"Monster from the Ocean Floor" released 1954

In another movie in a rash of "radioactivity creates a monstrosity" films, Monster from the Ocean Floor was released into theaters May 21, 1954. It was the first time Roger Corman produced a film.  He would go on to produce almost 500 movies over his career.  Director Wyott Ordung went on to produce only one  more film in 1956.

It's a slow moving film like Monster from Green Hell, with only a few scenes that were intended to be scary.  All deaths happen off screen so there is virtually no gore or jump scares.  The actors are mostly unknowns.  Ordung and Corman each have a role in the movie.

Monster from the Ocean Floor was released to mixed reviews, mostly negative, with a rating of 3.8 on imdb.com.  

It isn't a movie to watch for horror or science fiction fans, but it can be enjoyable if you're into the B&W 1950s B-movies. 

"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.

"Battle Beyond the Stars" released 1980

Talk about two hours of my life I'll never get back.  Battle Beyond the Stars has got to be one of the worst movies I've ever seen. Clearly an effort to cash in on the Star Wars success, Roger Corman directed this train wreck, which was unleashed on the populace September 8, 1980.  Its only redeeming qualities are John Saxon and Robert Vaughn.  It also stars a poorly cast Richard Thomas as the Skywalker-type hero, and although George Peppard is a great actor, he doesn't sell the cowboy image.  

Thomas plays Shad, who is trying to recruit allies against the evil forces threatening his planet.  Along the way, he meets a number of colorful characters.  It was produced on a low budget and the quality of the "special effects" shows it.  

The movie did help with the careers of James Cameron, who worked on the special effects, and Bill Paxton, who worked on movie sets as a carpenter and painter.

"Avalanche" released 1978

Avalanche, starring Rock Hudson and Mia Farrow, was released in US theaters September 29, 1978.  The disaster flick, produced by Roger Corman, was not a box office success.  The special effects included Styrofoam to imitate snow and is apparently what made some movie-goers laugh.  

Avalanche is included in the list of 100 Most Enjoyably Bad Movies Ever Made.  It was riffed in an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.  I enjoy watching it though.

"The Raven" released 1963

The Raven, a horror-comedy movie produced and directed by Roger Corman, was released January 25, 1963.  It was loosely based on the poem by Edgar Allan Poe and starred horror icons Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff.  It also starred a young Jack Nicholson.

This production of The Raven had more comedy than horror and, in my opinion, made it much more enjoyable. 

Roger Corman's "The Pit and the Pendulum" released 1961.

Horror-meister director/producer Roger Corman released his version of the Poe classic tale Pit and the Pendulum August 12, 1961.  Corman has brought us movies such as Sharktopus vs Whalewolf, Pirhanaconda and Dinocroc. His version of Pit and the Pendulum starred the wonderfully sinister Vincent Price and John Kerr (South Pacific).

The tag line says that no one had dared to film this until now.  Did they forget about the 1913 version?