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TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: TCM SPOTLIGHT: DRIVE-IN DOUBLE FEATURES 8:00 PM 1307059200
Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956) EXPAND 8:00 PM 79 min
TV-PG Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956) Nuclear tests awaken a prehistoric monster. Dir: Ishiro Honda Cast: Raymond Burr, Takashi Shimura, Momoko Kochi. 79 min, TV-PG , CC CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Terry Morse, Ishiro Honda. Raymond Burr, Takashi Shimura, Momoko Kochi, Akira Takarada. A fire-breathing lizard threatens civilization: the special effects are the star in this, the original GODZILLA movie. Originally released in Japan in 1954 as GOJIRA, at 98m; over 20m. were eliminated, and inserts with Burr were added. Updated in 1985 and reworked in 1998.
REVIEW: BUY Gojira (1954) ON DVD Kaiju fans, rejoice! Finally available stateside, the original Japanese version of the first "Godzilla" film, offering a more serious tone that compares the reptilian menace's rampage across Tokyo and... more
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9:30 PM 1307064636
Challenge Of Champions (1966) EXPAND 9:30 PM C-13 min
Challenge Of Champions (1966) A featurette giving a behind the cameras look at the filming of "Grand Prix" (1966) at the actual Grand Prix in Monaco. C-13 min, CLOSE

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9:45 PM 1307065500
Rodan (1957) EXPAND 9:45 PM 72 min
TV-PG Rodan (1957) Miners uncover the nest of a giant pterodactyl. Dir: Inoshiro Honda Cast: Kenji Sawara, Yumi Shirakawa, Akihiko Hirata. 72 min, TV-PG , CC CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Ishiro Honda. Kenji Sawara, Yumi Shirakawa, Akihiko Hirata, Akio Kobori. Colossal pterodactyl hatches in mine, later goes on destructive rampage in Tokyo. Colorful comic book stuff, all too typical of Toho Studios' monster formula.
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11:15 PM 1307070900
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster ( To Be Deleted ) (1964) EXPAND 11:15 PM C-92 min
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster ( To Be Deleted ) (1964) Mothra, Godzilla and Rodan join forces to take on a space invasion. C-92 min, CLOSE

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12:50 AM 1307076623
Believe It Or Not #2 (1931) EXPAND 12:50 AM 7 min
Believe It Or Not #2 (1931) 7 min, CLOSE

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1:00 AM 1307077200
Godzilla Vs. Monster Zero (1970) EXPAND 1:00 AM C-89 min
Godzilla Vs. Monster Zero (1970) Aliens try to use Godzilla, Mothra and Rodan to take over the planet. Dir: Inoshiro Honda Cast: Nick Adams, Akira Takarada, Kumi Mizuno. C-89 min, , CC CLOSE BUY Invasion Of Astro-Monster (1965) ON DVD An alien planet asks to "borrow" Earth monsters Godzilla and Rodan to help them defeat their own indigenous menace, triple-headed Ghidorah, who moved off-world after his defeat in the 1964 film that... more
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2:36 AM 1307082997
Headpin Hints (1955) EXPAND 2:36 AM 8 min
Headpin Hints (1955) 8 min, CLOSE

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2:45 AM 1307083500
Dinosaurus! (1960) EXPAND 2:45 AM C-83 min
TV-PG Dinosaurus! (1960) Caribbean engineers accidentally revive a frozen caveman and two dinosaurs. Dir: Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr. Cast: Ward Ramsey, Paul Lukather, Kristina Hanson. C-83 min, TV-PG CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Irvin S. Yeaworth, Jr. Ward Ramsey, Paul Lukather, Kristina Hanson, Alan Roberts. Interesting and amusing story of hazards faced by caveman and two prehistoric monsters who are accidentally unearthed and revived on a modern-day tropical island. CinemaScope.
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4:15 AM 1307088900
Valley of Gwangi, The (1969)

TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: TCM SPOTLIGHT: DRIVE-IN DOUBLE FEATURES 8:00 PM 1307664000
Them! (1954) EXPAND 8:00 PM 93 min
TV-PG Them! (1954) Federal agents fight to destroy a colony of mutated giant ants. Dir: Gordon Douglas Cast: James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, Joan Weldon. 93 min, TV-PG , CC CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Gordon Douglas. James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, Joan Weldon, James Arness, Onslow Stevens. First-rate '50s sci-fi about giant ant mutations running wild in the Southwest. Intelligent script (by Ted Sherdeman, from George Worthing Yates' story) extremely well directed, with memorable climax in L.A. sewers. Fess Parker has small but memorable role. Look fast for Leonard Nimoy at a teletype machine.
REVIEW: BUY The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1953)/Them! (1954) () ON DVD Atomic testing in the Arctic revives a gigantic "rhedosaurus" frozen in the ice for millions of years, and soon the creature is cutting a path of destruction down the streets of New York. Based on a... more
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9:45 PM 1307670300
Cosmic Monsters, The (1958) EXPAND 9:45 PM 72 min
Cosmic Monsters, The (1958) A scientist's experiments open the doorway to a strange and deadly world. Dir: Gilbert Gunn Cast: Forrest Tucker, Gaby Andre, Martin Benson. 72 min, CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Gilbert Gunn. Forrest Tucker, Gaby Andre, Martin Benson, Alec Mango, Wyndham Goldie, Hugh Latimer. Britain's only Giant Bug movie is talky tale of a mad scientist whose magnetism experiments punch a hole in the ionosphere, letting in cosmic rays which enlarge insects in the woods. Gleefully ghoulish at times. Original British title: THE STRANGE WORLD OF PLANET X.
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11:15 PM 1307675700
Tarantula (1955) EXPAND 11:15 PM 80 min
TV-PG Tarantula (1955) A scientist's experiments to cure hunger create a giant tarantula. Dir: Jack Arnold Cast: John Agar, Mara Corday, Leo G. Carroll. 80 min, TV-PG CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Jack Arnold. John Agar, Mara Corday, Leo G. Carroll, Nestor Paiva, Ross Elliott, Eddie Parker. Scientist Carroll's new growth formula works a little too well, and pretty soon there's a humongous spider chewing up the countryside. One of the best giant-insect films, with fast pacing, convincing special effects, and interesting subplot detailing formula's effect on humans. That's Clint Eastwood as the jet squadron leader in final sequence.
REVIEW: BUY The Classic Sci-Fi Ultimate Collection, Vols. 1 & 2 () ON DVD "Dr. Cyclops" (1940) stars Albert Dekker as a mad scientist who shrinks five people to miniature size and holds them prisoner. A group of American G.I.s stumbles on the secret rituals of the... more
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12:45 AM 1307681100
Black Scorpion, The (1957) EXPAND 12:45 AM 88 min
TV-PG Black Scorpion, The (1957) Giant prehistoric scorpions terrorize the Mexican countryside. Dir: Edward Ludwig Cast: Richard Denning, Mara Corday, Carlos Rivas. 88 min, TV-PG , CC CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Edward Ludwig. Richard Denning, Carlos Rivas, Mara Corday, Mario Navarro. Outstanding animation by KING KONG's Willis O'Brien is the highlight of this sci-fi thriller about giant arachnids popping out of a volcanic fissure in Mexico. Basically a remake of the superior THEM!
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2:30 AM 1307687400
Giant Claw, The (1957) EXPAND 2:30 AM 74 min
TV-PG Giant Claw, The (1957) A giant anti-matter bird invades the Earth's atmosphere. Dir: Fred F. Sears Cast: Jeff Morrow, Mara Corday, Morris Ankrum. 74 min, TV-PG CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Fred F. Sears. Jeff Morrow, Mara Corday, Morris Ankrum, Edgar Barrier. Lack of decent special effects ruins the running battle between colossal bird and fighter jets. Big bird is laughable.

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4:00 AM 1307692800
Wasp Woman, The (1959) EXPAND

TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: TCM SPOTLIGHT: DRIVE-IN DOUBLE FEATURES 8:00 PM 1308268800
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958) EXPAND 8:00 PM 66 min
TV-PG Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958) A space visitor's touch turns an unhappy heiress into a vengeful giant. Dir: Nathan Hertz Cast: Allison Hayes, William Hudson, Yvette Vickers. 66 min, TV-PG CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Nathan Hertz (Juran). Allison Hayes, William Hudson, Yvette Vickers, Roy Gordon. A harridan with a philandering husband has an alien encounter and grows to mammoth proportions, seeks revenge on hubby. Hilariously awful sci-fi with some of the funniest special effects of all time. Remade for TV in 1993 with Daryl Hannah.
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9:30 PM 1308274200
Village of the Giants (1965) EXPAND 9:30 PM C-81 min
TV-PG Village of the Giants (1965) Delinquent teens ingest a substance and grow to 30 feet tall, then proceed to take over a small town. Dir: Bert I. Gordon Cast: Tommy Kirk, Johnny Crawford, Beau Bridges. C-81 min, TV-PG CLOSE BUY Attack Of The Puppet People (1958)/Village Of The Giants (1965) () ON DVD It's teenagers both tiny and titanic in a twin bill from director Bert I. Gordon. First, a demented old dollmaker discovers a way to miniaturize humans with a special machine, then keeps them as his... more
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11:00 PM 1308279600
Queen of Outer Space (1958) EXPAND 11:00 PM C-80 min
TV-PG Queen of Outer Space (1958) A space mission to Venus discovers a society of Amazons. Dir: Edward Bernds Cast: Zsa Zsa Gabor, Eric Fleming, Lisa Davis. C-80 min, TV-PG CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Edward Bernds. Zsa Zsa Gabor, Eric Fleming, Laurie Mitchell, Patrick Waltz, Paul Birch, Lisa Davis, Dave Willock. Manned rocket ship from Earth is abducted to Venus, where the planet is ruled entirely by women. Silly, to say the least, but at least some of the laughs were intentional. Zsa Zsa, incidentally, does not play the title character! CinemaScope.
REVIEW: BUY Queen Of Outer Space (1958) ON DVD Camp masterpiece about a group of astronauts who land on Venus and discover a civilization populated by voluptuous women, including chief scientist Zsa Zsa Gabor. And you thought the Beverly Hills... more
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12:30 AM 1308285000
Mars Needs Women (1968) EXPAND 12:30 AM C-82 min
TV-PG Mars Needs Women (1968) Mars invades the Earth in a search for female companionship. Dir: Larry Buchanan Cast: Tommy Kirk, Byron Lord, Yvonne Craig. C-82 min, TV-PG CLOSE

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2:00 AM 1308290400
Cyclops (1957) EXPAND 2:00 AM 65 min
TV-PG Cyclops (1957) A scientific expedition discovers a 25-foot tall mutant. Dir: Bert I. Gordon Cast: James Craig, Gloria Talbott, Lon Chaney [Jr.]. 65 min, TV-PG CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Bert I. Gordon. James Craig, Gloria Talbott, Lon Chaney, Jr., Tom Drake. Expedition scours Mexico in search of Talbott's lost fiance, discovers that radiation has transformed him into an enormous monster. Nothing much in this cheapie.
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3:30 AM 1308295800
Manster, The (1962) EXPAND 3:30 AM 73 min
TV-PG Manster, The (1962) A mad scientist turns a reporter into a two-headed killer. Dir: George P. Breakston Cast: Peter Dyneley, Jane Hylton, Satoshi Nakamura. 73 min, TV-PG CLOSE

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4:45 AM 68 min
TV-PG Killer Shrews, The (1959)
A maniacal scientist creates a formula that turns your average shrew into a giant, man-killing beast.
Dir: Ray Kellogg Cast: James Best, Ingrid Goude, Ken Curtis.
68 min, TV-PG CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Ray Kellogg. James Best, Ingrid Goude, Ken Curtis, Baruch Lumet, Gordon McLendon. No, this isn't about an attack of nagging wives, it's an inventive but silly sci-fi tale of people isolated on a Texas island, menaced by title creatures created by well-intentioned scientist.
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TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: TCM SPOTLIGHT: DRIVE-IN DOUBLE FEATURES 8:00 PM 1308873600
It Came From Beneath the Sea (1955) EXPAND 8:00 PM 79 min
TV-PG It Came From Beneath the Sea (1955) A giant octopus attacks San Francisco. Dir: Robert Gordon Cast: Kenneth Tobey, Faith Domergue, Donald Curtis. 79 min, TV-PG , CC CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Robert Gordon. Kenneth Tobey, Faith Domergue, Donald Curtis, Ian Keith, Harry Lauter. Breathtaking special effects highlight this sci-fi thriller. Huge octopus emerges from Pacific Ocean and wreaks havoc on San Francisco. First film made by the team of Ray Harryhausen and producer Charles H. Schneer.
REVIEW: BUY It Came From Beneath The Sea (B&W/Color Versions) (1954) ON DVD Atomic testing in the Pacific awakens an undersea behemoth (really an octopus with six tentacles) that threatens San Francisco in this sci-fi classic. Kenneth Tobey, Faith Domergue star; stop-motion... more
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9:30 PM 1308879000
Monster that Challenged the World, The (1957) EXPAND 9:30 PM 85 min
TV-PG Monster that Challenged the World, The (1957) An earthquake unleashes a horde of giant prehistoric monsters. Dir: Arnold Laven Cast: Tim Holt, Audrey Dalton, Hans Conried. 85 min, TV-PG CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Arnold Laven. Tim Holt, Audrey Dalton, Hans Conried, Casey Adams. Above-average giant-bug-on-the- loose film is set in the Salton Sea, where colossal mollusks (like big caterpillars in snail shells) menace locals. Intelligent, low-key, with good monsters.
REVIEW: BUY The Monster That Challenged The World (1957)/It! The Terror From Beyond Space (1958) ON DVD The planet is under attack in "The Monster That Challenged the World" by, in fact, many gigantic snail-like creatures released from their undersea resting place by seismic activity. Tim Holt, Audrey... more
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11:00 PM 1308884400
Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, The (1953) EXPAND 11:00 PM 80 min
TV-PG Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, The (1953) Nuclear tests set a dormant prehistoric monster on a path of destruction. Dir: Eugene Lourié Cast: Paul Christian, Paula Raymond, Cecil Kellaway. 80 min, TV-PG , CC CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Eugene Lourie. Paul Christian, Paula Raymond, Cecil Kellaway, Kenneth Tobey, Donald Woods, Lee Van Cleef, Ross Elliott. Prehistoric rhedosaurus wreaks havoc when thawed after an atom-bomb blast. Good Ray Harryhausen special effects, especially in amusement park finale. Suggested by the Ray Bradbury short story "The Fog Horn."
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12:30 AM 1308889800
Giant Behemoth, The (1959) EXPAND 12:30 AM 80 min
Giant Behemoth, The (1959) A radioactive dinosaur plots a deadly path to London. Dir: Eugene Lourie Cast: Gene Evans, Andre Morell, John Turner. 80 min, CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Eugene Lourie. Gene Evans, Andre Morell, John Turner, Leigh Madison, Jack MacGowran. Enormous radioactive dinosaur menaces England, finally invades London. Animation effects directed by Willis O'Brien are fine, but film is turgid.
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2:00 AM 1308895200
Phantom From 10,000 Leagues, The (1955) EXPAND 2:00 AM 81 min
TV-PG Phantom From 10,000 Leagues, The (1955) A mutated sea creature attacks people along the beach. Dir: Earl Harper Cast: Kent Taylor, Kathy Downs, Michael Whalen. 81 min, TV-PG CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Dan Milner. Kent Taylor, Cathy Downs, Michael Whalen, Rodney Bell, Phillip Pine, Vivi Janiss, Helene Stanton. Oceanographer Taylor investigates deaths caused by a monster created by radiation from an undersea rock, which is now guarded by the creature. Lots of spy stuff and a lousy monster fail to enliven this deadly dull early American-International effort.
REVIEW: BUY The Phantom From 10,000 Leagues (1956)/The Beast With 1,000,000 Eyes (1955) ON DVD An atomic-powered part-alligator/part-turtle mutant gobbles up fishermen and swimmers to protect a uranium deposit. "The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues," early drive-in fodder from the company that... more
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3:30 AM 1308900600
Creature From the Haunted Sea (1961) EXPAND 3:30 AM 59 min
TV-PG Creature From the Haunted Sea (1961) A killer blames a legendary sea monster for his deeds and is surprised when the real beast shows up. Dir: Roger Corman Cast: Antony Carbone, Betsy Jones-Moreland, Edward Wain. 59 min, TV-PG CLOSE
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5:00 AM 1308906000
Hidden Values: The Movies of the '50s (2001) EXPAND 5:00 AM C-47 min
TV-PG Hidden Values: The Movies of the '50s (2001) A look at some of the movies that defined the decade and what they said about Americans and American culture. Cast: Peter Biskind, John Carpenter, Roger Corman. C-47 min, TV-PG , CC CLOSE

TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: TCM SPOTLIGHT: DRIVE-IN DOUBLE FEATURES 8:00 PM 1309478400
Blob, The (1958) EXPAND 8:00 PM C-82 min
TV-PG Blob, The (1958) A misunderstood teen fights to save his town from a gelatinous monster from outer space. Dir: Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr. Cast: Steven McQueen, Aneta Corseaut, Earl Rowe. C-82 min, TV-PG , CC CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Irvin S. Yeaworth, Jr Steven McQueen, Aneta Corsaut, Earl Rowe, Olin Howlin. Endearingly campy classic of cheap '50s sci-fi has "Steven" (in his first starring role) leading teenagers into battle to save their small town from being swallowed up by giant glop of cherry Jell-O from outer space. Not really all that good, but how can you hate a film like this? (Especially when Burt Bacharach composed the title song.) Later redubbed for comic effect as BLOBERMOUTH. Sequel: BEWARE! THE BLOB. Remade 30 years later.
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9:30 PM 1309483800
H-Man, The (1958) EXPAND 9:30 PM C-79 min
TV-PG H-Man, The (1958) Nuclear tests create a radioactive man who can turn people into slime. Dir: Inoshiro Honda Cast: Yumi Shirakawa, Kenji Sahara, Akihiko Hirata. C-79 min, TV-PG CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Ishiro Honda. Kenji Sahara, Yumi Shirakawa, Akihiko Hirata, Koreya Senda. Good special effects marred by dumb script involving radioactive liquid causing havoc in Tokyo, subplot of cops vs. underworld. Tohoscope.
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11:00 PM 1309489200
Magnetic Monster, The (1953) EXPAND 11:00 PM 75 min
TV-PG Magnetic Monster, The (1953) A new radio-active element could destroy the world by absorbing the planet's energy. Dir: Curt Siodmak Cast: Richard Carlson, King Donovan, Jean Byron. 75 min, TV-PG CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Curt Siodmak. Richard Carlson, King Donovan, Jean Byron, Byron Foulger. Magnetic isotope is stolen, grows in size and creates havoc; stunning climax features special effects lifted from 1930s German film GOLD.
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12:30 AM 1309494600
X The Unknown (1956) EXPAND 12:30 AM 80 min
TV-14 X The Unknown (1956) A radioactive ooze terrorizes a remote Scottish village. Dir: Leslie Norman Cast: Dean Jagger, Edward Chapman, Leo McKern. 80 min, TV-14 , CC CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Leslie Norman. Dean Jagger, Leo McKern, William Lucas, Edward Chapman, Anthony Newley. Well-thought-out sci-fi production set in Scotland. Radioactive mud from Earth's center grows and kills anything in its path. Effective chiller written by Jimmy Sangster.


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2:00 AM 1309500000
Thing From Another World, The (1951) EXPAND 2:00 AM 87 min
TV-PG Thing From Another World, The (1951) The crew of a remote Arctic base fights off a murderous monster from outer space. Dir: Christian Nyby Cast: Margaret Sheridan, Kenneth Tobey, Robert Cornthwaite. 87 min, TV-PG , CC CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Christian Nyby. Kenneth Tobey, Margaret Sheridan, Robert Cornthwaite, Douglas Spencer, James Arness, Dewey Martin, William Self, George Fenneman. Classic blend of science-fiction and horror, loosely based on John W. Campbell, Jr.'s Who Goes There? Scientists at lonely Arctic outpost dig up alien (Arness) from the permafrost and must fight for their lives when it's accidentally thawed. Tense direction (often credited to producer Howard Hawks), excellent performances, eerie score by Dimitri Tiomkin. Screenplay by Charles Lederer. Watch out for 81m. reissue prints. Remade in 1982.

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3:30 AM 1309505400
It! The Terror From Beyond Space (1958) EXPAND 3:30 AM 69 min
TV-PG It! The Terror From Beyond Space (1958) A blood-sucking monster stalks the crew of a U.S. spaceship. Dir: Edward L. Cahn Cast: Marshall Thompson, Shawn Smith, Kim Spalding. 69 min, TV-PG CLOSE LEONARD MALTIN REVIEW: D: Edward L. Cahn. Marshall Thompson, Shawn Smith, Kim Spalding, Ann Doran, Dabbs Greer. The second spaceship to Mars heads for Earth with the sole survivor of the first expedition, accused of murdering his crewmates--but the real killer is a Martian monster (Ray "Crash'' Corrigan), which has crept aboard the returning ship. ALIEN owes a lot to this tidy, suspenseful, but underproduced movie, scripted by sci-fi writer Jerome Bixby.
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4:45 AM C-56 min
TV-PG Watch the Skies! (2005)
This TCM original documentary explores the history of the science fiction genre beginning in the 1950s. Features interviews with George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, James Cameron and Ridley Scott.