With so many movie guides available today, choosing the right one can be a challenge. Their quality varies widely. Some are excellent works, like Bill Warren’s Keep Watching the Skies. Others are disappointing efforts, like Rob Craig’s It Came From 1957. One thing is certain, though—1950s films are getting more coverage than ever. For me, the best era for movies is the 1950s. This was a time when monster films flourished like never before. Science fiction films also thrived. While many of these films are now considered classics, the decade also produced its fair share of duds. But even the worst of them have a certain charm and remain entertaining to this day.
The book I’m reviewing today is You Won’t Believe Your Eyes: A Front Row Look at the Sci-Fi/Horror Films of the 1950s. It is authored by Mark Thomas McGee and R.J. Robertson. This book offers a fresh perspective on these films, making it a must-read.
McGee and Robertson grew up in the 1950s. They had the privilege of seeing many of these films on the big screen. This was how they were meant to be seen. They share what it was like to experience these movies as children and then revisit them years later as adults.
What sets this book apart is that the authors go beyond simply reviewing the films. They conduct interviews with the filmmakers, as well as the actors and actresses who brought these stories to life. These firsthand accounts provide fascinating insights into the behind-the-scenes chaos, from rushed productions to on-set romances and feuds. The combination of personal experiences and insider stories makes this guide stand out from the rest.
At 267 pages, You Won’t Believe Your Eyes isn’t a massive tome, but it’s packed with entertaining and informative content. It offers plot summaries. It provides evaluations of the films’ quality. It also has a generous selection of photos. Some of the photos were ones I had never seen before. Even the most lackluster films of the 1950s still have a certain appeal, and this book captures that spirit perfectly.
Don’t forget to read the other blogs in my BASEMENT BOOK SHELF series. If you want to add this book to your library, click on the book cover below.
