The Magnetic Monster (1953) - Official Region Free PAL release, plays in English without subtitles

Very enjoyable and absorbing black and white 1953 Sci-Fi movie, starring the likeable Richard Carlson (Creature from The Black Lagoon) in the first of many such roles in films and on TV. In this, he convincingly plays one of the nuclear scientists (A-Men) at the OSI, who investigate atomic phenomena. King Donovan (Invasion of the Body Snatchers), an actor I particularly like, plays his side-kick. The story concerns a maverick scientist who has inadvertently created a radioactive isotope (not a monster as such), which is gorging on the earth's energy and will soon throw the planet out of orbit. So the race is on to neutralise it, and Carlson and his colleagues use every means at their disposal to achieve this, including consulting the M.A.N.I.A.C. computer (cue shots of the real thing at Los Alamos) and using a giant, nightmarish 'Deltatron'. The spectacular Deltatron scenes include footage from a 1934 German film, but I won't spoil things by saying any more about that. This movie is apparently the first in a trilogy of Ivan Tors productions about the OSI, the others being 'Riders to The Stars' and 'Gog'.It's very dated, of course, and I don't know whether all the science is authentic, but it's absorbing stuff, and I loved the comedic touch in the early part of the movie, a scene of magnetic mayhem in an electrical store, with clocks, washing machines and vacuum cleaners taking on a life of their own. On a trivial note, look out for a very young Strother Martin as an airline pilot. My husband really enjoyed the science (real and speculative), but I found it a bit 'talkie' to begin with and would have quite liked a more conventional, fleshy monster, rather than a metaphorical one. As for the DVD itself, the print and sound quality are good, and, although it's a Spanish product, it's easy to play in English without the Spanish subtitles.

i love these old sci fi films..so another one fo my collection.great price..fast delivery.

I saw this film in the cinema when it was first issued and I quite enjoyed it, hence my desire to see it again. Having watched the DVD I must confess to a little disappointment in that, I believe some 'cutting' has taken place. However, it remains a very good story and I am pleased that I was able to buy it.

Se ve bien, sin problema. Pero es bastante floja de argumento y pobre en "efectos especiales", para ser de ese año. Poco presupuesto, entiendo.