KRONOS

Gigantic Kronos strides across the land

KRONOS (1957). Director: Kurt Neumann. Colorized. 

Scientists Leslie Gaskell (Jeff Morrow of The Giant Claw) and Arnold Culver (George O'Hanlon) know something is wrong when a meteor they are following suddenly changes course in space! As the meteor splashes into the sea off the coast of Mexico, project head Dr. Eliot (John Emery) has his mind overtaken by a sinister alien presence. Down in Mexico an enormous monolithic machine -- which Gaskell christens Kronos -- rises from the depths and then begins striding through the land, causing destruction and absorbing the energy of same. As it heads towards an atomic plant, Gaskell has to figure out how to stop it before it -- and others like it (called "accumulators") -- drain the earth dry and obliterate it. 

Jeff Morrow and Barbara Lawrence

Kronos has never been a top favorite with most monster movie fans because Kronos is merely a mindless machine operated by unseen aliens; it doesn't have the "personality" of big beasties or malevolent bugs. Despite its widescreen aspect -- this was filmed in "Regalscope" -- and the fairly decent FX work, the movie screams "third-rate" as compared to more memorable sci fi epics of the period. Still, the premise isn't bad and is pretty original as well. Morrow gives his usual committed performance, and Barbara Lawrence as his girlfriend and project photographer is competent and decorative. Morris Ankrum, Robert Shayne, and Richard Harrison have smaller roles. Kronos was photographed by Karl Struss. The score (by Sawtell and Shefter) was basically re-used the following year for It! The Terror from Beyond Space, a much more entertaining picture. 

Verdict: Somewhat interesting if ultimately unsatisfying sci fi. **1/2. 

THE REBEL SET

Kathleen Crowley and Gregg Palmer

THE REBEL SET (1959). Director: Gene Fowler, Jr. 

Mr. Tucker (Edward Platt of Atlantis the Lost Continent) owns a coffee shop but he has a sideline: he plans heists for lots of money. He enlists the participation of three men whom he clearly thinks of as losers: struggling actor John (Gregg Palmer); failed novelist Ray (John Lupton); and George (Don Sullivan), the screw-up son of a famous movie star. Tucker actually plans his caper very well, and the heist of an armored car goes off without a hitch, until everyone makes their escape on a train and a murder or two occurs ... 

John Lupton and Don Sullivan

The Rebel Set was packaged as some kind of "beatnik" movie, but while there are appearances by stereotypical beatniks in the film, the main characters don't fit into that category and the film has little to do with them. The screenplay for this is not that bad, but the performances are a little too laid-back to give the pic the tension it requires. Don Sullivan essays a very different character from the one he plays in The Giant Gila Monster, but he's versatile enough to pull it off although he, too, underplays too much. Poor Ed Platt walks through the movie as if it were a rehearsal and he didn't know the cameras were filming -- his high water mark really was Get Smart.  Kathleen Crowley with her trademark whiskey voice gives the best performance as actor John's very worried wife, who thinks he's going to appear in a play instead of a robbery. Others in the cast include Robert Shayne, Byron Foulger, and Gene Roth [Earth vs the Spider]. The film was shot by Karl Struss. Probably influenced by films like The Killing and The Asphalt Jungle, it's not in their league.

Verdict: Just misses. **1/2.