FIRE MAIDENS OF OUTER SPACE

The Fire Maidens go into their dance

FIRE MAIDENS OF OUTER SPACE (1956). Written and directed by Cy Roth. Colorized version. 

A space ship heads for the 13th moon of Jupiter and discovers a hidden city called New Atlantis -- it's like a medieval castle inside -- presided over by an old man named Prasus (Owen Berry), who is the figurative father of a bevy of dancing beauties. Outside New Atlantis a tall dark humanoid creature -- a skinny guy dressed in black and wearing a kind of voodoo mask -- stalks anyone who dares to step outside the enclave. Astronauts led by Luthor Blair (Anthony Dexter) enter the city and aren't quite certain that the inhabitants are friendly, especially when they are put into a drugged sleep via Prasus' refreshments ...

The monster goes after the maidens as astronauts watch

Prasus does not offer any explanations for the weird goings-on in Fire Maidens. We never learn how the occupants of doomed Atlantis managed to get from Earth all the way to Jupiter. Where are the parents of all the young ladies? Who or what exactly is "the creature" that roams about outside? The whole thing is like something out of an old comic book or cliffhanger serial, only even more illogical. The ladies start dancing to the strains of Borodin at the drop of a hat. Kim Parker of Fiend Without a Face is one of the fire maidens. 

Verdict: The only space babes movie which is worse is the execrable Queen of Outer Space. **1/4. 

FIEND WITHOUT A FACE

One of the fiends goes on the attack!

FIEND WITHOUT A FACE (1958), Director: Arthur Crabtree, Colorized. 

Canadian locals near an American air base with an atomic power plant blame the Army for everything from less milk from the cows to too many noisy flights overhead, but then when dead bodies start turning up everyone gets worried. Townspeople and military people alike are beset by invisible creatures that are somehow able to suck out brains and spinal cords from victims through two holes in the skull. The foolish Professor Walgate (Kynaston Reeves) has managed to materialize his thoughts in the shape of living, malevolent brains that have now strangely multiplied and are on the attack. The brains use the atomic power to become visible to Walgate, Major Cummings (Marshall Thompson of It, the Terror from Beyond Space), Barbara Griselle (Kim Parker), whose brother was the first victim, Captain Chester (Terry Kilburn) and others in the exciting climax. Will the brains take over the town?

Kim Parker and Marshall Thompson

Fiend Without a Face is a silly but fun monster flick with some decent acting and more than decent stop-motion animation of the brains, along with excellent, creepy sound effects. The brains are not only able to pull themselves along the ground by using their attached spinal cords, but can actually launch themselves into the air! The whole thing is very much like a comic book story, with absurd "science" and a great deal of illogic. Walgate tries to explain how the brains came to be in one sequence, but his explanations only cause more confusion. But in the long run it doesn't matter as Fiend is short, fast-paced, and very entertaining and amusing. Thompson manages to keep a straight face throughout and always claimed that he actually directed much of the movie. James Dyrenforth, who plays the ill-fated mayor, was also in The Giant Behemoth. Arthur Crabtree also directed the zesty Horrors of the Black Museum. 

Verdict: You can't beat those brains! ***.