Edward L. Cahn was a renowned American film director of Polish descent. His brother, Philip Cahn, was a prominent editor in the industry, and Edward began his career in 1917 as a production assistant. He later joined his brother at Universal Studios, eventually becoming one of the studio's top editors, with his last-minute re-cuts of the prestigious war drama "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1930) being a notable achievement.
In 1931, Cahn transitioned to directing, producing a series of cheap and cheerful crime melodramas and comedies. He became a mainstay of the MGM shorts department from 1935 to 1949, working on a wide range of films during this period. Although his directing career was largely unnoticed until the 1950s, Cahn's output began to gain momentum during this decade.
Cahn's films during this period were a mix of the sublime and the absurd, ranging from the inspired to the ridiculous. Some of his films, such as "Creature with the Atom Brain" (1955) and "The She-Creature" (1956),are notable for their sheer audacity and camp value, featuring a combination of mobsters, Nazis, zombies, and atomic power. Other films, such as "Curse of the Faceless Man" (1958),were more serious in tone, exploring themes of love and loss.
Cahn's most famous film is arguably "It! The Terror from Beyond Space" (1958),a science fiction horror film that was said to have inspired Ridley Scott's "Alien" (1979). The film features a tautly directed narrative and impressive creature effects, although it is ultimately let down by the monster's unimpressive rubber suit.
Throughout the early 1960s, Cahn maintained an extremely prolific output, working on a wide range of films, including westerns and teen exploitation dramas. He continued to work until his death at the age of 64.
