The Monolith Monsters (1957)

Director:

John Sherwood

Writers:

Norman Jolley (screenplay) and
Robert M. Fresco (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

December 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Horror

Tagline:

Mammoth skyscrapers of stone thundering across the earth!

Plot:

Rocks from a meteor which grow when in contact with water threaten a sleepy Southwestern desert community.

Plot Keywords:

Water | Rock | Desert | Saline | Schoolteacher

Cast

Lola Albright	...	Cathy Barrett
Grant Williams	...	Dave Miller
Les Tremayne	...	Martin Cochrane
Trevor Bardette	...	Prof. Arthur Flanders
Phil Harvey	...	Ben Gilbert
William Flaherty	...	Chief Dan Corey
Harry Jackson	...	Dr. Steve Hendricks
Richard H. Cutting	...	Dr. E.J. Reynolds
Linda Scheley	...	Ginny Simpson
Dean Cromer	...	Highway Patrolman
Steve Darrell	...	Joe Higgins

Also Known As:

Monolith (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

77 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Universal Pictures released this film on a double feature with Love Slaves of the Amazons (1957).

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When the camera dollies in on the comatose Jennie, it’s shadow appears on her.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: From time immemorial the Earth has been bombarded by objects from outer space. Bits and pieces of the Universe piercing our atmosphere in an invasion that never ends. Meteor, the shooting stars on which so many earthly wishes have been born! Of the thousands that plummet toward us...

Movie Connections:

Featured in Watch the Skies!: Science Fiction, the 1950s and Us (2005) (TV)

Another nice little gem from Universal

The Monolith Monsters makes a pleasant change from all those giant animal and alien invasion movies. This time, we have giant crystals threatening the world, which multiply when in contact with water and make people turn to stone. Jack Arnold, who made the very enjoyable Tarantula (1955), was responsible for this eerie movie.

This movie stars Grant Williams (The Incredible Shrinking Man), Lola Albright as his love interest and Les Tremayne (The War Of the Worlds). Williams plays a good part and is normal size in this!

The special effects are very good and the desert settings make the movie rather eerie.

This movie is a must see for all 1950's sci-fi fans. Great stuff and interesting.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5.