MODELING 50's SCI-FI MOVIES
1950 | 1951/1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1956: FORBIDDEN PLANET | 1957 | 1958 | 1959
50's SF MOVIE OVERVIEW
SCI-FI FILM FIESTA: https://scififilmfiesta.blogspot.com/
Also: Sci-Fi Film Fiesta: The Big Fat Book Of Sci-Fi Films Of The 1950s: https://scififilmfiesta.blogspot.com/p/ ... f-sci.html
THE HISTORY OF '50 SCIENCE FICTION: https://www.film89.co.uk/the-history-of ... ma-part-1/
In 3 parts.
SCIFIST 2.0 A SCI-FI MOVIE HISTORY IN REVIEWS 1950-1959: https://scifist.net/films-by-year/1950-1959
THE LAST DRIVE IN: "KEEP WATCHING THE SKIES!" SCIENCE FICTION CINEMA OF THE 1050S - 1951 - PART 1: https://thelastdrivein.com/category/cla ... till-1951/
1953
PLOT SUMMARY
The Rhedosaurus is released from its frozen hibernating state by an atomic bomb test
in the Arctic Circle. The dinosaur begins to wreak a path of destruction as it travels south-
ward, eventually arriving at its ancient spawning grounds, which includes New York City.
WATCH: https://archive.org/details/the-beast-f ... oms_202107
SCIFIST: A SCI-FI MOVIE HISTORY IN REVIEWS: https://scifist.net/2021/02/14/the-beas ... 0-fathoms/
MODEL KITS
ACTION HOBBIES
ALTERNATIVE IMAGES
BILLIKEN
CREATURE FEATURE SHOP
Producer?
FANTAMATION STUDIO
GEOMETRIC DESIGNS
GILL-MAN PRODUCTIONS
IZUMI TAKABE
MANAGERIE PRODUCTIONS
MONSTERS IN MOTION
RESINATOR
X-PLUS
UNKNOWN
REFERENCE + INSPIRATION
MORE RESOURCES
THE CLUBHOUSE GALLERY: https://theclubhouse1.net/piwigo/index.php?/search/8436
Please note you must be both a member and logged on to see Gallery pictures.
FURTHER SCREENSHOTS FROM THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS: https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Rhedosaurus/Gallery
THE RAY HARRYHAUSEN DINOSAUR MOVIES: https://h2g2.com/entry/A87843289
WIKIZILLA, THE KAIJU ENCYCLOPEDIA: RHEDOSAURUS: https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Rhedosaurus
MONSTER LEGACY: THE RHEDOSAURUS: https://monsterlegacy.net/2013/05/04/rhedosaurus/
________________________
PLOT SUMMARY
A young boy named David McLean witnesses a spaceship crash into a nearby sandpit. He discovers that space aliens are
taking over the minds of earthlings, including his once cheerful and affectionate parents who are now sullen and rude.
David, with the help of a lady doctor and a brilliant astronomer, must confront these invaders and stop their evil plans.
WATCH: https://ok.ru/video/4888605035035
SCIFIST: A SCI-FI MOVIE HISTORY IN REVIEWS: https://scifist.net/2021/01/25/invaders-from-mars/
MODEL KITS
ALCHEMY WORKS
LUNAR MODELS
MONSTERS IN MOTION
MIKE FALCIGNO
REFERENCE + INSPIRATION
________________________
PLOT SUMMARY
An amateur astronomer and his fiancée witness a large fiery object crash to Earth while stargazing in the
desert. The astronomer discovers a round alien spaceship at the crash site just before it is completely buried by
a landslide, and soon after, the local townsfolk begin to act strangely, leading him to suspect alien influence.
WATCH: https://archive.org/details/it-came-fro ... space-1953
SCIFIST: A SCI-FI MOVIE HISTORY IN REVIEWS: https://scifist.net/2021/02/04/it-came- ... ter-space/
MODEL KITS
ARNE JERDE
LUNAR MODELS/DIMENSIONAL DESIGNS
GEOMETRIC MODELS
REFERENCE AND INSPIRATION
________________________
PLOT SUMMARY
An alien robot named Ro-Man is on a mission to destroy humanity. However, complications arise when Ro-Man, who has
managed to kill all but eight survivors who have become immune to his death ray, falls in love with a human named Alice.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT7vzE4ylXA&t=1453s
SCIFIST: A SCI-FI MOVIE HISTORY IN REVIEWS: https://scifist.net/2021/02/07/robot-monster/
MODEL KITS
A.P. SCULPTURE STUDIO
ATTACK OF THE B-MOVIES
MAD LABS
Tiny Terrors
MONSTERS OF THE MOVIES
RESIN FROM THE GRAVE
UNKNOWN
REFERENCE AND INSPIRATION
________________________
PLOT SUMMARY
When Earth is suddenly invaded by Martians in terrible war machines, American scientist Doctor Clayton
Forrester searches for any weakness to stop the Martians, amidst worldwide chaos and destruction.
WATCH: https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/r ... ORM=VRDGAR
MARS IN THE MOVIES: A HISTORY: https://redplanetonfilm.blogspot.com/20 ... -1953.html
SCIFIST: A SCI-FI MOVIE HISTORY IN REVIEWS: https://scifist.net/2021/01/15/the-war-of-the-worlds/
MODEL KITS
THE MARTIAN
ACTION HOBBIES
ALCHEMY WORKS
ALTERNATIVE IMAGES
BLACKHEART
GORGONE BLEUE CREATIONS
PEGASUS
LUNAR MODELS
MAD LABS
MONSTERS IN MOTION
X-FACTO
UNKNOWN
REFERENCE AND INSPIRATION
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE PEGASUS MARTIAN
While the Martian War Machine from George Pal's 1953 The War of the Worlds is a classic alien vehicle with many model renderings over the years the Martian itself, seen only fleetingly in the film, is much less well known.
Over the years there have been a number of kits, mostly garage, of it. In recent years, with its focus on WoW kits, Pegasus Models produced both a vinyl kit and pre-paint statue of it. However, while the Pegasus kit was based on blueprints from the film's production it appears this was the design for a practical suit rather than the production's concept for the Martian as a being.
The Martian is encountered in the scene in the ruined farmhouse where it lays a suckered hand on the character Sylvia's shoulder. Forester confronts the creature and throws debris at it, injuring it. The Martian then makes off at considerable speed. Inside the rather makeshift suit was a kneeling Charles Gemora. During filming he almost fell out of the back of the suit when one of the workers pulled the platform too fast. If you look closely at the scene, you can see the Martian is tipping over slightly.
A still from the scene showing the
Martian moving rapidly backwards.
It is very unlikely this design (and upon which the Pegasus kit is based) could produce the speed at which the creature is shown to move in the movie. It suggests the filmmakers envisioned a legged creature. In addition, when Clayton Forrester is briefing his science colleagues they discuss how "isn't it curious how everything about them seems to be in threes? ": eyes, fingers on the hands, battle groups etc.) It seems unlikely this did not also include how many legs the Martians had. Steven Spielberg obviously believed this to be the case when he made his aliens tripods for the 2005 version of War of the Worlds which was a partial homage to the 1953 film.
That the Martian was to be legged is confirmed by research: "The bottom-half of the creature is never fully shown but blueprints show three legs having each a single suction-cup toe, similar to those on their fingers; other art shows two legs." [Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martian_( ... he_Worlds)]. The technology of the day, and the budget restricted the filmmakers in what they could do. The same restrictions played their role in the depiction of the war machines which Pal wanted to be walking tripods like in Wells' novel.
It is true the filmmakers made no attempt to represent the creature as taller than the suit they had built so that the Martians had very long arms as it reached up to Sylvia's shoulder and when they turned around they both looked down upon the creature. Filmgoers of the time were less picky than we are today and its probable the filmmakers didn't think viewers would notice or question the logic of such a short creature being able to move as quickly as it did. Basing its model then on the set suit has resulted in a model by Pegasus, as it did for Alchemy Works and Blackheart, of a creature with a mollusk-like single foot. This suggests their Martian, asked to move as quickly as in the film, must be akin to a racing snail.
WAR MACHINE
FEDERATION
GENERAL PRODUCTS
Japan
LIFTOFF WORKS
LUNAR MODELS
MONSTERS IN MOTION
MONSTERS IN MOTION
Lighting Kit
PEGASUS HOBBIES
PEGASUS HOBBIES
Lighting kit
SCIENCE FICTION MODELMAKING ASSOCIATES (S.F.M.A.)/EM ENTERPRISES
SHAPEWAYS
SKYHOOKS
STARLING TECHNOLOGIES
Lights and sound for Pegasus kit
TENACONTROLS
Lights and sound for Pegasus kit
UNKNOWN
VOODOOFX
Lights and sound for Pegasus kit
WARP
WILCO! MODELS
PLANS AND VIEWS
REFERENCE AND INSPIRATION
MORE RESOURCES
THE SAUCER FLEET: https://www.amazon.com/Saucer-Fleet-Jac ... 1894959701
BUCWHEAT'S SPOTLIGHT ON: http://www.bucwheat.com/sl/wotw/wotw.html
YOUTUBE VIDEOS:
Classic War of the Worlds "Martian" Model Kit Finished: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLDlPjiHbz4
Lighting the George Pal Martian from Pegasus Models: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ov25K8ME8k
Monster Model Review #93: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rtgme6YK6qw
War machine based on the 1953 War of the Worlds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2ANphIYtDU
War of the Worlds 1953 Martian Machine Scratch Build: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFom1u6OYTo
War of the Worlds Model Kit Diorama: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey9zLjXnT0Q
War of the Worlds Model Kit Modification: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuN2LQ8LnjA
EBAY LISTING: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R ... t&_sacat=0
