Keep Watching the Skies! American Science Fiction Movies of the Fifties (2 Volumes in 1) by Bill Warren Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Keep Watching the Skies! American Science Fiction Movies of the Fifties (2 Volumes in 1)
Book Review: An absolute must-have
Summary: 5 Stars
This huge book ( a collection of works previously published in two volumes) is a treasure trove for any film lover, but particularly those that have a special place in their heart for the classic and not-so-classic science fiction of the 1950s. Bill Warren writes with obvious love for his subject and his enthusiasm for even the saddest and most inept films (and there are plenty of them) transcends whatever gripes you might have with his opinions. It's like sitting around with a good pal and shooting the breeze.
The scope is enormous. We should be grateful to Bill Warren if only because he sat through so many of these films, some of which are real stinkers, thus saving us the trouble. Of course, the worst films are often the ones we most want to see, right? In fact, it's good to have this book nearby when watching MST3K riff some cheesy old sf film.
As another reviewer said, hardly a day goes by that I don't dip into this book, even if only for ten minutes. Unlike a Leonard Maltin's Guide (which I notice Bill Warren is now a contributor to), that I tend to use only as reference if something is coming on TV that I want a rating on, this a book I delve into for the sheer pleasure of reading it.
Informative, filled with memories of misspent childhood in front of the tube and most of all fun. Buy it. You won't be disappointed.
Book Review: Okay, okay, I agree with the praise. BUT...
Summary: 4 Stars
Unquestionably researched, undeniably well-thought out, unsurpassed in scope, and intelligently written.Yet I think Mr. Warren is a little too harsh with many of the movies and people he speaks of, especially those in Volume 2. It's like kicking a diseased puppy to heap criticism on a movie like Invisible Invaders or The Astounding She-Monster. I mean, come on! He sees the camp appeal of Cat-Women of the Moon, but not of The Hideous Sun Demon? It seems like an apples to apples comparison to me.
Aw, well, to each his own. No two people will agree on everything.
Although Mr. Warren does come off as downright curmudgeonly quite often, I forgive him. He must be cut considerable slack for being man enough to admit in print to the rare charms of Yvette Vickers.
Book Review: A Delight!
Summary: 4 Stars
When I first obtained the two thick yellow hardbound volumes of this book more than a decade ago, I could hardly express my delight at the serious and detailed attention given to those films I loved so much as a child and teenager in the golden 1950s. I still enjoy dipping into it. A relevant story... About a decade ago, my brother was visiting me for a week. My movie- and TV-related books were in what was then the guest bedroom. After his first night with me, I asked if he had had any trouble sleeping, since my neighborhood is sometimes noisy and he was in those days troubled with insomnia. He replied, "I never got to sleep." When I asked what the trouble was, he said, "No trouble, I just saw KEEP WATCHING THE SKIES on the shelf, got it down, and couldn't stop reading!" There is one problem with the first volume of the book, a problem the author himself points out--- it was written before the age of videotape, so that the author was unable to watch any of the films he discussed while writing the discussions, and was unable to see some of the films, such as DEVIL GIRL FROM MARS, at all. This is one reason the second volume is so much fatter than the first, because when it was written video tapes were becoming available for all the films being analyzed. One can only dream of what the first volume would have been like, had it been written in 1990, say. But we should be thankful for what we have. A detailed treatment of some of the best-loved films ever made, and a literate, thoughtful, informed and accurate treatment too. Highly recommended.Book Review: "Keep Watching The Skies! "
Summary: 5 Stars
Bill Warren's massive 1300+ page two volume set, "Keep Watching The Skies!: American Science Fiction Films of the Fifties", is by far the most comprehensive work of its kind, however, it is not completely exhaustive. Incredibly detailed - where else could one find a lengthy discussion of four different scripts by four different authors, each vying for the honors in "Conquest Of Space"? - the volumes include penetrating reviews of the "Big Five": "The Day The Earth Stood Still"; "The War of the Worlds"; "The Thing From Another Planet"; "Forbidden Planet" and "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", as well as a host of lesser heralded lights. Warren grew up during this era and his (self admitted) nostalgia creeps in periodically in an entertaining way, but not to the point of interfering with his objectivity. In fact, it's nostalgic passion that provided him the "rocket fuel" to tackle and complete such a formidable task. As well as the "Big Five", I derived considerable pleasure from reading Warren's favorable reviews of such spicy delectables as "The Man From Planet X"; "Kronos"; "The Creeping Unknown" and "The Incredible Shrinking Man" - films that made lasting graphic impressions upon me as a child in the 1950s. I have two quibbles - both relatively minor - with "Keep Watching The Skies!" - the first is Warren's inclusion of a small number of films such as "The Bowery Boys" and "Jungle Jim", where the sci-fi elements are so scant and peripheral as to hardly qualify them for the genre. The second is his choice of the subtitle, "American Science Fiction Films of the Fifties", which I feel is potentially confusing. Both volumes cover the period from 1950 to 1962, Warren says that "trends don't follow calendars", and while I don't have a big problem with inclusion of early 60's films, I think it would have been more appropriate and straightforward for the subtitle to have been something like "The Golden Age of American Science Fiction Films -1950-62". Quibbles aside, "Keep Watching The Skies!" is THE DEFINITIVE REFERENCE GUIDE for the 1950's sci-fi film connoisseur/afficionado, and will remain so for many years to come.Book Review: Incredibly informative
Summary: 5 Stars
Keep Watching The Skies! is the most detailed and engrossing survey of golden-age science fiction films I have ever read. No other film/video guide on the topic compares with it. Warren usually provides a synopsis of the plot, a discussion of the cast and how they perform in the film, and especially useful stuff about the writers and directors. We learn how the film was received in its time, and how well it's held up over the years. Warren is not the source for 1-5 star "ratings" of these films, or for smug quips about how awful some old movies can be, but the reader always gets an idea of how good the films are, or how bad. Overall the book provides the best reading I've found on these films individually and on the 1950s science fiction boom. Believe all of the rave reviews and buy this book!