The Blob (1958)
The Blob (1958)
This next film ranks among one of my all-time favourite films! The Blob from 1958, was a low budget science-fiction/horror film, that featured a young Steve McQueen in his first starring role in a feature film. The Blob cold have easily become just another forgotten b-horror/sci-fi film, but it had this special quality to it that made it appealing and endearing to audiences. The film was first of all shot in widescreen format and beautiful colour, and it had a playful tone to it, not taking itself too seriously. The film was originally intended to have a more serious tone, but thankfully that opening theme was changed to this cute catchy theme song, written by Burt Bacharach and Mack David, which helped set the tone for the film. This is a fun film, and it was a huge hit with film goers in 1958, and has always been a beloved classic b-horror film, but I can't call it a cult classic, because it has been successful since its initial release, and has never stopped being popular.
The Blob tells the story of a meteorite that crashes into the earth, and inside the meteorite is a gelatinous blob, that attaches itself to the hand of the farmer who finds it, it then devours the famer and the doctor who is treating him, and goes on to attack the small Pennsylvanian town. But the cops don't believe the teenagers who try to warn the town, until it is too late. But how can you stop a gelatinous blob from killing everyone?
The Blob was directed by Irvin Yeaworth, and was the second film that he had directed. The film was also producer Jack Harris' first production. The screenplay was written by Kay Linaker and Theodore Simonson and based on a story by Irving H. Millgate. The Blob was filmed in Valley Forge, Chester Springs, Downingtown, Phoenixville, and Royersford Pennsylvania. Phoenixville was proud of their town used in the film, and annually holds the Blobfest, which is a festival that celebrates the film. The Blob was also a film became an icon film, and part of our pop-culture, and it has been remade, and there was a sequel made, and it often is referenced in films and media. One of my favourite films Killer Klowns From Outer Space was so influenced by The Blob that it almost comes off as a parody of the film, changing The Blob into murderous space clowns. Also the character that Stephen King plays in Creepshow, where he is a dull witted farmer that finds a meteorite that crashes in his field, seems to be inspired by the farmer in The Blob who finds the meteorite and is attacked first by the Blob. Though the film was a huge box office success, grossing $4 million on a budget of $110,000, the film was not a critical success upon release. In 1958 when the film was distributed by Paramount Pictures, the critics dismissed the film, and dismissed the actors, the only praise came in regards to the films clean use of colour and the camera work. Even online critics still tend to be dismissive, and the film holds around a 66% on Rotten Tomatoes. However the scientific community the Blob tends to rank among the favourites of a film representation of alien life.
The Blob stars Steve McQueen as Steve Andrews, Aneta Corsaut as Jane Martin, Earl Rowe as Lt. Dave, Olin Howlin as Old Man, Stephen Chase as Dr. T Hallen, John Benson as Sgt. Jim Bert, Robert Fields as Tony Gressette, James Bonnett as "Mooch" Miller, and Anthony Franke as Al. Though the critics have always been dismissive of the cast, and siting their bad acting, and at the time, the fact that there are no familiar faces or names in the film (though since Steve McQueen has become a famous actor and household name. I love the acting in the film, the Blob is the quintessential low-budget cheesy b-horror film. The acting is perfect for the film that it is, if the film had had more professional and big name actors, I honestly don't think it would have worked as well as it did, or been as iconic as it was. The Blob is an example of all of the ingredients adding up to create a moment of pure magic that has been loved and appreciated by viewers since its release in 1958, and the formula of this film, is something that critics are too self important to understand.
If you have somehow never seen The Blob, I highly recommend checking it out, this is definitely a must see film. The Blob has become a part of our pop culture, and the iconic film is often mentioned, referenced, and scenes from the film are often shown and recreated. The Blob is an example of how to make a cheesy b-horror/sci-fi film that works perfectly, maybe a part of it was the fact that it had an interesting story with a nice rapid pacing, the film had a light tone, and the colour used in the film really helped it to stand out from similar films of the era, and the effects of The Blob still look great today, then of course seeing such an iconic actor like Steve McQueen before he was famous in his first starring role in a feature film, and then of course that amazing theme song, this film just had all of the ingredients to make an endearing classic. If you haven't seen this film, I highly recommend tracking down a copy of it, and since it is now in public domain it shouldn't be hard to get your hands on a copy of the film, also the Criterion Collection has released a few nice editions of it as well. If you come across a copy of The Blob from 1958 don't pass it up, this is an amazing classic that should be on the shelf of every film collector's library.
The Blob tells the story of a meteorite that crashes into the earth, and inside the meteorite is a gelatinous blob, that attaches itself to the hand of the farmer who finds it, it then devours the famer and the doctor who is treating him, and goes on to attack the small Pennsylvanian town. But the cops don't believe the teenagers who try to warn the town, until it is too late. But how can you stop a gelatinous blob from killing everyone?
The Blob was directed by Irvin Yeaworth, and was the second film that he had directed. The film was also producer Jack Harris' first production. The screenplay was written by Kay Linaker and Theodore Simonson and based on a story by Irving H. Millgate. The Blob was filmed in Valley Forge, Chester Springs, Downingtown, Phoenixville, and Royersford Pennsylvania. Phoenixville was proud of their town used in the film, and annually holds the Blobfest, which is a festival that celebrates the film. The Blob was also a film became an icon film, and part of our pop-culture, and it has been remade, and there was a sequel made, and it often is referenced in films and media. One of my favourite films Killer Klowns From Outer Space was so influenced by The Blob that it almost comes off as a parody of the film, changing The Blob into murderous space clowns. Also the character that Stephen King plays in Creepshow, where he is a dull witted farmer that finds a meteorite that crashes in his field, seems to be inspired by the farmer in The Blob who finds the meteorite and is attacked first by the Blob. Though the film was a huge box office success, grossing $4 million on a budget of $110,000, the film was not a critical success upon release. In 1958 when the film was distributed by Paramount Pictures, the critics dismissed the film, and dismissed the actors, the only praise came in regards to the films clean use of colour and the camera work. Even online critics still tend to be dismissive, and the film holds around a 66% on Rotten Tomatoes. However the scientific community the Blob tends to rank among the favourites of a film representation of alien life.
The Blob stars Steve McQueen as Steve Andrews, Aneta Corsaut as Jane Martin, Earl Rowe as Lt. Dave, Olin Howlin as Old Man, Stephen Chase as Dr. T Hallen, John Benson as Sgt. Jim Bert, Robert Fields as Tony Gressette, James Bonnett as "Mooch" Miller, and Anthony Franke as Al. Though the critics have always been dismissive of the cast, and siting their bad acting, and at the time, the fact that there are no familiar faces or names in the film (though since Steve McQueen has become a famous actor and household name. I love the acting in the film, the Blob is the quintessential low-budget cheesy b-horror film. The acting is perfect for the film that it is, if the film had had more professional and big name actors, I honestly don't think it would have worked as well as it did, or been as iconic as it was. The Blob is an example of all of the ingredients adding up to create a moment of pure magic that has been loved and appreciated by viewers since its release in 1958, and the formula of this film, is something that critics are too self important to understand.
If you have somehow never seen The Blob, I highly recommend checking it out, this is definitely a must see film. The Blob has become a part of our pop culture, and the iconic film is often mentioned, referenced, and scenes from the film are often shown and recreated. The Blob is an example of how to make a cheesy b-horror/sci-fi film that works perfectly, maybe a part of it was the fact that it had an interesting story with a nice rapid pacing, the film had a light tone, and the colour used in the film really helped it to stand out from similar films of the era, and the effects of The Blob still look great today, then of course seeing such an iconic actor like Steve McQueen before he was famous in his first starring role in a feature film, and then of course that amazing theme song, this film just had all of the ingredients to make an endearing classic. If you haven't seen this film, I highly recommend tracking down a copy of it, and since it is now in public domain it shouldn't be hard to get your hands on a copy of the film, also the Criterion Collection has released a few nice editions of it as well. If you come across a copy of The Blob from 1958 don't pass it up, this is an amazing classic that should be on the shelf of every film collector's library.
Now I want to go to Blobfest next year!!!❤️❤️❤️
ReplyDeleteMe too! I have been wanting to go to it every since I learned of the festival's existence :)
DeleteLet's go together next year!🥰
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