MovieChat Forums > The Man from Planet X (1951) Discussion > Hollywood forgot how to make good low-bu...

Hollywood forgot how to make good low-budget movies

posted 18 years ago by themoviebuff2003
6 replies | jump to latest

Up through the 1950's, the country had the wonderful pleasure of having a TON of studios, most of them specializing in churning out low-budget potboilers. Whether westerns, sci-fi, horror, comedy, serials, whatever-it was a great time in cinema, and will never be equalled again. Republic, Monogram, RKO, Allied Artists, American-International, Astor, etc; most all were entertaining, and occasionally you got a classic, either major or minor, I'd put this one in the minor category, due to its obvious limitations. Still, the thing that puts the older flicks head and shoulders above most of the new crap was-the makers of these old films loved their craft , and took it all quite seriously.

If this film, and many others, were to be made today, it would be filled with humor, mainly one-liners, as well as cheesy looking CGI and explosions. This old flicks' simplicity (as well as many others)is what makes it stand out, but that's just my opinion. I actually never saw this one until about the 70's, when it popped up on one of those 'shock theater' late-night Friday programs, and I was amazed at how well it still managed to hold your interest.

[–] Alienator 18 years ago

I couldn't agree with you more. The majority of the drivel which Hollywood churns out today pales in comparison to the low-budget and big-budget productions of the 1950s (as well as the decades preceding it). More so than all other genres of filmmaking, Sci-Fi and Horror pictures have greatly lost their luster through the swell of CGI effects (reliance upon which has proven to be the death of cinema as an art form). Not to mention, the lack of original and thought provoking themes and, most importantly, the lack of directors with a true passion to tell a story, has further dug Hollywood their own grave. Certainly the said qualities and accusations refer mainly to Hollywood productions/producers. It seems ever clearer that, with few exceptions, the truly good films as of late have come from independent studios.

From Robert Wise to the beloved Edward D. Wood Jr., many of the directors of the past had a true passion to tell the story at hand. Such a great difference is seen between these individuals and Hollywood's current elite. I refer to those who partake in the creation of these artless CGI showcases with one goal in mind: picking up a paycheck. It truly is tragic that multitudes of these quaint little 50s Sci-Fi/Horror outings have become obsolete and their themes lost upon the jaded audiences of today. I hope to sometime in the future see a film (or create one?) in the 50s Sci-Fi vein, one with passion... and without superfluous usage CGI and one-liners.

"Pull the string, pull the string!" -Bela Lugosi

[–] Attillio 18 years ago

Three great sci-fi films from 1951:

The Thing From Another World

The Day The Earth Stood Still

The Man From Planet X

[–] Alienator 18 years ago

Those are spectacular films, but don't forget 'When Worlds Collide' (1951)!

"Pull the string, pull the string!" -Bela Lugosi

[–] hobnob53 18 years ago

Yes, and don't forget these three were the first movies to deal with a visitor from space coming to Earth -- and "The Man From Planet X" got there first. It also had the best, most "complex" alien of the three, or indeeed of most alien films -- neither good nor evil, but, well, "human" -- fearful, friendly, reactive. Even the ending of this great picture is ambiguous, something the others aren't. As I said in my own thread, a gem.

[–] chrisamon 13 years ago

Years later, but, agreed.

I saw it on Million Dollar Movie in N.Y. in the early '60's.

[–] hobnob53 13 years ago

That's right, channel 9 (then WOR-TV) used to run it regularly back then, especially on its morning and 5 PM movies. Channel 5 actually had it first, in the late 50s, for a couple of years. One of the first movies I ever saw on TV as a little kid.