On this day, 18 May, in 1958, Allied Artists Pictures released Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.
I’m a great admirer of 1950s science fiction films. But they aren’t my thing. I rarely seek them out. Attack of the 50 Foot Woman is different. I really like it.
Part of it is what I’m coming to think of as the Dolls Effect. After decades of films where justice plays little role in the resolution, I really like films where the bad people get their due. I call them “feel good” films.
Yvette Vickers is perfect as the comically evil “other woman.” And William Hudson plays the unfaithful husband with a surprising amount of subtlety. He’s clearly pulled in two directions.
Meanwhile, Allison Hayes goes well beyond her pin-up girl good looks and presents a very sympathetic but troubled character. It’s something of a relief when she turns into a monster.
On the downside, the effects in the film are not great. I choose to embrace them. Anyway, it could just be that space alien giants (and their victims) are partially transparent.
The screenplay was written by Mark Hanna, who co-wrote The Amazing Colossal Man the year before. I really like it too but it doesn’t have the heart of Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.
Other 18 May Anniversaries
Filmmakers:
- Chow Yun-fat (1955-): Actor known mostly for action roles such as The Killer and The Replacement Killers.
Films:
- War of the Satellites (1958): Roger Corman science fiction-horror film starring Dick Miller. What’s not to like?! It was released as a double feature with Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.
- The Abominable Dr Phibes (1971): They killed Vincent Price’s wife (maybe). And now he has delightfully cruel murders for them!
- Martin (1978): George Romero’s best film was shown at Cannes on this day.
- Teenage Space Vampires (1999): High school horror nerd saves the world from a space alien invasion.
- Shrek (2001): Bad-tempered but loveable ogre saves a princess and finds true love.
- Hard Ride To Hell (2010): A family vacation takes a dark turn when they witness satanic bikers performing a sacrifice.
- Battleship (2012): Film based on the game but with space aliens because what else?!
Attack of the 50 foot Woman by Reynold Brown — Wrong Side of the Art; in the Public Domain.
