Kronos (1957)

Starring Jeff Morrow, Barbara Lawrence, John Emery, George O'Hanlon, Morris Ankrum
Directed by Kurt Neumann
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)

Scientists track an asteroid that plummets into the ocean, but what resurfaces is a gigantic energy-consuming robot that attacks the world's atomic arsenals.

An interesting science fiction film from director Kurt Neumann introduces us to Kronos, a formidable machine that moves via the animation of the ubiquitous 1950's sci-fi effects team of Irving Block, Louis DeWitt, Jack Rabin, Gene Warren, and others.  Within the story, the alien intelligence that guided Kronos to Earth also takes control of human Hubbell Eliot, played by John Emery, who gives a fine performance as the man haunted by the evil controlling force within him.  Jeff Morrow, Barbara Lawrence, and George O'Hanlon play the scientists working for him who track Kronos' moments and try to devise a plan to stop him.  O'Hanlon in particular is a treat- he would later go on to voice George Jetson on The Jetsons, and he sounds just like he does in that popular cartoon.  The film's weak points are the great volume of stock footage it uses within its story, and a resolution for Kronos' defeat that seems too easily arrived at.  However, fans of Morrow should enjoy his performance, and I also enjoyed Emery and Ankrum, reunited after their appearance in Neumann's Rocketship X-M.  Paul Sawtell and Bert Shefter's music score is a fine one, and the picture itself is another enjoyable 1950's sci-fi romp.