Robot Monster (1953)

Director:

Phil Tucker

Writer:

Wyott Ordung (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 June 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Adventures Into The Future in New TRU-3 Dimension

Plot:

The Robot Monster has been sent to Earth as the advance party of an impending invasion. Ordered by The Great One to capture several humans...

Plot Keywords:

Monster | Robot | Gorilla | Helmet | Action Hero

Cast

George Nader	...	Roy
Claudia Barrett	...	Alice
Selena Royle	...	Mother (as Selena Royale)
John Mylong	...	The Professor
Gregory Moffett	...	Johnny
Pamela Paulson	...	Carla
George Barrows	...	Ro-Man the Monster / (2nd role) Great Guidance
John Brown	...	Ro-Man / Great Guidance (voice)

Also Known As:

Monster from Mars
Monsters from the Moon (USA) (TV title)

Runtime:

66 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Bronson Caves, Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Three Dimension Pictures

Trivia:

It was reportedly shot in just four days, utilized no sets, and was entirely filmed outside.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The "Great one" is clearly seen feeling for his switches on several occasions while talking to Ro-Man, as the actor in the suit can't see them.

Quotes:

Ro-Man: Hu-mans, listen to me. Due to an error in calculation, there are still a few of you left.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Grindhouse (2007)

The last family on Earth have to contend with man-eating dinosaurs, a food shortage, and a space helmet-wearing gorilla from outer-space who wants them dead!

Fans of bad movies probably know all about this film. However, if you haven't had the pleasure of experiencing this infamous laugh-riot, allow me to explain...

The film opens with an arrangement of Sci-fi pulp magazines behind the opening credits, so you're obviously expected to throw your common sense radar switch firmly to the off position before viewing commences. Then we're introduced to a family, for some reason having a picnic in a quarry.

The young boy takes a tumble, and when he recovers, he finds Ro-man, conquerer of Earth and destroyer of mankind, hiding in a cave.

Ro-man. Now how would you describe Ro-man? How about a man (George Barrows) in a Gorilla suit, probably left over from the forties, wearing an old-fashioned diving helmet with the visor blacked out, and a TV ariel sticking out of the top of his head? There are many legends of course about director Phil Tucker running out of cash and, unable to finish off the spacesuit, simply used an old leftover Gorilla custom. Let's face it however, would 'Robot Monster' be the cult favourite it is today if he had found the funds to finish the costume?

We discover the truth soon after first encountering Ro-Man; that Earth was attacked by this alien simian, who wiped out all but eight of the population. We know because we Ro-Man's gleefully reveals the plot to his superior, 'The Great One' (also George Barrows in the same costume) over a super hi-tech communications device. I write hi-tech communications devise, but what what I actually mean is an old 40s radio on a wooden table attached to a bubble-making machine.

Somehow, in the aftermath of Ro-man's destruction, prehistoric creatures were unleashed (yes, it's the old 'One Million B.C.' footage reeled out for about the 1,500th time; and there's even footage from the antiquated 'lost World' of 1925!). Our poor family has to content with all these dangers, but they are helped by the doc's anti-everything serum, which protects them from Ro-man's deadly Calcinator Ray.

If this all sounds rather childish, you're right, but this is fused with some quite unexpected adult themes. Ro-man murders the doc's young daughter, and then plans to mate with her older sister. You'd think that the intelligent and beautiful heroine of the piece (Claudia Barrett) would shudder from this evil, and probably smelly beast, but she doesn't exactly shun him, even remarking 'Oh Ro-Man, you're so strong' as he drags her across the barren wastes to his cave.

Despite all this, 'Robot Monster' does seem to drag a little in the middle (not an easy accomplishment for a film only just over a hour long!), especially after the novelty of old fish-tank head wears thin. But if you love/like/can tolerate bad movies, you really do owe it to yourself to see this; it lacks quality of any kind.