Fire Maidens Of Outer Space (1956)

Starring Anthony Dexter, Susan Shaw, Paul Carpenter, Harry Fowler, Sydney Tafler
Directed by Cy Roth
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)

After Earth scientists discover a previously unknown 13th moon orbiting Jupiter, they send a crew through space to investigate, who find beautiful women on the moon, and a fearsome monster.

This British effort has a similar plot line to the American Cat-Women Of The Moon, and seems to be aping that film in trying to capture outer space thrills on a low budget.  However, it's much slower-paced, and doesn't have the somewhat sleazy charm of the American picture.  It's not without some merits- the music score does lend some eeriness and suspense to the background when needed, Shaw is beautiful and probably gives the best performance in the movie, and some of the camerawork is striking.  However, the special effects are less than serviceable with one set of levers seeming to control the entire spaceship, and a meteor shower resembling footage from earlier sci-fi productions.  The most interesting elements of the screenplay, written by director Roth, including the claim that the moon's residents came from the lost city of Atlantis, are largely not followed up on.  We also never really get a good look at the monster, nor have a clue to his origins.  Still for 1950's sci-fi completists, it's worth at least checking out, but it will never be one of the better films in the genre or era.