VHS RETRO ART

My late great friend Tom Christensen amassed a collection of over 1500 VHS videotapes before he passed away, sadly right before the influx of DVD. They covered an entire wall in his den, from top to bottom. He could quote dialogue from every movie he owned too, and more besides that. Tom was amazing. He also had a love for 1950's science-fiction and horror films. So do I for the most part, though I can hardly sit through a '50's sci-fi film now without getting either disappointed, or bored, or both. In fact, I can't imagine that there are too many people these days that could watch a movie from that era without feeling anything but derision. 

Unlike Tom, I was more judicious when it came to collecting movies. I only bought about 100 tapes during VCR's heyday, starting with Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Road Warrior and Star Wars. I replaced them all eventually with discs, but I did hang onto a few of the boxes when I thought the covers were cool.  

Of the 1950's I have but these four remaining:

1953's It Came From Outer Space was based on an original story treatment by Ray Bradbury. In it, no pun intended, a spaceship crashes in the Arizona desert and its benign alien crew pretend to be nearby townspeople in order to repair their craft in secret.

Feature Film and Television writer Harry Essex altered Bradbury's dialogue and then took credit for the entire screenplay, which was so typical of what went on in Hollywood back then and probably still does. Essex was even awarded a 1954 Retro Hugo Award in 2004 for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form, for ICFOS. How Bradbury felt about that is not known to me but Gauntlet Press chronicled all of Bradbury's involvement in a 2004 book titled the same as the film (pictured just below). It included, along with an abundance of essays, letters, photos, marketing posters and advertisements, Bradbury's two story outlines (actually there are four), one containing malicious aliens, the other with benign aliens. Said Ray: "The studio picked the right concept, and I stayed on."

The film was originally seen in theaters in 3-D, but the VHS was strictly standard 2-D. That's since been amended, and now you can enjoy the film in either format on DVD and BD.

The 2004 Gauntlet Press hardcover edition of It Came From Outer Space was limited to 750 copies, signed and numbered by Ray Bradbury. There was also a lettered edition limited to 52 copies. The jacket was designed by Marcelo M. Martinex and editor Donn Albright, but the cover illustration was painted by none other than Ray Bradbury himself.

Crestwood House, a publisher of non-fiction juvenile material, published an adaptation of the film script of It Came From Outer Space in 1982. It was part of a series of hardcover library editions showcasing all of Hollywood's greatest monster movies, from King Kong in the 1930's to Creature from the Black Lagoon in the 1950's. The text was written by the late science fiction author Julian May under the house name, Ian Thorne, and each page was illustrated with a photo still from the film. The cover artist is not known to me at this time.

 

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Susan Osborne, one of my favorite former colleagues, discovered 1950's science-fiction movies late in life. She was particularly enamored with 1956's Forbidden Planet and its leading man, Leslie Nielsen. To her he was a hoot! Me, I couldn't stand the guy! Still, because Forbidden Planet was loosely based on Shakespeare's Tempest, and the film's sets, special effects and robot were, at the time, beyond amazing, it has always held a special place in my mind, if not my heart.

What most people don't know is that prior to the film's theatrical release a novelization appeared in hardcover in February, 1956, published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux, (pictured just below), and then later in paperback from both Bantam (March, 1956, pictured further below), and Paperback Library (October, 1967, also pictured below along with a few foreign editions). It was written by Philip MacDonald, a highly respected mystery novelist, writing under the pseudonym W. J. Stuart. MacDonald explored the film's many themes, sexual and otherwise, in mostly greater detail, using multiple first person accounts, and while his written work doesn't always jibe with the film's dialogue and scenes, the novel still gets my recommendation, pulpish though it may be. Good luck though in finding an inexpensive copy though, and of any edition.

Farrar, Straus and Cudahy hardcover edition was published in February, 1956. It sold originally for $3, but I think it could've benefited greatly from having an actual jacket illustration.

"FORBIDDEN PLANET is based on the MGM Cinemascope and color production of the same name, starring Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis and Leslie Nielsen. Screenplay written by Cyril Hume, from the story by Irving Block and Allen Adler. Directed by Fred Wilcox and produced by Nicholas Nayfack."

"A space-adventure story with highly imaginative backgrounds, constant action and an unusual psychological twist, this is science fiction of the first order, written by a master hand. At the opening of this fantastic tale of the future and earth spaceship is launched to seek the survivors of an expedition some twenty years before to Altair 4 (one of the earth-type planets). The chief characters of the new expedition are Commander Adams, Lt. Farman and Dr. Ostrow--men trained in a world dedicated to science and peace, men with original purpose and integrity. When they arrive on Altair 4 they find the sole survivor is Dr. Morbius, but that he now has a mysterious and strangely beautiful young daughter, Altaira. She is extraordinarily gifted. Morbius warns the earth-visitors that they must leave at once, that there is a malignant influence on Altair 4 that has already destroyed everyone else in the former expedition. The visitors do not heed his warnings, as they are cared for by an amazing robot, whose huge, mechanical but seemingly gentle ministrations brood over them. Terrifying adventures follow. An unseen presence, a deadly menace, haunts them. Although warned not to do so, they dare to explore in a forgotten and destroyed generation of spacemen, the Krells. The awakening of Altaira to the earthman's ideal of love, and final escape climax this colorful and macabre romance."

The movie-tie-in paperback edition was published by Bantam in March, 1956. The cover art not credited and was likely derived from one the studio's lobby poster concepts.

"They were experienced space explorers. They'd sweated in the jungles of Venus and tasted the dust of dead planets. But nothing prepared them for Altair 4. It was a paradise--sure. A topsy-turvy Garden of Eden--with green moonlight, golden grass... and the astonishing girl, Altaira. But there was horror behind the beauty. There was non-human intelligence at work--And then there was the sudden, shrieking, agonizing death..."

The Paperback Library edition was published in October, 1957. Although the cover art was not credited, it looks very much like the product of Jack Gaughan, a stylish magazine and book cover artist who thrived in SFF from the 1950's to the mid 1980's.

"Soon after landing on Altair 4, Commander Adams and the crew of Spaceship C-57-D are confronted by Dr. Morbius, a strange scientist who plots to become Master of the Universe. Morbius warns the earthlings to leave at once--or be destroyed by his Invisible Force. Commander Adams and his Spacemen choose to stay in a desperate attempt to stop Morbius. Despite terrifying attacks on their spaceship, they race against time in an unbelievable search for the key that would unlock the mad doctor's secret. Their fantastic battle against incredible dangers makes FORBIDDEN PLANET a unique, unforgettable science-fiction shocker."

Corgi's paperback edition was published in the United Kingdom in 1956. Englishman John Richards produced the cover art. Richards worked mostly for Corgi during the 1950's and 60's, producing a score of covers for some of the biggest names in SFF, adventure, espionage and mystery. But it was his masterful jacket art on the hardcover novelization of Creature From the Black Lagoon (Dragon, 1954) that I think he will be remembered for the most. For many cinephiles that edition has become the Holy Grail of SF movie-into-book collectibles.

"ALTAIR 4 was in sight! They had traveled billions of light years through dark, treacherous space--their mission to rescue the lost crew of the spaceship Bellerophon. And now the radio crackled with life--someone was scanning them! Someone on the planet was alive! They crowded around the radio as a thin but steady voice said: "This is Morbius speaking." It was Edward Morbius, captain of the lost expedition. The cruiser C-57-D responded immediately, "We've come to rescue you. We will land within minutes." Morbius' thin metallic voice now bit out sharply--"There's no need to land... no need for assistance... no need to land... It might, in fact, be disastrous!"

"This is the forbidden planet--Altair 4. And this is the story of the Earthmen who risked everything to conquer its secrets."

This softcover edition of Forbidden Planet was published in Italy by Mondadori in 1957. An essay by Kenneth Heuer was also included as an afterword. The cover art and interior illustrations were produced by Italian artist, Carlo Jacono. Jacono was a talented and very prolific illustrator for Mondadori throughout the 1950's and into the 1960's. 

This softcover edition was published in France by Hachette in 1957. The cover art was not credited nor is it signed.

This softcover reprint from Mondadori, with new cover art, was published in 1965. An excerpt from an English language essay by R. DeWitt Miller was also included as an afterword. Karel Thole produced the cover art. I've never looked into Thole's artwork before, but the Dutch born illustrator was phenomenally prolific, producing hundreds upon hundreds of illustrations for foreign publications, mostly Mondadori. If the they're anything like what we see here, it would be worth my time to delve deeper into his oeuvre.

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A large meteorite crashes to earth and shatters into hundreds of black fragments, each one capable of reproducing and expanding again and again to enormous heights when exposed to rain water.  The fragments, or silicon-based crystals, also have the ability to petrify humans. An ecological disaster is sure to follow unless the scientists can come up with a deterrent.

Okay. Got it. What we have now is "The Killer Rock Movie." Sounds stoned, I know, but in fact 1957's The Mononlith Monsters is one of the most serious and sober films of the Fifties era, and patently intelligent with its use of pseudo-science. The special effects are amazing too. To this day no one really knows how Clifford Stine created them (Stine also created the meteor crash in the opening of It Came From Outer Space, borrowed for opening use here in this film as well). The Monolith Monsters is one of those rare B movies that despite its formulaic script is amazingly original, and amazingly fun to watch.

(Note: There are no books that have made or adapted from this film.)

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Fiend Without A Face is without a doubt the best "Killer Brain Movie" ever made. But then again, that's not saying much because this 1958 film doesn't have much gray cell competition in that area. Only eight other movies have been made that have actual brains wreaking havoc on people, though that is eight more than our "Killer Rock Movie" has going against it. Three of those films are loosely based Curt Siodmak's 1942 science fiction novel Donovan's Brain, and are: The Lady and the Monster (1944), Donovan's Brain (1953), and The Brain (1962).  The other five films are: The Brain from Planet Arous (1957), Mindkiller (1987), Blood Diner (1987), The Brain (1988), and Brain Damage (1988). Fiend Without A Face though has a superior frontal lobe than all of those movies put together, or at least its finale does. Sadly, its first half is mind-numbingly dull and has in place about as plodding an investigative procedural as has ever been filmed. If you don't find yourself slumped in your chair with your eyes lolling in the back of your head then you are probably on illegal stimulants (which I would never endorse). But when the insidious "brain fiends" do finally materialize you will sit up instantly like you just got zapped by a bolt of electricity, and be wowed at the most outrageous science fiction finale ever made in the Fifties.

"Slurp Slurp"!

(Note: There are no books that have made or adapted from this film.)

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PS: Fiend Without A Face made me think about our good pal, Dan, at Dead Man's Brain, who has been inactive blogging since October, 2019.  Here's hoping his talented little gray cells start singing again like Poirot's.

[© June 2021, Jeffersen]