Drive-in Movie Feature - "The Day Hollywood Stood Still"

Baseball, Apple Pie, originally uploaded by Kiel Bryant.

Who couldn't delve into the subject of the Flying Saucer phenomenon in the Atomic Age without referring to the iconic contributions made by Hollywood? Fear not... I will not be the exception...


The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
My all, all-time fave. I can still remember being huddling in front of our tiny black and white set as a wee youngster, staring wide eyed as Gort makes his appearance down the ramp. Brimming over with one memorable scene after the other... but then, I'm a bit biased ;)

Stars Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, Billy Gray (pre-Father Knows Best!) and Lock Martin as Gort.

	Day The Earth Stood Still-Bernard Herrmann - Gort - The Visor - The Telescope .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

Also see:

• Gort! - Be a Friend of Gort
• hulu.com/the-day-the-earth-stood-still - Movie clips
• The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951 film) @ Internet Movie Database
  
• Site Guide - The Day the Earth Stood Still
  
• The Day the Earth Stood Still - Radio Broadcast
• TCM - The Day the Earth Stood Still
  
• Harry Bates-Farewell-to-the-Master - The original story that inspired the movie
• Fred Barton Productions, Inc. - Own your own Gort

War of the Worlds (1953) - This has to be high on everyone's list. I never passed up an opportunity to watch this as a kid, and would faithfully draw my impressions of the one-eyed invaders on paper. Most memorable moment is Anne's encounter, with the creature's hand on her shoulder. Also quite arguably the coolest saucer design ever seen on celluloid.
War of the Worlds (1953) Trailer


Invasion of the Saucer-Men (1957)
I never saw this until much later on cable. It's good-humored fun and who can resist the bug-eyed men in this one? Not to mention Frank Gorshin's short appearance! Everyone MUST see this one at least once if you're a true 50's movie fan.
Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957) movie trailer


Earth vs the Flying Saucers (1956)
Well, I've never been able to accept Hugh Marlowe as a hero scientist (after all, he was the anti-hero in Day the Earth Stood Still!) But this movie is flooded with saucer imagery. Most memorable scene(s) is the saucer crashing into the Washington D.C. memorial of your choice.
Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers (1956) Trailer


Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1957)
Pods from space take over an unsuspecting town's populace. Not a saucer movie, but definitely an otherworldly invasion flick.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1957) Trailer


It Came From Outer Space (1953)
Another hero scientist to the rescue tries to make peace with a stranded menace from outer space. I like the ending when one of the bug-eyed creatures disguised as the lead love interest shoots deadly sparks from her wand.
It Came From Outer Space


Invaders From Mars (1953)
I don't know... it seems like the movie runs on about 30 minutes longer than it really needs to be, but it's considered a classic, plus an original storyline told from a child's perspective.


The Blob (1958)
Steve McQueen + an infectious title tune + a big gob of man-eating space goo = Can't Go Wrong!
The Blob (1958) - Theatrical Trailer


This Island Earth (1955)
Not exactly an invasion storyline, but it does go in to quite a bit of detail into the sad story of Exeter and his dying other-worldly race. And there's saucers, the "interocitor", the "mu-tants" and a hero scientist to boot!
This Island Earth (1955) - Theatrical Trailer

Yes, the list can go on, and on... but the End is near.

Be sure to come back tomorrow for the thrilling conclusion of "Flying Saucer Hysteria Week" - only at Atomic Living!

---edited---
How could I have possibly left off The THING?
Bad, BAD me!!

The THING (from Another World) (1951)
This one tended to creep me as a kid (it didn't take too much!) I giant carrot-man (played by James Arness) from space terrorizes a polar research outpost. My favorite scene is the beginning when the search-party forms a wide circle around an object they find under the ice, then realize they've found a crashed saucer.
The Thing (1951) movie clip