Tarantula (1955)

Director:

Jack Arnold

Writers:

Jack Arnold (story) and
Robert M. Fresco (story) ...

Release Date:

14 December 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Even Science was stunned!

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Panic | Undertaker | Venom | Serum | Monster Movie

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

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound 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:15

Filming Locations:

Dead Man's Point, Lucerne Valley, California, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

The tarantula was an actual live spider. Air jets were used to make it move in the desired way over a miniature landscape.

Goofs:

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".

Quotes:

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.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Tribulation 99: Alien Anomalies Under America (1992)

Fun monster movie with serious undercurrent...

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 ****