Some words become buzzworthy in Hollywood at a certain point in time, and filmmakers looking to make some quick cash are more than happy to do whatever it takes to exploit such hot topics. Hot buzzwords for movie titles today include “zombie” and “vampire,” while words like “big” and “love” and “blood” have consistently remained popular.
“Atomic” is not such a hot movie title choice anymore, but during the 1950s and 1960s it was big time. The distribution channels for catching public domain movies offer the chance to see just what was so explosive about movies with “atomic” in the title.
“The Atomic Brain”
This public domain blockbuster is also known as “Monstrosity,” but you are unlikely to track it down under that name. “The Atomic Brain” is most readily familiar to those who didn’t catch it on its initial release in the form of one of the B-movies mercilessly attacked on “MST3K.” If you can, it is advised that you seek out this atomic movie in that version.
By itself, “The Atomic Brain” is pretty difficult to get through once the scenes of the attractive female stars in their underwear are done. Of course, anyone who enjoys watching a woman act like she’s been turned into a cat will find something very explosively entertaining about this nuclear dud.
“The Atomic Submarine”
“The Atomic Submarine” is readily available to watch on your TV tonight courtesy of public domain channels like Pub-D-Hub or Internet Archive. This is one atomic movie definitely worth an hour or so of your time. The film itself is actually pretty interesting as far as story goes and the execution has a certain low-budget, surreal charm. The real payoff is the alien at the center of the story, however.
Fans of “The Simpsons” are especially going to want to stay with “The Atomic Submarine” until the end, where they will meet a being from another world that seems very familiar. I’m convinced that, at least on a subconscious level, Kang and Kodos were directly inspired by this alien.
“The Atomic Man”
The world of public domain distribution channels has not been as kind to “The Atomic Man” as to other atomic movies. You may have some trouble tracking this one down because it may be in the science fiction section or it may not. It’s not really a science fiction movie, but rather a thriller that hangs on a science fiction Maguffin. That plot device could be utilized for a really great remake: an atomic accident results in a scientist living exactly 7.5 seconds ahead of everybody else. The movie becomes a political thriller that definitely takes it out of the science fiction genre. A little slow, but “The Atomic Man” does have some elements that make it worthwhile for some.
“Atomic Rulers”
“MST3K” fans familiar with “Prince of Space” may experience a bit of déjà vu with this atomic offering from Japan. Public domain entrepreneurs have capitalized on Japanese science fiction’s series of movies about Star Man. “Atomic Rulers” features Star Man rather than his Prince of Space ripoff. Believe it or not, “Atomic Rulers” makes “Prince of Space” look like genius. Prepare for Japanese kids in shorts and a superhero in a cape and excruciatingly tight tights who continually reminds his attackers that their weapons will have no effect on him.
By Timothy Sexton
