Director Nathan Hertz (Juran) who gave us such classics as JACK THE GIANT KILLER and THE DEADLY MANTIS, achieved his antithesis of greatness with the classic, absolutely fantastic 1958 film ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN. Feminists have said that this film is sort of a realization of the feminist movement, showing a woman towering over a cheating husband and all the men around. Personally, I think this is garbage. This film’s main purpose is to give us a ridiculous sci-fi story, and mainly keep us interested by showing fetching Allison Hayes in a giant bikini. Nathan Juran, who directed this film, was never really one to delve into deep issues such as this, he mainly revels in technical ineptitude and throws a load of the worst effects ever seen in film towards the camera in ATTACK.

Of course, the majority of “respectable” film critics will accurately recognize that ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN is one of the worst of the genre of 1950s “anything goes” sci-fi, but as you know if you have read any of my reviews, I am not one of these types. I subscribe to the theory that, with films such as this, you have to accept that these films aren’t any good technically speaking. Therefore, I rate these types of films solely on their ability to keep me entertained; I have little concern for technical competency or the conventions of “acceptable” cinema. The worst thing a film like this can do is bore its audience. I want to be entertained, and more often than not, through their ridiculous plots, campy almost ludicrous special effects, and hammy performances, movies such as ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN often are much more than entertaining. They’re usually quite enjoyable.

As you probably can guess, Allison Hayes grows to huge proportions in this film, and goes on a rampage at the end. This movie pretty much follows the standard routine explaining why such things happen. Hayes’s Nancy Archer character is abducted by aliens and exposed to massive amounts of radiation. This exposure causes a mutation in Archer’s genes, and results in an overnight growth stint which ends up in her being fifty feet tall.

Juran’s film is, technically speaking, absolutely awful. The script is recycled, formulaic garbage. The acting is ridiculously handled by the cast of incapable amateurs, and the special effects... don’t even ask. These effects look like a twelve year old did them. The film is also a bit slow-moving, leaving us to wait endlessly for the "attack" in the final fifteen minutes or so. In spite of all of this, ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN is one of the most enjoyable of the ridiculously contrived 50s sci-fi films that would frequently use premises so absurd that one could not help but chuckle in disbelief as s/he witnesses this abomination of low-budget film making.

If you don’t have any sense of humor, particularly concerning these super cheesy and campy cult sci-fi films, please disregard my argument why you should see this film. Not everyone will enjoy this, or any other piece of sci-fi hilarity that came out of the decades of yore. Personally, I think watching these movies is one of the few experiences that truly keeps me entertained, but these movies aren’t for all tastes. The Leonard Maltin types out there will undoubtedly say that films such as ATTACK are worthless, unfathomable trash, but for those out there who enjoy a “good” bad flick every now and then, you owe it yourself to witness the wonder of ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN.

The cast in ATTACK is one of the funniest ever assembled. The beautiful Allison Hayes, who was cast in many of these B-movie bombs including THE UNEARTHLY (with Swedish wrestler and Ed Wood favorite actor Tor Johnson!!), ZOMBIES OF MORA TAU, and the Roger Corman produced ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES, heads the cast. Here, she’s a gas as Nancy Archer, the rich wife of an unfaithful husband. Hayes always looks great on the big screen, probably one of the best looking of these B-movie actresses, and seeing her running around in a bikini may well be enough to keep some people’s interests (mine?). William Hudson plays Harry, Nancy’s husband, who spends most of his time conniving over how to get his wife’s $50 million dollar fortune, and hang out in a local bar with Honey (Yvette Vickers), his girlfriend. Hudson is also enjoyably cast in his role; my only qualm: does he really prefer Vickers (who’s a looker herself) to Hayes? I’d take Allison any day, even if she was fifty feet tall. That might even be better. I mean just imagine the proportions of her .... um.... I’ll stop myself there. =) Regarless, the cast here is enjoyable, and makes the film a lot of fun.

The best thing about this film is the hysterically terrible special effects. The spaceship that Nancy sees out in the desert carries a giant, bald man. This man is transparent. One would have to assume that this was not the intention of the effects crew, but the superimposition of the giant into the film is done so poorly, that the man appears to be completely transparent: you can see the landscape behind him right through his body. This giant just looks hilarious when roaming around in the desert or reaching towards Nancy. The space ship itself is also somewhat transparent, and looks like a giant marble being propelled along a landscape. There’s also a scene where the sheriff enters the craft to look around. Interestingly enough, the ship seems designed for normal sized people, not the thirty foot bald man who dwells inside the craft. This is never explained, and is probably just another expected lapse in logic in the script by Mark Hanna. The main effect of this film seems to be a giant, wobbly rubber hand that is used when the giant attempts to molest (?) Nancy in the beginning of the film, and when Nancy tries to find her husband in the film’s climax. The effects that show Nancy ambling around in the desert making her way to town are actually not too bad. At least she’s not transparent =). Most of the time though, the effects here are laughable, although they again add some more fun and enjoyment to the film. Much of the superimposition of objects (be them the spacecraft, the bald giant, or Nancy) is pretty poorly done, but it looks pretty funny.

Overall, ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN is one pretty enjoyable film, and an indisputable cult classic among fans of cheap and campy 1950s science fiction. If you have an appreciation for bad movies, I would say you owe it to yourself to catch this film. It is absolutely hilarious, and well worth a look. On the other hand, if you can’t stand absurd, poorly constructed B-movies, I would recommend that you skip this ATTACK. Personally, I would highly recommend ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN. In my view, it’s a classic, and anyone with a good sense of humor should catch this one at some time. I would probably give this film the cherished 5-star rating, but since we do have to wait about an hour for the ship to hit the fan, I'll deduct a star. The film still has my highest recommendation for those who appreciate bad films.

ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN was remade (for HBO I believe) in 1993 with Daryl Hannah in the starring role, but the overall film, although the effects were “better” (or were they?), wasn’t fun at all. A parody of the film, entitled ATTACK OF THE 60 FOOT CENTERFOLD, emphasizing naked female flesh, was released in 1995, and if you like skin flicks, you may want to check that one out, otherwise, it as well, is pretty pathetic.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8