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Tarantula (1955)
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Overview
Tagline:
Even Science was stunned! morePlot:
A spider escapes from an isolated desert laboratory experimenting in giantism and grows to tremendous size as it wreaks havoc on the local inhabitants. full summary | full synopsis (warning! may contain spoilers)User Comments:
Fun monster movie with serious undercurrent... moreCast
(Complete credited cast)| John Agar | ... | Dr. Matt Hastings | |
| Mara Corday | ... | Stephanie 'Steve' Clayton | |
| Leo G. Carroll | ... | Prof. Gerald Deemer | |
| Nestor Paiva | ... | Sheriff Jack Andrews | |
| Ross Elliott | ... | Joe Burch | |
| Edwin Rand | ... | Lt. John Nolan | |
| Raymond Bailey | ... | Prof. Townsend | |
| Hank Patterson | ... | Josh | |
| Bert Holland | ... | Barney E. Russell | |
| Steve Darrell | ... | Andy Andersen |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
80 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)Certification:
UK:X (original rating) | Australia:PG | UK:PG (re-rating) (2006) | USA:Approved (PCA #17651) | West Germany:18 | Germany:12 (re-rated) (video) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15Filming Locations:
Dead Man's Point, Lucerne Valley, California, USAMOVIEmeter: 
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The tarantula was an actual live spider. Air jets were used to make it move in the desired way over a miniature landscape. moreGoofs:
Continuity: The jets that take off to attack the tarantula at the end of the movie are F-84 "Thunderjets"; however, the attacking jets are F-80 "Shooting Stars". moreQuotes:
Prof. Gerald Deemer: The disease of hunger, like most diseases, well, it spreads. There are 2 billion people in the world today. In 1975 there'll be 3 billion. In the year 2000, there'll be 3,625,000,000. The world may not be able to produce enough food to feed all these people. Now perhaps you'll understand what an inexpensive nutrient will mean.Dr. Matt Hastings: Well, not many of us look that far in the future, sir.
Prof. Gerald Deemer: Our business is the future. No man can do it on his own, of course. You don't pull it out of your hat like a magician's rabbit. You - well, you build on what hundreds of others have learned before you.
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Ostensibly a quickie B-flick made for kids at matinées, "Tarantula" certainly isn't High Art but it does take a refreshingly serious tact on its story. Mad scientist in small desert town experiments with growth serum, accidentally unleashing one humongous spider on the terrified locals. Very nice atmosphere, decent special effects, not-bad performances. John Agar is the stalwart hero, and of course he's coupled with a pretty girl prone to screaming (Mara Corday as Stephanie, whom Agar affectionately calls 'Steve'). Probably more fun today for nostalgic adults than modern pre-teens, and certainly not as gripping as "Them!", but still a well-enough produced creep-show. Look fast for Clint Eastwood in an uncredited bit. ** from ****