Bert I. Gordon
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Bert I. Gordon (born Bert Ira Gordon, September 24, 1922 in Kenosha, WI) is an American film director most famous for such sci-fi and horror B-movies as The Amazing Colossal Man and Village of the Giants.
Most of Gordon's work is in the idiom of giant monster films, for which he used rear-projection to create the special effects. His nickname "Mister B.I.G." is a reference both to his initials and to his preferred technique for making super-sized creatures.
Gordon began his career directing television commercials before moving to film in 1954 to produce Serpent Island. In 1957 he began his prolific association with American International Pictures.
In 1960, he wrote, produced and directed The Boy and the Pirates, starring active and popular child star of the time Charles Herbert and Gordon's own daughter, Susan. The three of them recently appeared together in the celebrity lineup at the 2006 Monster Bash, held June 23-25 at the Pittsburgh (PA) Airport Four Points. Walt Disney Company's theatrical release of Johnny Depp's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, on July 7, 2006, spiked interest in previous "pirate" films. To that end Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, released a Midnite Movies double DVD set with the rarely seen The Boy and the Pirates, and the more recent Crystalstone (1988), on June 27, 2006.
His 1977 Empire of the Ants featured a pre-Dynasty Joan Collins, who later said of the film it was her worst ever acting experience, but by then the loosely-based modernized H. G. Wells tale had been elevated to cult film status.
None of his films has received significant critical attention, but his work has attained popularity in some circles. The cult TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) has featured several of his movies, listed below.
Gordon holds a degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Title | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | King Dinosaur | |
| 1957 | The Cyclops | |
| 1957 | The Amazing Colossal Man | |
| 1957 | Beginning of the End | Starring Peter Graves. |
| 1958 | Earth vs. the Spider | a/k/a Earth vs. the Giant Spider, The Spider |
| 1958 | War of the Colossal Beast | a//ka Revenge of the Colossal Man, The Terror Strikes |
| 1958 | Attack of the Puppet People | a//ka Six Inches Tall, The Fantastic Puppet People |
| 1960 | Tormented | |
| 1960 | The Boy and the Pirates | Starring Charles Herbert and Susan Gordan. |
| 1962 | The Magic Sword (film) | a/k/a St. George and the Dragon St. George and the Seven Curses The Seven Curses of Lordac |
| 1965 | Village of the Giants | Starring Beau Bridges, Tommy Kirk, Johnny Crawford, Tim Rooney & Tisha Sterling; Based on The Food of the Gods by H. G. Wells |
| 1966 | Picture Mommy Dead | a/k/a Color Mommy Dead |
| 1970 | How to Succeed with Sex | |
| 1972 | Necromancy | a/k/a A Life for a Life Rosemary's Disciples (USA: video title) The Toy Factory The Witching (USA: reissue title) |
| 1973 | The Mad Bomber | a/k/a Detective Geronimo The Police Connection |
| 1976 | The Food of the Gods | a/k/a H. G. Wells' Food of the Gods |
| 1977 | Empire of the Ants | a/k/a H.G. Wells' Empire of the Ants, Starring Joan Collins. |
| 1981 | Burned at the Stake | a/k/a The Coming |
| 1982 | Let's Do It! | |
| 1985 | The Big Bet | |
| 1990 | Satan's Princess | a/k/a Malediction |
Of these titles, King Dinosaur, The Amazing Colossal Man, Earth Vs. The Spider, War of the Colossal Beast, The Magic Sword, Tormented, Beginning of the End and Village of the Giants were featured on MST3K.
[edit] References
- Bert I. Gordon vs. Bert Gordon @WFMU
- Bert I. Gordon from Gary Westfahl Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Films
- Bert I. Gordon from Scifi.com SCIFIPEDIA
- kiddiematinee.com / The Boy and the Pirates
