This week’s mystery movie was the 1953 United Artists film The Magnetic Monster, with Richard Carlson, King Donovan, Jean Byron, Harry Ellerbe, Leo Britt, Leonard Mudie, Byron Foulger, Michael Fox, John Zarimba, Lee Phelps, Watson Downs, Roy Engle, Frank Gerstle, John Vosper, John Dodsworth, Charlie Williams, Michael Granger, Bill Benedict, Kathleen Freeman, Douglas Evans, Strother Martin, Jarma Lewis, Elizabeth Root and Juney Ellis.
Screenplay by Curt Siodmak and Ivan Tors.
Music by Blaine Sanford.
Associate producer, production design by George Van Marter.
Editorial supervision by Herbert L. Strock.
Photographed by Charles Van Enger.
Special effects director Harry Redmond Jr.
Photographic effects by Jack Glass.
Technical advisors Leonard Baurmash (radiation), Maxwell Smith (electronics).
Radiation Equipment by Technical Associates, Burbank, California.
Assistant director Richard Dixon.
Second unit director Maxwell Henry.
Art direction by George Van Marter.
Set decoration by Victor A. Gangelin.
Sound effects by Bill Naylor.
Lighting effects by Robert Jones.
Sound by Howard J. Fogetti.
Re-recording supervisor Joel F. Moss.
Dialogue director Michael Fox.
Produced by Ivan Tors.
Directed by Curt Siodmak.
Further information on The Magnetic Monster is available from the AFI catalog.
The Magnetic Monster is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Video.
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I picked The Magnetic Monster based on the trade reviews (surprisingly positive) and because of the bizarre use of a clip from the 1934 German movie Gold. A low-budget film like this is virtually a home movie of Los Angeles in the 1950s and I was pleased to see shots of Van Nuys Airport.
According to a post on the SciFist blog, the film was inspired by an episode of the radio show Lights Out involving an ever-expanding chicken heart. The sound clip is a seven-minute excerpt. The entire script is here.
Mary Mallory sends along articles on how UA promoted the film, and a feature on Richard Carlson.
Bosley Crowther inexplicably bypassed The Magnetic Monster, sending alphabet critic A.W. (probably Abe Weiler, who displays a shocking ability with word play). The New York Times, May 14, 1953:
Since flying saucers and the men from Mars appears to be in limbo for the moment it seems only natural that the science-fiction film fashioners would delve into the atomic fission stockpile for source material. And The Magnetic Monster, which charged into the Globe yesterday with all the trappings of a terrifying new world, makes full use of the fact and fancy of the physicist’s world to come up with a bristling and suspenseful entertainment. Although it is obviously closer to Jules Verne than Dr. Einstein, its effect on the action fans should be electrifying.
For Monday, we have a mystery fellow. And as incredible as it may seem, he does not approve of such goings-on.
Update: This is Leo Britt.
For “Tricky Tuesday,” our mysterious leading man has a romantic moment with his movie wife.
Update: This is Jean Byron and Richard Carlson.
Update: For Friday, here’s a better shot of Back of the Head Guy and Mystery Wife.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a mysterious fellow who seems unwell. Also a mysterious seat mate.
Update: This is Juney Ellis and Leonard Mudie.
We also have this mysterious fellow. He (and I know this will come as a surprise) does not approve of such goings-on.
Update: This is Frank Gerstle.
Brain Trust roll call: Sylvia E. (Tuesday’s Back of the Head Guy).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have a mysterious PBX operator.
Update: This is Kathleen Freeman.
We also have these enigmatic folks. None of them approves of such goings-on.
Update: This is William “Billy” Benedict, left, Elizabeth Root and Byron Foulger.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum* (mystery movie and Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Sylvia E.* (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Sarah (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mysterious officer), Greg* (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mysterious officer), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mysterious officer), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mysterious guests), Jenny M. (mystery movie, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mysterious guests), Sheila (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mysterious guests) and L.C.* (mystery movie and mysterious cast).
*Rescued from the spam folder.
For Friday, we have our mysterious scientists out to save humanity. Why are they dressed like that? It’s a mystery! And yes, he wears the fake glasses with no lenses all through the movie – it’s that kind of movie.
Update: This is King Donovan, left, and Richard Carlson wearing trench coats to match the footage from the 1934 German film Gold.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests), Richard Wegescheide (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mysterious officer, Thursday’s mysterious PBX operator and Mystery Man No. 1), Sylvia E. (Thursday’s mystery guests), Benito (Thursday’s mysterious PBX operator) and Thom and Megan (mystery movie, and Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Herbert Rudley?
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Whatever he sees OS, it does not bode well.
Hope to have more time for guessing this week.
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Am I the only one who sees a resemblance to Dick Smothers? 🙂
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Probably.
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Well, then so be it. 🙂
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“It Came From Outer Space” 1953
Tuesday looks like Richard Carlson’s hair. That could be Barbara Rush’s hair. It’s the right era and you haven’t had a spooky space monster movie in a while.
There! Very scientific reasoning on my part. Of course, I actually have no idea. Keeping my fingers crossed for Wednesday.
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The hair, the throat, and the scarf in Tuesday’s photo brings to mind Susan Hayward?
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Monday: Harry Ellerbe in THE MAGNETIC MONSTER (1953)
Tuesday: Jean Byron, Richard Carlson
Wednesday: Junie Ellis, Leonard Mudie
Frank Gerstle
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I am STUNNED!
It really IS Richard Carlson?!!
I did really think that it looked like his hair, but thought, no way can that be right – and on Tricky Tuesday, too.
Well I better get serious now.
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It’s “The Magnetic Monster.” With Frank Gerstle
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Wednesday’s worried colonel is Frank Gerstle in The Magnetic Monster.
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Frank Gerstle in The Magnetic Monster
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Richard Carlson, Jean Byron, Leonard Mudie and Frank Gerstle in MAGNETIC MONSTER.
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Movie – The Magnetic Monster
Mon – Douglas Evans
Tue – Jean Byron and Richard Carlson
Wed – Juney Ellis, Leonard Mudie and Frank Gerstle
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Got busy after my initial shock.
“The Magnetic Monster” 1953
Mon – Leo Britt, I think, as the doomed Dr Benton
Tues – Richard Carlson is the BOTHG, kissing Jean Byron (Patty Duke’s TV mom).
Weds – Leonard Mudie is our “unwell” scientist. He actually has two mysterious seat mates. One is the ‘spinster’ on screen left (Jenny Ellis). The other is inside the briefcase he’s holding (Breaking the airline rule that pets must be inside ‘pet carriers’ and kept under the seat in front of you. But then, it was a different time and pet carriers are made of wire mesh, so not a great idea for this particular pet.)
Also, Frank Gersle is our intense guy in uniform.
I’m having a lot of fun looking up stuff about this movie and the making of it. Quite a creative team.
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Leonard Mudie and Frank Gerstle, ‘The Magnetic Monster’?
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The Magnetic Monster (1953) w/Frank Gerstle, Richard Carlson, Jean Byron, Harry Ellerbe, King Donovan, Leonard Mudie, Juney Ellis…
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THE MAGNETIC MONSTER. Donald Kerr Monday, BOTH Richard Carlson and Jean Byron Tuesday, Juney Ellis, Leonard Mudie, and Frank Gerstle Wednesday, and Kathleen Freeman, Billy Benedict, Elizabeth Root, and Bryon Foulger today.
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Monday: John Dodsworth
Thursday: Kathleen Freeman
William ‘Billy’ Benedict, Elizabeth Root, Byron Foulger
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Kathleen Freeman, Billy Benedict, Byron Foulger.
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Thursday is Frank Gerstle, Kathleen Freeman and I think Billy Benedict on the left in picture 3. Reaching back, it may be Magnetic Monster.
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Thur – image 1 has Kathleen Freeman, image 2 has William Benedict, Elizabeth Root and Byron Foulger.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Friday’s images of the remaining mystery cast suddenly decked out in their 1940s outfits (fedoras and trench coats) so their mid and close up footage would HU to the borrowed “Gold” footage. That made me laugh, but it’s pretty clever.
Really enjoyed researching this one. I was particularly impressed as I listened to the episode of the radio program “Lights Out” that had to be the inspiration for this movie. The idea of an experiment involving a chicken heart going awry was hilarious and scary at the same time. Changing the ‘escapee’ to a nonliving thing for film was a wise move.
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Kathleen Freeman today? PS A riveting moustache on Monday
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The movie this week is “The Magnetic Monster”. The two people on Tuesday are Richard Carlson and Jean Byron. The two men on Wednesday are Leonard Mudie and Frank Gerstle. Three of the people for today are Kathleen Freeman, William Benedict and Byron Foulger.
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King donovan and Richard Carlson.
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Thank you!!! Was soooo hoping you’d include an image of King Donovan and Mr Carlson in their very important costume change. Just reading about it and the reason for the switch made me laugh, though I was also impressed with the creativity.
Looking forward to the Saturday breakdown.
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King Donovan, Richard Carlson.
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