The Beast of Hollow Mountain (1956)

An American cowboy living in Mexico discovers his cattle is being eaten by a giant prehistoric dinosaur.

Directors:

Edward Nassour, Ismael Rodríguez

Writers:

Robert Hill (screenplay), Jack DeWitt (additional dialogue),

Stars:

Guy Madison, Patricia Medina, Carlos Rivas

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Guy Madison	...	Jimmy Ryan
Patricia Medina	...	Sarita
Carlos Rivas	...	Felipe Sanchez
Mario Navarro	...	Panchito
Pascual García Peña	...	Pancho
Eduardo Noriega	...	Enrique Rios
Julio Villarreal	...	Don Pedro
Lupe Carriles	...	Margarita
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Manuel Arvide	...	Martínez
José Chávez	...	Manuel
Roberto Contreras	...	Carlos
Armando Gutiérrez	...	Employee
Margarito Luna	...	Jose
Jorge Treviño	...	Shopkeeper

Storyline

An American cowboy living in Mexico discovers his cattle is being eaten by a giant prehistoric dinosaur.

---

Plot Keywords:

dinosaur | cattle | prehistoric creature | cave | dinosaur foot print | 

---

Taglines:

And introducing the new REGISCOPE Process

---

Genres:

Western | Horror | Sci-Fi

---

Details

Country:

USA Mexico

Language:

English

Release Date:

August 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

Valley of the Mists

Filming Locations:

Churubusco Studios, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Company Credits

Production Co:

Películas Rodríguez

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The beast was animated using two separate stop-motion animation methods. A two foot-high armatured, rubber covered model was moved, exposing a frame at a time. Also utilized was replacement animation", a technique involving several different models of the same character made of plaster, each slightly different to represent a particular action. When filmed in sequence for a few frames per second, the illusion of motion is achieved. The breathing effect of the creature was accomplished by pumping air in small increments into a cavity of the throat of the two foot-high model and then releasing it in the same manner. When seen on the screen the throat rises and falls creating the breathing effect. Two large rubber feet were filmed for the shots of the monster walking. These 'feet' were worn as shoes by a technician.

---

Quotes

Jimmy Ryan: Oh, I make it a rule never to be offended at a pretty girl.

---

Connections

Featured in Svengoolie: The Beast of Hollow Mountain (1995)

User Reviews

Better than your average fifties monster flick

OK. So it wasn't Jurassic park. It was a Western with some great graphics and a wonderful T. Rex eating up some cattle and cowboys in Mexico. Hats off to fellow Bakersfieldean, Guy Madison, on the downside of his career in the gloaming of the Hickock days. And, don't forget that Pattie Medina was always worth the price of admission. Story? Yep. Monster emerges from mountain, eats cattle, vaqueros and cowboy kicks its tail. The action was great and fun. And, like I said before, Patricia Medina was lovely. Check it out.