Tarantula (1955)

A spider escapes from an isolated desert laboratory experimenting in giantism and grows to tremendous size as it wreaks havoc on the local inhabitants.

Director:

Jack Arnold

Writers:

Robert M. Fresco (screenplay), Martin Berkeley (screenplay),

Stars:

John Agar, Mara Corday, Leo G. Carroll

Cast

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	...	Townsend
Hank Patterson	...	Josh
Bert Holland	...	Barney Russell
Steve Darrell	...	Andy Andersen

Storyline

In the Arizona desert, Professor Gerald Deemer is experimenting with growth hormones in the hopes of finding a way to increase the world's food supply. His partner in the project was recently found dead in the desert, suffering from a disease that normally takes years to advance but in his case seems to have afflicted him in only a few days. The local doctor, Matt Hastings, is puzzled by the strange case and with Deemer's recently arrived - and very pretty - assistant Stephanie Clayton tries to figure out what is going on. When cattle remains are found in the countryside, the evidence points to a giant tarantula as the culprit.

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Plot Keywords:

tarantula | desert | laboratory | experiment | day | 

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Taglines:

Science-fiction's most terrifying thrill!

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 December 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Giant Tarantula

Filming Locations:

Courthouse Square, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Look for a young Clint Eastwood as the (uncredited) leader of the jet squadron that attacks the tarantula in the film's climax.

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Goofs

Twice in the film, Dr. Hastings lands his plane on an unpaved desert runway. Yet the sound effect when the plane touches down is the screech of tires hitting pavement.

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Quotes

Dr. Matt Hastings: But what if circumstances magnified one of them in size and strength, took it out of its primitive world, and turned it loose in ours?
Prof. Townsend: Then expect something that's fiercer, more cruel and deadly than anything that ever walked on earth!

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Connections

Referenced in The Naked Monster (2005)

User Reviews

Tarantula: First Impressions

I was eight when I saw Tarantula on the not-so-big screen. My youthful fear of death led me to a greater concern for the disease caused by the "nutrient" than by a very large spider. It contains a classic moment found in many 50's big monster "movies." Two guys are left behind in a car (which, of course, is in bad need of a tune-up and won't start) with a couple of puny rifles. They, of course, provide an evening meal for the spider. This was probably most people's first exposure to napalm as well.