Movie Two Hundred Sixty Eight
While investigating a remote area of the Amazon, a team of geologists stumble upon the Creature From the Black Lagoon.
While looking at fossils around the Amazon, the fossilized hand of a missing link between land and sea creatures is found. Doctors Carl Maia (Antonio Moreno) and David Reed (Richard Carlson), and Mark Williams (Richard Denning) decide to travel back to the area to search for more fossilized skeletal remains along with Reed’s girlfiend, Kay Lawrence (Julie Adams) and another scientist named Edwin Thompson (Whit Bissell). After returning to the site and finding the research team has been killed, the group comes upon the eponymous Creature AKA the Gill Man.
Universal horror films are the watermark (pun intended) for the genre and by 1954, Creature From the Black Lagoon was not only horror but branching into the increasingly popular science fiction genre. The result could easily have been sloppy or silly but it’s actually quite intense. Out of the entire Universal stable, I’ve always had a strong fondness for the Gill Man. The effects used in the costume are still pretty damn good and he is still a unique monster today.
What makes Creature From the Black Lagoon perhaps most impressive to me is that it was originally released in 3D using polarized lenses (essentially the same technology used now) but also largely shot underwater. The Gill Man is obviously a man in a suit but he is supposed to be the missing link, he is humanoid but still totally unearthly and menacing. Actually, there were two Gill Man suits, one for underwater and one for land, each with a different actor inside. It’s not something easily spotted in the movie but there are some slight differences between the costumes and the two actors were very different heights.
I watched Creature From the Black Lagoon as part of the Universal Classic Monsters blu-ray set and it does not disappoint. Not only is it presented in 3D (and also 2D) but the special features are incredibly interesting. The soundtrack is lossless and helps create a huge amount of tension and the picture is, of course, amazing. Even if you’ve seen Creature From the Black Lagoon a dozen times before, I would definitely recommend the blu-ray as the way to watch it.
While Creature From the Black Lagoon obviously takes a backseat to Dracula and Frankenstein, I would argue that the film should be held with the same esteem as those that came before it. The story is simple almost to a fault and there are certainly parts that could be laughed at now, but Gill Man poses a threat that Dracula and Frankenstein’s Monster simply don’t, at least for me. Creature From the Black Lagoon may not be technically one of the best movies ever made but it’s still one of my favorite monster movies.
I give it 4 stop-motion fan clips out of 5.
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Ooooo… One Of My Classic Faves!
I Actually Saw It At Our Local Civic Center In 3D Back In 1997.
Most Fun I’ve Ever Had Seeing Something In 3D hehehe
-B.
I would LOOOOOVE for this to be re-released in 3D somewhere.
18 days!! 32 movies!!! Can he do it?????
I actually only have 22 left (I’m 10 reviews behind in my writing) but eek! I hope I can catch up
Go man go!
Woooooo!
Wow! So they’ve released it on blu-ray in 3D! – Cool! I remember catching a 3D screening of CFTBL back in the early 80’s – back in the days of Jaws 3D, Comin’ At Ya! In 3D, Friday The 13th 3D, Flesh For Frankenstein In 3D (re-release) etc etc. Perhaps they’ll start releasing some of the other vintage 3D films in 3D on blu-ray too. 🙂
Hahaha ohhhh man I would LOVE to see all those in theaters again. Chalk up another reason for me to buy my own theater…
I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never seen it. But your review makes me want to check it out one day.
Dude, do it! It’s pretty amazing
Be sure to check out the sequel ‘Revenge of the Creature’, if only to see Clint Eastwood’s very first on-screen appearance (which is actually quite amusing).
I didn’t realize they made more movies with Gill Man until recently so I plan on checking them out eventually. Didn’t know Clint was in it, though!
Truth be told I haven’t seen the original. I should though.
i get annoyed by the creatures that are way slower than the people but somehow catch them.
Yeah, that is in full effect here too. I think it’s because the idiots running keep stopping to look over their shoulders.
Cool review as always Andy. I am a big fan of the Universal horror flicks (The Wolfman is my favourite), but have not seen this. Will need to check it out.
Oh, definitely see it, my man. I like me some Wolfman too (I reviewed it a few months back) but this one really just sparks my interest.
Good to see a nice write up of this film because, from the look of the DVD cover it looks pretty awful! Hee hee! Actually I can’t talk because I LOVE the Rod Taylor ‘The Time Machine’ and I’m quite partial to some Sinbad films. 🙂
Haha it was made during a time when the other monster movies were just things like geckos blown up to be huge and terrorizing towns and things so it’s actually kind of refreshing.
I love this movie. Years ago, I was lucky enough to see it on the big screen at a midnight showing and wouldn’t you know it – the theatre was packed! I’m glad to hear it’s on blu-ray. Yay!
That would be a treat to see in theaters, I’m sure.
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