Comments on: The Navy vs. The Night Monsters

By: Jerry Kovar

Jerry Kovar — Tue, 25 May 2010 12:18:13 +0000

This looked like classic sci-fi after sitting through its original 42nd Street booking with Women of the Prehistoric Planet…a Wendell Corey/John Agar snoozer.

By: Kirsten

Kirsten — Sun, 23 May 2010 23:53:34 +0000

I LOVE this movie! Unfortunately, I have never seen it being replayed on tv and I don’t think it’s been released on DVD yet. Thanks for writing a story about it

By: Kimberly Lindbergs

Kimberly Lindbergs — Sat, 22 May 2010 19:36:25 +0000

Richard – Of the films you mentioned I’ve only seen The Leech Woman. I’m not all that familiar with Philip Terry’s other films.

Al – Terry played a nameless doctor in the movie. He looked fine but his role was really minor. A lot of the actors in it had previously worked together or worked with members of the crew so it’s likely that they did end up at the same Hollywood party at some point. According to the director, he was obligated to cast Mamie in the movie due to some unfulfilled contract obligations with Roger Corman but I don’t know the whole story.

By: Al Lowe

Al Lowe — Sat, 22 May 2010 15:42:40 +0000

I’m just curious. What was Phillip Terry’s role in this movie? Also, how well did he age? He would have been 56 or 57 when he made it.

It looks like this movie was cast using the attendees at a Hollywood party.

By: Richard Harland Smith

Richard Harland Smith — Sat, 22 May 2010 06:09:14 +0000

Phillip Terry has a couple of other interesting genre credits to his, uh... credit. The Monster and the Girl and The Leech Woman, plus the lead role in Lew Landers' Seven Keys to Baldpate. Wick Birnam has to be one of the great all-time character names, though.

By: Kimberly Lindbergs

Kimberly Lindbergs — Fri, 21 May 2010 19:07:27 +0000

Jeff – It’s an extremely uneven movie. The dull patches are really dull but when things pick up (air attacks on monsters, limbs ripped off) it improves but never manages to sustain that energy for very long. It would be interesting to see the movie redone today by a competent director. I love John Carpenter’s remake of The Thing for example. It would be fun to see Carpenter take a shot at remaking this.

rhsmith – Cheap beer and peanuts will definitely make the movie better! And that poster is great. There wasn’t a lot of severed limbs on TV when I was a kid, which is one of the reasons why this movie was so memorable.

Al – Thanks for the sharing the info on Phillip Terry! There were a few other actors in the movie that I didn’t mention such as Walter Sande & Edward Faulkner but I’m glad you brought up Terry. He’s an interesting guy.

By: Al Lowe

Al Lowe — Fri, 21 May 2010 18:18:20 +0000

Also, hurrah for Mamie Van Doren!

By: Al Lowe

Al Lowe — Fri, 21 May 2010 18:16:07 +0000

There is another noteworthy actor in this flick, Phillip Terry. He made several movies and his best was THE LOST WEEKEND, in which he was Ray Milland’s conscientious brother. However, he was much better known for being one of Joan Crawford’s husbands. He was six years younger and they were married when she made MILDRED PIERCE. I wonder if he preferred being eaten by a tree monster to being married to Joan.

By: josem

josem — Fri, 21 May 2010 16:03:44 +0000

I first saw this movie back in the day when my cable tv system had 3 channels and one of the channels called “Movie Greats” of the consisted of four terrible movies shown all throughout the week. So in a way it brings back some fond memories.

By: rhsmith

rhsmith — Fri, 21 May 2010 15:30:21 +0000

Thanks for moving this one up from the stacks to the New Releases shelf of my brain. I enjoyed this as a kid and am sure catching up with it will be like hooking up with an old friend for cheap beer and free peanuts.

And ye gods and severed limbs, how boss-ass is that poster?! I want that hanging over my bed. I want to make another baby under that thing.