IT, THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE

"IT" on the rampage

IT, THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE (1958). Director: Edward L. Cahn. Colorized. 

The first ship to explore Mars has only one survivor, Colonel Edward Carruthers (Marshall Thompson of Mystery Street), who is suspected of murdering the other crew members to conserve dwindling food supplies for himself. Carruthers insists that a hostile life form killed the others, and he's right -- this highly dangerous creature sneaks aboard the ship holding the members of the second expedition and kills them off one by one while Colonel Van Heusen (Kim Spalding), Ann Anderson (Shirley Patterson of The Land Unknown) and their colleagues try to figure out how to destroy the beast. 

Bice, Doran, Greer and Spalding

It, the Terror from Beyond Space, written by Jerome Bixby, whatever its low-budget flaws, remains a highly entertaining and suspenseful space monster flick, well-directed by the prolific Cahn. Spalding and Paul Langton probably give the best performances, although the others -- including Ann Doran, Dabbs Greer, Robert Bice and others -- are also effective. It uses the same score as Kronos, which came out the previous year. The picture moves fast so that you might not wonder how on earth it's a good idea to use grenades on a space ship! As has been noted by me and others many times, this film was very influential on the big-budget Alien, which uses the same plot and some of the same plot elements -- blasting the creature out of the air lock at the end, for instance -- as well. Ray Corrigan [The Monster and the Ape] plays the monster and the ubiquitous Pierre Watkin is an official back on Earth.

Verdict: Memorable sci fi creature feature which works quite well in color. ***. 

THE BIG NIGHT (1960)

Randy Sparks

THE BIG NIGHT (1960). Director: Sidney Salkow. 

High school student Frankie (Randy Sparks) hangs out with a bad crowd but has a loving widowed father, Ed (Dick Foran), and a pretty girlfriend, Ellie (Venetia Stevenson). Frankie discovers a briefcase full of loot from a bank robbery in town and decides to keep it, although Ellie isn't so certain it's a good idea. Nevertheless, having this nice chunk of change inspires Frankie to turn his life around, and he gets a job and new clothing and even wins the approval of Ellie's mother (Anna Lee) and boss (Frank Ferguson). Unfortunately, an ex-cop named Wegg (Jesse White of Country Music Holiday) and a sinister figure named Farrow (Dick Contino of Daddy-O) are also after the money ,,, 

Venetia Stevenson and Randy Sparks 

The Big Night is a minor crime drama but it is bolstered by some very good performances, with an appealing Randy Sparks hitting all the right notes. Venetia Stevenson is a nice actress who also offers a sensitive turn as Ellie. Dick Foran makes the most of his role as the somewhat depressed and defeated Ed. Jesse White is Jesse White -- a totally bland portrayal -- but Dick Contino proves as effective as a murderer as he was as the hero in Daddy-O. Ferguson and Lee are fine, as is Paul Langton [The Hidden Eye] as the head cop on the case. There's a decent romantic score by Richard LaSalle and Jesse White is given a snappy and violent death scene. Randy Sparks was also a composer and the founder of the New Christy Minstrels. He had only a few acting credits. Sidney Salkow also directed Twice-Told Tales. 

Verdict: Some engaging players make this palatable. **3/4. 

THE HIDDEN EYE

Edward Arnold

THE HIDDEN EYE (1945). Director: Richard Whorf. 

Jean Hamptom (Frances Rafferty of Public Defender) is engaged to Barry Gifford (Paul Langton), but their marriage may be delayed by murders in the family. Now you would think two murders would be enough for Jean to seek the help of blind friend Duncan Maclain (Edward Arnold), who happens to be a private eye, but she waits until three of her relatives -- elderly uncles in general -- are gone before she goes to see him. Each body is found with the same note, and the room is full of the same perfume. Naturally Barry is under suspicion as a potential fortune hunter, but there is one other suspect, lawyer Phillip Treadway (Ray Collins). When his antagonist realizes that Maclain is on the right track, his seeing eye German Shepherd, Friday, is kidnapped. 

Rafferty, Collins, Langton

This is the second of two MGM films starring Arnold as Maclain, and it's nearly as bad as the first one, Eyes in the Night. This sequel is at least more of a nominal murder mystery, but as there's only one serious suspect one can't say this has much suspense to it. The culprit is revealed halfway through the running time and the rest is a lot of uninteresting running around. At least Maclain gets involved in a rather ferocious fist fight at the very end that temporarily wakes the viewer up from their stupor. The cast is game, and Arnold, always an excellent actor, proves as charismatic as ever, but this material is way beneath him. Byron Foulger [Lady in the Death House], Morris Amkrum [Earth vs. the Flying Saucers] and Arthur Space are also in the cast. 

Verdict: This short-lived detective series was done in by very poor scripts. **.