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Rating:  - "Help Me"
These two films are both frequently over-looked by people who only remember the David Cronenberg version from the 1980's.
Firstly let me say right from the start that I enjoyed both these films, regardless of any reservations I may have about them. They are good quality horror films of the 1950's. Overall I rate the first film slightly higher than the second one, because its in colour and mainly because the first film has a much better ending than the second, which is a little too Hollywood for my liking.
For their time both films are actually pretty scary. In fact the 2nd film has one classic scene where regardless of the fact that you know what is going to happen, when it does it still makes you jump. By todays standards the special effects are primitive, but I was quite surprised how effective they were considering we are talking about films over 40 years old.
The acting and direction is generally of a decent standard and the only area where the films sometimes let themselves down relate to parts of the plot which don't quite follow logically.
So overall whilst these two films are certainly not masterpieces, they are much better than expected, and in a few key scenes quite haunting. You won't forget the phrase "Help Me" for a long time.
Rating:  - The Fly (1958)/ Return Of The Fly (1959)
These ORIGINAL films make the ( Goldblum films ) look like what they (and most remakes ) are bad copies.
Rating: - Would have been a good Twilight Zone episode.
The Fly is probably not as good as you remember. Oh yes, it does have that gorgeous 1958 CinemaScope sheen, and bears the distinction of being one of the few really big budget science fiction films from that entire decade. Alas, it is also a drawn-out, talky bore with some really obnoxious performances.
To begin with, the film spends about 25 minutes stringing along a pre "flashback" sequence. Not the worst idea, but it drags on and on. Vincent Price prances about like an effeminate dilbert and the wife has to act "worried" ad nauseum. After about 40 minutes we get to the actual science fiction portion; a dark, twisted little tale, that is unfortunately dragged on and on and on. But it is not explored nearly enough, and the simple SFX are just repeated over and over. There are exactly 3 high points in this film, one of them being the classic ending.
The Fly is an inflated blimp of a film, overwrought, overbaked, wasting its time on "suspense" when more Science Fiction would have been better.
Rating: - A movie with a heart
"The Fly" is a definite must see because of Patricia Owens, her outstanding performance truly carries this movie. What an underrated performance she gives. From such a fantastical premise, Ms. Owens creates a most believable character, one in which the audience can emphathize with. In an odd way, for a movie about a man with a fly's head,it's heart is in the right place. Ms. Owens does what she does for the love of her husband and her son. Without her, this movie would be just like many other 50's sci fi/horror movies. Her spectaular performance lifts this admittedly silly scenario into the realm of unforgettable, classic movie performances.
Rating: - DON'T PAY SELLERS CRAZY HIGH PRICES!!
They may have stopped printing these, but you can still get them for under 15.00 at Suncoast and bookstores. You don't have to pay 30.00 to 60.00. To hell with these guys. It just so happens this is slated for rerelease from Fox with extras. This is a great movie and so is Return of the Fly.
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