The Best Science Fiction Films, Pre 1970's

[Kyuuketsuki]

OK,

I just love to be entertained and I'm a bit of a science fiction nut so I thought I'd start a few threads off on the subject of science fiction films with the aim of trying to figure what we think the best science films are.

Now I happen to think that earlier films are very different from later films ... the later ones have bigger budgets and SHOULD be better but often aren't so I've arbitrarily drawn a line at 1970 to distinguish the two periods (I'll listen to any reasonable argument as to why I should shift that or why I shouldn't do it at all).

Unless anyone objects I will be judge and jury on what is or is not science fiction ... as far as I am concerned neither horror nor sword & sorcery are science fiction.

Anyway, the following is a list of all the films I recall seeing that were made before 1970 so please feel free to add ones you know. Once done I will put these up in a voting format that I think works quite well with the aim of establishing our all time favourite within that time period. Please feel free to add films you remember from that period.

* The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
* The Thing from Another World (1951)
* When Worlds Collide (1951)
* It Came from Outer Space (1953)
* The War of the Worlds (1953)
* Conquest of Space (1954)
* The Quatermass Xperiment (1954)
* This Island Earth (1954)
* Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956)
* Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
* X the Unknown (1956)
* Quatermass 2 (1957)
* The Blob (1958)
* The Fly (1958)
* Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959)
* The Time Machine (1960)
* The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961)
* Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)
* The Day of the Triffids (1962)
* Battle Beyond the Sun (1963)
* X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes (1963)
* Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964)
* Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965)
* Invasion (1965)
* Daleks - Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D. (1966)
* Fantastic Voyage (1966)
* They Came From Beyond Space (1967)
* 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
* Barbarella (1968)
* Planet of the Apes (1968)
* Quatermass and the Pit (1968)
* Doppelgänger (1969)
* Moon Zero Two (1969)

Kyu

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Pretty impressive list. If you haven't seen them,I recommend

Fritz Lang's Metropolis (1927)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_(film)


Forbidden Planet (1956) One of my favourite sci films.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_Planet


BUT "Plan 9 From Outer Space", directed by dear old Ed Wood? Is not only arguably the worst Sci fi film ever made,but arguably the worst film ever made in the history of the known universe,after "Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes"

[Kyuuketsuki]

Pretty impressive list.

There's more but I haven't seen them (or don't recall if I have).

Fritz Lang's Metropolis (1927)

Ugghh! I dunno what it is about that film ... I've seen clips, and documentaries that talk about it, I recognise homages to it and so on but the idea of sitting through it just makes me want to give up the will to live. To someone who rates it highly that won't make much sense but that's how I feel about it so I doubt I will ever watch it ... I will add it to the list for the poll though

Forbidden Planet (1956) One of my favourite sci films.

Now THAT is an eminently watchable film and I can't adequately explain why it wasn't on my list ... is now

BUT "Plan 9 From Outer Space", directed by dear old Ed Wood? Is not only arguably the worst Sci fi film ever made,but arguably the worst film ever made in the history of the known universe,after "Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes

Indeed ... but it's very funny

Kyu

[leo-rcc]

As long as there is "Santa Claus vs the Martians", there is no other movie that can claim the title of worst movie ever made. I even have Plan 9 on video, it came free with the PC game "Plan 9 from outer space" and both the film and the game were no worse than "Santa Claus vs the Martians".

"Attack of the Killer tomatoes" is brilliant. And "Revenge of the killer tomatoes" is even better.

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btw, stay well away from "Manos, hands of Fate" unless you are watching it through MST3K.