the deadly mantis (1957)

aka The Giant Mantis. The Incredible Praying Mantis.
"Maybe there is an ordinary explanation to this, but I wouldn't take any bets."
When an arctic radar station is trashed, this is the first sign that something nasty has extricated itself from the ice, and is heading to the America's to party. The military are baffled and call in scientist Dr. Ned Jackson (William Hopper) to give them some thoughts, but can the might of the US military prevent the creature from reaching New Jersey?
A creature feature with all the usual cliches, giant unexplained creature, love interest (Alix Talton), hunky scientist, and military, (for the big guns), and as such works well with what it's got, without being a classic.

20 million miles to earth (1957)

aka The Giant Ymir. The Beast from Space.
"Horrible, but fascinating." A US voyage to Venus crashes in Sicily on its return to earth. Only two men initially survive the crash, but unfortunately so does a specimen of life from Venus. Now released from its captivity the animal starts growing at an alarming rate, terrorising the neighborhood. The army manages to capture it, but it manages to escape again and decides to take in the tourist traps of Rome.
Classic creature feature making good use of Ray Harryhausen's animation skills.

siege of the saxons (1963)

"...the secret only King Arthur and I have known."
Edmund of Cornwall (Ronald Howard) has his soldiers slay King Arthur, but his daughter Katherine (Janette Scott) escapes, aided by outlaw Robert Marshall (Ronald Lewis), and Merlin (John Laurie). Claiming she is dead Edmund makes ready to usurp the throne in league with Saxon invaders. Katherine and Robert need to find wise man Merlin to help them save Camelot and England.
Run of the mill Arthurian adventure, damsel in distress, helped to regain her thrown by a Robin Hood'esque outlaw.

the deadly mantis (1957)

aka The Giant Mantis. The Incredible Praying Mantis.
"Condition red!"
With an volcanic explosion in the arctic a giant prehistoric praying mantis is released to menace the American military. Can Col. Joe Parkman (Craig Stevens), Dr Ned Jackson (William Hopper), and eye candy Marge Blaine (Alix Talton), stop it before it reaches civilisation?
Another creature feature, making great use of stock footage to pad out its slight plot.

the dark castle (1952)

aka The Black Castle.
"They kill without emotion, I kill with my heart."
Sir Ronald Burton (Richard Greene) heads to the Black Forest, in search of two missing friends. He suspects Count Bruno (Stephen McNally), is responsible, and is determined to find out if his suspicions are true.
A well told gothic horror enlivened by cameo's from Lon Chaney, Jr, and Boris Karloff. My only problem is it is far too light - the black forest suggests dark foreboding, what we get is a well lit Hollywood back lot.

attack of the fifty foot woman (1958)

"She may have been contaminated, there is evidence of some sort of radiation."
Nancy Archer (Allison Hayes) is a wealthy but neurotic woman, who has the misfortune to be married to cheating husband Harry (William Hudson). Then on her way home one night she encounters an alien, but no one believes her. She persuades her husband to go out into the desert to look for it, and he goes along to placate her, bur when they find it Harry runs off, leaving her to her fate. Then she starts growing and she's more than a little annoyed with Harry, his cowardly ways and his blatant cheating!
Cheap and cheerful atomic age mutant horror. A classic of the genre, right down to the terrible special effects, but these only serve to add to the fun.

the brain from planet arous (1957)

"Don't expert me Sally, I'm alright!"
Gor, is a criminal brain from the planet Arous, takes over Steve March (John Agar). Steve is a scientist and Gor uses him to threaten the world, in an attempt to take it over. Fortunately for the world Val, also from Arous, comes to our aid, and with the help of Steve's wife Sally (Joyce Meadows), they try to defeat Gor.
A film that quickly dispenses with any attempt to play it straight, in favour of campy fun in this 50's sci-fi, and is all the better for it.