America in the 1950s was a cauldron of contradictions. Advances in technology chafed against a grimly conservative political landscape; the military-industrial complex ceaselessly promoted the
Communist menace ; young marrieds fled crumbling cities for artificial communities known as suburbs; and the corporate cipher known as
The Organization Man
was created, along with stifling images of women.

The decade, huddled under the fear of nuclear holocaust, was also dedicated to all things futuristic. Science fiction was in its salad days, in magazines and novels and in motion pictures, trying every trick in the book to lure customers back from television, including reliance on monster movies.

All of these forces collided in 1957, when an astounding 57 movies of the science fiction, horror and fantasy variety were shown in the United States–a record unmatched to this day. Each of these beloved and memorable films addressed and reflected some of the many socio-political topics of the day, and several are exceptional examples of their genres. This book is a critical discussion of this unique one-year collection of cultural artifacts.