50s Horror Movies

From Ingmar Bergman, starring Max von Sydow, Gunnar Björnstrand, Bengt Ekerot, Nils Poppe
Rated Not Rated

The Seventh Seal is a 1957 Swedish drama film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. The film follows a knight, Antonius Block, and his squire, Jöns, as they return home from the Crusades and discover the Black Plague ravaging their country. Antonius challenges Death to a game of chess, hoping to win more time for himself and his companions. As they journey across the countryside, the two men are joined by a group of traveling performers, who offer them solace and comic relief in their dark journey. As they debate life and death, God and the Devil, faith and doubt, the film culminates in a powerful and thought-provoking examination of the human condition.

From Charles Laughton, starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, James Gleason
Rated Not Rated

The Night of the Hunter is a 1955 American thriller directed by Charles Laughton. Set in Depression-era West Virginia, it tells the story of a predatory preacher-turned-serial killer, Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum), who attempts to charm and terrorize a young widow, Willa Harper (Shelley Winters), and her two children, John and Pearl, in order to get his hands on a hidden fortune. The film is noted for its chilling atmosphere, evocative cinematography and powerful performances, particularly from Robert Mitchum. Willa and her children are ultimately saved by a kindly neighbor, Rachel Cooper (Lillian Gish), who provides them with shelter and protection against the murderous preacher. In the end, Powell is arrested and sentenced to death by hanging. The film is widely considered a classic of the film noir genre.

From Don Siegel, starring Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Larry Gates, King Donovan
Rated Approved

Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a 1956 science fiction horror film directed by Don Siegel and starring Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, and Larry Gates. The film follows a small-town doctor, Miles Bennell, who discovers that alien "pod people" are replacing humans in his town. These pod people are emotionless, unfeeling replicas of people, and Miles must race against the clock to save himself and his town before they are all replaced. Invasion of the Body Snatchers is seen as a commentary on cold war paranoia, as well as a metaphor for conformity and the loss of individuality.

From Jack Arnold, starring Grant Williams, Randy Stuart, April Kent, Paul Langton
Rated Not Rated

The Incredible Shrinking Man is a 1957 science fiction film directed by Jack Arnold, starring Grant Williams as the titular character. The plot follows Scott Carey (Williams), who, while on a boating trip, is exposed to a radioactive cloud, causing him to begin to shrink. Eventually, he shrinks to only a few inches tall, and must fight for his survival in a world that is suddenly much larger and more hostile than before. Along the way, he must confront the dangers of a giant spider, as well as his own diminishing sense of self-worth and his inability to interact with the world around him. Ultimately, he discovers a way to defy his condition and find the courage to survive.

From Fred M. Wilcox, starring Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, Leslie Nielsen, Warren Stevens
Rated G

Forbidden Planet is a 1956 science fiction film directed by Fred M. Wilcox. The story follows Commander John J. Adams (played by Leslie Nielsen) and a crew of astronauts who travel to the distant planet Altair IV to investigate the disappearance of a colony of humans. What they find is a planet populated by a mysterious race of robotic beings and their creator, Dr. Edward Morbius (Walter Pidgeon). As Adams and his crew explore the planet, they discover secrets about Morbius' past, and uncover a powerful force that threatens the entire planet. With the help of the robotic servant Robby, Adams and his crew must find a way to stop the force and save the planet. Forbidden Planet is considered one of the most influential science fiction films of all time, as its unique plot and groundbreaking special effects paved the way for future science fiction films.

From Terence Fisher, starring Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Michael Gough, Melissa Stribling
Rated Not Rated

From Kurt Neumann, starring David Hedison, Patricia Owens, Vincent Price, Herbert Marshall
Rated Not Rated

From Byron Haskin, starring Gene Barry, Ann Robinson, Les Tremayne, Robert Cornthwaite
Rated G

From Terence Fisher, starring Peter Cushing, Hazel Court, Robert Urquhart, Christopher Lee
Rated Approved

From Jack Arnold, starring Richard Carlson, Julie Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno
Rated G

From Directors: Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr., Russell S. Doughten Jr., starring Steve McQueen, Aneta Corsaut, Earl Rowe, Olin Howland
Rated Approved

From Directors: Ishirô Honda, Terry O. Morse, starring Raymond Burr, Takashi Shimura, Momoko Kôchi, Akira Takarada
Rated Not Rated

From Edward D. Wood Jr., starring Gregory Walcott, Tom Keene, Mona McKinnon, Duke Moore
Rated Not Rated