reasons.
I preferred not to go into this much detail, but my mom doesn't like random movies showing up in her recommendations, bumping out the things she likes to watch, and coming on while she's sleeping. If I just pull the video up on *my* CZcams account and cast it, it doesn't affect any of her stuff.
Sure you can just pull up You Tube on Roku. But if you want to see something specific, it's much easier to cast from your phone. I keep a special list of movies I've found on CZcams, on my phone. Pre-screened for video quality, and checked that there are no commercials. So when I'm ready to watch something, I pull up the list, make my selection, hit the cast button, and there it is. Otherwise you're using the remote to "type" the title on the screen. Always annoying unless you're searching for a one word, one syllable title.
Max, I've actually had a similar thing for a couple years, a playlist of movies (prescreened for quality) that I hoped my family and I could watch together. We only did it once or twice, though, and sure enough, CZcams flooded my mom's feed with other movie suggestions (like she watched one movie, so that must be ALL she's interested in now). It was frustrating for her, and she couldn't just mark them as "not interested." It wasn't worth the trouble, even though these were movies I hadn't been able to find anywhere else. (If I could, I wouldn't watch them on CZcams.) I don't expect ours is a situation a lot of people can relate to, but for us, finding out we can do this is a big deal and vastly preferable.
@@JeromeWeiselberry Yes, I understand. You could try pausing your watch history and then you won't get a million suggestions for whatever it is you're watching.
I've enjoyed this movie for quite some time now. I do find the premise behind it unique regarding the woman's viewpoint mainly as that was a bit rare for back then. And all the different subtexts that may be read into it which are too lengthy to note here should be considered as well. The Blu-Ray especially makes the film very pristine in appearance. Something of a "thinking person's" monster movie. Which probably explains why "The Blob", which this flick was paired w/ back in '58, did better. PERSONAL SPOILER ALERT: I also admit to possessing a predominant soft-spot for the movie in that Gloria Talbott (Marge) was my Auntie, so this motion picture helps me to reminisce about her much.
Oh, BTW, nods should go to the DP Haskell Boggs; and also to editor George Tomasini, who worked primarily w/ Hitchcock on Rear Window, Vertigo, North by Northwest, The Birds and Psycho, including the infamous shower sequence.
You just gave the most horrifying and depressing outlook toward the dangers of marriage that I have ever heard in my life. The birth rate will be headed toward zero if your attitude catches on.
Hey, I'm just saying that people should make such an important decision wisely! :)
Thanks! I’ll make sure to not get married. Lol jk.
Can you review the movie "Oscar Wilde" from 1960?......you can download it...stars Robert Morley.