List of horror films of the 1950s
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This is a list of horror films released in the 1950s. At the beginning of the 1950s, horror films were described by Kim Newman as being "out of fashion".[1] Among the most influential horror films of the 1950s was The Thing From Another World, with Newman stating that countless science fiction horror films of the 1950s would follow in its style, while a film made just the year before, The Man from Planet X was still in debt to the Universal horror style of filming, with a bearded scientist and foggy sets.[1] For five years following the release of The Thing From Another World, nearly every film involving aliens, dinosaurs or radioactive mutants would be dealt with matter-of-fact characters as seen in The Thing From Another World.[1] Even films that adapted older characters had science fiction leanings, such as The Vampire, The Werewolf and Frankenstein 1970 being influenced by the atomic-inspired monsters of the era.[2] Films with a Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde theme also appeared with The Neanderthal Man, The Fly, Monster on the Campus and Hideous Sun Demon.[2]
While studies suggest that gothic horror had fallen out of fashion between the release of House of Dracula and The Curse of Frankenstein, small glimpses of the genre appeared in films such as The Son of Dr. Jekyll, The Strange Door, The Black Castle and House of Wax.[3] Several of these films were also shot in 3D such as The Mad Magician, Phantom of the Rue Morgue, and The Maze.[4] Universal-International produced the film ''Cult of the Cobra which created a short lived wave of horror films featuring Pin-up model like mutants such as The Leech Woman and The Wasp Woman.[4] Prior to the release of Hammer Film Productions's gothic films, the last gothic horror films of the 1950s often featured aged stars like Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr., and Boris Karloff in films made by low budget indie film directors like Ed Wood or Reginald LeBorg or producers like Howard W. Koch.[4] Hammer originally began developing American-styled science fiction films in the early 1950s but later branched into horror with their colour films The Curse of Frankenstein and Dracula.[4][5] These films would birth two horror film stars: Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.[5] Along with Hammer's more science fiction oriented series Quatermass, both the gothic and science fiction films of Hammer would develop many similar films within the years.[5]
Horror films aimed a young audience featuring teenage monsters grew popular in the 1950s with several productions from American International Pictures (AIP) and productions of Herman Cohen with I Was a Teenage Werewolf and I Was a Teenage Frankenstein.[5] This led to later productions like Daughter of Dr. Jekyll and Frankenstein's Daughter.[5] Director William Castle also attracted horror audiences with his gimmick-themed horror films such as The Tingler and House on Haunted Hill.[5] Horror films also expanded further into international productions in the 1950s such as Mexican production El vampiro.[5] In Italy, Riccardo Freda and Mario Bava developed early Italian horror films with I Vampiri and Caltiki – The Immortal Monster.[6] Productions also extended into the Philippines (Terror Is a Man), Germany (The Head and Horrors of Spider Island) and France (Eyes Without a Face).[6]
List
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ a b c Marriott & Newman 2018, p. 65.
- ^ a b Marriott & Newman 2018, p. 66.
- ^ Marriott & Newman 2018, p. 68.
- ^ a b c d Marriott & Newman 2018, p. 69.
- ^ a b c d e f g Marriott & Newman 2018, p. 70.
- ^ a b Marriott & Newman 2018, p. 71.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "Bride of the Gorilla". Allmovie. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Thing(1951)". Allmovie. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Son of Dr. Jekyll". Allmovie. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Strange Door". Allmovie. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Black Castle". Allmovie. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "My Son, the Vampire". Allmovie. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
- ^ "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953) - Eugene Lourie | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "House of Wax". Allmovie. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
- ^ 怪談佐賀屋敷 at the Japanese Movie Database (in Japanese)
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Maze". Allmovie. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
- ^ "La Bruja –Cast and Crew". Allmovie. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
- ^ Legare, Patrick. "The Mad Magician". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Snow Creature". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "Bride of the Monster". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "Bride of the Monster (1955) - Edward D. Wood Jr., Edward D. Wood | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Creature with the Atom Brain". IMDb. September 28, 1955.
- ^ Brennan, Sandra. "Cult of the Cobra". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Binion, Cavett. "Dementia: Daughter of Horror". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955) - Robert Gordon | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ O'Neill, Phelim (October 22, 2010). "Les Diaboliques: No 19 best horror film of all time". The Guardian. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ Huddleston, Tom; et al. "The 100 best horror movies - the scariest films ranked by experts". TimeOut. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ Deming, Mark. "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". AllMovie. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Black Sleep". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "Man Beast". American Film Institute. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
- ^ Weaver 2006, p. 371.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Mole People". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Brennan, Sandra. "The She-Creature". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Firsching, Robert. "The Abominable Snowman". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Strider, Dave. "Attack of the Crab Monsters". Allmovie. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ Binion, Cavett. "Back from the Dead". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Black Scorpion". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "Blood of Dracula". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "Cat Girl". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Curse of Frankenstein". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Binion, Cavett. "Daughter of Dr. Jekyll". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Disembodied". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Binion, Cavett. "From Hell It Came". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "The Giant Claw". IMDb.
- ^ Brennan, Sandra. "La Maldicion de la Momia Azteca". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "La Momia Azteca". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "The Monster That Challenged the World (1957) - Arnold Laven | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "Night of the Demon". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Wollstein, Hans J. "Pharaoh's Curse". AllMovie. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
- ^ "Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959) - Edward D. Wood Jr., Edward D. Wood | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ Brennan, Sandra. "Spook Chasers". AllMovie. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
- ^ Binion, Cavett. "The Undead". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Warren, Bill. "The Vampire". Allmovie. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
- ^ Curti 2015, p. 21.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "Voodoo Island". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "Voodoo Island". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "The Blob (1958) - Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr., Irvin Shortess Yeaworth, Jr., Irvin S. Yeaworth | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related".
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "Blood of the Vampire". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "Black Cat Mansion". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "The Brain Eaters". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Binion, Cavett. "Bride and the Beast". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Erlewine, Iotis. "El Castillo de los Monstruos". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Binion, Cavett. "Corridors of Blood". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "Curse of the Faceless Man". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "The Fly (1958) - Kurt Neumann | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "Giant from the Unknown". Allmovie. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
- ^ Binion, Cavett. "Corridors of Blood". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "The Hideous Sun Demon (1959) - Thomas Bontross, Gianbatista Cassarino, Robert Clarke | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "El hombre y el monstruo". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "Dracula". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "I Bury the Living". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "It! The Terror from Beyond Space (1958) - Edward L. Cahn | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ Binion, Cavett. "Macabre". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "Monster on the Campus". Allmovie. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- ^ Binion, Cavett. "Return of Dracula". Allmovie. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Screaming Skull". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "My World Dies Screaming". American Film Institute. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
- ^ Blaise, Judd. "The Thing That Couldn't Die". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Erlewine, Iotis. "El Ataud del Vampiro". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "The Woman Eater". AllMovie. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
- ^ Binion, Cavett. "Attack of the Giant Leeches". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "Beast from Haunted Cave". American Film Institute. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
- ^ Binion, Cavett. "A Bucket of Blood". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Curti 2017, p. 315.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "Caltiki - Il Mostro Immortale (1959)". AllMovie. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ Mannikka, Eleanor. "Caltiki - Il Mostro Immortale (1959)". AllMovie. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "Die Nackte und der Satan". Filmportal.de. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ Blaise, Judd. "La Casa del Terror". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "Curse of the Undead". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Brennan, Sandra. "The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Binion, Cavett. "The Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Dorset, Jeaniff. "The Ghost of Yotsuya". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Giant Gila Monster". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "House on Haunted Hill". American Film Institute. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- ^ Harwell 1997, p. 157.
- ^ Binion, Cavett. "The Man Who Could Cheat Death". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Bush, John. "The Mummy". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "Teenagers from Outer Space (1959) - Tom Graeff | Synopsis, Movie Info, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ Deming, Mark. "Terror Is a Man". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Seibert, Perry. "The Tingler". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Brennan, Sandra. "Tempi duri per i vampiri". Allmovie. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
Bibliography
[edit]- Curti, Roberto (2017). Riccardo Freda: The Life and Works of a Born Filmmaker. McFarland. ISBN 978-1476628387.
- Derrey, Charles (2009). Dark dreams 2.0: a psychological history of the modern horror film. Jefferson, NC: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-3397-1.
- Harwell, Thomas Meade (1997). Studies in Texan folklore – Rio Grande Valley. Lewiston: Edwin Mellen Press. ISBN 0-7734-4208-1.
- Hutchings, Peter (1993). Hammer and Beyond: The British Horror Film. Manchester University Press. ISBN 0-7190-3720-4.
- Curti, Roberto (2015). Italian Gothic Horror Films, 1957–1969. McFarland. ISBN 978-1476619897.
- Marriott, James; Newman, Kim (2018) [1st pub. 2006]. The Definitive Guide to Horror Movies. London: Carlton Books. ISBN 9781787391390.
- Weaver, Tom (2006). Interviews with B Science Fiction and Horror Movie Makers. McFarland. ISBN 0786428589.
- Warren, Bill (2009). Keep Watching the Skies!: American Science Fiction Movies of the Fifties, The 21st Century Edition. McFarland. ISBN 978-0786442300.