Kronos (film)

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Kronos
Directed by	Kurt Neumann
Produced by	Irving Block Louis DeWitt Kurt Neumann Jack Rabin Morris Ankrum
Written by	Irving Block (story) Lawrence L. Goldman (screenplay)
Starring	Jeff Morrow Barbara Lawrence John Emery George O'Hanlon
Music by	Paul Sawtell Bert Shefter
Cinematography	Karl Struss
Editing by	Jodie Copelan
Release date(s)	1957
Running time	78 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
IMDb profile

Kronos (Ravager of Planets) is a 1957 black and white science fiction film directed by Kurt Neumann, starring Jeff Morrow and Barbara Lawrence. The film is also known as Kronos, Destroyer of the Universe. In the years since its release, Kronos has been widely praised both for its above-average storyline and its farsighted portrayal of the consequences of overconsumption of natural and man-made resources, and has achieved minor cult status.

[edit] Plot summary

What appears to be a large saucer shaped meteorite crashes into the Pacific Ocean near Mexico, following an unexplained break-in and assault by a deranged man at a secret U.S. research facility. The crashed 'meterorite' soon reveals itself as an even greater menace than first believed, with grave implications for the survival of the human race. Kronos fortells the dangerous implications of mass consumption of energy resources. A gigantic "machine", Kronos attacks powerplants in Mexico, draining them of their energy. In doing so, Kronos grows in size, becoming larger as it consumes more and more energy. Kronos is discovered to be the first "Accumulator" sent from an alien race that drained their own natural resources, and now they seek to have Kronos drain Earths power and return that power to their own dying planet. A scientist under control of an unseen alien presence, suggests fighting Kronos by dropping the Atomic Bomb onto it. Kronos only absorbs the bombs power and grows to titanic size. It threatens to drain the worlds cities and starve the Earth of power, but our hero devises a plan to turn Kronos' polarity backwards, thereby feeding on itself. Kronos explodes and the Earth is saved.

[edit] Film Notes

Kronos was filmed in a little over two weeks in California, using special effects created by Jack Rabin, Irving Block, and Louis DeWitt.

The film set of Lab Central, particularly the director's office is a minor testimonial to late 1950s postmodern design, with light fixtures shaped as flying saucers among the Atomic Age decor.