Here's a list I've put together of some of the freakin' goofiest, silliest, and stoopidest robots in film history. Let me know if you disagree!
Technically, "Robot Monster" is too good of a movie to be on this list, but it really was the first of the worst! After 47,000 gorilla movies, in 1953, they decided to bump it up a notch!
Want to get lost for a couple of hours? Search for the word robot on this blog. I knew there were a lot of mummies, vampires, and werewolves, but the robots rule the roost no doubt. I think this is a real vision of what the future has in store, artificial intelligence will either save us or kill us! If this series of robots is a good example, then I think we're going to be all right!
From the 1953 "Adventures Of Superman," here's "The Runaway Robot."
"Target Earth" from 1954 is the other movie that is also too good to be on this list, but you gotta admit, what's up with that codpiece and those shoulder pads?
Also in 1954, there was this gem called Gorag in "The Bowery Boys Meet The Monsters."
From the 1955 classic "Ucan Daireler Istanbulda" aka "Flying Saucers Over Istanbul," this cardboard robot always looked like a woman with curlers in her hair to me!
In 1958, they dragged Gorag back out, and slightly changed his appearance for the "Adventures Of Superman" episode titled "The Gentle Monster."
South of the border, also in 1958, they came up with this tin can for "The Robot Vs. The Aztec Mummy."
In 1959, the Egyptian movie "Journey To The Moon," featured this guy who looks like he was built in some farm shop! I'm guessing the coils are a cooling device! This dude has like a stick for one hand, and a hook for the other
I love "Ship Of Monsters" from 1960, but there's just no way to compare this thing to Robby The Robot!
In the 1965 Mexican flick, "Little Red Riding Hood And The Monsters," they dragged out the robot from "The Robot Vs. The Aztec Mummy" for another round!
This super scary robot was in "Yilmayan Seytan" also known as "Copperhead Vs. Dr. Satan" in 1973! Apparently robot technology didn't advance much from the 50's to the 70's!
Now this robot is quite a bit more sophisticated, but it still looks likes a giant robotic Pillsbury Dough Boy! This guy is looking to duke it out with the Super Red Baron robot in 1973 Japan.
1973 was a boom year for funky looking robots as is evidenced by this thing from "3 Supermen and Mad Girl!" I don't think it's supposed to necessarily look like it has a mustache, but that's what I see!
Just for KD, here's Moguera from 1957's "The Mysterians," who I have always liked because I thought he looked like a gigantic Woody The Woodpecker robot!
Just for KD, here's Moguera from 1957's "The Mysterians," who I have always liked because I thought he looked like a gigantic Woody The Woodpecker robot!
30 years later, somebody finally had enough class to make Styrofoam robot box heads as an upgrade to cardboard and tinfoil! From our very own 50 cent production in 2003, here's a shot from "Silver Angel Vs. The Death Zombies!"
There's been lots more robots from the 1921 "Mechanical Man" to "Iron Man" and beyond, but the eras of cheap ass robots, just like 4-track tapes, Beta-Max tapes and the like, will all soon be forgotten by most, if they're not already!
There's been lots more robots from the 1921 "Mechanical Man" to "Iron Man" and beyond, but the eras of cheap ass robots, just like 4-track tapes, Beta-Max tapes and the like, will all soon be forgotten by most, if they're not already!
I always get a kick out of how much Maximillian from THE BLACK HOLE reminds me of the robot from TARGET EARTH.
ReplyDeleteYeah, pretty much! I think it's the upside down wastebasket head that clinches it! Another thing is that having to click on "I am not a robot," to publish this comment is pretty funny!
ReplyDeleteLOL -- and to reply!
ReplyDeleteI always kind of hate to say that a woman looks like a man (even in a single photo), but in that last photo I keep thinking the robot is attacking Weird Al Yankovic.
ReplyDeleteAl couldn't make it, so she filled in at the last minute. She was a nice lady, I'm not sure why she volunteered for the abuse.
ReplyDelete@Grant: I thought the same thing when I saw that pic!
ReplyDeleteMy pick for a tacky robot: the big, lumbering alien robot in THE MYSTERIANS! One of the few Japanese sci-fi films I like, but still...that tacky big ol' robot!
Okay, I added Moguera, he was kinda dumpy!
ReplyDeleteMoguera has a big ol' butt and hips! But I still enjoy the movie. :)
ReplyDeleteMy other favorite sci-fi film from Japan is WARNING FROM SPACE, but it has cyclopean starfish people instead of robots!
(LOVE your styrofoam robots in SILVER ANGEL! And hey pal, if your film was a "50 cent production" then mine will be a two-bit flick!)
--KD (not a robot...MAYBE!!!)
Love Moguera as well! One of my favorite bad robots is the old movie prop inside the Sandcrawler in Star Wars.
ReplyDelete