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. 

SECRET AGENT FIREBALL

Richard Harrison as agent Bob Fleming

SECRET AGENT FIREBALL (aka Le spie uccidono a Beirut/1965).  Director: Luciano Martino (Martin Donan)

American agent Bob Fleming (Richard Harrison) is assigned to locate a missing scientist before the Russians do. His boss gives him "unlimited expenses and permission to kill." When the scientist is murdered, Fleming must find a piece of microfilm that has a formula for the H bomb on it, and goes after the dead man's niece, Liz (Dominique Boschero), to see if she knows anything. Unfortunately, sinister Soviet agents have the same idea, and Fleming is forced to rescue the young lady more than once. 

Harrison and Dominique Boschero

This Italian Eurospy movie is typical of the genre, with a horny and ruthless hero, sadistic spies, a femme fatale, and a variety of colorful locations. Fleming is certainly not chivalrous, however. When he and another, older woman are kidnapped at one point, he escapes from the car they are in and just leaves her behind to be murdered! Although there is some globe-hopping, most of the action takes place in Beirut.

Richard Harrison

One spy uses a pipe that contains a lethal dart, used to kill the aforementioned scientist and others. A police car that suddenly turns into a boat reminds one of a sequence in the later Moonraker. There is a knife fight with the two participants tied together with a rope, and two lady wrestlers are the entertainment in a nightclub. Fleming is assisted by Lepetit (Alcide Borik), an alleged taxi driver who has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. Harrison makes a good-looking super-spy and handles both love scenes and fist fights with aplomb. He played Bob Fleming in a later film as well. 

Verdict: Not to be confused with a classy James Bond flick. **1/4.