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 Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
Director:
Jack Arnold
Stars: Richard Carlson, Julie Adams, Richard Denning
Release Company:
United Artists
MPAA Rating: NR |
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Creature from the Black Lagoon
Art Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
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At long last, Universal Studios has sprung its monsters loose with newly released DVD versions. One of the most pleasing is the amphibious Creature from the Black Lagoon of 1953. The plot sounds like many other old monster movie scenarios that come from the basic "beauty and the beast" theme—all tracing their roots directly to the classic 1933 King Kong, where the giant ape first pursued and captured a screaming Fay Wray.
Director Jack Arnold (It Came from Outer Space) even pays subtle homage to the lustful Kong with some underwater fondling of Julie Adams' feet during a classic sequence that includes synchronized swimming (and camera views of kicking legs that look remarkably similar to shots that Spielberg later used in Jaws).
Scientists have run across a new mysterious fossil and hear legends indicating that some Devonian Period monster may still lurk in hidden regions of the Amazon. Early glimpses of the creature's claw confirm the legend, and before long the Gill-man attacks members of the scientific expedition led by David Reed (Richard Carlson). Reed and fiancee Kay (Julie Adams) represent the good scientists, who only seek to discover the mysteries of creation. Contrasted with the pure scientists is Mark Williams (Richard Denning), who only wants to bring back a unique specimen for fame and money. It doesn't matter to him whether the creature is dead or alive.
The humanoid, fishlike creature is remarkably well designed and creepy by 50s standards, made mostly of rubber without the �benefit� of modern CGI and other special effects. Especially amazing are rubber-suited Ricoh Browning's realistic underwater swimming as the monster without the use of aqua lungs (he used a breathing hose). Like Kong, the Gill man manages to gain audience sympathy�after all, he's only defending his turf and falls for the beautiful Kay.
It�s the humans who refuse to act logically. They follow the tributary to the pristine Black Lagoon, from which no man has ever returned, according to legend. Despite stories about man-eating nine-foot-long catfish, the two scientists go diving for specimens. Even more incredulously, Kay later strips down to her bathing suit and jumps in Esther Williams-style, attracting the attention of the creature. So who can blame the gill man for his pursuit?
Originally filmed in 3-D, look for scenes that take advantage of this format to cause audiences to jump, but you'll have to use your imagination since the VHS and DVD releases don�t retain the 3-D feature (and few would want to use those old glasses for a couple of effects).
Unless you�re a child, the monster and his trademark three-note musical theme probably won�t cause any nightmares in light of far bloodier and gorier fare that took off in the 1980s. But this classic still satisfies. Credit director Jack Arnold for adding another excellent project to his resume of strong science fiction/monster films from the 1950s, the best of which is The Incredible Shrinking Man. Even though Creature from the Black Lagoon doesn't explore the same philosophical ground as that classic, instead relying on the standard "beauty and the beast" motif, the film works well and continues to hold up.
For one thing, the 80-minute running time paces the film rapidly enough for modern viewers to avoid tedium. Film geeks will appreciate the pioneering underwater photography, with cinematographer Charles Welbourne getting away from the standard static camera and using a portable moving camera that follows the swimmers wonderfully. Even thought the film is shot in black and white, the artistic use of shadows and light beneath the waters mesmerized.
But the definite highlight remains the amphibious gilled creature itself, remarkably lithe and agile in the water yet slow moving on land, with deadly claws to crush horrified victims yet gentle enough to protect the beautiful woman he desires. Just ask anyone who's seen this early 50s B-grade movie, and they are almost certain to remark, "Cool creature!"
Note: Universal's August, 2001 DVD release contains special features that includes interview footage with the still living major actors and a very detailed commentary by film historian Tom Weaver that contains lots of trivia—he'll note the different shooting locations, an anachronistically placed telephone pole in the Amazon, and tell a few stories that will interest (like how the head make-up guy at Universal took credit for the monster's design when he actually had very little to do with it). Weaver must have thoroughly prepared for his commentary since he talks non-stop throughout the film. Listening to him once will be enough though—I'll just watch the film without his overindulgent fanboy commentary in future viewings.
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