Allison Hayes was born on 6 March 1930.

I am talking about her today because she starred in one of my very favorite films, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman. In terms of 1950s science fiction, it is the best film — only Them! comes close. And no, The Thing from Another World, as good as it is, is nowhere near as good.

And what makes this film great is Allison Hayes because of the fragility of her performance. That’s what sells it. If you don’t love her, you don’t love this film. I think the rest of the cast is great too. In particular, Yvette Vickers is fantastic as the woman you love to hate. But that means nothing without Hayes.

In 1957, Hayes starred in a number of low-budget films:

• The Undead: A Roger Corman film about a woman (Pamela Duncan) sent back to the Middle Ages via hypnosis, Hayes plays a witch in that time who can change into a cat.
• Zombies of Mora Tau: Edward L Cahn directed this B-picture about divers looking for treasure. Unfortunatey, it is guarded by zombies. Hayes plays the “bad” woman who sides with the zombies.
• The Unearthly: Boris Petroff directed and produced this film featuring John Carradine as a mad scientist and Tor Johnson as his assistant. Hayes plays the beautiful woman who must be saved.
• The Disembodied: Walter Grauman (Lady in a Cage) directed this jungle voodoo film. Hayes plays a native woman (in dark make-up) who married a western doctor. It’s the kind of role that Yvette Vickers would have been great in!

And the following year, Allison Hayes made 50 Foot Woman. But she didn’t even work for another decade. She suffered from an undiagnosed illness. Doctors dismissed it, as was typical for the time — and still pretty common. She ultimately developed leukemia and died at the age of 46.

Let’s watch Attack of the 50 Foot Woman. I’m always up for it!

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Allison Hayes via Wikimedia. It is in the public domain.