NOT OF THIS EARTH (1957)
This production was written and directed by Roger Corman. As such, it feels like it was written and directed by Roger Corman. That's a net positive. At the risk of getting ahead of myself, Not of This Earth was remade twice in fairly quick succession. I don't know why, but that's a dissertation for a separate Blood Capsule. I can only review one cult classic at a time, and heavens above, I was gobsmacked by this little flick-a-dee. This is Corman at his sharpest, and by extension, his most economical. Earth will buzz your tower. Somehow, it accomplishes more in 67 minutes than the average b-prospect does in an hour and a half. The plot is lean. An alien wearing jumbo sunglasses visits a blood bank to arrange a transfusion. You see, his blood is evaporating. His race has been plagued with nuclear radiation and he was sent to our blue marble to find a cure.
What does that mean for his doctor and the nurse that has been assigned to treat his quasi-eldritch illness? First things first, Beverly Garland is fantastic as Nurse Nadine, and sweet mint julep, she's ridiculously gorgeous. That's irrelevant, but yowza. The dialogue is witty as hell. Again, you can hear Corman saying these lines ("Prepare the automobile."). Pacing-wise, the script moves faster than the Mexican food in my colon. I was sold halfway through, but then, the film played its trump card. We get a goofy monster, a divine varmint that resembles a fleshy umbrella. If you're wondering if that puts this sucker over the top, it most certainly does. We're dangerously close to 5-Z'Dar territory. I'm serious. That's how much I enjoyed Not of This Earth. "But Dom, it doesn't star Traci Lords." Hold the phone!
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