Kronos (1957)

Director:

Kurt Neumann

Writers:

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

Release Date:

April 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Horror | Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

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

Plot:

Aliens from another world send a huge robotic accumulator to invade the Earth and absorb all energy it comes in contact with.

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	...	McCrary - The Pickup Driver
John Parrish	...	Gen. Perry
Jose Gonzales-Gonzales	...	Manuel Ramirez (as Jose G. Gonzales)
Richard Harrison	...	Pilot
Marjorie Stapp	...	Nurse
Robert Shayne	...	Air Force General
Don Eitner	...	Weather Operator (as Donald Eitner)
Gordon Mills	...	Sergeant
John Halloran	...	Lab Central Security Guard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Stevenson	...	New York TV Newscaster (uncredited)
Baxter Ward	...	Second TV Newscaster (uncredited)

Directed by
Kurt Neumann

Writing credits
Lawrence L. Goldman		(screenplay) (as Lawrence Louis Goldman)
Irving Block		(story)

Produced by
E.J. Baumgarten	....	executive producer
Irving Block	....	producer
Louis DeWitt	....	producer
Kurt Neumann	....	producer
Jack Rabin	....	producer

Original Music by
Paul Sawtell
Bert Shefter

Cinematography by
Karl Struss		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jodie Copelan

Production Design by
Theobold Holsopple

Set Decoration by
Chester L. Bayhi		(as Chester Bayhi)
Walter M. Scott

Makeup Department
Madine Danks	....	hair dresser
Louis Hippe	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Herbert E. Mendelson	....	production manager (as Herbert Mendelson)

Art Department
Max Goldman	....	property master

Sound Department
James Mobley	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Irving Block	....	special effects designer and creator
Louis DeWitt	....	special effects designer and creator
Jack Rabin	....	special effects designer and creator
William Reinhold	....	special effects designer and creator
Menrad von Mulldorfer	....	special effects designer and creator
Gene Warren	....	special effects designer and creator
Wah Chang	....	creator: stop-motion puppet (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Richard Staub	....	wardrobe: men
Mary Tate	....	wardrobe: women

Other crew
Clarence Marks	....	dialogue coach (as Clarence J. Marks)
Mai Santacroce	....	script supervisor (as Mai Dietrich)

Production Companies

• Regal Films

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1957) (USA) (theatrical)

Also Known As:

"Kronos, Ravager of Planets" - USA (DVD title)

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

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

Company:

Regal Films

Trivia:

The long shots of Kronos moving were accomplished by animation, presumably the work of animator Gene Warren.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The TV station reporting the arrival of the "asteroid" is said to be located in New York City, however the station call sign (identification) which appears on the New York studio TV cameras is "KGTK". This is inconsistent with reality, as (at the time this film was made), TV and radio stations on the east coast of the United States were assigned call signs beginning with the letter "W". TV and radio stations on the west coast were assigned call signs beginning with the letter "K".

Quotes:

Dr. Leslie Gaskell:Do you think you'll be able to respect a husband that probably pulled the scientific boner of all time?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Incredibles (2004)

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.