forgoton classics - Sci Fi movies

[Psi Baba]

All non-brits who've seen Krull please raise your hands

Krull is fairly widely known in the U.S. The cable movie channels seem to like running it repeatedly. I've watched it at least 3 or 4 times myself (first time around was in the theater). In fact, I put that Glaive weapon into my D&D campaign at the time, and I'm sure wasn't only one to do that.

Then there was The Tingler (Sci-Fi Horror).

The Tingler scared the crap out of me when I was a kid.

 

[Corsair 115]

In terms of nominees, how well remembered is 1958's It! The Terror from Beyond Space ?

It is reportedly one of the influences for Alien.

"The first men in the moon"

Yet another Ray Harryhausen special effects extravaganza. Seems to be a bit of a recurring theme.

I couldn't get enough of Harryhausen's work when I was a youngster...

Oops. Wrong Carpenter film.

Indeed. I thought Prince of Darkness was a pretty neat little film, though I don't think it's aged all that well.

 

[Lensman]

Wait, so there are Australians who are "refined"?
(ducks and covers. . .)

They like to think they are - we just humour them

 

[Denver]

Another one I haven't seen or heard mentioned in a long time, but I think is a classic:
The Incredible Shrinking Man

 

[I Ratant]

Another one I haven't seen or heard mentioned in a long time, but I think is a classic:
The Incredible Shrinking Man

.
And "The Attack of the 50 Foot Woman" at the other end of the size change.
Amazing she was able to remain kinda clothed after the increase in size.
Disappointing to us teenaged boys.

 

[Foolmewunz]

I suppose THX1138 is too well known to be considered forgotten - at least amongst film nuts, of which I'm pleased to note there are a number here.

But, I find that it's mostly "known" but not seen. Every film geek can recite its pedigree, but very few have ever watched it. And it did horrible box office. It was completely unknown at the time of its release.

 

[I Ratant]

I saw a pickup truck at the Mall a couple years back with that license plate...
which was on all the cars in the movie.
The guy said that he'd requested it and apparently Spielberg had let it lapse on his vehicles.

 

[hgc]

I must echo "The Power" here. The fact that no one else responded (positive or negative) about it suggests that it's fairly forgotten. It's not available on DVD. It's not perfect, but it's a lot of paranoid fun. And it's a George Pal movie. I have an old "Films of George Pal" book and it's not even included in that. That's how forgotten it is. It's in TCM's library, and they showed it about a decade ago, but I haven't seen it since.

Ward

Yeah, it's a nice little movie, starring George Hamilton to boot. It's also fairly similar to Cronenberg's Scanners (1981), not in style, but in story.

 

[hgc]

A boy and his dog

Oh yes. One of the greats. Don Johnson many years before Miami Vice.

 

[MG1962]

I saw a pickup truck at the Mall a couple years back with that license plate...
which was on all the cars in the movie.
The guy said that he'd requested it and apparently Spielberg had let it lapse on his vehicles.

You might find that could have been George Lucas

 

[MG1962]

I suppose THX1138 is too well known to be considered forgotten - at least amongst film nuts, of which I'm pleased to note there are a number here.

But, I find that it's mostly "known" but not seen. Every film geek can recite its pedigree, but very few have ever watched it. And it did horrible box office. It was completely unknown at the time of its release.

Wa it a general release film, or sold as an art house production?. I was a touch young at the time, so I dont have any clear memory except being astounded when I saw it on TV

 

[hgc]

Oh boy, the more I think about it, the more forgotten classics that emerge.

Videodrome (1983)



Altered States (1980)

 

[I Ratant]

You might find that could have been George Lucas

.
Could be.

 

[Foolmewunz]

Wa it a general release film, or sold as an art house production?. I was a touch young at the time, so I dont have any clear memory except being astounded when I saw it on TV

General release. I think it was '71 or '72 - I was working for WB(the distributor) at the time. It was American Zoetrope's first feature, and while I loved it, of course all the money boys in the room cared about came to the surface a season or two later. We (WB) got THX1138 and someone else (I think UA or Paramount?) got American Graffiti!

I saw THX1138 in a screening room. I think it did one week in its first run (I was in Montreal) in a small-ish outlet. I liked it sufficiently that I went to the theatrical release, too. Good movies should be seen on the big screen.

Far too heady a film for the sci-fi crowd at the time. They all wanted spectacular effects like 2001: ASO. I figured they'd re-release it, because it had had literally no audience, after the success of American Graffiti with a build-up as The American Graffiti Guy's First Feature! They didn't, but tried after Star Wars. It flopped again.

I was very taken with it, originally. I'd have to see it again and think I will get a copy. At the time, I was totally taken by both Duvall and Pleasance, but found that the plot/storyline was quite brilliant.

I'd also love to get my hands on his original version - the one he made in film school. A friend of mine knew Martin Scorsese rather well and he said it was one of the tightest edited pieces he'd ever seen. (And Marty loves him some editing, he does!)

 

[Beanbag]

I'd also love to get my hands on his original version - the one he made in film school. A friend of mine knew Martin Scorsese rather well and he said it was one of the tightest edited pieces he'd ever seen. (And Marty loves him some editing, he does!)

The film school original is included with "The George Lucas Director's Cut" DVD. It's pretty good for a short, and it's interesting to see how close the "look" matches between the short and the theatrical version.

The extras on the DVD give a LOT of behind-the-scenes maneuvering going on between Zoetrope and WB, with all the power and control games being played.

This version has been "completed" by Lucas, and has some interesting material added that weren't in the original release (which I was around to actually see).

Beanbag

 

[Hamradioguy]

"Destination Moon" might be considered hokey by today's standards. But 60 years ago it was cutting edge movie making...and reasonably decent science accuracy for it's time.

But for a "forgotten" classic (in the best B-movie genre) there's "Gog". Anybody remember that one?

 

[Foolmewunz]

The film school original is included with "The George Lucas Director's Cut" DVD. It's pretty good for a short, and it's interesting to see how close the "look" matches between the short and the theatrical version.

The extras on the DVD give a LOT of behind-the-scenes maneuvering going on between Zoetrope and WB, with all the power and control games being played.

This version has been "completed" by Lucas, and has some interesting material added that weren't in the original release (which I was around to actually see).

Beanbag

Cool! Does that include the haircut promo stuff, too?

 

[MG1962]

Thanks for the info. I have never heard of anyone knowing anybody who might have once met someone who has seen the original film school version.

So if you hit Martin up for a copy, can we make it a double?

 

[Foolmewunz]

Thanks for the info. I have never heard of anyone knowing anybody who might have once met someone who has seen the original film school version.

So if you hit Martin up for a copy, can we make it a double?

Well, Marty dumped my friend - for that Isabella whatserface chick.... can you imagine? So we might not be able to hit him up for anything. (I haven't spoken to said "friend" - actually my former former former girlfriend who dumped me for Marty - can you imagine? - in thirty years.

 

[alfaniner]

The "updated" version of THX-1138 is actually improved with every change (except one, that I recall, a bad CGI shot), like The Empire Strikes Back (but not the others).