"King Dinosaur" released 1955

Bert I. Gordon's directorial debut, King Dinosaur, was released upon American audiences June 17, 1955.  It was the first of his "low-budget special effects extravaganza" and was not received well.  Its a story of four astronauts sent to investigate a planet that has entered the solar system.  They discover a host of Earth-like creatures, many of them much larger than their terran counterparts.  Stock footage was included, but the quality it was as poor as Gordon's movie.  

Joel and the bots riffed King Dinosaur during the second season of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

I want to know is, if they escaped from the "King Dinosaur", why blow it up?  If you're already clear, and he isn't coming after you, get in your rocket and leave.

"The Beast Of Yucca Flats" released 1961

Although this movie screams Roger Corman or Bert I. Gordon, The Beast of Yucca Flats was brought to us by Coleman Francis, who wrote and directed.  But like Corman and Gordon, his movies ended up being riffed on Mystery Science Theater 3000. 

Released May 2, 1961, The Beast of Yucca Flats tells the story of a Russian scientist, played by Tor Johnson, who is transformed into a monster after being exposed to an atomic blast.  It could or could not be the inspiration for the Incredible Hulk.  

The movie opens with a nude woman (in some cases, the bare breasts have been censored) being strangled by what we are to believe is the Beast.  Yet, the movie follows the Beast's movements after his exposure, and the scene with the naked woman is never included or explained.

Another problem is Coleman Francis filmed the entire movie without sound, and added dialogue and narration in post-production, which becomes hilariously obvious in many places.

With a whopping 1.9 rating on imdb.com, it is considered one of the worst movies ever made.

The Amazing Colossal Man (1957) movie trailer

The Amazing Colossal Man, released in the US October 25, 1957, was produced and directed by Bert I.  Gordon. It was based on The Nth Man, a short science fiction novel by Homer Eon Flint, published in 1928.  

Glenn Langan survives a plutonium bomb explosion, only to begin growing in size.  Soon he reaches fifty feet and goes insane, attacking Las Vegas.

It spawned a sequel War of the Colossal Beast released in June 1958.  Both movies were skewered by Joel and the bots on Mystery Science Theater 3000.

"Earth vs. the Spider" released September 1958

From the brilliant mind of Bert I. Gordon, Earth vs. the Spider (or The Spider) was released September 1958.

A town is terrorized by a gigantic spider that appears from a cave.  The sheriff and others manage to knock it out with DDT, thinking they have killed it.  So they store it in a high school gymnasium for study.  What could go wrong?

The band playing music and  teenagers dancing revive the beast and it runs amok through the town.

Joel and the bots skewered in Mystery Science Theatre 3000.  The best line (or worst pun):  "It's Carol's dad's Caverns!"  Ouch.

"Tormented" released 1960

Tormented, released September 22, 1960, is another Bert I. Gordon "classic".  Although billed as horror, it's wonderfully campy and hilariously dissected by Joel and the bots on Mystery Science Theatre 3000.

An aspiring musician lets his ex-girlfriend fall to her death from a lighthouse so she won't interfere with his upcoming nuptials.  Soon, her ghost starts wreaking havoc on his life.

One of the biggest mysteries is why a young woman is marrying a man 22 years older than she is.  Actually, the actor playing Tom Stewart is 4 years older than the actor playing his future father-in-law.  Oh, well.

Anyway, Lugine Sanders, who plays the bride-to-be, is a native Oklahoman!  

The horrors continue! "Beginning of the End" released 1957

First, it was a giant gila monster, then giant killer shrews and now, giant killer grasshoppers.  Actually, "Beginning of the End", which premiered on June 28, 1957, came about 2 years before the other two.

Atomic testing has turned grasshoppers into gigantic beasts and they are closing in on Chicago.  This Bert I. Gordon "classic" starred a predictably stoic Peter Graves.  At least until he picks up an automatic rifle.

One of the best lines:  "You can't drop an atom bomb on Chicago!"