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• Best thing to happen to Sci-Fi

  • Brad
  • 2012-01-18

  When horror movies moved into science fiction in the 50's, the character of the scientist changed as well as the monster. In the 30's and 40's the scientist was usually as bad or worse than the monster (one exception being Dr Van Helsing). But when the monsters of the 50's became aliens or atomically enlarged, it became necessary that the scientist become the hero. No one pulled this off better than John Agar. These "scientist as hero" roles were usually not written with much depth of character, but John Agar always had a twinkle in his eye and an impish smile. And being a good actor, he could be romantic, humorous, scientific and heroic in any Sci-Fi movie. Compare his performances in "Tarantula" or "Revenge of the Creature" to similar roles played by Grant Williams, William Reynolds or Craig Stevens and you can see difference. And he had great on screen chemistry with his leading ladies Mara Corday and Lori Nelson. As cool as a giant spider or a Black Lagoon Creature may be, they just didn't project the personalities of Frankenstein's monster, Count Dracula or Larry Talbot. The Sci-Fi movies of the 50's needed characters with some likability factor. I am truly grateful that John Agar was available to bring the necessary personality to the Sci Fi of the 1950's.

• Where is he NOW?

  • Vilma Hoistion
  • 2006-12-07

  I have been watching his old classic Sci-Fi Horror movies. Pretty interesting. What happened?

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