The Tingler (1959)

A well-paced, imaginative, creepy, absurdly funny and weird offering

Directed by William Castle
Produced by William Castle
Written by Robb White
Music by Von Dexter
Cinematography Wilfred M. Cline
Edited by Chester W. Schaeffer
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Running time: 82 minutes
Budget: $250,000

Cast

Vincent Price as Dr. Warren Chapin
Judith Evelyn as Mrs. Martha Ryerson Higgins
Darryl Hickman as Dave Morris
Patricia Cutts as Isabel Stevens Chapin
Pamela Lincoln as Lucy Stevens
Philip Coolidge as Oliver "Ollie" Higgins

Trailer

 

Fright-Filled SHOCK Thriller! 

Ghastly Beyond Belief! 

Amazing NEW TERROR Device 

Makes You A Living Participant 

In the FLESH-CRAWLING ACTION - 

“PERCEPTO!” 

In Screamarama!!!! 

Can You Take PERCEPTO? 

BRING YOUR DATE AND WATCH HER TINGLE! 

SEE 

The screen's first 

BLOOD BATH IN COLOR! 

Fun Film Fact 

"Percepto!" was a gimmick whereby electrical "buzzers" were attached to the underside of some seats in theaters where The Tingler was screened. The buzzers were small World War II surplus airplane wing de-icing motors. This vibrating device was activated with the onscreen action.

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Sci-Fi Stories That Inspired Classic Sci Fi Films: “This Island, Earth” by Raymond F. Jones

The 1955 sci-fi classic film, This island Earth is based on the novel of the same name by Raymond F. Jones which was originally published as three novelettes in the magazine Thrilling Wonder Stories: "The Alien Machine" (June 1949), "The Shroud of Secrecy" (December 1949), and "The Greater Conflict" (February 1950)

In the story, a race of aliens have set about recruiting human beings for a group called "Peace Engineers" as part of their scheme to use Earth as a pawn in an intergalactic war between the Llanna and the Guarra. Both the movie and the book proceed along similar lines until they diverge quite considerably about half way through.

Compare and see which treatment you prefer!

Movie Clip

This Island Earth pdf Link

Film Review Blog Post Link

Full Film

Sci-Fi Stories That Inspired Classic Sci Fi Films: “Farewell To The Master” by Harry Bates

"Farewell to the Master" is a science fiction short story by American writer Harry Bates. The story was first published in the October 1940 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. The 1951 classic science fiction film, The Day the Earth Stood Still (which is featured on this blog) was loosely based on this story.

Clip: Gort Appears

Both the story and the film are quite dissimilar. In Bates’ story, the events are told from the viewpoint of Cliff Sutherland, a free-lance picture reporter and concerns the sudden appearance of a mysterious "curving ovoid" ship on the grounds of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

As in the film version, two "visitors from the Unknown" emerge from the craft: one an 8-foot tall robot called “Gnut” made of green metal, and the other a being called “Klaatu.” You can find out what happens next in this story by downloading the epub version of Farewell To The Master.

pdf Version Link

Blog Post Film Review Link

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Recent Additions!!

Check out the Classic Sci Fi Double Feature Page which for this session features two back-to-back films from 1955:

The Day The World Ended & The Phantom From 10.000 Leagues.

Head off to the Classic Sci-Fi Radio Page where you’ll find a link to a classic radio play adapted from the Doctor Who TV series. This one features the second doctor in "Tomb Of The Cybermen" from 1967.

The Monster of Piedras Blancas (1959)

A likable low budget monster movie with limited ambitions.

Directed by Irvin Berwick
Produced by Jack Kevan
Screenplay by H. Haile Chace
Cinematography: Philip H. Lathrop
Edited by George A. Gittens
Production company: Vanwick Productions
Distributed by Filmservice Distributors Corporation (United States), Grand National Pictures (United Kingdom)
Running time: 71 minutes
Budget: $29,000

Cast

Les Tremayne as Dr. Sam Jorgenson
Forrest Lewis as Constable George Matson
John Harmon as Sturges, the Lighthouse Keeper
Frank Arvidson as Kochek, the Storekeeper
Jeanne Carmen as Lucille Sturges
Don Sullivan as Fred
Pete Dunn as Eddie/the Monster
Joseph La Cava as Mike
Wayne Berwick as Little Jimmy

Trailer 

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