JLRVancouver In the inverted universe of 'bad movies', "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman" is outstanding. Wealthy but unbalanced Nancy Archer (Allison Hayes) is twice accosted in the desert by a giant alien. The second time he thoughtfully returns her home, but only after relieving her of the most valuable diamond in the world, which she was wearing around her neck. Meanwhile, her womanising husband Harry (William Hudson) is making time with trollop Honey Parker (Yvette Vickers, whose actual demise had a B-flavour), who is encouraging him to have Nancy committed (or worse), so as to take over her fortune. This being the late 1950s, satellites and radiation are plot devices, and Nancy has mysterious radioactive marks on her neck (presumably from the alien's larcenous fingers), which seem to cause her to suddenly enlarge. Now immense and furious (and inexplicably blond), she breaks out of her house clad in a bedsheet bikini to hunt down Harry, leading to the titular attack and not unexpected denouement. The short but entertaining micro-budget film has all of the quicks and flaws that make 'bad movies' so endearing. The special effects are dire (see IMDB 'goofs section for details), most notably: the iconic giant rubber hand (hairy when the alien's, with nail polish when Nancy's), and the poor matteing that results in a semi-transparent giant Nancy and a semi-transparent giant alien (who, like the Coneheads (1993), seems to be from France, judging by the fleur-de-lis on his breastplate). The unsubtle acting and hackneyed characters are classic B-movie, with an often hysterical Nancy, smooth, two-timing Harry, conniving floozy Honey, and semi-competent cops with little sense of safe gun-handling. With a short running time (66 minutes), the film doesn't outstay its welcome and is eminently watchable (and rewatchable), which is the sign of a great movie, no matter how bad it is. One of the true camp-classics.

davidcarniglia I don't think I've seen this gem since it was first on tv in the mid-60s. There's plenty of cool stuff: a unique type of flying saucer, which has the requisite 'propulsion system' on display, a remote desert location, with a collection of hick locals, a less-than-jolly giant alien, the giantism an effect of that magic elixir, radiation, and even some references to worldwide 'sightings' of the spaceship.What messes it up for me is the plot; also the tone seems off. If you ditch all the giant stuff, it might just make a decent low-rent crime drama. Selfish jerk and girlfriend scheme to get his wife's money by bumping her off. Maybe instead of growing into a giant--thanks to her alien connection--suppose the wife just goes nuts? That possibility is hinted at; and then she sets about turning the tables on both Harry and Honey.The alien giantism deal just becomes a convenient means for Nancy to get her revenge without filling out her role dramatically. On the other hand, as straight sci-fi, you could add more alien scenes, maybe using some of the other locations mentioned, to build up the suspense for the alien's flying saucer to show up in the desert. As it happens, the majority of the plot revolves around the love triangle. Nancy doesn't 'grow' into her role until the last third of the movie.The tone issue is more of a problem. Some people enjoy the Barney Fife-like deputy, but he just seems to soak up time. In such a short movie, time is better spent on the sci-fi or love triangle scenes. If he's got to be there, ok; but let him redeem himself by dying while trying to save someone. The 50-foot woman just brushes him aside as does everyone else.I agree with others that Harry's an idiot for taking up with the airhead Honey. His wife, whether crazy, alcoholic, or tall as a light pole, is much more fetching, and has more personality as well. Another silly choice occurs as the sheriff and the servant approach the flying saucer; the sheriff doesn't listen to the suggestion to get help from outside because "we don't know what we're up against". Isn't that the best reason to call in help?The special effects are uneven; the flying saucer, inside and out, is much more convincing than Nancy's giant hand flailing about in her bedroom, not to mention the alien's equally cartoonish hand poking around in his first encounter with Nancy. On the other 'hand', when Nancy is on the prowl for Harry, her hand looks real in what must be a dollhouse set. All of her destruction at the hotel is pretty well done. The movie ended too abruptly. I would've liked the flying saucer to do a drive-by; there needed to be more closure on the sci-fi plot. Fifty foot tall or not, Nancy's simply dead. She could've killed Harry and Honey by conventional means and somehow still gotten electrocuted without being a giant.I still enjoyed the movie. Not to be missed for fans of 50s sci-fi; otherwise, not such a big deal.

azerman18 A poorly done and rushed movie to say the least. I perfectly understand that the visual effects of 50's sci fi movies are nowhere near to what they are like today. But however,even for the 50s, the visual effects were awful. I would put it in the same sentence with Plan 9 From Outer Space. First off, when a movie is in an hour long but it feels like three hours, there is something wrong with it. She doesn't mutate until the final 15 minutes of the movie. There are things in the movie I question such as how a 50 foot woman can fit in her own bedroom. There is also a problem with consistency. Nancy appears to be different sizes throughout the movie. She is also at times transparent and nontransparent, which the movie makers didn't care about. The alien on the ship appears to be a stitched up old man and it is comical. I understand that it is a cult movie, which is supposed to be a movie that is so bad to the extent that it is good, but there is no point in seeing the movie. There is no element in the film that awes the audience.

Lee Eisenberg Ah, the 1950s. The era when sci-fi flicks depicted people either growing or shrinking. Nathan Juran's "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman" is a prime example. The hilariously terrible acting creates more than its share of charm. My favorite scene is when Allison Hayes jiggles the electrical pole and makes the lights flicker.So, it's just plain fun. After all, we watch these movies to laugh at them. "Mystery Science Theater 3000" would have had a field day with this movie. Ridiculous and enjoyable in every way.Also starring William Hudson and Yvette Vickers (who was found dead in her home earlier this year).