As reported by the New York Times, on March 8, 2023, prolific B-movie filmmaker Bert I. Gordon passed away at his home in Los Angeles. He was 100 years old.
Bert I. Gordon is a name many may not be familiar with unless they were prone to visiting drive-in theaters in the 1950s, staying up late and watching monster movies on Uhf TV in the 1980s, or were paying attention to "Mystery Science Theater 3000" in the 1990s. Gordon was the director behind such low-budget classics as 1955's "King Dinosaur," 1957's "The Amazing Colossal Man," its sequel from the next year, "War of the Colossal Beast," the 1965 outsized J.D. flick, "Village of the Giants," the 1976 H.G. Wells adaptation, "Food of the Gods," and the 1976 giant ant film "Empire of the Ants." One might note that all the films listed above involve giants of some stripe. One might also want to take note of Bert I.
Bert I. Gordon is a name many may not be familiar with unless they were prone to visiting drive-in theaters in the 1950s, staying up late and watching monster movies on Uhf TV in the 1980s, or were paying attention to "Mystery Science Theater 3000" in the 1990s. Gordon was the director behind such low-budget classics as 1955's "King Dinosaur," 1957's "The Amazing Colossal Man," its sequel from the next year, "War of the Colossal Beast," the 1965 outsized J.D. flick, "Village of the Giants," the 1976 H.G. Wells adaptation, "Food of the Gods," and the 1976 giant ant film "Empire of the Ants." One might note that all the films listed above involve giants of some stripe. One might also want to take note of Bert I.
- 3/9/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Bert I. Gordon, an American filmmaker and sci-fi director known for his low-budget monster movies in the 1950s and ’60s, died in Los Angeles on Wednesday. He was 100.
His daughter, Patricia Gordon, confirmed the news of his death.
Shortly after WWII, when Americans feared the impacts of nuclear testing and radiation, Gordon created mutated monster movies that wreaked havoc on the world. Despite his many low-budget films, Gordon’s movies featured stars like Ida Lupino and Orson Welles.
Nevertheless, the apocalyptic titles and jarring movie posters weren’t enough to keep them from flopping and receiving negative reviews, according to the New York Times.
Gordon’s career spans over six decades, as he produced, directed, and wrote 25 films. He’s most known for “The Cyclops” (1957), “Village of the Giants” (1965), “Necromancy” (1972), “The Food of the Gods” (1976), “Empire of the Ants” (1977) and “The Amazing Colossal Man” (1957), the last of which was brought...
His daughter, Patricia Gordon, confirmed the news of his death.
Shortly after WWII, when Americans feared the impacts of nuclear testing and radiation, Gordon created mutated monster movies that wreaked havoc on the world. Despite his many low-budget films, Gordon’s movies featured stars like Ida Lupino and Orson Welles.
Nevertheless, the apocalyptic titles and jarring movie posters weren’t enough to keep them from flopping and receiving negative reviews, according to the New York Times.
Gordon’s career spans over six decades, as he produced, directed, and wrote 25 films. He’s most known for “The Cyclops” (1957), “Village of the Giants” (1965), “Necromancy” (1972), “The Food of the Gods” (1976), “Empire of the Ants” (1977) and “The Amazing Colossal Man” (1957), the last of which was brought...
- 3/9/2023
- by Joshua Vinson
- The Wrap
Bert I. Gordon, the sci-fi director who aimed to terrify drive-in denizens of the 1950s and ’60s with low-budget films featuring colossal creatures, shrinking humans and radioactive monsters, has died. He was 100.
Gordon died Wednesday in Los Angeles of complications from a fall in his Beverly Hills home, his daughter Patricia Gordon told The Hollywood Reporter.
Highlights (lowlights?) on his B-movie résumé include The Cyclops (1957), The Amazing Colossal Man (1957), Beginning of the End (1957), Earth vs. the Spider (1958), Attack of the Puppet People (1958), Tormented (1960), The Boy and the Pirates (1960) and Picture Mommy Dead (1966).
In the ’70s, Gordon directed Vince Edwards and Chuck Connors in The Police Connection (1973) and wrote and directed How to Succeed With Sex (1970), Necromancy (1972), The Food of the Gods (1976) and, starring Joan Collins in the muck, Empire of the Ants (1977).
Perhaps as a way to keep costs down, Gordon’s films often were family affairs: His late wife,...
Gordon died Wednesday in Los Angeles of complications from a fall in his Beverly Hills home, his daughter Patricia Gordon told The Hollywood Reporter.
Highlights (lowlights?) on his B-movie résumé include The Cyclops (1957), The Amazing Colossal Man (1957), Beginning of the End (1957), Earth vs. the Spider (1958), Attack of the Puppet People (1958), Tormented (1960), The Boy and the Pirates (1960) and Picture Mommy Dead (1966).
In the ’70s, Gordon directed Vince Edwards and Chuck Connors in The Police Connection (1973) and wrote and directed How to Succeed With Sex (1970), Necromancy (1972), The Food of the Gods (1976) and, starring Joan Collins in the muck, Empire of the Ants (1977).
Perhaps as a way to keep costs down, Gordon’s films often were family affairs: His late wife,...
- 3/9/2023
- by Rhett Bartlett
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bert I. Gordon, who was given the nickname “Mr. B.I.G.” by Famous Monsters of Filmland editor Forrest J. Ackerman not just because it matched his initials but also because it matched the director’s favorite big-screen subject — giant monsters — died today. He was 100. His daughter Patricia Gordon confirmed the filmmaker’s death to the New York Times.
Related Story MGM Relaunches American International Pictures And Makes Tate Taylor's 'Breaking News In Yuba County' The Company's First Acquisition Related Story Breaking Baz: 'Ted Lasso' Striker Phil Dunster Transfers To Season 2 Of Apple TV+ Thriller 'Surface'; 'All Quiet On The Western Front's Edward Berger And Robert Pattinson Have A Coffee Related Story Dominion And Fox News Offer Dueling Views Of Defamation Law In Latest Court Filings
Gordon often produced, directed, wrote and created the special effects for his movies, which were shot on ultra-low...
Related Story MGM Relaunches American International Pictures And Makes Tate Taylor's 'Breaking News In Yuba County' The Company's First Acquisition Related Story Breaking Baz: 'Ted Lasso' Striker Phil Dunster Transfers To Season 2 Of Apple TV+ Thriller 'Surface'; 'All Quiet On The Western Front's Edward Berger And Robert Pattinson Have A Coffee Related Story Dominion And Fox News Offer Dueling Views Of Defamation Law In Latest Court Filings
Gordon often produced, directed, wrote and created the special effects for his movies, which were shot on ultra-low...
- 3/9/2023
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Bert I. Gordon rides again, with an excellent encoding of one of his more popular sci-fi monster-ramas. Pert ‘n’ perky June Kenney is so brave that she keeps going back to ‘that old cave outside of town,’ despite not knowing how many giant spiders are on the loose. Teenagers in their thirties and their bebop-crazy rock ‘n’ roll are no match for Gordon’s titanic, screaming arachnid. This spidey is just plain shifty, the kind of unscrupulous fiend that colors his crayons outside the (matte) lines … in crimson B&w blood! June Kenney’s mom knows her girl only two well: “… I hope she hasn’t gone back to that cave.” With some excellent extras, namely about a million rare behind-the-scenes stills from Tom Weaver.
The Spider
Blu-ray
Scream Factory
1958 / B&w / 1:85 widescreen / 73 min. / Earth vs. The Spider / Street Date June 23, 2020
Starring: Ed Kemmer, June Kenney, Gene Persson, Gene Roth,...
The Spider
Blu-ray
Scream Factory
1958 / B&w / 1:85 widescreen / 73 min. / Earth vs. The Spider / Street Date June 23, 2020
Starring: Ed Kemmer, June Kenney, Gene Persson, Gene Roth,...
- 6/27/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Hey, Ib Melchoir’s Opus Mars-us is back, in a not-bad new scan and color-grading job. If the nostalgia bug has bitten you deep enough to appreciate a fairly maladroit but frequently arresting space exploration melodrama, this may be the disc for you. Let’s be honest: Nobody can resist the allure of the fabulous Bat-Rat-Spider-Crab, and in glorious Cinemagic, no less.
The Angry Red Planet
Blu-ray
Scream Factory
1960 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 83 min. / Street Date June 27, 2017 / 17.28
Starring: Gerald Mohr, Nora Hayden, Les Tremayne, Jack Kruschen.
Cinematography: Stanley Cortez
Film Editor: Ivan J. Hoffman
Original Music: Paul Dunlap
Written by Ib Melchior from a story by Sid Pink
Produced by Norman Maurer & Sid Pink
Directed by Ib Melchior
Unjust though it may be, not all Savant reviews make the national news feed, but my old 2001 coverage of the pretty miserable MGM DVD of The Angry Red Planet got quoted all over the place,...
The Angry Red Planet
Blu-ray
Scream Factory
1960 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 83 min. / Street Date June 27, 2017 / 17.28
Starring: Gerald Mohr, Nora Hayden, Les Tremayne, Jack Kruschen.
Cinematography: Stanley Cortez
Film Editor: Ivan J. Hoffman
Original Music: Paul Dunlap
Written by Ib Melchior from a story by Sid Pink
Produced by Norman Maurer & Sid Pink
Directed by Ib Melchior
Unjust though it may be, not all Savant reviews make the national news feed, but my old 2001 coverage of the pretty miserable MGM DVD of The Angry Red Planet got quoted all over the place,...
- 7/15/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is one of those shows that got its hooks into me quickly, but eventually I just lost track of. I’m not even sure how the timing of it worked out, but somehow, I just didn’t seem to watch it anymore.
Die-hard fans may count themselves as far more excited to see these multi-film releases hitting shelves, but I’m glad to get the chance to touch base with a series I once loved, but missed out on.
The Xxiii release showcases four films, naturally of varying genres, plus a nice selection of bonus features, going so far as to somehow include the MST3K-ified The Incredible Mr. Limpet (which I must have seen 5,000 times as a kid) as a bonus.
It’s the usual brand of off-beat comedy commentary, with Joel, Mike, Tom Servo, and Crow T. Robot letting these old works of “art...
Die-hard fans may count themselves as far more excited to see these multi-film releases hitting shelves, but I’m glad to get the chance to touch base with a series I once loved, but missed out on.
The Xxiii release showcases four films, naturally of varying genres, plus a nice selection of bonus features, going so far as to somehow include the MST3K-ified The Incredible Mr. Limpet (which I must have seen 5,000 times as a kid) as a bonus.
It’s the usual brand of off-beat comedy commentary, with Joel, Mike, Tom Servo, and Crow T. Robot letting these old works of “art...
- 4/13/2012
- by Marc Eastman
- AreYouScreening.com
From the pages of Deep Red in 1986, Joe Dante interviews a real monster’s monster.
It was 1986 and Godzilla had just made a comeback picture called Godzilla 85: The Legend Reborn.
He didn’t usually give interviews, due to his speech impediment, but the lure of a few drinks with an old pal (I directed him in my first picture, Hollywood Boulevard) got him to open up. I wouldn’t say he was bitter, exactly, but he’d been though a lot. I have no idea what he’s up to today, but I ran across this interview while cleaning out the garage, so here’s where his head was at 25 years ago…
I met with Godzilla at a Ginza sushi bar on a recent visit to Japan. Although in seemingly good health, he pretended not to remember me as the director of his only American picture of the past 30 years,...
It was 1986 and Godzilla had just made a comeback picture called Godzilla 85: The Legend Reborn.
He didn’t usually give interviews, due to his speech impediment, but the lure of a few drinks with an old pal (I directed him in my first picture, Hollywood Boulevard) got him to open up. I wouldn’t say he was bitter, exactly, but he’d been though a lot. I have no idea what he’s up to today, but I ran across this interview while cleaning out the garage, so here’s where his head was at 25 years ago…
I met with Godzilla at a Ginza sushi bar on a recent visit to Japan. Although in seemingly good health, he pretended not to remember me as the director of his only American picture of the past 30 years,...
- 6/16/2011
- by Joe
- Trailers from Hell
From the Observer, 5 May 1968
A mere dozen years ago, fairly typical of the science-fiction film as a whole, a pathetically tatty epic called King Dinosaur wobbled unsteadily across our screens, its cardboard spaceship wilting visibly whenever touched, its astronauts emerging one by one because the budget obviously couldn't rise to space suits for them all. Since then the genre has acquired not only its lettres de noblesse, but a lot of money to play with: and the first thing to be said about Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (Casino Cinerama) – several years in the making and costing heaven knows how much – is that it looks quite simply stunning.
It may be safely left to small boys and astronauts to quibble or enthuse over the reputed accuracy of its facts and equipment. What matters for the lay spectator is that Kubrick's vision of space is as endlessly fascinating as a vast toyshop of intricate,...
A mere dozen years ago, fairly typical of the science-fiction film as a whole, a pathetically tatty epic called King Dinosaur wobbled unsteadily across our screens, its cardboard spaceship wilting visibly whenever touched, its astronauts emerging one by one because the budget obviously couldn't rise to space suits for them all. Since then the genre has acquired not only its lettres de noblesse, but a lot of money to play with: and the first thing to be said about Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (Casino Cinerama) – several years in the making and costing heaven knows how much – is that it looks quite simply stunning.
It may be safely left to small boys and astronauts to quibble or enthuse over the reputed accuracy of its facts and equipment. What matters for the lay spectator is that Kubrick's vision of space is as endlessly fascinating as a vast toyshop of intricate,...
- 10/21/2010
- The Guardian - Film News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.