The Magnetic Monster

Two agents from the Office of Scientific Investigation are sent to investigate high levels of radiation and magnetism centered above a hardware store. They discover that a scientist, who has since fled with the element, has invented a new highly dangerous radioactive element that is able to "grow". If the element is not found and destroyed or contained, it could continue to grow until it sends the Earth off its orbit. The OSI men must locate the element and then find a way to destroy before its to late.

THE MAGNETIC MONSTER is one of the best low budget films from the 1950's. The story is intelligent and the science at least seems authentic. Ivan Tors deserves praise for trying to make a serious, realistic science fiction film. This is probably his best. His other science fiction films and T.V. series "Science Fiction Theater" also aimed for this kind of realism, but they were often to talky and slow moving. This film moves at the right pace and builds up to an excellent climax.

A few stray facts: Most of the special effects at the end were taken from the 1935 German science fiction film GOLD. This explains the outdated overcoat and fedora that Carlson wears at the the climax, to match the one worn by the German actor in the older film. Also Ivan Tors is said to have aped this films structure from the "Dragnet" TV series. The fictitious government agency The Office of Scientific Investigation turned up in Tors GOG (1954) and some episodes of "Science Fiction Theater."

"The Magnetic Monster" was a superior sci-fi B movie of the 1950's. Rarely seen these days, it hasn't gotten the appreciation it deserves as an unusual sci-fi classic.

Two scientist-detectives from the Government "Office of Scientific Investigation (O.S.I.)" are sent to investigate some bizarre events, like some guy found dead of radiation poisoning in an apartment building where metal objects have become magnetized. They eventually discover the cause: somewhere there's a new, accidentally created radioactive isotope with the unique property to "grow" by assimilating surrounding energy into itself. As it grows geometrically, its magnetic field and radioactivity increase too, potentially threatening the very existence of Earth itself. Our heroes race to find and destroy the thing somehow.

For its time, the plot tried hard to be realistic, with realistic-sounding science and a semi-documentary style reminiscent of detective movies. Even a deliberate bit of comic relief as the detectives are initially stymied by false leads. ("Some guy phoned to complain that the battery in his hearing aid burned out and he wants us to look into the matter." "Oh, fine!")

With the new crimes of computer hacker attacks and bioterrorist attacks, the notion of detectives with scientific training is no longer science fiction. When the Government started investigating the deaths of people from anthrax in October 2001, I thought O.S.I. had finally come to pass.

Ivan Tors made a few Interesting Low Budget "real" Sci-Fi Movies in the Early to Mid 1950's with the Emphasis on Scientific Explanation and Rational Crime Solving in lieu of Giant Monsters, Aliens, Flying Saucers and Mutants.

The Goal was to bring "Down to Earth" some of the more Fantastic Ideas of Science Fiction and Present them with an Adult Tone that turned a Sense of Wonder into a Sense of Dread.

Radiation, Computers, the Hydrogen Bomb, Space Travel. These were all Things that We were Creating or Endeavoring to Create. Some were saying that we were letting the Technology Grow Faster than Our Ability to Understand (let alone control) it. Therein lies the Scary part and it was right Here in Reality among Us just Waiting to Devour and Destroy.

In this one it is the Exponential Growth of Energy wanting to Feed and be Fed Continuously as it Grows Beyond Sustainable Proportions. This is shown in Striking Lab Visuals through Screens and Electron Microscopes that have a Surreal Appeal. The Over-Sized "Weapon" We use to finally End it all is also Visually Impressive and Exciting.

With a Low Budget and High Concepts these few "Realistic" Scientific Movies from the Era are a welcome Diversion from the Latex, Insects, and Space Invaders.

The astounding story of the "thing" that came alive deals with the discovery of an atomic power , then the government has set up a special group, the Office of Scientific Investigation or OSI , to look into rare phenomenon . Those who work there are known as A-Men (similarly to G-Men) , they are detectives for science and they are called in perilous missions as A-Man (A as in Atom) led by the brave agent Jeffrey Stewart (Richard Carlson) and his partner Dan Forbes (King Donovan) are sent to a local hardware store where they find a strong magnetic field has magnetized every metal item in the store and other bizarre phenomena .There they find the local appliance store owner that explain them all of their products have become highly magnetized and the things came alive . As they start a number of tests to establish what the source of the magnetism . The scientists are puzzled but their investigation leads them to a scientist who has invented a new element of extraordinary power. Unless they can find a way to stop its growth, it will destroy the Earth. As terror sweep through the heart of a city in the dead of night and this one man , the brave scientific , stands between the earth and doom! , battling a monstrous being that terrorizes Earth! A Cosmic Frankenstein monstrosity terrorizes earth and there is an only Man That Dared To Track The Monster To Its Lair!

A main candidate for the strangest and nuttiest Science Fiction of all time along with ¨Red planet Mars¨ by Harry Horner , including a surprising premise and plenty of twists and turns . This in an incoherent movie overburned with various messages about atomic danger and risks on the sub-atomic particles . As the picture narrates how a new danger faces man, sound waves that kill, atomic isotopes searing flesh, even pilotless planes that break the sound barrier , and to combat these threats a new agency has been created, The Office of Scientific Investigation (OSI) the men who work for this agency are known as ¨A men¨ similar to the classic ¨G-Men¨. The script involves a valiant scientist , his helper , his pregnant wife and their fight against a giant magneto-dynamo with tremendous power .The best parts of the movie are the thrilling final scenes ; however , using stock footage of the underground magneto-dynamo from the German science fiction thriller Gold (1934).It stars the always agreeable Richard Carlson . His film debut was The Young in Heart (1938). At the beginning he played forgettable second features, such as the supernaturally-themed Beyond tomorrow (1940), or commercial failures, like the nostalgic Anna Neagle musical No, No, Nanette (1940). There was, however, one stellar performance: his newspaperman David Hewitt in William Wyler's brilliant adaptation of Lillian Hellman's southern melodrama The Fox (1941). This was followed by another decent role in the fruity -but highly enjoyable- melodrama White Cargo (1942), and the lead in a cliched, run-of-the-mill crime picture, Highways by Night (1942). Then , Richard found renewed energy for his third-billed appearance in MGM's lavish Technicolor remake of King Salomon's mines (1950). Perhaps surprisingly, this did not lead to further roles in A-grade features. Instead, Richard Carlson found himself the unlikely star of several sci-fi features, which have attained cult status over the passing years. Pick of the bunch was Jack Arnold's seminal It came from outer space (1953) , based on a story by Ray Bradbury , with Richard in the role of a well-meaning, rather arcane astronomer, witness to an alien presence which turns out to be benign. The sincerity of his performance led to similar parts in The magnetic monster (1953) with similar moralistic undertones and the atmospheric Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). He is accompanied by an unknown support cast such as : King Donovan , Michael Fox , Byron Foulger , Jean Byron who plays his wife , she was billed the third , but the filming was so tight that she shot her scenes in one day . Look for two notorious secondaries giving brief interpretations : Kathleen Freeman and Strother Martin .

It packs an atmospheric musical score by Sanford and Paul Beaver . As well as an evocative cinematography in black and white by Charles Enger .This Sci-Fi film from another age that was ahead of its time was written and produced by Ivan Tors , being regularly directed by Curt Siodmak and Herbert L. Strock . Although credited to Curt Siodmak, most of the film was actually directed by Herbert L. Strock, who was hired by Ivan Tors for his skills as an editor, which were viewed as essential for a film that relied so much on stock footage. Curt Siodmak was a good writer and filmmaker who had a long career . One of Siodmak's first film-writing assignments was the screenplay for the German sci-fi picture F.P.1 antwortet nicht (1932) (US title: "Floating Platform 1 Does Not Answer"), based on his own novel. Compelled to leave Germany after Adolf Hitler and the Nazis took power, Siodmak went to work as a screenwriter in England and then moved to Hollywood in 1937. He got a job at Universal through his director-friend Joe May, helping write the script for May's The Invisible man returns (1940). Because the film went over well, Siodmak says, he fell into the horror/science-fiction "groove" . As he directed : Bride of the Gorilla , Slaves of the Amazons ,The Devil's Messenger , Curucu, Beast of the Amazon and 13 Demon Street . While director Herbert L-Strock made a lot of terror and Sci-Fi movies such as : Witches's brew , Monster , Men on the run , The crawling hand , How to make a monster , Flood of Drácula , Rider on a Dead Horse and I was a teenager monster . Rating : 5.5/10. Acceptable and passable .

Forget the low budget and limited special effects. This is an exciting film. If you can transport yourself back to the time when science was young and naive, you can get caught up in this film. The "monster" is an isotope created by a mad scientist. It will, if not destroyed, eventually engulf the world. Earnest atomic scientists are in a race against time to transport it to Canada where the only instrument powerful enough to destroy it is located. Once there, they even run afoul of a jealous Canadian scientist who attempts to foil their last ditch efforts. The climax, with electricity surging and sparks flying is actually thrilling. This one has some of the laughs one expects from a low budget monster film, but it also achieves drama and excitement. The acting is even better than usual.

Now it wouldn't be a low budget film without at least one or two cheesy special effects. Don't miss the shot of some steel slugs tossed up and supposedly sticking to the magnetized ceiling; some of them actually roll off camera. However, this is just entertainment when combined with the taut, fast-paced story line, excellent performances and exciting climax. I recommend it.