X (1963)
(a.k.a. X – THE MAN WITH X-RAY EYES)
Article #759 by Dave Sindelar
Date Viewed: 4-13-2003
Date Posted: 9-10-2003
Directed by Roger Corman
Featuring Ray Milland, Diana Van Der Vlis, Harold J. Stone

A doctor experiments with a serum that will increase his range of vision, and it begins to drive him mad.

This is (IMHO) Roger Corman’s masterpiece; personally, I don’t think he’s ever worked with a better script than the one he has here. It’s also blessed with a great performance by Ray Milland, a variety of good performances by a number of familiar faces (you will find Don Rickles, John Hoyt, Dick Miller, Morris Ankrum and John Dierkes all on hand), an array of fascinating characters, and a story that really explores the possibilities of its theme (when this idea is generally used, it almost always focuses merely on the titillating experience of seeing through clothes and little else), but also works double time as a metaphor for drug addiction as well. It also has one of the most unforgettable shock endings in all of fantastic cinema, and if you remember nothing else, the ending will haunt you forever. Special kudos go to Robert Dillon and Ray Russell for the screenplay.

X THE UNKNOWN (1957)
Article #146 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing date: 8-9-2001
Posting date: 12-23-2001

A bizarre radioactive creature from the earth’s core breaks through the crust and begins killing people in England. An eccentric scientist is called in to help battle the menace.

This wonderful British thriller was modeled by screenwriter Jimmy Sangster on the Quatermass stories, and I don’t think he could have chosen a better model. It’s strengths are like those of the Quatermass series; there is a strong sense of character throughout, and a sense that the fantastic events are very real indeed comes through. Excellent acting work from Dean Jagger and Leo McKern helps the story along. This is definitely one of the feathers in Hammer’s cap.