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.

The Mad Magician (1954)

Starring Vincent Price, Mary Murphy, Eva Gabor, John Emery, Donald Randolph
Directed by John Brahm
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)

Gallico, a designer of death trap illusions for magic shows, seeks vengeance when his employer prohibits him from starting his own career as a magician.

One of Vincent Price's lesser known films, and one hard to see until it was recently released on video, for me it's a personal favorite among all his movies.  Following his triumph in House Of Wax, it was Price's lone outing afterward as an out and out horror villain for a number of years, and despite the absence of his trademark mustache, he's well worth watching here.  I really like the behind the scenes magic backdrop of the film, and although Price's impersonations of other characters beneath so-called masks aren't always convincing, the dark villainy he's engaged in is on a par with what we're used to in his more popular efforts.  I liked the supporting cast too, as actor John Emery, who plays a rival magician, is marvelous sneering at Price in a French accent, and Lenita Lane is colorful as a murder mystery author and busybody who grows suspicious of Price.

Rocketship X-M (1950)

Starring Lloyd Bridges, Osa Massen, John Emery, Noah Beery Jr., Hugh O'Brian
Directed by Kurt Neumann
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)

The first manned rocketship launches on a voyage to the moon, and its crew encounters several hazards and miscalculations that carry them far off course.

Although less famous than the other "moon" film that came out the same year, Destination Moon, and possessing lesser special effects and costumes, I've always been fond of this movie, which has some memorable visuals, a good music score, and a well-composed screenplay, despite containing a few pieces of sexist dialogue.  Neumann, who later directed the definitely more famous The Fly, keeps things suspenseful and interesting throughout, but the picture really takes off when the rocketship finally lands, as a combination of matte paintings and rocky scenery are beautifully captured by photographer Karl Struss and given mysterious accompaniment by Ferde Grofe's score.  John Emery probably gives his best performance, at least the best I've seen from him, and Morris Ankrum appears in his first of many science fiction movies of the 1950s.