Written By: Ken Hulsey
As promised a few weeks back here is yet another gallery of great monster movie posters. I like to think of this little collection as "the good, the bad, the wtf and the boing." The reasons for this should become quite evident as you proceed through my hand picked selections.
What did we talk about last time? Was it the elements that make up a great monster movie poster? If memory serves I mentioned a few key items including a great monster (... well sometimes), dynamic action or violence and a sexy damsel (or damsels). Well these images have all of that in spades.
Godzilla vs The Cosmic MonsterYou would probably guess that since this is a Godzilla movie poster that it would be one of my all-time favorites ... and you would be right! The image is truly beautiful ... well as beautiful as the image of a giant dinosaur fighting a robot version of himself can be.
Info:
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (ゴジラ対メカゴジラ Gojira Tai Mekagojira), originally known in the United States as Godzilla vs. Bionic Monster and subsequently Godzilla vs. Cosmic Monster, is a 1974 science fiction kaiju film. This was the 14th of the Toho studio's Godzilla series (set after Godzilla vs Megalon), it was directed by Jun Fukuda with special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano and the original score composed by Masaru Sato. It is the fifth film to feature Anguirus and the first film to feature Mechagodzilla and King Caesar.
The Phantom of the Opera
Here is a truly amazing movie poster! It is a work of art that would rival anything hanging in a museum.
Info:
The Phantom of the Opera is a 1925 silent horror film adaptation of the Gaston Leroux novel of the same title directed by Rupert Julian. The film featured Lon Chaney in the title role as the deformed Phantom who haunts the Paris Opera House, causing murder and mayhem in an attempt to force the management to make the woman he loves a star. It is most famous for Lon Chaney's intentionally horrific, self-applied make-up, which was kept a studio secret until the film's premiere.
The film also features Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry, Arthur Edmund Carewe, Gibson Gowland, John St. Polis, and Snitz Edwards. The only surviving cast member is Carla Laemmle (born 1909), niece of producer Carl Laemmle, who played a small role as "prima ballerina" in the film when she was about 15.
The film was adapted by Elliott J. Clawson, Frank M. McCormack (uncredited), Tom Reed (titles) and Raymond L. Schrock. It was directed by Rupert Julian, with supplemental direction by Lon Chaney, Edward Sedgwick and Ernst Laemmle.
The Crater Lake Monster
Hey, what's not to love about this! A giant dinosaur rising out of the lake to make a meal out of a couple of lovers out for a boat ride. Never mind the fact that the poster shows a T-Rex and the monster in the film is a plesiosaur ... who cares? Everybody knows a Rex sells tickets!
Info:
The Crater Lake Monster is a 1977 B-rated horror film directed by William R. Stromberg for Crown International Pictures, and starring Richard Cardella. The script was also written by Stromberg and Cardella, and their affiliation with The Crater Lake Monster marked the zenith of their careers.
The storyline revolves around a giant plesiosaur, akin to the Loch Ness Monster, which appears in Crater Lake, next to a small Oregonian town. As people are attacked by the monster, the Sheriff (Cardella) investigates along with a group of scientists in order to stop the creature.
The film is mostly notable for being an example of David W. Allen's early stop-motion animation, and "the best thing about the movie (make that the only thing)". Otherwise, the film was widely panned by critics, with DVD Drive-In calling it "one of the worst giant monster flicks of all time"
Legend of Dinosaurs & Monster Birds
This Japanese import has all the things any monster movie maniac craves, two dinosaurs ripping each other to shreds while smashing a boat to pieces. One of the beasts is even enjoying a mid fight snack in the form of one of the ships sexy passengers.
Info:
Legend of Dinosaurs and Monster Birds (恐竜・怪鳥の伝説 Kyōryū Kaichō no Densetsu) (1977) is a Japanese science fiction film, released by Toei Company. The film featured a giant Plesiosaur and Rhamphorhynchus.
Curucu: Beast of the Amazon
Ever heard of "Curucu: Beast of the Amazon? Neither had I, but the film had one awesome movie poster!
Gamera: Super Monster
So what would happen if Gamera took on a Star Destroyer?
Look I don't remember Gamera being in any of the original Star Wars films either. Maybe George Lucas edited the scenes out because they made the films to long ..... like the Biggs Darklighter scenes?
Anyway.... giant turtle plus copyright infringing spaceship and three Japanese superheroes equals great poster!
Info:
Gamera: Super Monster (宇宙怪獣ガメラ Uchu Kaijū Gamera, Space Monster Gamera), a 1980 kaiju film, was the belated final entry in the Shōwa Gamera series, and the last Gamera film written by Nisan Takahashi and directed by Noriaki Yuasa. It relied heavily on stock footage from previous Gamera films. This movie was made when Daiei was brought out of bankruptcy by Tokuma Shoten publishing company. It was intended as a one-shot movie for children. There wasn't another Gamera film for another 15 years, until his revival in 1995.
Creepozoids
A big bad bug monster takes out the roided out jock while the buxom babes fall out of their blouses in fear. Ummm ..... what else do I need to say?
Info:
Creepozoids is a 1987 low budget science fiction/horror film directed by David DeCoteau, and starring Linnea Quigley, Ken Abraham, Michael Aranda and Kim McKamy (later known as Ashlyn Gere).
Set in 1998, six years after an apocalyptic nuclear war, a group of army deserters take refuge from acid rain in a seemingly abandoned laboratory complex.
They soon discover that the lab was a top-secret government research center, where a hideous (if rather fickle) genetically-engineered monster still lurks.
The Beast and The Vixens
Okay, I know that I just violated my own "no nudity" policy, but this one was too good to omit. I honestly got nothing on this one, but it sure looks like Sasquatch is having a good time!
"Bigfoot Gone Wild!" anyone?
See Also:
GODZILLA vs HEDORAH 40th Anniversary Poster, Lobby Card And Photo Bonanza! / A Gallery Of Great Monster Movie Posters
Source: My SA
