I always think of the 1950s sci-fi items as a bit more culturally alleghorical than doggedly ideological. Some people look at things like “Day the Earth Stood Still” as more reflective of a liberal mindset, with some grand peaceful, loving entity from afar bringing good things only to be met by unhinged, militaristic rabble of America. Coupled with the supposed conservative mindset of “The Thing” in which ordinary joes in the military work together to counter an evil, invading force that threatens home and hearth. But again, were these films really self-consciously promoting a left or a right ideology, or did it just arise from the worldviews of the writers/filmmakers?
Of course, those are “A” films, as opposed to “B’s.” I never liked “Seven Angry Men,” either. And that’s probably why I got a bit of gleeful delight in an episode of the “Naked City” which somewhat reversed the scenario. Some naive, immigrant man on a jury is oh-so-sure of the innocence of the man on trial. The man is found not-guilty due to this, but shortly afterward, evidence is discovered that proved him guilty. Supremely upset, the naive immigrant man gets a gun and decides to rectify his mistake himself.
That prosecutor of the trial in 12 Angry Men could call for a mistrial based on the behavior of the Fonda character. He brings in evidence not brought up in court.
‘Day the Earth Stood Still’ was made with the express purpose of expressing the possibility for the U.S. to surrender sovereignty to the U.N. The producer said as much. The film still holds up despite this.