12 Stunning Movie Posters from the 1950s

      These movie posters from Roger Corman's 1950s films showcase his exceptional storytelling and marketing talent.

      But First

      Roger Corman, depicted above right, appeared in Silence of the Lambs as FBI Director Hayden Burke. Jonathan Demme directed the film, which was one of many projects that helped launch the careers of young directors with Corman's guidance. Orion. – Credit: C/O

      We have great admiration for Roger Corman, who passed away in May at the age of 98 after an extraordinary career in Hollywood that played a pivotal role in the rise of stars like Jack Nicholson, Ron Howard, Martin Scorsese, Jonathan Demme, Charles Bronson, and James Cameron.

      After studying industrial engineering at Stanford University and serving in the United States Navy, he began working as a story reader, where he rejected many scripts—only to recognize the potential in one that led to the 1950 film The Gunfighter, featuring Gregory Peck.

      Frustrated by his boss receiving all the accolades, Corman decided to produce his own films, which he quickly created on a limited budget, showcasing both flair and ingenuity. He excelled at marketing these films, particularly to rebellious teenagers, as evident from the following posters.

      Apache Woman (1955)

      American Releasing Corporation – Credit: C/O

      This was Roger Corman's second directorial effort after Five Guns West, released in the same year. Apache Woman tells the story of Rex Moffett, a government agent tasked with suppressing an Apache Rebellion, who soon encounters Anne Libeau (Joan Taylor), the film's half-Apache female lead.

      The movie is significant for helping to launch Lloyd Bridges' career, who portrayed Moffett. It is also noteworthy for Corman's strategic branding, often incorporating terms like "woman," "girl," or "teenage" in his titles to grab the attention of teenage boys seeking entertainment at local drive-ins.

      Day the World Ended (1955)

      American Releasing Corporation – Credit: C/O

      Roger Corman's film titles were always filled with exaggeration, as demonstrated by Day the World Ended.

      The plot centers around a scientist who, like many protagonists of the 1950s, confronts a radioactive creature. (Public anxiety and curiosity heightened after the atomic bomb's introduction.)

      Interestingly, the narration is provided by Chet Huntley, who would later become a respected journalist known for NBC’s The Huntley-Brinkley Report.

      It Conquered the World (1956)

      American International Pictures – Credit: C/O

      This film features an alien from Venus intent on conquering Earth and Dr. Paul Nelson (Peter Graves), a human scientist who wishes to assist the alien, believing it can save humanity from self-destruction. (A similar concept appears in Netflix’s 3 Body Problem.)

      This film marked an early role for Graves, who would later star in Mission: Impossible, although he had already gained recognition in the 1953 film Stalag 17.

      Naked Paradise (1957)

      American International Pictures – Credit: C/O

      This was the first of eight films directed by Roger Corman in 1957, revolving around a disastrous sailing journey to the Hawaiian Islands. Beverly Garland stars as Max, a young woman battling alcoholism and striving to change her life.

      Garland also featured in Corman's 1950s films Not of This Earth, It Conquered the World, and Gunslinger.

      Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957)

      Allied Artists – Credit: C/O

      Renowned for his budget-friendly creature features, Roger Corman's efficiency is highlighted in Chris Nashawaty’s 2013 book Crab Monsters, Teenage Cavemen, and Candy Stripe Nurses: Roger Corman: King of the B Movie. The author recounts Albert Ruddy’s experience of designing a monster for The Beast With a Million Eyes on a $50 budget, resulting in an aluminum mop, a syringe, and green paint for the creature.

      Ruddy's creativity eventually led to a successful career that included producing The Godfather, often regarded as one of the greatest films in history.

      Not of This Earth (1957)

      Allied Artists – Credit: C/O

      A major aspect of Corman's brilliance was his strategy of packaging films as double features. Not of This Earth was paired with Attack of the Crab Monsters, making for a night of thrilling entertainment.

      This quintessential 1950s film centers on an alien humanoid seeking human blood to counteract a lethal blood condition that is endangering his home planet, Davanna.

      Teenage Doll (1957)

      Allied Artists – Credit: C/O

      Occasionally, a Roger Corman movie poster showcases subtlety, as illustrated by this one. The text compels viewers to question the fate of the young woman featured in the title.

      As described by Nashawaty in Crab Monsters, Teenage Cavemen, and Candy Stripe Nurses: