TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Sci-Fi Adventures (Them! / The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms / World Without End / Satellite in the Sky)THEM! – Radiation-mutated ants – 12 feet long and capable of lifting tons – become giant problems for James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, James Arness and all of Los Angeles. “Fascinating to watch. Them! is taut science fiction” (A.H. Weiler, The New York Times). THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS – An A-bomb test in the Arctic awakens a gargantuan prehistoric dinosaur that makes New York City its stomping ground in the movie (from a story by Ray Bradbury and with superb special effects by Ray Harryhausen) that launched a string of Atomic Age creature features. WORLD WITHOUT END – Hugh Marlowe, Rod Taylor and other Mars-mission astronauts skid on a time warp into a post-apocalyptic future Earth marked by fear, mutant monstrosities and a diminishing group of subterranean survivors. Can these wayfarers from the past preserve our world’s future? SATELLITE IN THE SKY – A stalwart crew (and a female reporter stowaway) guides a stratospheric jet rocket ship on the first space flight. The mission also involves another first: the outer-space detonation of the feared tritonium bomb. But mechanical failures threaten to trigger disaster. Strap in for suspense!
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(out of 4 reviews)
Review by calvinnme for TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Sci-Fi Adventures (Them! / The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms / World Without End / Satellite in the Sky)
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This set contains four sci-fi films from the 50′s. With the atomic age upon them, Frankenstein’s monster and vampires were just not that scary anymore to the people of the 1950′s. Thus filmmakers turned to creatures and environments that were the byproducts of man’s nuclear experiments.
Probably the best known of these films is “Them!”. In a location in the southwest U.S., at the site of the test of several nuclear weapons, people and sacks of sugar are disappearing in large quantities. Robert Graham (James Arness) represents federal law enforcement in the investigation, and Dr. Harold Medford (Edmund Gwenn) represents science. Also, there is a second doctor Medford, the very attractive daughter of Harold Medford.
“The Beast from Twenty Thousand Fathoms” revolves around a dinosaur trapped in the Arctic ice that is thawed and awakened as the result of a nuclear test. The scientist who first sees the creature is not believed. However, he soon has converts when the beast emerges from the deep and starts not only devouring Manhattanites but spreading a deadly disease.
“Satellite in the Sky” is a British effort. A rocket crew carries a powerful new type of bomb into space for a test. However, the bomb becomes attached to the ship’s hull and will soon detonate if something is not done. This one is a bit talky, but pretty well done.
“World Without End” was produced by poverty row studio Allied Artists, whose catalog is now owned by Warner Brothers. Four astronauts returning from a mission to Mars wind up on earth 600 years in the future. Atomic war has made the earth a place full of men that have become Neanderthals – literally, insects that have grown to giant proportions and women who seem to be starved for attention from the opposite sex and, in spite of all of the chaos on earth, still have a sense of fashion. If parts of this film look familiar it is because several scenes were edited into “The Queen of Outer Space” in order to be more economical to the budgets of both pictures.
None of these films is in any boxed set although all are already on DVD. This set is highly recommended for lovers of 50′s sci-fi. If you are a stickler for top-drawer CGI you might want to look elsewhere, since that is not the point of these films.
Review by Donald K. Dossett for TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Sci-Fi Adventures (Them! / The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms / World Without End / Satellite in the Sky)
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TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection : Sci-Fi Adventures
4 Classic 1950′s Sci-Fi films for $18.99, prior to this collection’s release you would have had to pay a lot more in purchasing these movies separately.
Here are the movies listed , in order by my favorite to least liked.
THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS (1953):
Another creature being awakened by atomic bomb testing, this time it’s a gigantic dinosaur “Rhedosaurus”
Excellent stop-motion effects by the master “Ray Harryhausen”. Of course of all places the creature heads to , it has to be New York City. Here we get to see a lot of massive destruction + a lot of stock footage of military personnel and aircraft in attack mode.
Features the classic Coney Island Roller Coaster / Dinosaur scene that was years ahead of its time.
Again another black and white classic that has been transferred to DVD that is exceptional in clarity.
THEM (1954)
One of the more classic “BIG BUG” movies of all time. Again mankind has upset mother nature with atomic radiation.
Great production values and great sets, shot in glorious black and white.
One of the most “chilling” sounds is hearing the strange high-pitched chatter coming from “THEM”. Giant-Sized atomic bred ants, who attack mostly in their search for sugar.
Stars James Arness (Matt Dillon of Gunsmoke fame)
Great transfer to DVD. I can still remember seeing this movie for the 1st time when I was young.
WORLD WITHOUT END (1956)
Never have seen this film before, it was quite a surprise.
4 astronauts are returning from earth’s 1st mission to Mars, when they enter a mysterious time warp and are thrown into a nuclear ravaged earth some 552 years into the future.( Planet of the Apes ? )
One of the better sci-fi space films that I have seen from this period. High production values, good looking sets.
The special effects are the general fare for this era, except for the incredibly hokey looking giant spiders.
Great story line with some beautiful actresses. Filmed in Cinemascope color.
SATELLITE IN THE SKY (1956)
Also Filmed in Cinemascope color, and looks very sharp on DVD.
Stars a very young and beautiful Lois Maxwell ( Miss Moneypenny from the James Bond films)
1st rocket of its kind, blasts into outerspace,but secretly deploys a highly experimental t-bomb (strongest atomic bomb ever created).
The bomb is to be exploded in the safety of outer space, but of course the crew runs into unexpected problems. Excellent special effects , especially exploiting the massive scale of the ship. Not too special elsewhere ( smoke coming from the ship looked like someone blowing cigarette smoke, a lot of scenes looked like minatures)
You can’t go wrong purchasing this nice collection. Excellent value for the money.
Review by Stephen Trebs for TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Sci-Fi Adventures (Them! / The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms / World Without End / Satellite in the Sky)
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These are re-done and better than the released single DVD’s. “World Without End” is the widescreen version. If you are a 50′s Sci-Fi fan this is worthy of adding to your collection.
Review by William Haugen for TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Sci-Fi Adventures (Them! / The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms / World Without End / Satellite in the Sky)
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If you’re a fan of the 50′s Sci-Fi genre, these are four of the best.