Kronos (1957)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Kurt Neumann

Writers:

Irving Block (story)
Lawrence L. Goldman (screenplay)

Release Date:

April 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Tagline:

PLANET ROBBER TRAMPLES EARTH...STEALING ENERGY FOR OTHER WORLDS!

Plot:

Scientists investigate what appears to be a meteorite that crashes into the ocean. After a few days and nights of mysterious lights and noises...

Plot Keywords:

Robot | Pseudo Science | Beautiful Woman | Reverse Footage | Doctor

Cast

Jeff Morrow	...	Dr. Leslie Gaskell
Barbara Lawrence	...	Vera Hunter
John Emery	...	Dr. Hubbell Eliot
George O'Hanlon	...	Dr. Arnold Culver
Morris Ankrum	...	Dr. Albert Stern
Kenneth Alton	...	The Pickup Driver
John Parrish	...	Gen. Perry
Jose Gonzales-Gonzales	...	Manuel Ramirez
Richard Harrison	...	Pilot
Marjorie Stapp	...	Nurse
Robert Shayne	...	Air Force General
Don Eitner	...	Meteorology Sergeant (as Donald Eitner)
John Halloran	...	Lab Central Security Guard

Also Known As:

Kronos, Destroyer of the Universe

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Regal Films

Trivia:

Before production began, the budget was cut. This required a second draft of the script which eliminated some character development and some expensive special effects sequences.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the Mexican Air Force planes attack Kronos, they are clearly shown to be P-51 Mustangs (with V-12 in-line engines) in the shots shown approaching the target. When the attack begins, they change to completely different types of aircraft with radial engines, probably F4F Wildcats or F6F Hellcats.

Movie Connections:

Featured in A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)

Soundtrack:

Something's Gotta Give

Excellent Atomic Age sci fi

Kronos is slightly different from other 1950's/Atomic age sci fi's as the 'monster' that threatens the world in this one is a massive robot, Kronos. This was released on video in America as part of the excellent Science Fiction Gold collection, of which I have a copy.

A giant object crashes into the ocean and turns out to be a flying saucer. Scientists are sent to investigate, but one of them gets possessed by an alien and starts acting strange. At the same time, something strange rises out of the ocean and turns out to be a giant robot, Kronos. Two of the scientists land on top of it by helicopter to examine it. It then starts going on the rampage, destroying everything in its path. A nuclear bomb is dropped on it to try to destroy it, but this makes things worse as Kronos uses nuclear energy to get stronger. A method is found to destroy it in the end though and turns out to be a success.

For a low budget movie, the special effects are quite good and the music score is rather creepy.

The movies stars 50's sci fi regulars Jeff Morrow (This Island Earth), Morris Ankrum (Invaders From Mars), John Emery (Rocketship XM), Robert Shayne (Teenage Caveman) and Morrow's love interest is played by Barbara Lawrence. Morrow, Ankrum and Shayne also appeared together in The Giant Claw, made the same year as Kronos, 1957.

This movie is a must for fans of 1950's sci fi, like me.

Rating: 3 and a half stars out of 5.