50's scifi movies shown on TV in 78-80 period

stabu · 09-08-2008 12:11am #1

Does anybody remember that on a weekend night they (BBC I think, tho' not sure) would should show double bills: two 50's movies, around about 1978-80?

Usually they were scifi, which is no surprise because very many wre produced during that time ... it was a sort of golden age, though of uneven quality. The best known one is "the Incredible Shrinking Man", which has a good critical reputation. Clearly the effects were deplorable by todays standards ... though the black and white graininess actually does add to their otherworldliness.

I am in fact trying to identify one of these movies, which should be easy because they are well documented on the internet. But I haven't been able to find it. So, as a long shot, I ask here. All I have is the rough storyline, aliens take over the minds of a bunch of kids and start to take over a town by dictating a series of tasks to the adults. The adults try to circumvent this with difficulty. The scene I remember properly is where this adult is trying to cover up something, and the kid asks incisively "but what about the arrangements?"

I don't expect that will jog anybody's memory, but maybe, on the off chance. I dare say I'l finally discover myself, as I have been through the storyline of about half of these films, so eventually I shoudl find it. But any clues are welcome.

Ann22 · 09-08-2008 9:48pm

I remember around that time on a Saturday night there was a Horror double bill. The first film was always an old black and white then a more modern one after that-usually a Hammer production. My friend and I used to take turns going to each other's houses to watch.
I'm not sure about the film you're talking about, I do remember a period when there was a sci-fi film on could been every evening during the week-I can remember getting my homework out of the way to watch. One I remember the best was about a little boy with freckles whose father was acting strangely after disappearing down a hole and coming back out. It was all to do with aliens. Was it 'The Day The Earth Stood Still'? I could be mixing two films up.

mike65 · 09-08-2008 9:56pm

The best known one is "the Incredible Shrinking Man", which has a good critical reputation. Clearly the effects were deplorable by todays standards ... though the black and white graininess actually does add to their otherworldliness.

Eh? Not all the time Incredible Strinking Man had exellent effects - remember the spider and the problem with dailing a number when you are 6 inches high? A fantastic film with a truly existential conclusion.

Ann22, that was not "Day..."

stabu I suspect the film you are thinking of is either Village of the Damned or its sequel Children of the Damned (were the kids all blonde and about 7/8 years old?)

Mike.

Ann22 · 09-08-2008 10:03pm

That's right it sounds like 'Village Of The Damned'. All the kids were conceived during a storm or something, all had white hair and mad eyes and were telepathic. Evil little f****rs. Christopher Reeve was in the remake.

steveone · 11-08-2008 11:49pm

children of the damned..

the final showdown is in the church .. i was only watching it on tcm the other week...

Dogster · 16-08-2008 4:30pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MBresWP9MY

I think there is a scene in either The Village of the Damned or The Children of the Damned, when somebody mentioned that the Russians had a bit of misbehaviour from their kids so they nuked them, none of yer liberal western pussyfooting around there.

My co-favourite horror sci-fi is "Them"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2PLls02gOU

along with War of the Worlds, not the Spielberg rubbish but the classic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaZBO1dghz8

Best and Warm Regards
Adrian Wainer

steveone · 18-08-2008 7:28pm

I see they are re making the day the earth stood still.
michael rennie was in the original with garth the robot...
class movie..
or the day of the triffids... classic stuff....

humberklog · 19-08-2008 7:44pm

Midwyche Cuckoos. Little blond headed feckers that could influence adults. I tried googling name befor as I wrote a song titled Midwyche Cuckoos and wanted to fid correct spelling but didn't find it. But I'm pretty positive that's the programme you're thinking of.

dresden8 · 24-08-2008 10:08pm

humberklog wrote: »

Midwyche Cuckoos. Little blond headed feckers that could influence adults. I tried googling name befor as I wrote a song titled Midwyche Cuckoos and wanted to fid correct spelling but didn't find it. But I'm pretty positive that's the programme you're thinking of.

That's the book.

humberklog · 25-08-2008 7:09pm

dresden8 wrote: »

That's the book.

Pretty sure it was a short run serialised version carrying that name too.

stabu · 08-09-2008 7:58pm

Wow! I'm pretty amazed at this response.

I actually never bothered checking back, thinking it was far too long a shot ...

Yes, Mike65, that would have to be it, though I'll suspend final judgement until I finally see it again. Though, steveone, your tone of voice seems definitive. To youtube I shall go.

BTW, I didn't want to say anything disparaging about the the Incredible Shrinking Man, it's a brilliant movie - yes, ending is chilling and awe-inspiring at the same time. I expect I was preparing myself for how today's gen might see it.

I'll have to look out for "Them". A later one, in colour, which also had an incredible ending was "Planet to the Other Side of the Sun". I've been meaning to buy that one on DVD. You know it's about these astronauts going to the opposite side of the sun only to find a planet identical to the earth, there. In fact, the mirror image of the earth.

Thanks everybody for the contributions. Has helped alot. Much obliged.

Ann22 · 08-09-2008 9:31pm

Remember the original of HG Wells' 'The Time Machine'? It was on on sky quite a few times last Christmas. I thought it was deadly...remember the Morlocks? I've never seen the new one with Samantha Mumba and Guy Pearce.

mike65 · 08-09-2008 9:35pm

Jebus stabu we watched the flicks as kids! Journey to the Far Side of the Sun AKA Doppelganger, was great stuff - Thunderbirds with more cash

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4AZY3UA4tM

Mike

stabu · 09-09-2008 11:40pm

Yep, it's a laugh ... but I have to say your tastes change. I mean, I really liked James Bond back then ... can't stomach him _at all_ now.

Another case is Charlton Heston's the Omega Man. Now I see him in the role .... acting the shooting sprees just a little too well, and if you think the arms trade is a real bane*, well .. it becomes really sour, though I think it's a good movie.

But the Morlocks are much better done than Omega Man's zombies. I revere the Time Machine and that Rod Taylor one you're talking about Ann22, it's totally and utterly brilliant. The new one just has to be spillage. That said, I'm a HG Wells fan though.

* Warning: hypocrite talking - I do the same on the video console.

Thanks for all the clues and comments!

tricky D · 11-09-2008 1:01pm

Ann22 wrote: »

One I remember the best was about a little boy with freckles whose father was acting strangely after disappearing down a hole and coming back out. It was all to do with aliens. Was it 'The Day The Earth Stood Still'? I could be mixing two films up.

Invaders from Mars

classic

50's scifi movies shown on TV in 78-80 period

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